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Abstract Background and Aims Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) across multiple treatment lines have not yet been evaluated comprehensively. The purpose of this research was to investigate whether or not continuous cross‐line ICIs therapy is effective in treating non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods We conducted a retrospective investigation into the medical histories of 47 patients diagnosed with advanced NSCLC and treated with ICIs at the Peking University First Hospital between January 2018 and June 2022. Results Due to the progression of their disease, 14 patients were given the same ICIs, 5 patients were given different ICIs, and 6 patients discontinued taking ICIs altogether. The objective response rates were 7.140% in the ICIs cross‐line treatment group, 0% in the replacement of ICIs treatment group, and 0% in the discontinuation of ICIs treatment group. The disease control rates were 64.260% in the ICIs cross‐line treatment group, 60% in the replacement of ICIs treatment group, and 0% in the discontinuation of ICIs treatment group. The average overall survival durations of the three groups were 24.020 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 17.061–30.979), 31.643 (95% CI: 23.513–39.774), and 7.997 (95% CI: 3.746–12.247) months, respectively (p = 0.003). The median second progression‐free survival (PFS2) durations of the three groups were 4.570 (95% CI: 3.276–5.864), 3.530 (95% CI: 0.674–6.386), and 1.570 (95% CI: 0–4.091) months, respectively (p = 0.091). Conclusions Cross‐line ICIs cannot improve the prognosis and PFS2 of patients with NSCLC, but compared to discontinuing ICIs, OS may be prolonged. A few patients may benefit from prolonged ICIs therapy.

The construction of high-quality genomes is fundamental for molecular studies of species. Currently, there are no published genome sequences within the Uranoscopidae family, and research on the genomic characteristics of this family is lacking. In this study, genomic analyses of seven species from the Uranoscopidae family which captured from the southeastern coast of China were conducted using next-generation sequencing technology. The results revealed that the genomic characteristics of the seven species are relatively similar. The genome sizes of the seven Uranoscopidae species ranged from 536.00 Mb to 652.49 Mb, with repeat sequence proportions between 20.09% and 36.64%, and heterozygosity levels ranging from 0.41% to 0.88%. The assembled draft genomes exhibited GC contents of these species ranging from approximately 42.14% to 43.53%. Furthermore, the mitochondrial sequences for the seven species were assembled, with sizes ranging from 14,966 to 18,446 bp. The evolutionary relationships between different species were depicted through the mapping of conserved genes, whole-genome variances and mitochondrial genome sequences. Besides, the historical effective population sizes of all species experienced rapid expansion after the Last Interglacial Period, with three species undergoing bottleneck effects. In conclusion, this study provides a reference for the subsequent construction of high-quality genomes for species within the Uranoscopidae family and offers a rich data resource for further evolutionary research.

Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) pose a serious threat to crop production. Flooding soil with biogas slurry, combined with soil heating before crop planting, has the potential for RKN disease suppression. However, the actual effect of this method has not been verified under field conditions. Here, we present the results of a two-year field experiment in a greenhouse demonstrating the control effect on RKN disease and plant growth using this method, as well as its influence on the soil nematode community. Four treatments were set: untreated control (CK), local control method for RKN (CC), soil flooded with 70 % biogas slurry (BS70), and soil flooded with undiluted biogas slurry (BS100). In the first year, all three RKN control treatments significantly reduced the root-knot index (p 0.05), indicating that biogas slurry application did not increase the soil food web complex. Principal component analysis showed that the application of biogas slurry changed the nematode community, especially under BS70, which presented a more lasting influence. The high-level input of biogas slurry also caused soil NH4+-N and heavy-metal and arsenic accumulation in the first year, but these soil-pollution risks disappeared in the second year.

Abstract Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss in working-age populations. Fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) is an N6-methyladenosine (m6A) demethylase that demethylates RNAs involved in energy homeostasis, though its influence on DR is not well studied. Herein, we detected elevated FTO expression in vitreous fibrovascular membranes of patients with proliferative DR. FTO promoted cell cycle progression and tip cell formation of endothelial cells (ECs) to facilitate angiogenesis in vitro, in mice, and in zebrafish. FTO also regulated EC-pericyte crosstalk to trigger diabetic microvascular leakage, and mediated EC–microglia interactions to induce retinal inflammation and neurodegeneration in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, FTO affected EC features via modulating CDK2 mRNA stability in an m6A-YTHDF2-dependent manner. FTO up-regulation under diabetic conditions was driven by lactate-mediated histone lactylation. FB23-2, an inhibitor to FTO’s m6A demethylase activity, suppressed angiogenic phenotypes in vitro. To allow for systemic administration, we developed a nanoplatform encapsulating FB23-2 and confirmed its targeting and therapeutic efficiency in mice. Collectively, our study demonstrates that FTO is important for EC function and retinal homeostasis in DR, and warrants further investigation as a therapeutic target for DR patients.

To replace plastics with bamboo, it is necessary to develop renewable, lightweight, high-strength, damping, and vibration-reducing bamboo structural materials that can be applied in buildings, transportation, and mechanical engineering applications. Here, a low-cost and high-efficiency top-down method was designed for processing natural bamboo into a lightweight and high-strength aligned bamboo fiber composite. This composite used oriented bamboo fibers that had their lignin and hemicellulose removed, which were used as continuous reinforcement materials, and phenolic resin was used as the adhesive, followed by hot pressing. A highly-interwoven structure was formed by the penetration of the adhesive and the combination of strong hydrogen bonds and chemical bonds formed during hot pressing. This resulted in the high performance of the composite, which exhibited a tensile strength of 421.5 MPa, a bending strength of 211.19 MPa, and an impact toughness of 26.7 J/cm2, which were respectively 2.50, 2.09, and 5.7 times higher than those of natural bamboo. Due to its low density (1.08 g/cm3) and specific tensile strength of 390 MPa g−1 cm3, it was superior to commonly used engineering structural materials such as aluminum alloy, steel, and titanium alloy. It also exhibited excellent damping and vibration reduction performance (with the first three damping ratios of 0.75 %, 0.68 %, and 1.75 %) and dimensional stability (with a 24-h water absorption thickness expansion rate of 7.75 %). Due to its excellent mechanical properties and dimensional stability under wet and hot conditions, this composite is expected to replace nonrenewable synthetic materials as a green and sustainable engineering structural material. It may find applications in drone wings, wind turbine blades, and automotive manufacturing.

Land surface all-wave net radiation (Rn) is crucial in determining Earth's climate by contributing to the surface radiation budget. This study evaluated seven satellite and three reanalysis long-term land surface Rn products under different spatial scales, spatial and temporal variations, and different conditions. The results showed that during 2000-2018, Global Land Surface Satellite Product (GLASS)-Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) performed the best (RMSE=25.54 Wm-2, bias=−1.26 Wm-2), followed by ERA5 (the fifth-generation of European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast Reanalysis) (RMSE=32.17 Wm-2, bias=−4.88 Wm-2) and GLASS-AVHRR (Advanced Very-High-Resolution Radiometer) (RMSE=33.10 Wm-2, bias=4.03 Wm-2). During 1983-2018, GLASS-AVHRR and ERA5 ranked top and performed similarly, with RMSE values of 31.70 and 33.08 Wm-2 and biases of −4.56 and 3.48 Wm-2, respectively. The averaged multi-annual mean Rn over the global land surface of satellite products was higher than that of reanalysis products by about 10∼30 Wm-2. These products differed remarkably in long-term trends variations, particularly pre-2000, but no significant trends were observed. Discrepancies were more frequent in satellite data, while reanalysis products showed smoother variations. Large discrepancies were found in regions with high latitudes, reflectance, and elevation which could be attributed to input radiative components, meteorological variables (e.g., cloud properties, aerosol optical thickness), and applicability of the algorithms used. While further research is needed for detailed insights.

Urban areas have higher heterogeneity compared to natural areas, it is crucial to assess fine-resolution land cover products and discover how they differ in urban areas so that they can be efficiently used for various application scenarios. In this study, five typical cities in China were chosen as study areas to evaluate four commonly used 30 m land cover products: GLC_FCS30-2020, FROM-GLC30-2017, Globeland30-2020, and CLCD-2019. We analyzed the reliability of these four products using validation samples as well as by examining their area and spatial pattern consistency. Given the limitations of traditional accuracy assessments at the macro level, we added a local area evaluation to further examine the classification details in these products. The macro results indicated that four land cover products within urban areas have a similar overall accuracy, surpassing 76%, but there was a low consistency among them, ranging from 42.21% to 61.13%. The local accuracy assessment illustrated that GLC_FCS30-2020 and FROM-GLC30-2017 performed well in reflecting the intricate details of the city, however, the four products exhibited varying degrees of misclassifications and omissions. These phenomena suggest that more sophisticated algorithms are needed to consider urban particularities since fine-resolution land cover products may fail to capture complex urban details.

Abstract In the latter half of the twentieth century, a significant climate phenomenon “diurnal asymmetric warming” emerged, wherein global land surface temperatures increased more rapidly during the night than during the day. However, recent episodes of global brightening and regional droughts and heatwaves have brought notable alterations to this asymmetric warming trend. Here, we re-evaluate sub-diurnal temperature patterns, revealing a substantial increase in the warming rates of daily maximum temperatures (Tmax), while daily minimum temperatures have remained relatively stable. This shift has resulted in a reversal of the diurnal warming trend, expanding the diurnal temperature range over recent decades. The intensified Tmax warming is attributed to a widespread reduction in cloud cover, which has led to increased solar irradiance at the surface. Our findings underscore the urgent need for enhanced scrutiny of recent temperature trends and their implications for the wider earth system.

Abstract Background The establishment of a robust gut microbiota in piglets during their early developmental stage holds the potential for long-term advantageous effects. However, the optimal timeframe for introducing probiotics to achieve this outcome remains uncertain. Results In the context of this investigation, we conducted a longitudinal assessment of the fecal microbiota of 63 piglets at three distinct pre-weaning time points. Simultaneously, we gathered vaginal and fecal samples from 23 sows. Employing 16S rRNA gene and metagenomic sequencing methodologies, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the fluctuation patterns in microbial composition, functional capacity, interaction networks, and colonization resistance within the gut microbiota of piglets. As the piglets progressed in age, discernible modifications in intestinal microbial diversity, composition, and function were observed. A source-tracking analysis unveiled the pivotal role of fecal and vaginal microbiota derived from sows in populating the gut microbiota of neonatal piglets. By D21, the microbial interaction network displayed a more concise and efficient configuration, accompanied by enhanced colonization resistance relative to the other two time points. Moreover, we identified three strains of Ruminococcus sp. at D10 as potential candidates for improving piglets' weight gain during the weaning phase. Conclusions The findings of this study propose that D10 represents the most opportune juncture for the introduction of external probiotic interventions during the early stages of piglet development. This investigation augments our comprehension of the microbiota dynamics in early-life of piglets and offers valuable insights for guiding forthcoming probiotic interventions.

AIM: To evaluate the relationship between gene polymorphism (BclI, ER22/23EK, N363S) and the occurrence, progression and sensitivity to glucocorticoid of lacrimal gland benign lymphoepithelial lesion (LGBLEL). METHODS: Clinical peripheral blood samples of 52 LGBLEL patients and 10 normal volunteers were collected for DNA extraction and polymerase chain reaction sequencing to analyze single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotypes. The lacrimal tissues of LGBLEL were surgically removed and made into paraffin sections for subsequent hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Masson staining analysis. The duration of disease and hormone use of LGBLEL patients from diagnosis to surgery were also analyzed. The Meta-analysis follows PRISMA guidelines to conducted a systematic review of human studies investigating the relationship between the NR3C1 BclI polymorphism and glucocorticoids (GCs) sensitivity. RESULTS: There was no association between ER22/23EK or N363S and the occurrence of LGBLEL or GCs sensitivity (P>0.05); BclI GC genotype was closely related to GCs resistance (P=0.03) as is the minor allele C (P=0.0017). The HE staining and Masson staining showed that the GC genotype of BclI remarkably slowed down the disease progression and reduced fibrosis (P

During the operation of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), the Ni-8YSZ anodes are subjected to thermal mismatch and reoxidation, accompanied by the risk of damage and failure. These damages and failures are generally induced by small defects at the microscopic level, leading to the degradation of the structural bearing capacity. Therefore, the distribution and quantification of the stresses in the real microstructure of Ni-8YSZ electrodes is essential. In this study, the real Ni-8YSZ microstructure was reconstructed based on nano-computed tomography, and the stress distribution of the real microstructure was analyzed based on the finite element method under reoxidation and different operating temperatures. The failure probability of 8YSZ at different degrees of reoxidation was evaluated according to the Weibull method, and the amount of damaged 8YSZ elements was statistically counted. The study results indicate a high level of stress in the thin necks and relatively sharp areas of the microstructure. The 8YSZ has a high failure probability at a reoxidation extent of 5–10%.

Background: In 2020, the WHO proposed the global strategic goal of accelerating the elimination of cervical cancer (CC). One of the key strategies is that, by 2030, 90% of girls will complete HPV vaccination by age 15. In 2017, HPV vaccines were first marketed in China. Objectives: This study aimed to explore the changes in parents’ knowledge about CC, HPV, HPV vaccines, and acceptance of HPV vaccination 5 years after the introduction of HPV vaccines into China. Associated factors and reasons for refusal by parents were also explored. Methods: A school-based follow-up study was conducted among parents in China from May 2018 to May 2023. Comparison using Chi-square tests was performed to measure the changes. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to explore factors associated with HPV vaccination among teenage girls. Results: The overall cognitive level in terms of CC- and HPV-related knowledge among parents increased, and they expressed more willingness to vaccinate their daughter (35.4% in 2018 vs. 56.6% in 2023). The HPV vaccination rate among teenage girls remained at a low level (4.4% in 2018, 9.8% in 2023). The main obstacles reported by parents were limited knowledge (42.0%), scarcity of the HPV vaccine (29.2%), waiting until their daughter was older (27.5%), safety concerns (14.7%), high cost (9.0%), and effectiveness concerns (4.6%). Parents who are elderly, local residents, have received HPV vaccines themselves, have had experience of vaccinating their children with influenza vaccines, and have a higher knowledge level of CC, HPV and HPV vaccines are more likely to vaccinate their children with HPV vaccines. Conclusions: Although we observed an increment in parents’ knowledge level in terms of CC, HPV, HPV vaccines, and HPV vaccine uptake over the past 5 years, the HPV vaccine coverage among girls still falls short of the WHO’s 2030 target. Comprehensive intervention strategies, including tailored health education among adolescents and their parents, doctor recommendations, and providing financial subsidies or free HPV vaccines are needed in China.

This study introduces a novel direct expansion air conditioning (DX AC) system with three evaporators (DX-TE) to enhance indoor temperature and humidity control. Operating in two modes, the DX-TE system provides variable cooling output, adapting to fluctuating indoor cooling loads while maintaining uniform air supply. Experimental and simulation studies were conducted to investigate the system’s operational characteristics. An experimental setup was established to obtain preliminary steady-state data, followed by the development and validation of a steady-state mathematical model. Simulation studies were then performed to optimize the evaporator sizes. The results indicate that the DX-TE system delivers variable cooling capacities at a constant compressor speed and airflow rate, outperforming conventional variable frequency DX AC systems in cooling and dehumidification. The evaporator area ratio significantly impacts the system’s performance, with smaller ratios yielding a larger output range. As the area ratio increases from 1:1 to 1:3, the cooling capacity range in Modes 1 and 2 increases by 33.6% and 14.3%, respectively, while the dehumidification range expands by 58.6% and 51.69%.

Most fire spread is caused by the absence of suppression means at the beginning of the fire. This results in the missed golden time. There are various factors that cause initial fires, such as electrical outlets, general distribution circuits, and oil–vapor–gas cluster spaces. In most cases, these places are out of reach of human hands or they lose the initial suppression time when a fire occurs, causing the spread of fire. This study implements an intelligent fire suppression device that connects sensor IoT based on microcapsules to secure initial fire suppression and golden time in the event of a fire in blind spots that cannot be seen by humans or at a time when it is difficult to recognize a fire. The microcapsule is a micro-collection unit that collects Novec 1230 gas generated in the semiconductor production process. The microcapsule is molded into a form with a fire suppression function and, when a fire occurs, the molded body explodes and absorbs ambient oxygen to suppress the fire. The complex-sensor IoT executes smoke and heat detection generated when a fire is suppressed within 10 s, which ensures the reliability of the detector by notifying of the fire and detecting the ignition point through communication linkages such as Ieee 485 and WiFi or LoRa.

Heat stress (HS) poses a great challenge to the poultry industry by inducing oxidative damage to the liver, endangering the health and production of broilers. As an important type of seaweed polyphenols, phlorotannin has been shown to have antioxidant properties. The present study evaluated the protective effects of dietary phlorotannin on HS-induced liver injury in broilers based on oxidative damage parameters. A total of 108 twenty-one days old male Arbor Acres plus (AA+) broilers were randomly divided into three groups: TN group (thermoneutral, 24 ± 1 °C, fed with basal diet), HS group (HS, 33 ± 1 °C for 8 h/day, fed with basal diet), and HS + phlorotannin group (HS + 600 mg/kg phlorotannin). Each group has six replicate cages with six birds per cage. The feeding experiment lasted 21 days. At the termination of the feeding experiment (42 days old), samples were collected for analysis of morphological and biochemical features. The results showed that HS decreased the liver index, serum albumin (ALB) content, hepatic antioxidant enzymes activities of catalase (CAT), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) (p < 0.05), while increasing the hepatic histopathology score, apoptosis rate, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content (p < 0.05) in 42-day-old broilers. Compared with the HS group, dietary phlorotannin improved the activities of antioxidant enzymes (GST and GSH-Px) but decreased the histopathology score and apoptosis rate in the liver (p < 0.05). Moreover, HS down-regulated hepatic mRNA expression of CAT1, NQO1, HO-1, and SLC7A11 (p < 0.05), while up-regulated hepatic mRNA expression of Keap1, MafG, IκBα, NF-κB P65, IFN-γ, TFR1, ACSL4, Bax, and Caspase-9 (p < 0.05). Compared with HS group, dietary phlorotannin up-regulated hepatic mRNA expression of Nrf2, CAT1, MafF, GSTT1, NQO1, HO-1, GCLC, GPX1, TNF-α, Fpn1, and SLC7A11 (p < 0.05), while down-regulated hepatic mRNA expression of IκBα, Bax, Caspase-9, and TFR1 (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation of 600 mg/kg phlorotannin could alleviate HS-induced liver injury via regulating oxidative status, apoptosis, and ferroptosis in broilers; these roles of phlorotannin might be associated with the regulation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Drought stress is one of the major impediments to plant growth. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can mitigate moisture stress in plants by increasing the ability of plant nutrient uptake and transport. In this study, we investigated the root phenotype, mineral nutrients (in leaves, roots, and soil), soil pH, water saturation deficit (WSD), free water content (FWC), and bound water content (BWC) of leaves of two alfalfa varieties, ‘Galalxie Max’ (drought-tolerant) and ‘Saidi 7’ (drought-sensitive), in the presence or absence of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens QST713 under drought stress conditions. The results showed that water stress negatively affected both cultivar root morphology (total root length, average diameter, total surface area, and volume) and the contents of K and Fe in leaves, roots, and soil. It also reduced the Mn and Zn contents in the soil while increasing the content of Na in the leaves and soil. Additionally, alfalfa plants under drought stress exhibited higher levels of soil pH, WSD, and BWC but lower contents of FWC and ratios of BWC/FWC in the leaves of both cultivars. However, QST713 application significantly enhanced the total root length, average root diameter, and the contents of K and Fe in alfalfa leaves, roots, and soil, as well as the BWC/FWC ratio in leaves under drought stress conditions. A significant reduction in the Na content was detected in QST713-treated alfalfa leaves and soil under drought stress. Furthermore, QST713 application noticeably decreased soil pH and WSD. The current findings showed that QST713 enhanced the water stress tolerance of alfalfa plants by ameliorating root morphology, reducing soil pH, and improving the BWC/FWC ratio, consequently promoting the accumulation of mineral nutrients (mainly K and Fe). Overall, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens QST713 can serve as a potential green fertilizer in sustainable agriculture to improve soil nutrients and enhance plant production under increasing drought conditions.

A coverage prediction model helps network operators find coverage gaps, plan base station locations, evaluate quality of service, and build radio maps for spectrum sharing, interference management, localization, etc. Existing coverage prediction models rely on the height and transmission power of the base station, or the assistance of a path loss model. All of these increase the complexity of large-scale coverage predictions. In this paper, we propose a multi-modal model, DNN-SS, which combines a DNN (deep neural network) and SS (semantic segmentation) to perform coverage prediction for mobile networks. Firstly, DNN-SS filters the samples with a geospatial-temporal moving average filter algorithm, and then uses a DNN to extract numerical features. Secondly, a pre-trained model is used to perform semantic segmentation of satellite images of the measurement area. Thirdly, a DNN is used to extract features from the results after semantic segmentation to form environmental features. Finally, the prediction model is trained on the dataset consisting of numerical features and environmental features. The experimental results on campus show that for random location prediction, the model achieves a RMSE (Root Mean Square Error) of 1.97 dB and a MAE (Mean Absolute Error) of 1.41 dB, which is an improvement of 10.86% and 10.2%, respectively, compared with existing models. For the prediction of a test area, the RMSE and MAE of the model are 4.32 dB and 3.45 dB, respectively, and the RMSE is only 0.22 dB lower than that of existing models. However, the DNN-SS model does not need the height, transmission power, and antenna gain of the base station, or a path loss model, which makes it more suitable for large-scale coverage prediction.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to identify the risk factors for postoperative adverse events in children with duplex kidney undergoing upper pole heminephrectomy.MethodsWe collected clinical data from pediatric patients with duplex kidney who underwent upper pole heminephrectomy. Based on the presence or absence of postoperative adverse events, the patients were divided into two groups: an adverse events group (n = 16) and a non- adverse events group (n = 37), using multivariate logistic regression analysis to screen for independent risk factors for postoperative adverse events.ResultsThrough univariate and multivariate analysis, we found that the presence of upper renal ureterocele (P = 0.042, OR = 7.116, 95% CI 1.073–47.172), as well as the presence of accessory renal artery type (P = 0.016, OR = 10.639, 95% CI 1.551–72.978) and other types (P = 0.039, OR = 3.644, 95% CI 0.351–37.836) as the upper kidney's blood supply artery increase the risk of postoperative adverse events, with these differences being statistically significant.ConclusionsIn pediatric patients with duplex kidney undergoing upper pole heminephrectomy, the presence of upper renal ureterocele and the presence of accessory renal artery type and other types as the upper kidney's blood supply artery are independent risk factors for postoperative adverse events.

The Chinese hamster ovarian (CHO) cells serve as a common choice in biopharmaceutical production, traditionally cultivated in stirred tank bioreactors (STRs). Nevertheless, the pursuit of improved protein quality and production output for commercial purposes demand exploration into new bioreactor types. In this context, inverted frustoconical shaking bioreactors (IFSB) present unique physical properties distinct from STRs. This study aims to compare the production processes of an antibody-based biotherapeutic in both bioreactor types, to enhance production flexibility. The findings indicate that, when compared to STRs, IFSB demonstrates the capability to produce an antibody-based biotherapeutic with either comparable or enhanced bioprocess performance and product quality. IFSB reduces shear damage to cells, enhances viable cell density (VCD), and improves cell state at a 5-L scale. Consequently, this leads to increased protein expression (3.70 g/L vs 2.56 g/L) and improved protein quality, as evidenced by a reduction in acidic variants from 27.0% to 21.5%. Scaling up the culture utilizing the Froude constant and superficial gas velocity ensures stable operation, effective mixing, and gas transfer. The IFSB maintains a high VCD and cell viability at both 50-L and 500-L scales. Product expression levels range from 3.0 to 3.6 g/L, accompanied by an improved acidic variants attribute of 20.6%–22.7%. The IFSB exhibits superior productivity and product quality, underscoring its potential for incorporation into the manufacturing process for antibody-based biotherapeutics. These results establish the foundation for IFSB to become a viable option in producing antibody-based biotherapeutics for clinical and manufacturing applications.

Abstract The quantum mechanisms how life efficiently utilizes energy and transmits information remain unclear yet. Frequency medicine, an emerging cross‐discipline of both quantum mechanics and biomedicine, is a promising turning point for biomaterials and medicine developing from the matter level to the energy level. Recognizing the pivotal role of molecular vibrational frequencies in resonant energy coupling and transmission underscores the potential of frequency medicine to precisely regulate biomaterial vibrations, influencing interactions and reactions in living organisms. At present, scientists have unveiled sophisticated phototherapeutics; nevertheless, their advancement necessitates the precise mapping of the life energy. In contrast to genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics studied on the matter level, omics of frequencies related to medicine should be on the energy level. Herein, starting from the history of frequency medicine, and followed by the introduction of vibrational strong coupling applications in life sciences, we emphasize the significance, necessity, and urgency of studying spatiotemporal omics of medicine frequencies. By decoding the energy atlas of life, we can acquire profound insights into the quantum mechanisms that govern life processes from an energy standpoint. We anticipate that the integration of biomaterials with spatiotemporal frequency omics related to medical research will contribute significantly to advancing the goals of precision medicine, potentially revolutionizing pharmaceuticals, such as terahertz drugs.

This paper presents two sensitivity analyses, one of which is for the time-domain transmission line (TL) model using the latest weight-based algorithm that is a combination of the coherence-optimal sampling (COS) and the l1-minimum problem (l1-M) and the other is for the high-frequency field line coupling model based on the algorithm that combines the Latin hypercube sampling (LHS) with the l1-M for the first time, where the COS and the LHS are employed to draw samples and the polynomial chaos expansion (PCE) coefficients are obtained by solving the l1-M. Both algorithms are within the PCE framework. The results show that for the time-domain TL model, the capacitance has the greatest impact on the voltage response, followed by the resistance. The height and the radius have the least impact, while there is little difference between them. For the high-frequency field line coupling model, the azimuth angle has the greatest impact on the current in the TL, followed by the elevation angle. The terminal load, the conductivity, the field amplitude, the relative permittivity, and the TL radius have the least effect, and there is little difference among them. Additionally, both algorithms only require no more than 0.60% of the total Monte Carlo (MC) computation time when yielding solutions with almost identical accuracy. Compared to performing a sensitivity analysis using the MC method, the use of two algorithms significantly improves efficiency.

Abstract The use of whole‐genome sequence (WGS) data is expected to improve genomic prediction (GP) power of complex traits because it may contain mutations that in strong linkage disequilibrium pattern with causal mutations. However, a few previous studies have shown no or small improvement in prediction accuracy using WGS data. Incorporating prior biological information into GP seems to be an attractive strategy that might improve prediction accuracy. In this study, a total of 6334 pigs were genotyped using 50K chips and subsequently imputed to the WGS level. This cohort includes two prior discovery populations that comprise 294 Landrace pigs and 186 Duroc pigs, as well as two validation populations that consist of 3770 American Duroc pigs and 2084 Canadian Duroc pigs. Then we used annotation information and genome‐wide association study (GWAS) from the WGS data to make GP for six growth traits in two Duroc pig populations. Based on variant annotation, we partitioned different genomic classes, such as intron, intergenic, and untranslated regions, for imputed WGS data. Based on GWAS results of WGS data, we obtained trait‐associated single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). We then applied the genomic feature best linear unbiased prediction (GFBLUP) and genomic best linear unbiased prediction (GBLUP) models to estimate the genomic estimated breeding values for growth traits with these different variant panels, including six genomic classes and trait‐associated SNPs. Compared with 50K chip data, GBLUP with imputed WGS data had no increase in prediction accuracy. Using only annotations resulted in no increase in prediction accuracy compared to GBLUP with 50K, but adding annotation information into the GFBLUP model with imputed WGS data could improve the prediction accuracy with increases of 0.00%–2.82%. In conclusion, a GFBLUP model that incorporated prior biological information might increase the advantage of using imputed WGS data for GP.

BackgroundCurrently, there has been observed a significant alteration in the composition of the gut microbiome (GM) and serum metabolites in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) compared to healthy individuals. However, previous observational studies have shown inconsistent results regarding the alteration of gut microbiota/metabolites. In order to shed light on this matter, we utilized Mendelian randomization to determine the causal effect of GM/metabolites on PsA.MethodsWe retrieved summary-level data of GM taxa/metabolites and PsA from publicly available GWAS statistics. Causal relationships between GM/metabolites and PsA were determined using a two-sample MR analysis, with the IVW approach serving as the primary analysis method. To ensure the robustness of our findings, we conducted sensitivity analyses, multivariable MR analysis (MVMR), and additional analysis including replication verification analysis, LDSC regression, and Steiger test analysis. Furthermore, we investigated reverse causality through a reverse MR analysis. Finally, we conducted an analysis of expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) involved in the metabolic pathway to explore potential molecular mechanisms of metabolism.ResultsOur findings reveal that eight GM taxa and twenty-three serum metabolites are causally related to PsA (P < 0.05). Notably, a higher relative abundance of Family Rikenellaceae (ORIVW: 0.622, 95% CI: 0.438–0.883, FDR = 0.045) and elevated serum levels of X-11538 (ORIVW: 0.442, 95% CI: 0.250–0.781, FDR = 0.046) maintain significant causal associations with a reduced risk of PsA, even after adjusting for multiple testing correction and conducting MVMR analysis. These findings suggest that Family Rikenellaceae and X-11538 may have protective effects against PsA. Our sensitivity analysis and additional analysis revealed no significant horizontal pleiotropy, reverse causality, or heterogeneity. The functional enrichment analysis revealed that the eQTLs examined were primarily associated with glycerolipid metabolism and the expression of key metabolic factors influenced by bacterial infections (Vibrio cholerae and Helicobacter pylori) as well as the mTOR signaling pathway.ConclusionIn conclusion, our study demonstrates that Family Rikenellaceae and X-11538 exhibit a strong and negative causal relationship with PsA. These particular GM taxa and metabolites have the potential to serve as innovative biomarkers, offering valuable insights into the treatment and prevention of PsA. Moreover, bacterial infections and mTOR-mediated activation of metabolic factors may play an important role in this process.

Abstract The Kunming‐Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework requires effective actions to bend the curve of biodiversity loss by 2030. Wildlife trade, a direct drive of biodiversity decline, calls for more effective regulations to both protect wildlife populations in the wild and facilitate sustainable use of wildlife resources to meet human needs. This call has become particularly urgent in light of the COVID‐19 pandemic. In 2021, China's List of State Key Protected Wild Animals, a list of fauna under the strictest protection by national legislation, has been updated in the year 2021, 32 years after its first release, increasing its coverage (from the original 13%) an 11% of species across taxa. Combined with the updated List of State Protected Terrestrial Wild Animals which covers species with lower protection priority, these two national lists already cover 77% terrestrial vertebrate species of China. Such a blacklist approach, placing threatened species under a list of legal protection, is a common practice globally in species conservation. We discussed pros and cons of this dominant strategy and further explored the potential integration with a whitelist approach, listing all wildlife and only permitting regulated uses of certain species. We propose a mixed approach combining black and whitelists at different administration levels which could perhaps be first adopted in China. This is mainly due to the fact that in addition to illegal harvesting from the wild, traded wildlife in China are mostly from captive breeding and related laundering of wild‐caught animals.

Abstract Objectives Pro-protein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9) decreases the clearance of the pathogenic lipids, supporting the potential role of PCSK9 in the prognosis of sepsis. Methods In this prospective cohort study, patients with sepsis were consecutively recruited from 1 to 2020 to 30 September 2021 at the First People’s Hospital of Huaihua, China. All the eligible patients were categorized into low-PCSK9 and high-PCSK9 groups, based on their PCSK9 levels at admission. Time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to evaluate the association between PCSK9 level and 28-day mortality of sepsis. Results Of the 203 enrolled patients, 56 (27.59%) died during the 28-day follow-up. The PCSK9 level was positively related to the C-reactive protein level. The cut-off point of PCSK9 levels for 28-day mortality risk was 370 ng/ml. Through comparison between high-PCSK9 (> 370 ng/ml) with low-PCSK9 (≤ 370 ng/ml) groups, the adjusted HR for mortality was 2.56 (95% CI: 1.25–5.23, p = 0.01). Conclusions The 28-day mortality of sepsis increased significantly as the baseline circulating PCSK9 level exceeded 370 ng/ml, indicating circulating PCSK9 levels may be a potential biomarker to predict the prognosis of sepsis.

The role of phot1 in triggering hypocotyl phototropism and optimizing growth orientation has been well-characterized in Arabidopsis, whereas the role of Zmphot1 in maize remains largely unclear. Here, we show that Zmphot1 is involved in blue light-induced phototropism. Compared with Atphot1, Zmphot1 exhibited a weaker phototropic response to very low-fluence rates of blue light (< 0.01 μmol m−2 s−1), but stronger phototropic response to high-fluence rates of blue light (> 10 μmol m−2 s−1) than Atphot1. Notably, blue light exposure induced Zmphot1-green fluorescent protein (GFP), but not Atphot1-GFP, to form the aggregates in the cytoplasm of Nicotiana benthamiana cells. Furthermore, by generating the chimeric phot1 proteins, we found that the serine-threonine kinase (STK) domain at the C-terminus is responsible for a more volatile membrane association of Zmphot1. Consistently, the chimeric phot1 protein fusing the STK domain of Zmphot1 with other domains of Atphot1 responded similarly as Zmphot1 to both low and high fluence rates of blue light. Interestingly, although both Zmphot1 and Atphot1 interact with AtNPH3, Zmphot1 induced weaker dephosphorylation of NON-PHOTOTROPIC HYPOCOTYL 3 (NPH3) than Atphot1. Together, our findings indicate that Zmphot1 and Atphot1 exhibit different photosensory function during phototropic response and that the STK domain may play a key role in determining their properties.

Invasive alien ants (IAAs) are among the most aggressive, competitive, and widespread invasive alien species (IAS) worldwide. Wasmannia auropunctata, the greatest IAAs threat in the Pacific region and listed in “100 of the world’s worst IAS”, has established itself in many countries and on islands worldwide. Wild populations of W. auropunctata were recently reported in southeastern China, representing a tremendous potential threat to China’s agricultural, economic, environmental, public health, and social well-being. Estimating the potential geographical distribution (PGD) of W. auropunctata in China can illustrate areas that may potentially face invasion risk. Therefore, based on the global distribution records of W. auropunctata and bioclimatic variables, we predicted the geographical distribution pattern of W. auropunctata in China under the effects of climate change using an ensemble model (EM). Our findings showed that artificial neural network (ANN), flexible discriminant analysis (FDA), gradient boosting model (GBM), Random Forest (RF) were more accurate than categorical regression tree analysis (CTA), generalized linear model (GLM), maximum entropy model (MaxEnt) and surface distance envelope (SRE). The mean TSS values of ANN, FDA, GBM, and RF were 0.820, 0.810, 0.843, and 0.857, respectively, and the mean AUC values were 0.946, 0.954, 0.968, and 0.979, respectively. The mean TSS and AUC values of EM were 0.882 and 0.972, respectively, indicating that the prediction results with EM were more reliable than those with the single model. The PGD of W. auropunctata in China is mainly located in southern China under current and future climate change. Under climate change, the PGD of W. auropunctata in China will expand to higher-latitude areas. The annual temperature range (bio7) and mean temperature of the warmest quarter (bio10) were the most significant variables affecting the PGD of W. auropunctata in China. The PGD of W. auropunctata in China was mainly attributed to temperature variables, such as the annual temperature range (bio7) and the mean temperature of the warmest quarter (bio10). The populations of W. auropunctata in southern China have broad potential invasion areas. Developing strategies for the early warning, monitoring, prevention, and control of W. auropunctata in southern China requires more attention.

Abstract Background Genetic diversity and heterogeneous genomic signatures in marine fish populations may result from selection pressures driven by the strong effects of environmental change. Nearshore fishes are often exposed to complex environments and human activities, especially those with small ranges. However, studies on genetic diversity and population selection signals in these species have mostly been based on a relatively small number of genetic markers. As a newly recorded species of Sillaginidae, the population genetics and genomic selection signals of Sillago sinica are fragmented or even absent. Results To address this theoretical gap, we performed whole-genome resequencing of 43 S. sinica individuals from Dongying (DY), Qingdao (QD) and Wenzhou (WZ) populations and obtained 4,878,771 high-quality SNPs. Population genetic analysis showed that the genetic diversity of S. sinica populations was low, but the genetic diversity of the WZ population was higher than that of the other two populations. Interestingly, the three populations were not strictly clustered within the group defined by their sampling location but showed an obvious geographic structure signal from the warm temperate to the subtropics. With further analysis, warm-temperate populations exhibited strong selection signals in genomic regions related to nervous system development, sensory function and immune function. However, subtropical populations showed more selective signalling for environmental tolerance and stress signal transduction. Conclusions Genome-wide SNPs provide high-quality data to support genetic studies and localization of selection signals in S. sinica populations. The reduction in genetic diversity may be related to the bottleneck effect. Considering that low genetic diversity leads to reduced environmental adaptability, conservation efforts and genetic diversity monitoring of this species should be increased in the future. Differences in genomic selection signals between warm temperate and subtropical populations may be related to human activities and changes in environmental complexity. This study deepened the understanding of population genetics and genomic selection signatures in nearshore fishes and provided a theoretical basis for exploring the potential mechanisms of genomic variation in marine fishes driven by environmental selection pressures.

Abstract A plateau on the background inflaton potential can lead inflation into the ultraslow-roll (USR) stage, during which the primordial curvature perturbation $${{{\mathscr {R}}}}$$ R can still remarkably evolve outside the horizon. In this paper, the evolution of the Fourier mode $${{{\mathscr {R}}}}_k$$ R k and the resulting power spectrum $${{\mathscr {P}}}_{{{\mathscr {R}}}}(k)$$ P R ( k ) are systematically investigated. It is found that, when a scale crosses the horizon well before or after the USR stage, $${{{\mathscr {R}}}}_k$$ R k only revolves around the origin in the complex plane. In contrast, if a scale crosses the horizon around the start of the USR stage, the argument of $${{{\mathscr {R}}}}_k$$ R k will be nearly frozen and $${{{\mathscr {R}}}}_k$$ R k will have a subsequent linear evolution accordingly, in which it may stop rather near or extremely far away from the origin, naturally explaining the entire growing stage of $${{\mathscr {P}}}_{{{\mathscr {R}}}}(k)$$ P R ( k ) on small scales from the minimum to the peak. Moreover, there is a sharp dip in $${{\mathscr {P}}}_{{{\mathscr {R}}}}(k)$$ P R ( k ) , but the lowest point cannot reach 0 exactly. Our work provides a whole picture for $${{{\mathscr {R}}}}_k$$ R k and $${{\mathscr {P}}}_{{{\mathscr {R}}}}(k)$$ P R ( k ) in the USR inflation and will help our understanding of the relevant primordial black hole and gravitational wave physics.

PURPOSELeft ventricular non-compaction (LVNC) is considered rare; however, the use of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) has shown that its incidence is not uncommon, and its clinical presentation remains variable, with an uncertain prognosis. Risk stratification of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients with LVNC remains complex. Therefore, this study aims to determine whether tissue heterogeneity from late gadolinium enhancement-derived entropy is associated with MACE in patients with LVNC.METHODSThis study was registered in the Clinical Trial Registry (CTR2200062045). Consecutive patients who underwent CMR imaging and were diagnosed with LVNC were followed up for MACE, which was defined by heart failure, arrhythmias, systemic embolism, and cardiac death. The patients were divided into MACE and non-MACE groups. The CMR parameters included left ventricular (LV) entropy, LV ejection fraction (LVEF), LV end-diastolic volume, LV end-systolic volume (LVESV), and LV mass (LVM).RESULTSEighty-six patients (age: 45.48 ± 16.64 years; female: 62.7%; LVEF: 42.58 ± 17.20%) were followed up for a median of 18 months and experienced 30 MACE events (34.9%). The MACE group showed higher LV entropy, LVESV, and LVM and lower LVEF than the non-MACE group. LV entropy [hazard ratio (HR): 1.710, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.078–2.714, P = 0.023] and LVEF (HR: 0.961, 95% CI: 0.936–0.988, P = 0.004) were independent predictors of MACE (P

Global food security is threatened by the impacts of the spread of crop pests and changes in the complex interactions between crops and pests under climate change. Schrankia costaestrigalis is a newly-reported potato pest in southern China. Early-warning monitoring of this insect pest could protect domestic agriculture as it has already caused regional yield reduction and/or quality decline in potato production. Our research aimed to confirm the potential geographical distributions (PGDs) of S. costaestrigalis in China under different climate scenarios using an optimal MaxEnt model, and to provide baseline data for preventing agricultural damage by S. costaestrigalis. Our findings indicated that the accuracy of the optimal MaxEnt model was better than the default-setting model, and the minimum temperature of the coldest month, precipitation of the driest month, precipitation of the coldest quarter, and the human influence index were the variables significantly affecting the PGDs of S. costaestrigalis. The highly- and moderately-suitable habitats of S. costaestrigalis were mainly located in eastern and southern China. The PGDs of S. costaestrigalis in China will decrease under climate change. The conversion of the highly- to moderately-suitable habitat will also be significant under climate change. The centroid of the suitable habitat area of S. costaestrigalis under the current climate showed a general tendency to move northeast and to the middle-high latitudes in the 2030s. The agricultural practice of plastic film mulching in potato fields will provide a favorable microclimate for S. costaestrigalis in the suitable areas. More attention should be paid to the early warning and monitoring of S. costaestrigalis in order to prevent its further spread in the main areas in China’s winter potato planting regions.

Abstract Background Preventive colostomy is required for colorectal surgery, and the incidence of complications associated with ileostomy and colostomy remains controversial. This study aimed to compare the incidence of postoperative complications between ileostomy and colostomy procedures. Methods Data analysis was conducted on 30 studies, and meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis (TSA) were performed on five studies. The basic indicators, such as stoma prolapse, leak, wound infection, ileus, and a series of other indicators, were compared. Results No statistically significant differences were observed with complications other than stoma prolapse. Meta-analysis and TSA showed that the incidence of ileostomy prolapse was lower than that of colostomy prolapse, and the difference was statistically significant. Apart from the four complications listed above, the general data analysis showed differences in incidence between the two groups. The incidence of skin irritation, parastomal hernia, dehydration, pneumonia, and urinary tract infections was higher with ileostomy than with colostomy. In contrast, the incidence of parastomal fistula, stenosis, hemorrhage, and enterocutaneous fistula was higher with colostomy than with ileostomy. Conclusions There were differences in the incidence of ileostomy and colostomy complications in the selected studies, with a low incidence of ileostomy prolapse. PROSPERO registration number CRD42022303133.

Abstract Reconstructions of ocean oxygenation are critical for understanding the role of respired carbon storage in regulating atmospheric CO2. Independent sediment redox proxies are essential to assess such reconstructions. Here, we present a long magnetofossil record from the eastern Indian Ocean in which we observe coeval magnetic hardening and enrichment of larger, more elongated, and less oxidized magnetofossils during glacials compared to interglacials over the last ~900 ka. Our multi-proxy records of redox-sensitive magnetofossils, trace element concentrations, and benthic foraminiferal Δδ13C consistently suggest a recurrence of lower O2 in the glacial Indian Ocean over the last 21 marine isotope stages, as has been reported for the Atlantic and Pacific across the last glaciation. Consistent multi-proxy documentation of this repeated oxygen decline strongly supports the hypothesis that increased Indian Ocean glacial carbon storage played a significant role in atmospheric CO2 cycling and climate change over recent glacial/interglacial timescales.

Currently, the treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) mainly relies on traditional chemotherapeutic drugs; however, most of them have limited therapeutic effects and high toxicity. Some natural products with good therapeutic efficacy and low toxicity and side effects are limited in clinical application due to their low solubility and bioavailability. In this study, a nanoliposome drug-carrying system (Lip-Cur/Ba) was developed for the co-delivery of curcumin (Cur) and baicalin (Ba) using the thin-film hydration method. In vitro experiments demonstrated that Lip-Cur/Ba had a strong killing effect on A549 cells, and the inhibitory effect of Lip-Cur/Ba on A549 cells was enhanced by 67.8% and 51.9% relative to that of the single-carrier system, which could reduce the use of a single-drug dose (Lip-Cur and Lip-Ba), delay the release rate of the drug and improve the bioavailability. In vivo experiments demonstrated the antitumor activity of Lip-Cur/Ba by intravitreal injection in BALB/c mice, and there were no obvious toxic side effects. This study provides a new idea for curcumin and baicalin to be used in the co-treatment of NSCLC by constructing a new vector.

Timber-framed masonry structures are widely used around the world, and their seismic performance is generally poor. Most of them have not been seismically strengthened. In areas with high seismic fortification intensity, there are great potential safety hazards. And it is urgent to carry out effective seismic reinforcement. However, due to the complicated construction process of the existing reinforcement technology, the poor durability of the reinforcement materials, and the significant disturbance to the life of the original residents, an efficient single-story timber-framed masonry structure reinforcement technology suitable for comprehensive promotion and application has not been explored. In this paper, a fiber-reinforced cement mortar (FRCM) material was proposed. A 1/2 scale model of a single-story timber-framed masonry structure was taken as the research object. The method of strengthening a single-story timber-framed masonry structure with FRCM layer was adopted. And the shaking table test of the model before and after reinforcement was carried out in turn. The dynamic characteristics, failure modes, acceleration response and displacement response of the FRCM layer-strengthened structure were analyzed through comparisons of the two cases. The experimental results showed that the FRCM layer significantly improved the seismic performance of the seismic-damaged single-story timber-framed masonry structures. The X- and Y-direction natural frequencies of the model structure were increased by 31.30% and 30.22%, respectively, after the structure was strengthened with FRCM. During a rare eight-degree earthquake, the inter-story displacement angles in the X- and Y-direction of the unreinforced model reached 1/98 and 1/577, respectively, and the structure was destroyed, while the inter-story displacement angle of the FRCM-reinforced model was only 1/2 of that the unreinforced model. During a rare nine-degree earthquake, the X-direction inter-story displacement angle of the model strengthened with FRCM reached 1/78 and the Y-direction inter-story displacement angle reached 1/178. At this time, the reinforced model structure was destroyed, but there was no collapse of the structural components, which met the seismic design objectives of “operational under the design minor seismic intensity, repairable damage under the design seismic precautionary intensity, and collapse prevention under the design rare seismic intensity”, which proved that the FRCM layer was an effective and feasible way to strengthen the existing single-story wood-masonry rural building.

Taking austenitic stainless-steel bellows as the research object, a finite element model for the heat treatment of austenitic stainless-steel bellows was constructed based on ABAQUS CAE 2022. The physical properties of the bellows after the heat treatment were analyzed using experimental and simulated curve processing analysis methods. The changes in residual stress and deformation in relation to the bellows under different cooling times were explored, as well as the distribution of residual stress and deformation at a certain cooling time. The results show that as the cooling time of the heat treatment increases, the residual stress of the bellow decreases significantly, the reduction rate accelerates, and the degree of deformation gradually decreases. When the cooling time of the heat treatment is 900 s, the residual stress of the wave peak in the middle position of the bellow is relatively small, and the residual stress value of the wave valley along the axis direction does not change significantly. The deformation degree of the wave peak and valley axis direction is relatively uniform.

Fractional Forest cover holds significance in characterizing the ecological condition of forests and serves as a crucial input parameter for climate and hydrological models. This research introduces a novel approach for generating a 250 m fractional forest cover product with an 8-day temporal resolution based on the updated GLASS FVC product and the annualized MODIS VCF product, thereby facilitating the development of a high-quality, long-time-series forest cover product on a global scale. Validation of the proposed product, employing high spatial resolution GFCC data, demonstrates its high accuracy across various continents and forest cover scenarios globally. It yields an average fit coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.9085 and an average root-mean-square error of 7.22%. Furthermore, to assess the availability and credibility of forest cover data with high temporal resolution, this study integrates the CCDC algorithm to map forest disturbances and quantify the yearly and even monthly disturbed trace area within two sub-study areas of the Amazon region. The achieved sample validation accuracy is over 86%, which substantiates the reliability of the data. This investigation offers a fresh perspective on monitoring forest changes and observing forest disturbances by amalgamating data from diverse sources, enabling the mapping of dynamic forest cover over an extensive time series with high temporal resolution, thereby mitigating data gaps and enhancing the precision of existing products.

The Tianshan Mountains, the largest arid mountain range in Central Asia, feature diverse terrains and significant landscape heterogeneity. The grasslands within the Xinjiang Tianshan region are particularly sensitive to climate change and human activities. However, until recently, the patterns and mechanisms underlying grassland changes in this region have been unclear. In this study, we analyzed spatial and temporal changes in grassland fractional vegetation cover (FVC) from 2001 to 2020, analyzed spatial and temporal changes in grassland, and predicted future trends using Global Land Surface Satellite (GLASS) FVC data, trend analysis, and the Hurst index method. We also explored the driving mechanisms behind these changes through the structural equation model (SEM). The results showed that from 2001 to 2020, the grassland FVC in the Tianshan region of Xinjiang was higher in the central and western regions and lower in the northern and southern regions, showing an overall fluctuating growth trend, with a change in the growth rate of 0. 0017/a (p < 0.05), and that this change was spatially heterogeneous, with the sum of significant improvement (20.6%) and slight improvement (29.9%) being much larger than the sum of significant degradation (0.6%) and slight degradation (9.5%). However, the Hurst index (H = 0.47) suggests that this trend may not continue, and there is a risk of degradation. Our study uncovers the complex interactions between the Tianshan barrier effect and grassland ecosystems, highlighting regional differences in driving mechanisms. Although the impacts of climatic conditions in grasslands vary over time in different regions, the topography and its resulting hydrothermal conditions are still dominant, and the extent of the impact is susceptible to fluctuations of varying degrees due to extreme climatic events. Additionally, the number of livestock changes significantly affects the grasslands on the southern slopes of the Tianshan Mountains, while the effects of nighttime light are minimal. By focusing on the topographical barrier effect, this study enhances our understanding of grassland vegetation dynamics in the Tianshan Mountains of Xinjiang, contributing to improved ecosystem management strategies under climate change.

This paper presents an acoustic emission (AE) detection method for refined oil storage tanks which is aimed towards specialized places such as oil storage tanks with high explosion-proof requirements, such as cave oil tanks and buried oil tanks. The method utilizes an explosion-proof acoustic emission instrument to detect the floor of a refined oil storage tank. By calculating the time difference between the defective acoustic signal and the speed of acoustic wave transmission, a mathematical model is constructed to analyze the detected signals. An independent channel AE detection system is designed, which can store the collected data in a piece of independent explosion-proof equipment, and can analyze and process the data in a safe area after the detection, solving the problems of a short signal acquisition distance and the weak safety protection applied to traditional AE instruments. A location analysis of the AE sources is conducted on the bottom plate of the tank, evaluating its corrosion condition accurately. The consistency between the evaluation and subsequent open-tank tests confirms that using AE technology effectively captures corrosion signals from oil storage tanks’ bottoms. The feasibility of carrying out online inspection under the condition of oil storage in vertical steel oil tanks was verified through a comparison with open inspections, which provided a guide for determining the inspection target and opening order of large-scale oil tanks.

Childhood obesity might threaten children’s current and adulthood health outcomes. Previous studies have illustrated the positive effects of physical activity on weight control; however, there is a lack of evidence on the optimal dose of physical activity. Therefore, we aimed to explore the relationship between physical activity and overweight and obesity, as well as the optimal threshold for physical activity. The median (interquartile range) and number (proportion) were used to describe the statistics. The Mann–Whitney U test and chi-square test were used for an univariable analysis. The generalized additive model with a smooth function was used to depict the preliminary relationship between physical activity and overweight and obesity. The cut-off level of physical activity was identified using AddFor algorithms, and a logistic regression model was applied to explore the multivariable relationship between physical activity and overweight and obesity after adjusting for control variables. According to the statistical analyses, 24.3% of 842 children and adolescents had overweight and obesity. The average number of days that the participants engaged in more than one hour of physical activity was three days a week. The optimal cut-off level of physical activity for the prevention of childhood overweight and obesity was 4 times a week. The participants who exercised more than four times a week (AOR(95% CI) = 0.56(0.38, 0.83), p = 0.004) were less likely to be overweight and obese. In the context of the general lack of physical activity among children and adolescents, we recommend that children and adolescents engage in 60 min of physical activity more than four times a week for a healthy weight.