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Abstract To explore the static pressure dynamic disaster mechanism of coal-and-gas outburst (CGO) fluid, the self-developed multi-field coupling large-scale physical simulation test system of coal mine dynamic disaster was used to carry out gas outburst and CGO physical simulation tests in straight, L-shaped and T-shaped roadways. The influence of roadway shape on the evolution of static pressure was explored, and the role of pulverized coal in the process of static pressure dynamic disaster was clarified. The results indicated that the static pressure showed a fluctuating downward trend during the outburst process. When gas outburst, the middle and front parts of the roadway in the straight section roadway were the most serious areas of static pressure disasters in the three shapes of roadways. The duration and range of high static pressure disaster in L-shaped roadway were larger than those in T-shaped and straight roadways in turn. When CGO, the most serious area of static pressure disaster in L-shaped and T-shaped roadways moved backward to the middle of the straight section roadway, and there was a rebound phenomenon in the process of static pressure fluctuation decline, which showed the pulse characteristics of CGO. During the outburst, the static pressure dynamic disaster hazard of L-shaped roadway was higher than that of T-shaped roadway, and the static pressure at the bifurcation structure decayed faster than that at the turning structure, which indicated that T-shaped roadway was more conducive to the release of static pressure in roadway, thus reduced the risk of static pressure disaster. When gas outburst, the static pressure attenuation of the fluid in the roadway before and after the turning and bifurcation structure was greater than that of CGO. The peak static pressure and impulse of the fluid during gas outburst were 2 times and 4–5 times that of CGO respectively. The presence of pulverized coal reduced the attenuation of static pressure and the hazard of dynamic disaster, prolonged the release time of energy, and led to the change of the maximum static pressure disaster area.

Abstract Background Gut microbes play an important role in the growth and health of neonatal piglets. Probiotics can promote the healthy growth of neonatal piglets by regulating their gut microbes. The study investigated the effects of spraying Lactiplantibacillus plantarum P-8 (L. plantarum P-8) fermentation broth on the growth performance and gut microbes of neonatal piglets. Results The animals were randomly divided into probiotics groups (109 neonatal piglets) and control groups (113 neonatal piglets). The probiotics group was sprayed with L. plantarum P-8 fermented liquid from 3 day before the expected date of the sow to the 7-day-old of piglets, while the control group was sprayed with equal dose of PBS. Average daily gain (ADG), immune and antioxidant status and metagenome sequencing were used to assess the changes in growth performance and gut microbiota of neonatal piglets. The results showed that L. plantarum P-8 treatment significantly improved the average daily gain (P

Abstract Electrocatalytic semihydrogenation of acetylene (C2H2) provides a facile and petroleum-independent strategy for ethylene (C2H4) production. However, the reliance on the preseparation and concentration of raw coal-derived C2H2 hinders its economic potential. Here, a concave surface is predicted to be beneficial for enriching C2H2 and optimizing its mass transfer kinetics, thus leading to a high partial pressure of C2H2 around active sites for the direct conversion of raw coal-derived C2H2. Then, a porous concave carbon-supported Cu nanoparticle (Cu-PCC) electrode is designed to enrich the C2H2 gas around the Cu sites. As a result, the as-prepared electrode enables a 91.7% C2H4 Faradaic efficiency and a 56.31% C2H2 single-pass conversion under a simulated raw coal-derived C2H2 atmosphere (~15%) at a partial current density of 0.42 A cm−2, greatly outperforming its counterpart without concave surface supports. The strengthened intermolecular π conjugation caused by the increased C2H2 coverage is revealed to result in the delocalization of π electrons in C2H2, consequently promoting C2H2 activation, suppressing hydrogen evolution competition and enhancing C2H4 selectivity.

Abstract Background “Multidisciplinary fast-track” (MFT) care can accelerate recovery and improve prognosis after surgery, but whether it is effective in older people after hip fracture surgery is unclear. Methods We retrospectively compared one-year all-cause mortality between hip fracture patients at least 80 years old at our institution who underwent hip fracture surgery between January 2014 and December 2018 and who then received MFT or conventional care. Multivariable regression was used to assess the association between MFT care and mortality after adjustment for confounders. Results The final analysis included 247 patients who received MFT care and 438 who received conventional orthopedic care. The MFT group showed significantly lower one-year mortality (8.9% vs. 14.4%, P = 0.037). Log-rank testing of Kaplan-Meier survival curves confirmed the survival advantage. However, the two groups did not differ significantly in rates of mortality during hospitalization or at 30 or 90 days after surgery. Regression analysis confirmed that MFT care was associated with lower risk of one-year mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 0.47, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.281–0.788, P = 0.04), and the survival benefit was confirmed in subgroups of patients with anemia (HR 0.453, 95% CI 0.268–0.767, P = 0.003) and patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists grade III (HR 0.202, 95% CI 0.08–0.51, P = 0.001). Conclusions MFT care can reduce one-year mortality among hip fracture patients at least 80 years old. This finding should be verified and extended in multi-center randomized controlled trials.

In this study, the prepared dish Kung Pao Chicken with soy protein artificial meat (SPAM-KPC) was developed to satisfy the higher demand for nutritious healthy and diversified convence food, and the changes in storage quality of SPAM-KPC at different storage temperatures (4, 25 and 37 ℃) were compared. The shelf life prediction model of the SPAM-KPC was established based on the total number of bacteria as the key quality factor affecting the shelf life of the product. The results showed that the total colony count of SPAM-KPC samples stored at three temperatures for 15 days increased from 0.67 lg(CFU/g) to 2.73, 3.37 and 4.33 lg(CFU/g), respectively. While pH (from 6.22 to 5.88, 5.87, 5.69) and sensory scores (from 25.12 to 22.67, 19.52, 16.84) gradually decreased, as well as hardness and springiness decreased. The shelf life of SPAM-KPC products at three storage temperatures was 28, 20 and 17 days, respectively. According to the findings, low-temperature storage at 4 ℃ was the best storage temperature for SPAM-KPC products. This work could provide a theoretical reference for the application of plant-based protein meat in the field of prepared dishes processing.

The substitutional structure of cyclotriphosphazene derivatives significantly influences their flame-retardant effectiveness. A cyclotriphosphazene derivative with triazole group, referred to as hexa(1,2,4-triazol-3-ylamine) cyclotriphosphazene (HATA), was utilized to improve the flame retardancy of epoxy resin (EP). Differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and dynamic mechanical analysis were employed to characterize the thermal properties of EP/HATA thermosets. HATA facilitated the curing of EP due to its triazole and secondary amine structure. EP/HATA thermosets exhibited improved char-forming ability and storage modulus, attributed to the rigid cyclophosphonitrile structure of HATA. As a result of incorporating 5% HATA with 0.73 wt% phosphorus, EP passed UL-94 V-0 level. Subsequent analysis using a cone calorimeter revealed obvious reductions in the peak heat release rate, fire growth rate, and total smoke production of EP with the addition of HATA. Simultaneously, there was a significant enhancement in the char yield of EP during combustion, indicating notable improvements in fire safety. Additional investigations, including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, TG-FTIR, and pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, were employed to analyze the char residue and gaseous volatiles. HATA promoted the formation of a dense, continuous, and intumescent char layer containing cyclophosphonitrile structure in EP. Moreover, the decomposition of HATA released a notable quantity of nitrogen-containing volatiles, effectively mitigating flammable gases originating from the EP matrix in gaseous phase. A biphasic flame-retardant mode of action was proposed, underscoring cooperative flame-retardant effects arising from the interaction between triazole substituents and cyclophosphonitrile structure in HATA molecular for EP.

Abstract Background The monocot chimeric jacalins (MCJ) proteins, which contain a jacalin-related lectin (JRL) domain and a dirigent domain (DIR), are specific to Poaceae. MCJ gene family is reported to play an important role in growth, development and stress response. However, their roles in maize have not been thoroughly investigated. Results In this study, eight MCJ genes in the maize genome (designated as ZmMCJs) were identified, which displayed unequal distribution across four chromosomes. Phylogenetic relationships between the ZmMCJs were evident through the identification of highly conserved motifs and gene structures. Analysis of transcriptome data revealed distinct expression patterns among the ZmMCJ genes, leading to their classification into four different modules, which were subsequently validated using RT-qPCR. Protein structures of the same module are found to be relatively similar. Subcellular localization experiments indicated that the ZmMCJs are mainly located on the cell membrane. Additionally, hemagglutination and inhibition experiments show that only part of the ZmMCJs protein has lectin activity, which is mediated by the JRL structure, and belongs to the mannose-binding type. The cis-acting elements in the promoter region of ZmMCJ genes predicted their involvement response to phytohormones, such as abscisic acid and jasmonic acid. This suggests that ZmMCJ genes may play a significant role in both biotic and abiotic stress responses. Conclusions Overall, this study adds new insights into our understanding of the gene-protein architecture, evolutionary characteristics, expression profiles, and potential functions of MCJ genes in maize.

Abstract The cold tolerance of Litopenaeus vannamei is important for breeding in specific areas. To explore the cold tolerance mechanism of L. vannamei, this study analyzed biochemical indicators, cell apoptosis, and metabolomic responses in cold-tolerant (Lv-T) and common (Lv-C) L. vannamei under low-temperature stress (18 °C and 10 °C). TUNEL analysis showed a significant increase in apoptosis of hepatopancreatic duct cells in L. vannamei under low-temperature stress. Biochemical analysis showed that Lv-T had significantly increased levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and triglycerides (TG), while alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH-L), and uric acid (UA) levels were significantly decreased compared to Lv-C (p

Abstract Obesity shapes anti-tumor immunity through lipid metabolism; however, the mechanisms underlying how colorectal cancer (CRC) cells utilize lipids to suppress anti-tumor immunity remain unclear. Here, we show that tumor cell-intrinsic ATP6V0A1 drives exogenous cholesterol-induced immunosuppression in CRC. ATP6V0A1 facilitates cholesterol absorption in CRC cells through RAB guanine nucleotide exchange factor 1 (RABGEF1)-dependent endosome maturation, leading to cholesterol accumulation within the endoplasmic reticulum and elevated production of 24-hydroxycholesterol (24-OHC). ATP6V0A1-induced 24-OHC upregulates TGF-β1 by activating the liver X receptor (LXR) signaling. Subsequently, the release of TGF-β1 into the tumor microenvironment by CRC cells activates the SMAD3 pathway in memory CD8+ T cells, ultimately suppressing their anti-tumor activities. Moreover, we identify daclatasvir, a clinically used anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) drug, as an ATP6V0A1 inhibitor that can effectively enhance the memory CD8+ T cell activity and suppress tumor growth in CRC. These findings shed light on the potential for ATP6V0A1-targeted immunotherapy in CRC.

Abstract Large language models (LLMs) are seen to have tremendous potential in advancing medical diagnosis recently, particularly in dermatological diagnosis, which is a very important task as skin and subcutaneous diseases rank high among the leading contributors to the global burden of nonfatal diseases. Here we present SkinGPT-4, which is an interactive dermatology diagnostic system based on multimodal large language models. We have aligned a pre-trained vision transformer with an LLM named Llama-2-13b-chat by collecting an extensive collection of skin disease images (comprising 52,929 publicly available and proprietary images) along with clinical concepts and doctors’ notes, and designing a two-step training strategy. We have quantitatively evaluated SkinGPT-4 on 150 real-life cases with board-certified dermatologists. With SkinGPT-4, users could upload their own skin photos for diagnosis, and the system could autonomously evaluate the images, identify the characteristics and categories of the skin conditions, perform in-depth analysis, and provide interactive treatment recommendations.

Lung cancer continues to be a major contributor to cancer-related deaths globally. Recent advances in immunotherapy have introduced promising treatments targeting T cell functionality. Central to the efficacy of these therapies is the role of T cells, which are often rendered dysfunctional due to continuous antigenic stimulation in the tumor microenvironment–a condition referred to as T cell exhaustion. This review addresses the critical challenge of T cell exhaustion in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), offering a detailed examination of its molecular underpinnings and the resultant therapeutic ineffectiveness. We synthesize current knowledge on the drivers of T cell exhaustion, evaluate emerging strategies for its reversal, and explore the potential impact of these insights for enhancing the clinical efficacy of immunotherapies. By consolidating reported clinical trials and preclinical studies, this article highlights innovative approaches to modulate immune responses and improve patient outcomes, thus providing a roadmap for future research and therapeutic development in lung cancer immunotherapy.

In recent years, an increasing number of studies have utilized molecular biology techniques to reveal important molecular heterogeneity among different subtypes of liposarcoma. Each subtype exhibits distinct genetic patterns and molecular pathways, which may serve as important targets for molecular therapy. In the present review, we focus on the molecular characteristics, molecular diagnostics, driver genes, and molecular mechanisms of liposarcoma. We also discuss the clinical research progress of related targeted therapies, with an aim to provide a reference and crucial insights for colleagues in the field.

Photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) hybrid technology offers significant potential for carbon neutrality by simultaneously converting photons into electricity and heat simultaneously. However, the mismatch between PV/T output temperature and the temperature demand across a wide range of scenarios limits its practical uses. Traditional PV cells have high infrared emissivity, resulting in significant heat losses and seriously significantly hindering the development of PV/T systems. Spectrally selective solar cells characterized by high solar absorption, low thermal emission, and photoelectric conversion process, have yet to be realized thus far. In this study, we propose an integrated design and develop a scalable industrial approach for fabricating meter-scale spectrally selective solar cell with a high solar absorptivity of 92.3 % and a low infrared emissivity of 20.3 %, achieving the highest absorption-emission ratio of measured 4.6 experimentally. The primary novelty of the design lies in integrating the PV cell electrode atop and low-emissivity layer into one eliminating the need for rare metals and reducing complexity. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the spectrally selective PV/T significantly increases the overall solar efficiency from 13.7 % to 82.5 % and reduces the heat loss coefficient to 3.55 W/(m2.K). The validated model accurately captures the high photovoltaic thermal efficiency, enabling new technological advancements.

As the outermost immune organ in vertebrates, the skin serves as the primary interface with the external environment and plays a crucial role in initiating the early immune response. The skin contains a variety of immune cells that induce mucosal and systemic immune responses, rendering it a prime target for vaccination strategies. Insight into the mechanisms through which vaccination triggers early immune responses is paramount for advancing animal and human health, yet our current understanding remains limited. Given its significance in vertebrate evolution, teleost fish emerges as an excellent model for investigating the early immune response of skin. In this study, we demonstrate that significant quantities of vaccine can be absorbed by the skin and transported to the body through dermis and muscle metabolism by immerses immune zebrafish with glycoprotein of spring viraemia of carp virus. Immersion immunization can elicit robust and enduring immune protection, with the skin triggering a potent immune response early in the immunization process. Analysis of the skin transcriptome revealed the involvement of numerous immune-related genes in the immersion immune response, with indications that HSP70 and MAPK signals might play pivotal roles in the immune process induced by glycoprotein. Co-immunoprecipitation and cell co-localization studies confirmed the interaction between glycoprotein and HSP70. Subsequent research demonstrated that overexpression or inhibition of HSP70 could respectively enhance or impede the expression of JNK and related proteins. However, the survival rate and immune response of HSP70 inhibited zebrafish with glycoprotein treatment were significantly reduced. These findings propose that the interaction between glycoprotein and HSP70 may activate JNK, thereby modulating mucosal and systemic immune responses induced by glycoprotein. This investigation offers novel insights and a foundational understanding of early skin immune reactions.

BackgroundThe blastocyst-stage embryo has been considered more advantageous for increasing the cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) at fresh embryo transfer (ET) compared to the cleavage-stage embryo. However, it remains uncertain whether this advantage extends to specialized subpopulations, such as women with thin endometrium (TE), who are characteristic of impaired endometrial receptivity. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the difference in the CLBR between cleavage-stage and blastocyst-stage embryos at fresh ET specifically in women with TE.MethodsA retrospective cohort comprising 1089 women from three centers, ranging from September 2017 to January 2022, was established. These women were diagnosed with TE (defined as endometrium thickness

BackgroundVitronectin (VTN) is a multifunctional glycoprotein in blood and the extracellular, which could be an effective biomarker for many cancers. However, its role in cervical cancer is under investigated. In this study, we aimed to determine the molecular function of VTN and its potential mechanism in cervical cancer (CC).Materials and methodsUp- and down-regulated VTN expression was determined in Hela and C33A cells. Reverse transcription, qRT-PCR, and Western blotting test were performed to identify VTN mRNA and protein levels, separately. CCK-8 assay and colony formation assay were carried out to evaluate proliferation abilities of CC cells. A scratch test and a transwell chamber assay were performed to determine cell migration and invasion ability. Expression levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins were measured by Western blotting.ResultsCell models with up- and down-regulated VTN expression in Hela and C33A cells were successfully established, as confirmed by Western blotting and qPCR. CCK-8 and colony formation assays demonstrated that VTN overexpression significantly enhanced the proliferation of both Hela and C33A cells. Wound healing and Transwell migration assays further indicated that VTN overexpression markedly promoted the migratory and invasive capabilities of these cells. Moreover, Western blotting analysis revealed that VTN overexpression led to a decrease in ZO-1 and E-cadherin protein levels and an increase in β-catenin and N-cadherin levels, whereas VTN knockdown yielded the opposite effect. These findings suggest that VTN promotes cervical cancer cell malignancy through epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).ConclusionVTN plays a tumor-promoting role in CC by promoting the EMT of cervical cancer cells.

Anxiety disorders, prevalent mental health conditions, receive significant attention globally due to their intricate etiology and the suboptimal effectiveness of existing therapies. Research is increasingly recognizing that the genesis of anxiety involves not only neurochemical brain alterations but also changes in gut microbiota. The microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA), serving as a bidirectional communication pathway between the gut microbiota and the central nervous system (CNS), is at the forefront of novel approaches to deciphering the complex pathophysiology of anxiety disorders. This review scrutinizes the role and recent advancements in the MGBA concerning anxiety disorders through a review of the literature, emphasizing mechanisms via neural signals, endocrine pathways, and immune responses. The evidence robustly supports the critical influence of MGBA in both the development and progression of these disorders. Furthermore, this discussion explores potential therapeutic avenues stemming from these insights, alongside the challenges and issues present in this realm. Collectively, our findings aim to enhance understanding of the pathological mechanisms and foster improved preventative and therapeutic strategies for anxiety disorders.

ObjectivesTo examine age-specific trends and risk factors in the burden of women’s cancers (WCs) in China from 1990 to 2019 to inform strategies.MethodsData were sourced from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 and World Population Prospects 2019. Time trends, age differences, and key factors for breast, cervical, and ovarian cancers (BC, CC, and OC) were analyzed based on age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rate.ResultsASIRs for BC and CC increased over the study period, with a slower growth rate for CC after 2005, likely due to targeted HPV prevention. OC showed the highest ASIR and DALY increases, indicating a growing concern. Peak ASIR for BC and CC was in women aged 50–55, while OC showed a higher burden in women aged 70–79. Lower DALYs in women born after 1985 suggest improved healthcare access.ConclusionThis study highlights significant trends in cancer burden among Chinese women, driven by age and reproductive health policies. Future efforts should enhance screening, health literacy, and age-targeted risk reduction for specific cancer types.

Microstructure engineering serves as a potent approach to counteract the mechanical deterioration of Ni-rich layered cathodes, stemming from anisotropic strain during Li+ (de)intercalation. However, a pressing challenge persists in devising a direct method for fabricating radially aligned cathodes utilizing oriented hydroxide precursors. In this study, we synthesized LiNi0.92Co0.04Mn0.04O2 oxides boasting superior radially aligned, size-refined primary particles through a combination of strategic precipitation regulation and lithiation tuning. Elongated primary particles, achieved by stepwise control of ammonia concentration and pH during particle growth, facilitate the formation of radially aligned hydroxide precursor particles. Leveraging the size-refined and radially aligned primary particles, our prepared LiNi0.92Co0.04Mn0.04O2 cathode exhibits a high discharge capacity of 229 ​mAh ​g−1 ​at 0.05 C, alongside excellent cycle stability, retaining 93.3% capacity after 200 cycles at 0.5 C (30 ​°C) in a half cell, and 86.4% capacity after 1000 cycles at 1 C (30 ​°C) in a full cell. Revisiting the regulation from precursor to oxide underscores the significance of controlling primary particles to maximize size perpendicular to [001] and attain suitable size along [001] during precursor precipitation and high-temperature calcination, offering valuable insights for synthesizing high-performance Ni-rich cathodes.

This study used skipjack by-products to produce skipjack trypsin hydrolysate (STH), which was then processed through the Maillard reaction to create its Maillard product, STHMS3 (200–1000 Da). We evaluated STHMS3's protective effects against hyperuricemia-induced renal injury in mice. Utilizing in vivo experiments, network pharmacology, and molecular docking, we explored its protective mechanisms. STHMS3 significantly decreased serum uric acid, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and xanthine oxidase (XOD) levels, reduced oxidative stress, and enhanced antioxidant protein levels in kidneys. Network pharmacology analysis showed STHMS3's interaction with multiple targets and pathways, including apoptosis, NF-κB, and TNF signaling pathways, suggesting a multi-level interactive network mechanism. Molecular docking confirmed STHMS3's ability to directly inhibit XOD through hydrogen bond formation. This study highlights the therapeutic potential of food-derived peptides in managing hyperuricemia and protecting renal function.

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a common degenerative disease of the spine that has a significant impact on both society and human health. Many studies have confirmed that there is a close relationship between IDD and senescence and apoptosis, and autophagy can combat apoptosis and senescence. Spatholobi caulis (SC) is an herb that contains various active compounds that are effective in tissue repair and regeneration, but it has not been explored in field of IDD. In this study, it was first found that SC can boost autophagy and reduce the apoptosis and senescence of Nucleus pulposus cell (NPCs). However, our animal studies revealed limited absorption of SC. To improve the bioavailability and efficacy of SC, we developed a hydrogel incorporating quaternary ammonium chitosan (QCS) and oxidized starch (OST) as carriers for SC. The QCS-OST/SC hydrogel exhibits excellent compatibility with cells, can be easily injected, and can release SC durably. At the cellular level, the QCS-OST/SC hydrogel enhances cell viability, initiates autophagy and release of the extracellular matrix (ECM), and inhibits cellular senescence and apoptosis. The injection of the QCS-OST/SC hydrogel via microneedles (MNs) into discs had successfully diminished disc degeneration in rats, which shows that this hydrogel has broad potential in the treatment of IDD.

Summary: Metabolite-protein interactions have not been systematically studied due to a lack of effective techniques. Here, we present a protocol for identifying small-molecule metabolite ligands interacting with proteins. We describe steps for mixing the sample with antibodies for immunoprecipitation and applying organic solvent to extract small-molecule metabolites. We then detail procedures for using high-resolution mass spectrometry to quantify small-molecule metabolites bound to proteins. We validate protocol feasibility using the example of an arachidonic acid-Menin protein interaction.For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to He et al.1 : Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.

Fusion In-vessel components, assembled and maintained using laser welding, one of the most promising techniques, exhibit complex distributions of residual stress, microstructures, and material properties. These residual stresses can compromise structural integrity and lifespan of critical components. Although using advanced experimental measurements can evaluate the residual stress for individual case, extending the measurements to massive number of components are costly and time-consuming. Traditional machine learning (ML) models struggle to account for the heterogeneity and anisotropy of these stress distributions. Here, we develop a novel ML framework based on the Eurofer97 steel, the structural material for in-vessel components. The ML framework is trained on high-resolution residual stress data derived from recently-developed evaluation techniques. Combining with microstructures, the model enables prediction of heterogenous and anisotropic residual stress distribution. It successfully predicts the compressive residual stress in fusion zone (∼−200 MPa) balanced by tensile residual stress in heat affected zone (∼300 MPa), aligning closely with experimental results with the R-squared value of 0.989 and the mean square error of 10−4. Unlike experiments that take hours, the ML model provides predictions within seconds. It offers valuable insights into residual stress prediction for various joints, enhancing the reliability and lifetime prediction of in-vessel components.

Background: Long-chain non-coding RNA (LINC00261) in the treatment of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) with 131I is still unknown despite its proven anti-tumour effect in thyroid cancer (TC) and other types of cancer. Methods: The database and RT-qPCR were used to analyze the expression level of LINC00261 in PTC and cell lines. PTC cells resistant to 131I (TPC-1/R) were created through ongoing exposure to a lethal dose of 131I, and a subcutaneous xenotransplantation model was developed using PTC mice. Bioinformatics analysis and dual-luciferase assays demonstrated the interaction between LINC00261, miR-23a-3p, and CELF2. RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of LINC00261, miR-23a-3p, and CELF2. Additionally, CCK-8, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence (IF), Western blot, and comet assay were employed to measure cell viability level and DNA damage. Results: PTC cell lines exhibited a decrease in the expression of LINC00261. The growth and progression through the S-phase of TPC-1/R cells were suppressed by LINC00261, leading to increased apoptosis and DNA damage. The objective of LINC00261 was to regulate the axis of miR-23a-3p/CELF2. Downregulating LINC00261 enhances the growth and advancement of 131I-resistant cells in the S-phase by activating the miR-23a-3p/CELF2 pathway while suppressing cell death and DNA harm. The miR-23a-3p/CELF2 axis activates DNA damage in 131I-resistant PTC cells by LINC00261. Conclusions: LINC00261 activates DNA damage in 131I-resistant PTC cells caused by miR-23a-3p/CELF2 axis, improving the progression of cancer cells of PTC.

In tokamak devices, the performance of plasma facing components (PFCs) under high heat loads is a key challenge for achieving long-pulse and high-performance plasma operations. The lower divertor of EAST adopts an ITER-like cassette modules (CMs) structure. However, regular distribution of damage along the toroidal direction have been observed on the divertor target plates, which not only affects the lifespan of PFCs but also limits the long-pulse and high-performance plasma operations. Therefore, investigating the toroidal distribution of the heat load on the divertor target in EAST is crucial for understanding the mechanism of damage on the target plate surface. The toroidal characteristics of heat loads on CMs of the lower divertor in EAST was analyzed using a three-dimensional magnetic field line tracing program (PFCFlux). For the inner vertical target (IVT) and outer vertical target (OVT) within a single CM, the heat load varies monotonically along the toroidal direction. In contrast, the heat load distribution on the outer horizontal target (OHT) is uniform, except at the chamfers, which is directly correlated with the target’s geometric structure and the magnetic field configuration. The surface heat load distribution exhibits toroidal non-uniformity, with the heat deposition pattern being generally consistent and displaying periodic variations. The toroidally uneven heat load distribution is attributed to the change in the magnetic field’s tilt angle. Additionally, the peak heat load is observed at the chamfer positions between cassettes, and an analysis is conducted on the relationship between peak heat load and the size of the chamfer. Smaller tilt angles result in lower surface heat load. Furthermore, a comparative analysis of peak heat loads at the chamfer under different plasma current conditions reveals that higher plasma currents generally result in increased peak heat loads. This investigation into the toroidal heat load distribution on the divertor surface contributes to understanding of the damage mechanism of W PFC as the target plate and provides valuable data for divertor design of future fusion devices.

Objective The use of cobalt alloys in medical implants poses a high risk of cobalt exposure, yet there is a lack of evidence regarding the association between blood cobalt levels and anemia. This study aimed to explore the link between blood cobalt levels and the onset of anemia and to identify potential threshold levels of blood cobalt that could affect anemia.Methods The US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2017 to 2020 were analyzed for this cross-sectional study. This study primarily employed multivariate logistic regression, stratified interaction analysis, restricted cubic splines (RCS), and threshold effect analysis to explore the relationship between blood cobalt concentration and anemia.Results The study included 5510 participants and among them 12.2% were diagnosed with anemia. Logistic regression model indicates a positive correlation between blood cobalt levels and the risk of anemia. RCS shows that the relationship between ln cobalt concentration and anemia was non-linear (J-shaped). The ln cobalt inflection point was approximately 0.81. The odds ratio of anemia with ln cobalt ≥ 0.81 was 4.00 (95% CI: 2.95–5.43, p

Purpose To develop and validate a web-based nomogram for predicting new incident chronic kidney disease (CKD) within 4 years in a cohort undergoing routine physical examination from two health examination centers.Methods One center was utilized for training and internal validation of a nomogram model involving 6515 patients, while a separate center was employed for external validation with 3152 patients. Sixteen candidate predictors, including patient demographics, medical histories, physical examination, and laboratory test data, were included in this study to ascertain factors linked to new incident CKD. A nomogram was created to predict CKD risks using a logistic model. The nomogram’s performance was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), calibration plot, and decision curve analysis.Results Out of the 9667 healthy individuals included in the study with mean age of 46 years, sex ratio (male/female) of 1.69 (6075/3592), 118 (2.59%), 51 (2.61%), and 60 (1.90%) individuals developed CKD in the training (n = 4563), internal validation (n = 1952), and external validation (n = 3152) datasets, respectively. Age, history of diabetes mellitus, systolic blood pressure, serum creatinine, albumin, and triglyceride levels were used to build the nomogram, which yielded excellent discrimination ability (training cohort, AUC = 0.8806, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.8472–0.9141; internal validation cohort, AUC = 0.8506, 95% CI 0.7856–0.9156; external validation cohort, AUC = 0.9183, 95% CI 0.8698–0.9669). We further developed a web-based calculator for convenient application (https://luochuxuan.shinyapps.io/dynnomapp/).Conclusion Our web-based nomogram accurately predicted CKD risks in Chinese health individuals and can be easily used in clinical settings.

Mixed ionic-electronic conductors (MIECs) play a crucial role in the landscape of energy conversion and storage technologies, with a pronounced focus on electrode materials’ application in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and proton-conducting ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs). In parallel, the emergence of semiconductor ionic materials (SIMs) has introduced a new paradigm in the field of functional materials, particularly for both electrode and electrolyte development for low-temperature, 300–550 ​°C, SOFCs, and PCFCs. This review article critically delves into the intricate mechanisms underpinning the synergistic relationship between MIECs and SIMs, with a particular emphasis on elucidating the fundamental working principles of semiconductor ionic membrane fuel cells (SIMFCs). By exploring critical facets such as ion-coupled electron transfer/transport, junction effect, energy bands alignment, and theoretical computations, it casts an illuminating spotlight on the transformative potential of MIECs, also involving triple charge conducting oxides (TCOs) in the context of SIMs and advanced fuel cells (FCs). The insights and findings articulated herein contribute substantially to the advancement of SIMs and SIMFCs by tailoring MIECs (TCOs) as promising avenues toward the emergence of high-performance SIMFCs. This scientific quest not only addresses the insistent challenges surrounding efficient charge transfer, ionic transport and power output but also unlocks the profound potential for the widespread commercialization of FC technology.

In previous studies, the implementation of vegetation structure information remains underutilized during the assessment of burn severity. A PolSAR-based burn severity assessment model was proposed by incorporating polarimetric decomposition features. Based on coherence matrix, three polarimetric decomposition features (i.e. Entropy, Anisotropy, and Alpha) which might be related with some field variables of burn severity (e.g. percent foliage altered, percent change in cover, percent canopy mortality, and percent tree mortality) were extracted. Then, a sensitivity analysis of 20 PolSAR features was performed and a principal component analysis (PCA) was applied. Finally, the combination of polarimetric decomposition features and new PCA vectors were used as inputs and CBI values as outputs of random forest algorithm to assess burn severity. The Jinyun Mountain in the Chongqing municipality of China was used as study area and the C-band of dual-polarization SAR data acquired from Sentinel-1 satellite were used as remotely sensed data. The sensitivity analysis of PolSAR features showed that H, A, and α features exhibited higher correlations with CBI values, compared to SAR indices. For proposed model, the R was 0.60 and the RMSE was 0.55. This study offered a new research perspective for future investigations on PolSAR-based burn severity assessment of wildfires.

Background Prostate cancer (PCa) is among the three main types of cancer. Although prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is routinely tested, it has disadvantages, such as poor prognostic ability. Therefore, finding more PCa markers and therapeutic targets remains a subject of study. CircRNAs have been found to have regulatory roles in various diseases, such as diabetes, Central Nervous System (CNS) neuropathy, etc. where their application in cancer is even more valuable. Therefore, this paper aims to search for differentially expressed circRNAs in PCa and find downstream targeting pathways related to autophagy.Method By detecting the expression of circRNA in the samples, hsa_circ_0119816 was finally identified as the research target. The properties of circRNA were verified by RNase R, actinomycin D, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The downstream target miRNAs and target proteins were predicted by an online database, and the targeting relationship was verified using dual luciferase and RNA Immunoprecipitation. The effects of circRNAs and their downstream signalling pathways on prostate cancer cell proliferation, migration, EMT and autophagy were examined by CCK-8, Transwell, immunofluorescence and Western blotting.Results CircBIRC6 is highly expressed in prostate cancer samples. Knockdown of its expression inhibits cell proliferation, invasion, EMT and autophagy and promotes apoptosis. CircBIRC6/miRNA-574-5p/DNAJB1 is a molecular axis that regulates prostate cancer cells.

Background The role of peripheral eosinophils in chronic kidney disease (CKD) requires further evaluation. We aimed to determine whether an eosinophil count increase is related to the occurrence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD).Methods This single-center, observational, retrospective cohort study was conducted between January 2016 and December 2018 in Hangzhou, China, and included 3163 patients, categorized into four groups according to peripheral eosinophil count (PEC) quartile values. The main outcome was ESRD development during follow-up. We evaluated the relationship between the serum eosinophil count, demographic and clinical information, and ESRD incidence. Cox proportional hazards models and Kaplan–Meier survival curves were used.Results A total of 3163 patients with CKD were included in this cohort, of whom 1254 (39.6%) were females. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) age was 75 [64, 85] years, and the median (IQR) estimated glomerular filtration rate was 55.16 [45.19, 61.19] mL/min/1.73 m2. The median PEC was 0.1224 × 109/L (IQR, 0.0625–0.212). Among the 3163 patients with CKD, 273 (8.6%) developed ESRD during a median follow-up time of 443.8 [238.8, 764.9] days. Individuals in the highest PEC quartile had a 66.2% higher ESRD risk than those in the lowest quartile (hazard ratio, 1.662; 95% confidence interval, 1.165–2.372). The results from the Kaplan–Meier survival curves confirmed the conclusion.Conclusions Alongside traditional risk factors, patients with CKD and an elevated PEC are more likely to develop ESRD. Therefore, more attention should be paid to those patients with CKD who have a high PEC.

The Williams–Landel–Ferry (WLF) equation is critical for predicting the rheological behavior of viscoelastic materials. However, no research has reported the main parameters, C1 and C2, in WLF equations for fiber-reinforced asphalts (FRAs). To provide the fundamental information for designing FRAs, this study investigated the rheological behaviors of asphalts reinforced by flocculent basalt fibers (fBFs) and short basalt fibers (sBFs) with a content of 2–6 wt%. The glass transition behavior and shift factor of basalt fiber-reinforced asphalts (BFRAs) were obtained using dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Material-specific C1 and C2 in the WLF equation were carried out using the programming solver method. As a result, the functions for C1 and C2 concerning a chosen reference temperature (Tref) were developed so that the predicted master curves of BFRA on non-measured conditions can be precisely established. C1 and C2 for BFRA varied from 9.6 to 6.5 and ∼110 to ∼160, respectively, with the Tref increasing from 46℃ to 76℃. Additionally, the study revealed that flocculent fibers reduce Tg and lift the softening point (Ts) of the FRA, extending the service temperature range of BFRAs by more than 10℃. Meanwhile, short fibers shift the Tg and Ts upward without extension of the service temperature range.

A novel Arctium lappa L. polysaccharide zinc (ALP-Zn) complex was synthesized with success. The structural characteristics, stability, and in vitro digestive properties of ALP-Zn were studied. Moreover, the immunoreactivity of ALP-Zn on murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) was investigated by examining surface molecule expression, cytokine production and endocytosis. The results showed that the weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of ALP-Zn was 60,268 Da. ALP-Zn mainly consisted of fructose, arabinose, galactose, and glucose in a mass ratio of 50.74:27.94:12.49:7.26. Zn-O characteristic peak was identified by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy at 433.42 cm−1, indicating that zinc was successfully complexed with ALP. The stability and in vitro digestive properties suggested that ALP-Zn had good stability and biological acceptability. Furthermore, ALP and ALP-Zn demonstrated excellent immunological effects on dendritic cells (DCs). After being treated with ALP and ALP-Zn, CD80 and CD86 expression on the surface of DCs were increased and DCs maturation was induced. Moreover, ALP and ALP-Zn also significantly reduced DC endocytosis and increased cytokine (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6). As a consequence, ALP-Zn complex could be as a potential zinc supplement with immune properties.

Objectives Constitutive activation of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling pathway is central to the pathogenesis of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate diverse biological processes. However, the role of lncRNAs in MPN pathogenesis is not well studied.Methods The expression of lnc-AC004893 in MPN patients was measured by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Gene-specific short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) were designed to inhibit the expression of lnc-AC004893, and western blot was performed to explore the role of lnc-AC004893 via regulating the JAK2/STAT5 signaling pathway. Furthermore, co-IP was performed to determine the binding ability of lnc-AC004893 and STAT5 protein. Finally, the BaF3-JAK2V617F-transplanted mouse model was used to assess the biological role of lnc-ac004893 in vivo.Results We report that lnc-AC004893, a poorly conserved pseudogene-209, is substantially upregulated in MPN cells compared with normal controls (NCs). Knockdown of lnc-AC004893 by specific shRNAs suppressed cell proliferation and decreased colony formation. Furthermore, the knockdown of lnc-AC004893 reduced the expression of p-STAT5 but not total STAT5 in HEL and murine IL-3-dependent Ba/F3 cells, which present constitutive and inducible activation of JAK2/STAT5 signaling. In addition, inhibition of murine lnc-ac004893 attenuated BaF3-JAK2V617F-transplanted phenotypes and extended the overall survival. Mechanistically, knockdown of lnc-AC004893 enhanced the binding ability of STAT5 and protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP1. Furthermore, knockdown of lnc-AC004893 decreased STAT5-lnc-AC004893 interaction but not SHP1-lnc-AC004893 interaction.Conclusion Lnc-AC004893 regulates STAT5 phosphorylation by affecting the interaction of STAT5 and SHP1. Lnc-AC004893 might be a potential therapeutic target for MPN patients.

Background In some resource-limited regions, the placement of tunneled dialysis catheters (TDC) is often preferred under ultrasound guidance rather than fluoroscopy. This study compared ultrasound-and digital subtraction angiography-guided (DSA)-guided TDC in renal replacement therapy.Methods This retrospective cohort study included all TDC placements performed at our hospital between January 2020 and October 2022. We utilized 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) to balance the demographic and clinical characteristics of the DSA-guided and ultrasound-guided groups. Dialysis prescriptions and actual dialysis completion were assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Multivariable logistic regression analyses determined the risk factors for early termination of dialysis. The differences in adverse events, catheter function, and catheter tip position were evaluated between the two groups.Results The study included 261 patients (142 in the DSA-guided group and 119 in the ultrasound-guided group). After PSM, 91 patients were included in each group, with no significant baseline differences (p > .1). Both groups achieved adequate catheter blood flow and ultrafiltration volumes without deviations from dialysis prescriptions (ICC ≥ 0.75). The DSA-guided group had fewer early dialysis terminations than the ultrasound-guided group (3.3 vs. 12.0%, p = .026). The position of the catheter tip in the right atrium was more consistent in the DSA-guided group (100 vs. 74.2%, p

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the predominant manifestation of inflammatory arthritis, distinguished by an increasing burden of morbidity and mortality. The intricate interplay of genes and signalling pathways involved in synovial inflammation in patients with RA remains inadequately comprehended. This study aimed to ascertain the role of necroptosis in RA, as along with their associations with immune cell infiltration. Differential expression analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) were employed to identify central genes for RA. In this study, identified total of 28 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in RA. Utilising WGCNA, two co-expression modules were generated, with one module demonstrating the strongest correlation with RA. Through the integration of differential gene expression analysis, a total of 5 intersecting genes were discovered. These 5 hub genes, namely fused in sarcoma (FUS), transformer 2 beta homolog (TRA2B), eukaryotic translation elongation factor 2 (EEF2), cleavage and polyadenylation specific factor 6 (CPSF6) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) were found to possess significant diagnostic value as determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The close association between the concentrations of various immune cells is anticipated to contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of RA. Furthermore, the infiltration of immune cells mentioned earlier is likely to exert a substantial influence on the initiation of this disease.

Background Machine learning (ML), a subset of artificial intelligence (AI), uses algorithms to analyze data and predict outcomes without extensive human intervention. In healthcare, ML is gaining attention for enhancing patient outcomes. This study focuses on predicting additional hospital days (AHD) for patients with cervical spondylosis (CS), a condition affecting the cervical spine. The research aims to develop an ML-based nomogram model analyzing clinical and demographic factors to estimate hospital length of stay (LOS). Accurate AHD predictions enable efficient resource allocation, improved patient care, and potential cost reduction in healthcare.Methods The study selected CS patients undergoing cervical spine surgery and investigated their medical data. A total of 945 patients were recruited, with 570 males and 375 females. The mean number of LOS calculated for the total sample was 8.64 ± 3.7 days. A LOS equal to or 8.64 days comprised the AHD-positive group (n = 406). The collected data was randomly divided into training and validation cohorts using a 7:3 ratio. The parameters included their general conditions, chronic diseases, preoperative clinical scores, and preoperative radiographic data including ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament (OALL), ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL), cervical instability and magnetic resonance imaging T2-weighted imaging high signal (MRI T2WIHS), operative indicators and complications. ML-based models like Lasso regression, random forest (RF), and support vector machine (SVM) recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE) were developed for predicting AHD-related risk factors. The intersections of the variables screened by the aforementioned algorithms were utilized to construct a nomogram model for predicting AHD in patients. The area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and C-index were used to evaluate the performance of the nomogram. Calibration curve and decision curve analysis (DCA) were performed to test the calibration performance and clinical utility.Results For these participants, 25 statistically significant parameters were identified as risk factors for AHD. Among these, nine factors were obtained as the intersection factors of these three ML algorithms and were used to develop a nomogram model. These factors were gender, age, body mass index (BMI), American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scores, magnetic resonance imaging T2-weighted imaging high signal (MRI T2WIHS), operated segment, intraoperative bleeding volume, the volume of drainage, and diabetes. After model validation, the AUC was 0.753 in the training cohort and 0.777 in the validation cohort. The calibration curve exhibited a satisfactory agreement between the nomogram predictions and actual probabilities. The C-index was 0.788 (95% confidence interval: 0.73214–0.84386). On the decision curve analysis (DCA), the threshold probability of the nomogram ranged from 1 to 99% (training cohort) and 1 to 75% (validation cohort).Conclusion We successfully developed an ML model for predicting AHD in patients undergoing cervical spine surgery, showcasing its potential to support clinicians in AHD identification and enhance perioperative treatment strategies.

AbstractTendons are fibroblastic structures that link muscle and bone. There are two kinds of tendon injuries, including acute and chronic. Each form of injury or deterioration can result in significant pain and loss of tendon function. The recovery of tendon damage is a complex and time-consuming recovery process. Depending on the anatomical location of the tendon tissue, the clinical outcomes are not the same. The healing of the wound process is divided into three stages that overlap: inflammation, proliferation, and tissue remodeling. Furthermore, the curing tendon has a high re-tear rate. Faced with the challenges, tendon injury management is still a clinical issue that must be resolved as soon as possible. Several newer directions and breakthroughs in tendon recovery have emerged in recent years. This article describes tendon injury and summarizes recent advances in tendon recovery, along with stem cell therapy, gene therapy, Platelet-rich plasma remedy, growth factors, drug treatment, and tissue engineering. Despite the recent fast-growing research in tendon recovery treatment, still, none of them translated to the clinical setting. This review provides a detailed overview of tendon injuries and potential preclinical approaches for treating tendon injuries.

ABSTRACTMultimodal change detection (MCD) combines multiple remote sensing data sources to realize surface change monitoring, which is essential for disaster evaluation and environmental monitoring. However, due to the ‘incomparable’ features in multimodal data, traditional change detection methods for unimodal (homogenous) data no longer apply. To address this issue, this paper proposes a novel MCD method with global structure graph mapping (GSGM) which extracts the ‘comparable’ structural features between multimodal datasets and constructs a global structure graph (GSG) to express the structure information for each of the multi-temporal images, which are then cross-mapped to the other data domain. The change intensity (CI) is determined by measuring the change of GSGs after mapping and the differences between GSGs and mapped GSGs. The forward and backward CI maps (CIMs) are then fused with the latent low-rank representation method (LLRR), and the change map (CM) is obtained by threshold segmentation. Experiments on five multimodal and four unimodal datasets demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed method (source code is made available at https://github.com/rshante0426/GSGM).

The immobilization of enzymes is an important strategy to improve their stability and reusability. However, it often comes with a trade off of reduced biological activity and catalytic efficiency. In this study, a composite hydrogel based on corn stalk carboxymethyl cellulose, acrylic acid, and mesoporous silica SBA-15 was developed as a support for the immobilization of lipase from Pseudomonas S.P. (PSL). The surface morphology and functional properties of the composite hydrogels were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction and simultaneous thermal analyzer, respectively. The composite hydrogel materials had a large number of mesopores and macropores were present in the wall of the hydrogel sheet. The hydrogel had a network structure that reduced the diffusion resistance of the substrate and improved the accessibility of the enzyme. The immobilized PSL exhibited high enantioselectivity (E value: 88.2) and enzyme activity (316.8 µmol/g/min) in the preparation of (S)-ibuprofen by enzymatic hydrolytic resolution of racemic ibuprofen ethyl ester. This prepared novel composite hydrogel is a promising supporting matrix for the immobilization of enzymes.

Background Xenograft kidney transplantation has been receiving increasing attention. The purpose of this study is to use bibliometric analysis to identify papers in this research field and explore their current status and development trends.Methods Using the data in the Web of Science core database from Clarivate Analytics as the object of study, we used ‘TS = Kidney OR Renal AND xenotransplantation’ as the search term to find all literature from 1980 to 2 November 2022.Results In total, 1005 articles were included. The United States has the highest number of publications and has made significant contributions in this field. Harvard University was at the forefront of this study. Professor Cooper has published 114 articles in this field. Xenotransplantation has the largest number of relevant articles. Transplantation was the most cited journal. High-frequency keywords illustrated the current state of development and future trends in xenotransplantation. The use of transgenic pigs and the development of coordinated co-stimulatory blockers have greatly facilitated progress in xenotransplantation research. We found that ‘co-stimulation blockade’, ‘xenograft survival’, ‘pluripotent stem cell’, ‘translational research’, and ‘genetic engineering’ were likely to be the focus of attention in the coming years.Conclusions This study screened global publications related to xenogeneic kidney transplantation; analyzed their literature metrology characteristics; identified the most cited articles in the research field; understood the current situation, hot spots, and trends of global research; and provided future development directions for researchers and practitioners.

With nano-ZnO, methyl methacrylate (MMA), ethyl acrylate (EA), and dodecafluoroheptyl methacrylate (DFMA) as reaction monomers, potassium persulfate as initiator, nano-ZnO/fluorine polyacrylate linen fabric finishing agent was prepared by semi-continuous seed emulsion polymerization to improve the hydrophobicity and anti-fouling performance of linen fabric. The structure and properties of the film and the finished fabric were characterized and analyzed by1HNMR, FT-IR, and TG. The results showed that the nano-ZnO/fluorine emulsion was successfully prepared with a particle size of about 46 nm, which was combined with linen. The contact angle of the finished linen fabric to water was 130.33°, which indicated that the finished linen fabric had good hydrophobicity. Meanwhile, the anti-fouling performance of the finished linen fabric was also improved. The introduction of nano-ZnO and organic fluorine in turn made linen fabric had the properties of the heat-resistant stability, UV resistance, antibacterial properties, and yellowing resistance.

Rainfall is an excitation factor for rainfall-type debris flows, and high-frequency rainfall commonly does not directly trigger large-scale catastrophic debris flows. A low-frequency, large-scale catastrophic debris flow occurred in Heishui Gully (HSG), Pingwu County, Sichuan Province, southwestern China on 12 July 2022. In this study, the HSG debris flow was used as a case study to reveal the formation mechanisms of low-frequency and large-scale catastrophic debris flow triggered by high-frequency gentle rainfall by calculating and analysing a total of five indicators, including the Standard Precipitation Index (SPI), the Freeze-Thaw Index (FTI), the empirical relationship between earthquakes and landslides, the hypsometric integral (HI) and human activities. The study results indicate that high-frequency gentle rainfall is a direct factor in the debris flow outbreak in HSG. Long-duration extreme drought conditions and extreme freeze-thaw erosion provided sufficient soil conditions for debris flow formation. Frequent earthquakes and mature erosional geomorphologic evolution have indirectly contributed to the debris flow formation. Simultaneously, human activities downstream of HSG amplified the risk of debris flow disaster. The results reveal the contribution of extreme climates and human activities to low-frequency, large-scale catastrophic debris flows initiated by high-frequency gentle rainfall, which is significant for accurately assessing and predicting debris flow occurrence.

Evidence showed that air pollution was associated with an increased risk of tuberculosis (TB). This study aimed to study the impact of long-term exposure to ambient particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) on the acquisition of LTBI and on the risk of subsequent active disease development among rural older adults from a multicentre cohort, which have not yet been investigated to date. A total of 4790 older adults were included in a population-based, multicentre, prospective cohort study (LATENTTB-NSTM) from 2013 to 2018. The level of long-term exposure to PM2.5 for each participant was assessed by aggregating satellite-based estimates. Logistic regression and time-varying Cox proportional hazards models with province-level random intercepts were employed to assess associations of long-term exposures to PM2.5 with the risk of LTBI and subsequent development of active TB, respectively. Out of 4790 participants, 3284 were LTBI-free at baseline, among whom 2806 completed the one-year follow-up and 127 developed newly identified LTBI. No significant associations were identified between PM2.5 and the risk of LTBI. And among 1506 participants with LTBI at baseline, 30 active TB cases were recorded during the 5-year follow-up. Particularly, an increment of 5 μg/m3 in 2-year moving averaged PM2.5 was associated with a 50.6% increased risk of active TB (HR = 1.506, 95% CI: 1.161-1.955). Long-term air pollution might be a neglected risk factor for active TB development from LTBI, especially for those living in developing or less-developed areas where the air quality is poor.

ABSTRACTFor vat photopolymerization 3D printing technology with high-viscosity ceramic slurry, the cleaning of residual uncured slurry presents a challenging task for lattice-based porous structures. Hence, this study contributes a multi-scale topology optimisation method for lattice-solid hybrid structures dedicated to ceramic vat photopolymerization 3D printing. A novel flushing jet accessibility constraint is proposed, aiming to effectively remove the residual uncured slurry after finishing the vat photopolymerization. Specifically, a multi-material interpolation for graded lattices and solid materials is introduced to form the fundamental of topology optimisation. Then, a series of filtering and projection operations are developed to ensure the accessibility of flushing waters to every location that may have residual ceramic slurry. Accordingly, a multi-scale topology optimisation mathematical model is established and solved with the adjoint sensitivities. 2D and 3D numerical examples are conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Furthermore, a 3D printing experiment is performed to validate the full water jet accessibility of the optimised structural solution and one pillow bracket part is carried out as a practical application demonstration.

We investigated the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP). First-episode psychosis admissions (n = 101) to the STEP Clinic in Connecticut showed DUP reduction (P = 0.0015) during the pandemic, with the median reducing from 208 days pre-pandemic to 56 days in the early pandemic period, and subsequently increasing to 154 days (P = 0.0281). Time from psychosis onset to antipsychotic prescription decreased significantly in the pandemic (P = 0.0183), with the median falling from 117 to 35 days. This cohort study demonstrates an association between greater pandemic restrictions and marked DUP reduction, and provides insights for future early detection efforts.

The prevalent itching condition associated with aging, historically referred to as senile pruritus, diminishes quality of life. Despite its impact, effective treatments remain elusive, largely due to an incomplete understanding of its pathological cause. In this study, we reveal a subset of dorsal root ganglion neurons enriched with Zn2+ that express the vesicular Zn2+ transporter TMEM163. These neurons form direct synapses with and modulate the activity of spinal NPY+ inhibitory interneurons. In aged mice, both the expression of TMEM163 and the concentration of vesicular Zn2+ within the central terminals of TMEM163+ primary afferents show marked elevation. Importantly, the excessive release of vesicular Zn2+ significantly dampens the activity of NPY+ neurons, triggering the disinhibition of itch-transmitting neural circuits and resulting in chronic itch. Intriguingly, chelating Zn2+ within the spinal dorsal horn effectively relieves itch in aged mice. Our study thus unveils a novel molecular mechanism underlying senile pruritus.

Abstract With the fast‐growing and evolving omics data, the demand for streamlined and adaptable tools to handle bioinformatics analysis continues to grow. In response to this need, Automated Bioinformatics Analysis (AutoBA) is introduced, an autonomous AI agent designed explicitly for fully automated multi‐omic analyses based on large language models (LLMs). AutoBA simplifies the analytical process by requiring minimal user input while delivering detailed step‐by‐step plans for various bioinformatics tasks. AutoBA's unique capacity to self‐design analysis processes based on input data variations further underscores its versatility. Compared with online bioinformatic services, AutoBA offers multiple LLM backends, with options for both online and local usage, prioritizing data security and user privacy. In comparison to ChatGPT and open‐source LLMs, an automated code repair (ACR) mechanism in AutoBA is designed to improve its stability in automated end‐to‐end bioinformatics analysis tasks. Moreover, different from the predefined pipeline, AutoBA has adaptability in sync with emerging bioinformatics tools. Overall, AutoBA represents an advanced and convenient tool, offering robustness and adaptability for conventional multi‐omic analyses.