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Three previously unidentified dihydrostilbene glycosides, named oleiferaside A (1), oleiferaside B (2), and oleiferaside C (3), were discovered through a phytochemical exploration on Camellia oleifera Abel. leaves. Additionally, nine known secondary metabolites (4–12) were also identified. The undescribed secondary metabolites 1–3 were elucidated as 3,5-dimethoxydihydrostilbene 4′-O-α-l-arabinofuranosyl-(1 → 6)-β-d- glucopyranoside, 3,5-dimethoxydihydrostilbene 4′-O-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-β-d- glucopyranoside and 3,5-dimethoxydihydrostilbene 4′-O-β-d-apiofuranosyl-(1 → 6)-β-d- glucopyranoside, respectively. HR-MS and NMR spectroscopy were utilized for determining the structures of the isolates. The natural products were assessed for their anti-inflammatory effect using RAW264.7 macrophage stimulated by LPS. The findings demonstrated that compounds 1–4 exhibited inhibitory activities on NO and PGE2 production without causing cytotoxicity. These observations suggest that these compounds may have potential anti-inflammatory properties.

ABSTRACTIn this study, we first time sequenced and analyzed the 16S rRNA gene data of predator ladybird beetles Novius pumilus and globally distributed invasive pest Icerya aegyptiaca at different stages, and combined data with bacterial genome sequences in N. pumilus to explored the taxonomic distribution, alpha and beta diversity, differentially abundant bacteria, co-occurrence network, and putative functions of their microbial community. Our finding revealed that Candidatus Walczuchella, which exhibited a higher abundance in I. aegyptiaca, possessed several genes in essential amino acid biosynthesis and seemed to perform roles in providing nutrients to the host, similar to other obligate symbionts in scale insects. Lactococcus, Serratia, and Pseudomonas, more abundant in N. pumilus, were predicted to have genes related to hydrocarbon, fatty acids, and chitin degradation, which may assist their hosts in digesting the wax shell covering the scale insects. Notably, our result showed that Lactococcus had relatively higher abundances in adults and eggs compared to other stages in N. pumilus, indicating potential vertical transmission. Additionally, we found that Arsenophonus, known to influence sex ratios in whitefly and wasp, may also function in I. aegyptiaca, probably by influencing nutrient metabolism as it similarly had many genes corresponding to vitamin B and essential amino acid biosynthesis. Also, we observed a potential horizontal transfer of Arsenophonus between the scale insect and its predator, with a relatively high abundance in the ladybirds compared to other bacteria from the scale insects.IMPORTANCEThe composition and dynamic changes of microbiome in different developmental stages of ladybird beetles Novius pumilus with its prey Icerya aegyptiaca were detected. We found that Candidatus Walczuchella, abundant in I. aegyptiaca, probably provide nutrients to their host based on their amino acid biosynthesis-related genes. Abundant symbionts in N. pumilus, including Lactococcus, Serratia, and Pseudophonus, may help the host digest the scale insects with their hydrocarbon, fatty acid, and chitin degrading-related genes. A key endosymbiont Arsenophonus may play potential roles in the nutrient metabolisms and sex determination in I. aegyptiaca, and is possibly transferred from the scale insect to the predator.

Studies on Oryza sativa (rice) are crucial for improving agricultural productivity and ensuring global sustenance security, especially considering the increasing drought and heat stress caused by extreme climate change. Currently, the genes and mechanisms underlying drought and heat resistance in rice are not fully understood, and the scope for enhancing the development of new strains remains considerable. To accurately identify the key genes related to drought and heat stress responses in rice, multiple datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were integrated in this study. A co-expression network was constructed using a Weighted Correlation Network Analysis (WGCNA) algorithm. We further distinguished the core network and intersected it with differentially expressed genes and multiple expression datasets for screening. Differences in gene expression levels were verified using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). OsDjC53, MBF1C, BAG6, HSP23.2, and HSP21.9 were found to be associated with the heat stress response, and it is also possible that UGT83A1 and OsCPn60a1, although not directly related, are affected by drought stress. This study offers significant insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying stress responses in rice, which could promote the development of stress-tolerant rice breeds.

Introduction Breast cancer stands as the most prevalent type of cancer affecting women globally, and chemotherapy plays a pivotal role in its treatment by diminishing tumour recurrence and enhancing the survival rates of patients. However, chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) often occurs in patients undergoing treatment. Although multiple clinical trials have indicated that exercise therapy can improve CRCI in patients with breast cancer, there are variations in the types of exercise interventions and their effectiveness. We aim to perform a pioneering network meta-analysis (NMA) to assess and prioritise the effectiveness of various exercise interventions in enhancing cognitive function in patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy.Methods and analysis We will search multiple databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals, Wanfang and Sinomed databases, from their inception to May 2023. The main outcome is the cognitive function changes in patients with breast cancer, including subjective and objective results. We will specifically include randomised controlled trials reported in English and Chinese languages, whose primary outcome consists of an assessment of the cognitive function of patients with breast cancer using standardised and validated assessment tools, encompassing both subjective and objective outcomes. The quality of all the trials included will be evaluated based on ‘Version 2 of the Cochrane tool for assessing the risk of bias in randomized controlled trials (RoB2)’. We will conduct a Bayesian NMA to thoroughly evaluate and compare the effectiveness of different exercise interventions. We will use cumulative ranking probability plots to estimate the ranking of the best interventions for various exercises. Network plots and funnel plots will be employed to display the study sizes and participants of each exercise intervention, as well as potential publication biases.Ethics and dissemination The study findings will be shared via peer-reviewed journals to ensure the highest quality and credibility of the research. As the reporting will not include any private patient data, there are no ethical considerations associated with this protocol.PROSPERO registration number CRD42023406597.

Paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD) represents the most prevalent form of paroxysmal dyskinesia, characterized by recurrent and transient attacks of involuntary movements triggered by a sudden voluntary action. In this study, whole-exome sequencing was conducted on a cohort of Chinese patients to identify causal mutations. In one young female case, a de novo CACNA1B variant (NM_000718.3:exon3:c.479C > T:p.S160F) was identified as the causative lesion. This finding may broaden the phenotypic spectrum of CACNA1B mutations and provide a prospective cause of primary PKD. Additionally, a novel start-loss variant (NM_000682.7:c.3G > A) within ADRA2B further denied its association with benign adult familial myoclonic epilepsy, and a KCNQ2 E515D variant that was reported as a genetic susceptibility factor for seizures had no damaging effect in this family. In sum, this study established a correlation between CACNA1B and primary PKD, and found valid evidence that further negates the pathogenic role of ADRA2B in benign adult familial myoclonic epilepsy.

Sanguinarine is a quaternary ammonium benzophenanthine alkaloid found in traditional herbs such as Chelidonium, Corydalis, Sanguinarum, and Borovula. It has been proven to possess broad-spectrum biological activities, such as antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antiosteoporosis, neuroprotective, and antipathogenic microorganism activities. In this paper, recent progress on the biological activity and mechanism of action of sanguinarine and its derivatives over the past ten years is reviewed. The results showed that the biological activities of hematarginine and its derivatives are related mainly to the JAK/STAT, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, NF-κB, TGF-β, MAPK and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways. The limitations of using sanguinarine in clinical application are also discussed, and the research prospects of this subject are outlined. In general, sanguinarine, a natural medicine, has many pharmacological effects, but its toxicity and safety in clinical application still need to be further studied. This review provides useful information for the development of sanguinarine-based bioactive agents.

During embryogenesis, the fetal liver becomes the main hematopoietic organ, where stem and progenitor cells as well as immature and mature immune cells form an intricate cellular network. Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) reside in a specialized niche, which is essential for their proliferation and differentiation. However, the cellular and molecular determinants contributing to this fetal HSC niche remain largely unknown. Macrophages are the first differentiated hematopoietic cells found in the developing liver, where they are important for fetal erythropoiesis by promoting erythrocyte maturation and phagocytosing expelled nuclei. Yet, whether macrophages play a role in fetal hematopoiesis beyond serving as a niche for maturing erythroblasts remains elusive. Here, we investigate the heterogeneity of macrophage populations in the murine fetal liver to define their specific roles during hematopoiesis. Using a single-cell omics approach combined with spatial proteomics and genetic fate-mapping models, we found that fetal liver macrophages cluster into distinct yolk sac-derived subpopulations and that long-term HSCs are interacting preferentially with one of the macrophage subpopulations. Fetal livers lacking macrophages show a delay in erythropoiesis and have an increased number of granulocytes, which can be attributed to transcriptional reprogramming and altered differentiation potential of long-term HSCs. Together, our data provide a detailed map of fetal liver macrophage subpopulations and implicate macrophages as part of the fetal HSC niche.

Abstract Background and objective Persistent headache attributed to ischemic stroke (PHPIS) is increasingly acknowledged and was added to the 2018 ICHD‐3. Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) is a common treatment for acute ischemic stroke. It remains unknown whether this treatment influences the occurrence of a persistent poststroke headache. We aimed to describe the incidence and clinical characteristics of persistent headaches occurring after acute ischemic stroke in patients with or without IVT and explore the risk factors. Methods A prospective observational study was performed between the 234 individuals who received IVT and 226 individuals without IVT in 5 stroke units from Wuhan, China. Subjects were followed for 6 months after stroke via a structured questionnaire. Results Age, gender, vascular risk factors, and infarct location/ circulation distribution did not differ between the groups, although IVT group had higher initial NIHSS scores. At the end of the follow‐up, 12.0% (55/460) of subjects reported persistent headaches after ischemic stroke. The prevalence of persistent headache was significantly higher in the IVT group than non‐IVT group (15.4% vs. 8.4%, p = .021). Patients with younger age (p = .033; OR 0.97; 95% CI 0.939–0.997), female sex (p = .007; OR 2.40; 95% CI 1.269–4.520), posterior circulation infarct (p = .024; OR 2.19; 95% CI 1.110–4.311), and IVT (p = .005; OR 2.51; 95% CI 1.313–4.782) were more likely to develop persistent headache after ischemic stroke. Conclusion The potential influence of IVT should be considered when assessing persistent poststroke headache. Future studies will investigate the underlying mechanisms.

In this study, an innovative exploration of leveraging bionics and continuum robotics principles to develop a novel solution for arthroscopic surgery is embarked on. Inspired by the flexibility and adaptability of organisms like snakes and octopuses, the continuum robot concept aims to address the inherent challenges in traditional arthroscopy, including lower precision, manual tremors, and long surgeon learning curves. The implementation of these principles in the human body, however, faces significant obstacles, particularly achieving high‐performance motion control amid strong nonlinearity and coupling between modules. This research focuses on intelligent integration and enhanced safety in human‐machine interaction, aiming for improved control precision and flexibility in arthroscopic procedures. A thorough literature review of endoscopic continuum robots is conducted, highlighting current advancements in actuation, structure, sensing, and control technologies. The study concludes with an assessment of these technologies, their limitations, and future potential, in light of the unique demands of arthroscopic continuum robots. This comprehensive review bridges bionics and robotics, presenting the opportunities and challenges in applying continuum robotics to arthroscopic surgery. The goal is to encourage further research in this area, contributing to the development of prototype robots that enhance the precision and safety of arthroscopic surgery.

Background: Demographics of pulmonary hypertension (PH) has changed a lot over the past forty years. Several recent registries noted an increase in mean age of PH but only a few of them investigated the characteristics of elderly patients. Thus, we aimed to analyze the characteristics of PH in such a population in this study. Methods: This multicenter study enrolled patients diagnosed with PH in group 1, 3, 4, and 5 consecutively from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020. A total of 490 patients was included, and patients were divided into three groups by age (≤45 years, 45–65 years, and >65 years). Results: The mean age of PH patients diagnosed with PH was 55.3 ± 16.3 years of age. There was higher proportion of elderly patients classified as group 3 PH (≤45: 1.3, 45–65: 4.5, >65: 8.1 %; p = 0.0206) and group 4 PH (≤45: 8.4, 45–65: 14.5, >65: 31.6 %; p 65, mean difference, 77.8 m [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.1–153.6 m]), lower mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) (≤45 vs. >65, mean difference, 10.8 mmHg [95% CI, 6.37–15.2 mmHg]), and higher pulmonary arterial wedge pressure (PAWP) (≤45 vs. 45–65, mean difference, −2.1 mmHg [95% CI, −3.9 to −0.3 mmHg]) compared to young patients. Elderly patients had a poorer exercise capacity despite lower mPAP level compared to young population, but they received combination therapy less frequently compared to young patients (triple therapy in group 1 PH, ≤45: 16.7, 45–65: 11.3, >65: 3.8 %; p = 0.0005). Age older than 65 years was an independent predictor of high mortality for PH patients. Conclusions: Elderly PH patients possess unique hemodynamic profiles and epidemiologic patterns. They had higher PAWP, lower mPAP, and received combination therapy less frequently. Moreover, ageing is a predictor of high mortality for PH patients. Exercise capacity-hemodynamics mismatch and inadequate treatment are noteworthy in the approach of elderly population with PH.

ABSTRACTInfluenza virus is known to cause respiratory tract infections of varying severity in individuals of all ages. The EasyNAT Rapid Flu assay is a newly developed in vitro diagnostic test that employs cross-priming isothermal amplification (CPA) to detect and differentiate influenza A and B viruses in human nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs. The aim of this study is to determine the performance characteristics of the EasyNAT Rapid Flu assay for rapid detection of influenza virus. The limit of detection (LOD) and cross-reactivity of the EasyNAT Rapid Flu assay were assessed. The clinical performance of the assay was evaluated using NP swab samples that were tested with real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Xpert Xpress Flu/RSV assay. The LOD for the detection of influenza A and B using the EasyNAT Rapid Flu assay was found to be 500 copies/mL. Furthermore, the assay exhibited no cross-reactivity with other common respiratory viruses tested. For the 114 NP swab samples tested for influenza A using both the EasyNAT Rapid Flu assay and real-time RT-PCR, the two assays demonstrated a high level of agreement (κ = 0.963, P < 0.001), with a positive percentage agreement (PPA) of 97.7% and a negative percentage agreement (NPA) of 98.6%. Similarly, for the 43 NP swab samples tested for influenza A and B using both the EasyNAT Rapid Flu assay and Xpert Xpress Flu/RSV assay, the two assays showed a high level of agreement (κ = 0.933, P < 0.001), with the overall rate of agreement (ORA) of 97.7% for influenza A and 100% for influenza B. The EasyNAT Rapid Flu assay demonstrates excellent performance in the detection of influenza A, highlighted by its strong agreement with RT-PCR-based assays.IMPORTANCEThe newly developed EasyNAT Rapid Flu assay is an innovative cross-priming isothermal amplification-based method designed for detecting influenza A and B viruses at point-of-care settings. This study aims to thoroughly assess the analytical and clinical performance of the assay, offering valuable insights into its potential advantages and limitations. The findings of this research hold significant implications for clinical practice.

Exhausted CD8+T cells represent a distinct cellular lineage that emerges during both chronic infections and cancers. Recent studies have shown that persistent antigen exposure can drive the differentiation of precursor exhausted CD8+T cells, termed Tpex cells, which are characterized as TCF-1+PD-1+CD8+T cells. Elevated Tpex cell frequencies in the tumor microenvironment (TME) are associated with improved overall survival (OS) in cancer patients and heightened responsiveness to anti-PD-1 therapy. In our present study, we utilized multi-color immunohistochemistry (mIHC) to determine the localization and clinical implications of tumor-infiltrating Tpex cells within the TME of human colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues. We also conducted a multi-omics integrative analysis using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data derived from both the murine MC38 tumor model and human CRC tissues. This analysis helped delineate the transcriptional and functional attributes of Tpex cells within the CRC TME. Furthermore, we employed spatial transcriptome sequencing data from CRC patients to investigate the interactions between Tpex cells and other immune cell subsets within the TME. In conclusion, our study not only established a method for Tpex cell detection using mIHC technology but also confirmed that assessing Tpex cells within the CRC TME could be indicative of patients’ survival. We further uncovered the transcriptional and functional characteristics of Tpex cells in the TME and ascertained their pivotal role in the efficacy of immunotherapy against CRC.

Current treatments for epilepsy can only manage the symptoms of the condition but cannot alter the initial onset or halt the progression of the disease. Consequently, it is crucial to identify drugs that can target novel cellular and molecular mechanisms and mechanisms of action. Increasing evidence suggests that axon guidance molecules play a role in the structural and functional modifications of neural networks and that the dysregulation of these molecules is associated with epilepsy susceptibility. In this review, we discuss the essential role of axon guidance molecules in neuronal activity in patients with epilepsy as well as the impact of these molecules on synaptic plasticity and brain tissue remodeling. Furthermore, we examine the relationship between axon guidance molecules and neuroinflammation, as well as the structural changes in specific brain regions that contribute to the development of epilepsy. Ample evidence indicates that axon guidance molecules, including semaphorins and ephrins, play a fundamental role in guiding axon growth and the establishment of synaptic connections. Deviations in their expression or function can disrupt neuronal connections, ultimately leading to epileptic seizures. The remodeling of neural networks is a significant characteristic of epilepsy, with axon guidance molecules playing a role in the dynamic reorganization of neural circuits. This, in turn, affects synapse formation and elimination. Dysregulation of these molecules can upset the delicate balance between excitation and inhibition within a neural network, thereby increasing the risk of overexcitation and the development of epilepsy. Inflammatory signals can regulate the expression and function of axon guidance molecules, thus influencing axonal growth, axon orientation, and synaptic plasticity. The dysregulation of neuroinflammation can intensify neuronal dysfunction and contribute to the occurrence of epilepsy. This review delves into the mechanisms associated with the pathogenicity of axon guidance molecules in epilepsy, offering a valuable reference for the exploration of therapeutic targets and presenting a fresh perspective on treatment strategies for this condition.

Abstract Background Androgenetic alopecia (AGA), one of the most common types of hair loss, is associated with oxidative stress, inflammation and aging. Derinat, a transient receptor potential canonical channels (TRPCs) inhibitor, restrains TRPCs-mediated increase intracellular Ca2+ signaling, which initiates the skin aging process with intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. This study investigated whether Derinat protected skin from oxidative stress-induced damage and aging, thus inhibiting AGA pathogenesis. Methods The lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans was measured to examine the capacity of Derinat to oppose the oxidative stress induced-aging process, which drives the hair cycle from anagen to catagen phase. The experiments that used BALB/c-nu and C57BL/6 mice determined the effects of Derinat on hair cycle and oxidative stress in skin. To further apply Derinat to clinical study, the resulting relationship between AGA pathogenesis and TRPCs-regulated oxidative stress was confirmed using the bioinformatics approach. We consequently used the parameters of hair density, hair diameter, hair recovery and quality of life index to evaluate the effect of Derinat treatment on AGA subjects. Results Derinat restrained the oxidative stress induced-aging process sufficiently to extend the lifespan of worms. Derinat also changed the hair growth patterns of mice by maintenance of the hair cycle at the anagen phase. This efficacy was due to reduction of TRPCs-mediated ROS accumulation. Because the bioinformatics analysis found that AGA pathogenesis is associated with TRPCs-regulated oxidative stress and inflammation, treatment with Derinat in AGA subjects increased positive outcomes of oral medication while mitigating the impairment of AGA subjects’ quality of life. Conclusions Derinat restrains AGA pathogenesis and may provide a new therapeutic approach for treating AGA. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT05450861, https://register.clinicaltrials.gov , date of registration 07/11/2022. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT05450861, https://register.clinicaltrials.gov , date of registration 07/11/2022

Abstract Background Feature selection is an essential task in single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) data analysis and can be critical for gene dimension reduction and downstream analyses, such as gene marker identification and cell type classification. Most popular methods for feature selection from scRNA-seq data are based on the concept of differential distribution wherein a statistical model is used to detect changes in gene expression among cell types. Recent development of deep learning-based feature selection methods provides an alternative approach compared to traditional differential distribution-based methods in that the importance of a gene is determined by neural networks. Results In this work, we explore the utility of various deep learning-based feature selection methods for scRNA-seq data analysis. We sample from Tabula Muris and Tabula Sapiens atlases to create scRNA-seq datasets with a range of data properties and evaluate the performance of traditional and deep learning-based feature selection methods for cell type classification, feature selection reproducibility and diversity, and computational time. Conclusions Our study provides a reference for future development and application of deep learning-based feature selection methods for single-cell omics data analyses.

Abstract Background This reconstructed individual patient data (IPD)-based meta-analysis is aimed to summarize the current findings and comprehensively investigate the predictive value of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in operable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods PubMed, Cochrane and Embase were searched to include potentially eligible studies. The primary outcomes included progression-free survival (DFS) by ctDNA status at baseline, postoperative, and longitudinal timepoints. The IPD-based survival data was retracted and used in reconstructed IPD-based meta-analysis. Subgroup analysis was implemented based on the baseline characteristics. Results Totally, 28 studies were involved, including 15 full-length articles (1686 patients) for IPD-based synthesis and 20 studies for conventional meta-analysis. The IPD-based meta-analysis discovered that patients with positive ctDNA status at the baseline (hazard ratio, HR = 3.73, 95% confidential interval, CI: 2.95–4.72), postoperative (3.96, 2.19–7.16), or longitudinal timepoints (12.33, 8.72–17.43) showed significantly higher risk of recurrence. Patients with persistent ctDNA-negative status had the lowest recurrence rate, and the negative conversion of ctDNA from baseline to postoperative timepoints was correlated with elevated DFS. Subgroup analyses suggested that stage II–III patients with ctDNA-positive status may achieve preferable therapeutic outcomes. Conclusions Plasm ctDNA monitoring shows excellent clinical significance at the tested timepoints. Perioperative conversion of ctDNA status may indicate the therapeutic effect of radical surgery. Postoperative adjuvant therapy may be determined according to the ctDNA status. Trail registration CRD42022304445.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a prevalent microvascular complication of diabetes and the leading cause of blindness and severe visual impairment in adults. The high levels of glucose trigger multiple intracellular oxidative stress pathways, such as POLDIP2, resulting in excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and increased expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), causing microvascular dysfunction. Dihydromyricetin (DMY) is a natural flavonoid small molecule antioxidant. However, it exhibits poor solubility in physiological environments, has a short half-life in vivo, and has low oral bioavailability. In this study, we present, for the first time, the synthesis of ultra-small Fe-DMY nano-coordinated polymer particles (Fe-DMY NCPs), formed by combining DMY with low-toxicity iron ions. In vitro and in vivo experiments confirm that Fe-DMY NCPs alleviate oxidative stress-induced damage to vascular endothelial cells by high glucose, scavenge excess ROS, and improve pathological features of DR, such as retinal vascular leakage and neovascularization. Mechanistic validation indicates that Fe-DMY NCPs can inhibit the activation of the Poldip2-Nox4-H2O2 signaling pathway and downregulate vital vascular function indicators such as VCAM-1, HIF-1α, and VEGF. These findings suggest that Fe-DMY NCPs could serve as a safe and effective antioxidant and microangio-protective agent, with the potential as a novel multimeric drug for DR therapy.

Abstract Background The prevalence of oral diseases among Taiwanese prisoners has rarely been investigated. This study aimed to estimate the gender-specific prevalence of oral disease in a sample of Taiwanese prisoners. Methods We included 83,048 participants from the National Health Insurance (NHI) Program. Outcomes were measured using the clinical version of the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9-CM). For prevalence, we provide absolute values and percentages. We also performed a χ2 test to assess sex and age group differences in the percentage of disease in the oral cavity, salivary glands, and jaw. Results The prevalence rate of oral diseases was 25.90%, which was higher than that of the general population. The prevalence of oral diseases in female prisoners was higher than that in male prisoners (p 40. Among all cases of diagnosed oral diseases, the top three diseases were dental hard tissue diseases (13.28%), other cellulitis and abscesses (9.79%), and pruritus and related conditions (2.88%), respectively. The prevalence of various oral diseases in female prisoners was significantly higher than that in male prisoners. Conclusion Oral disease is common among Taiwanese prisoners. Female prisoners had a higher prevalence of oral, salivary gland, and jaw diseases than male prisoners. Therefore, early prevention and appropriate treatment are required and also a need for gender-specific oral disease products given the differences in the prevalence of oral disease among male and female prisoners.

Abstract Introduction Dolutegravir (DTG)-based regimen was included in the expanded formulary of China's National Free Antiretroviral Treatment Program at the end of 2021. Yet high price of DTG and lack of health economic evaluation in China present barriers for implementation of the regimen. The study aims to investigate the lifetime cost-effectiveness of DTG-based regimen for treatment-naive HIV infection in China. Methods A decision-analytic Markov model was used to obtain the costs and effectiveness of four regimens: Arm A, efavirenz (EFV)-based regimen; Arm B, DTG-based regimen; Arm C, elvitegravir/cobicistat/tenofovir alafenamide/emtricitabine (EVG/c/FTC/TAF) regimen; Arm D, abacavir/lamivudine/dolutegravir (ABC/3TC/DTG) regimen. The potential impact of national centralized drug procurement policy was assessed in scenario analysis. The results were further validated through sensitivity analysis. Results Compared with other three regimens, DTG-based regimen led to the fewest cumulative adverse reactions, opportunistic infections and deaths. Compared with EFV-based regimen, the base-case ICERs for DTG-based regimen were 13,357 (USD/QALY) and 13,424 (USD/QALY) from the healthcare system and societal perspective respectively. In the policy scenario analysis with the procurement price of DTG equal to that of LPV/r, DTG-based regimen would be dominant. The model results remained robust in sensitivity analyses. Conclusions DTG-based regimen for treatment-naive patients is likely to be cost-effective and deserve wider implementation in China. This study strongly suggests the centralized procurement of DTG to minimize cost and maximize cost-effectiveness.

In view of the diversity of petroleum reservoir types, most petroleum reservoirs have very strong heterogeneity in properties. For many water flooding reservoirs, with the continuous water injection process, the effect of enhancing oil recovery begins to deteriorate gradually, and a large amount of remaining oil mainly remains at the top of the reservoir formation, becoming as ''attic oil''. Under the ''double carbon'' target, in order to cope with the high demand for oil consumption in China, a new oil exploitation technology, CO2 assisted gravity drainage is explored in this study. Taking four cores with similar porosity and permeability as research objects, laboratory displacement experiments were carried out to verify the effectiveness of CO2 assisted gravity drainage in enhancing oil recovery through different CO2 injection methods and injection rates. Moreover, through the comparison of gas flooding recovery factors under different gas injection rates, it is found that the stable control of gas-oil interface is the key to the successful implementation of CO2 assisted gravity drainage. After that, based on references and numerical simulation, this paper analyzes the technical key points of the successful implementation of this technology, proposes the method of introducing ''surfactant + CO2'' composite system to regulate the stability of gas-oil interface, and clearly points out the issues to be focused in future researches. The study can provide a useful reference for the field implementation of CO2 assisted gravity drainage, and then promote effective carbon utilization and oil production.

Abstract Background Sedentary behavior and vitamin D deficiency are independent risk factors for mortality in cancer survivors, but their joint association with mortality has not been investigated. Methods We analyzed data from 2914 cancer survivors who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007–2018) and followed up with them until December 31, 2019. Sedentary behavior was assessed by self-reported daily hours of sitting, and vitamin D status was measured by serum total 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels. Results Among 2914 cancer survivors, vitamin D deficiency was more prevalent in those with prolonged daily sitting time. During up to 13.2 years (median, 5.6 years) of follow-up, there were 676 deaths (cancer, 226; cardiovascular disease, 142; other causes, 308). The prolonged sitting time was associated with a higher risk of all-cause and noncancer mortality, and vitamin D deficiency was associated with a higher risk of all-cause and cancer mortality. Furthermore, cancer survivors with both prolonged sitting time (≥ 6 h/day) and vitamin D deficiency had a significantly higher risk of all-cause (HR, 2.05; 95% CI: 1.54–2.72), cancer (HR, 2.33; 95% CI, 1.47–3.70), and noncancer mortality (HR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.33–2.74) than those with neither risk factor after adjustment for potential confounders. Conclusions In a nationally representative sample of U.S. cancer survivors, the joint presence of sedentary behavior and vitamin D deficiency was significantly associated with an increased risk of all-cause and cancer-specific mortality.

Abstract Non-parallel data voice conversion (VC) has achieved considerable breakthroughs due to self-supervised pre-trained representation (SSPR) being used in recent years. Features extracted by the pre-trained model are expected to contain more content information. However, in common VC with SSPR, there is no special implementation to remove speaker information in the content representation extraction by SSPR, which prevents further purification of the speaker information from SSPR representation. Moreover, in conventional VC, Mel-spectrogram is often selected as the reconstructed acoustic feature, which is not consistent with the input of the content encoder and results in some information lost. Motivated by the above, we proposed W2VC to settle the issues. W2VC consists of three parts: (1) We reconstruct feature from WavLM representation (WLMR) that is more consistent with the input of content encoder; (2) Connectionist temporal classification (CTC) is used to align content representation and text context from phoneme level, content encoder plus gradient reversal layer (GRL) based speaker classifier are used to remove speaker information in the content representation extraction; (3) WLMR-based HiFi-GAN is trained to convert WLMR to waveform speech. VC experimental results show that GRL can purify well the content information of the self-supervised model. The GRL purification and CTC supervision on the content encoder are complementary in improving the VC performance. Moreover, the synthesized speech using the WLMR retrained vocoder achieves better results in both subjective and objective evaluation. The proposed method is evaluated on the VCTK and CMU databases. It is shown the method achieves 8.901 in objective MCD, 4.45 in speech naturalness, and 3.62 in speaker similarity of subjective MOS score, which is superior to the baseline.

Background: People living with HIV (PLWH) are susceptible to non-AIDS-related events, particularly those with immunological nonresponses (INRs) to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). This study assessed the association of INRs with incident non-AIDS-related events among PLWH. Methods: This multicenter retrospective cohort study enrolled PLWH who had newly diagnosed stage 3 HIV and received HAART between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2019. The patients were divided into two groups according to their immunological responses on the 360th day after HAART initiation: INR and non-INR groups. Cox regression and sensitivity analyses were conducted to estimate the effects of INRs on overall and individual categories of non-AIDS-related events (malignancies, vascular diseases, metabolic disorders, renal diseases, and psychiatric disorders). Patient observation started on the 360th day after HAART initiation and continued until February 28, 2022, death, or an outcome of interest, whichever occurred first. Results: Among the 289 included patients, 44 had INRs. Most of the included patients were aged 26–45 years (69.55%) and were men who have sex with men (89.97%). Many patients received HIV diagnoses between 2009 and 2012 (38.54%). INRs (vs. non-INRs) were associated with composite non-AIDS-related events (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 1.80; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.19–2.73) and metabolic disorders (aHR = 1.75; 95% CI: 1.14–2.68). Sensitivity analyses revealed consistent results for each Cox regression model for both composite non-AIDS-related events and metabolic diseases. Conclusion: Clinicians should be vigilant and implement early intervention and rigorous monitoring for non-AIDS-related events in PLWH with INRs to HAART.

Background: Accurately identifying risk factors that predict fatality in dengue is crucial for patient triage and clinical management. Our objective was to identify predictors of death associated with dengue and investigate the clinical characteristics and risk factors among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who died from dengue. Methods: A multicenter longitudinal observation study conducted from 2008 to 2019. Results: A total of 1272 patients (113 who died and 1186 who recovered) diagnosed with dengue were included. Old age, CKD, and an elevated white blood cell count at hospital presentation were identified as independent predictors of in-hospital mortality among individuals infected with the dengue virus. In a subgroup analysis of 138 patients with CKD infected with dengue virus, 64 (46.3%) patients died, with 46 (33.3%) patients dying within 7 days after symptom onset. Among 64 fatal dengue patients with CKD, 34.4% were in stages 2 and 3 of kidney disease, 51.5% were in stages 4 and 5, and 14.1% had end stage renal disease as per the classification by Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes. Multivariate analysis revealed that initial altered consciousness, pulmonary edema, and leukocytosis during hospitalization were independently associated with in-hospital mortality in CKD patients infected with the dengue virus. Leukocytosis during hospitalization and severe hepatitis were independent risk factors for death within 7 days after dengue illness onset in CKD patients. Conclusions: This study offers valuable insights into predictors linked to fatality in dengue and reinforces the importance of optimizing patient triage to improve the quality of care.

In the context of tight sandstone reservoirs in the Ordos Basin characterized by compact and heterogeneous rock formations, conventional fracturing techniques yield monolithic fracture shapes, rendering 3D reservoir reconstruction unattainable. This study investigates the principles governing balanced initiation and propagation of fractures in multi-cluster fracturing within unconventional fracturing technology. Employing a large-scale true triaxial simulation experiment system, we utilize the dimensional analysis method (π theorem) to design a physical simulation experiment similarity criterion. Through various experimental adjustments involving proportioning, curing, and mechanical testing, we generate an artificially cured rock mass with mechanical parameters akin to the target layer. The rock mass is maintained at a size of 30 cm × 30 cm × 30 cm. Systematic physical simulation experiments on unconventional volume fracturing are carried out using the 30 cm-sized dense sandstone outcrop rock mass. Taking the conventional fracturing technology as a reference and manipulating experimental conditions and design parameters, we simulate the non-equilibrium initiation and extension behaviors of fracturing fractures under five unconventional volume fracturing technologies, namely hydraulic pulse pretreatment, temporary plugging between clusters, flow-limiting method, cyclic loading and unloading, and pulse intermittent fracturing. Through this, we elucidate the non-equilibrium initiation and extension laws governing multi-cluster fractures. Comparative analysis with conventional fracturing, known for inducing stress interference on fractures and inhibiting their expansion, revels that the five unconventional volume fracturing techniques mitigate stress interference in multi-cluster fracturing. This promotes uniform fracture initiation and expansion, facilitating the creation of complex fractures and larger reconstructed volumes. Among these techniques, inter-cluster block fracturing stands out for its exceptional ability to generate complex fracture networks. The research culminates in the development and refinement of a balanced fracture and extension control technique tailored for multiple cluster fractures in bulk fracturing. This technique significantly contributes to enhancing the degree of 3D reconstruction achievable in unconventional tight oil and gas reservoirs.

In order to improve the service performance of Zr-4 alloy in nuclear industry and avoid introducing impurity elements， the micro-arc oxidation ceramic layer was prepared on the surface of Zr-4 alloy with Li2B4O7 as electrolyte.The effects of lithium tetraborate concentration on phase composition， microstructure， film thickness， hardness， roughness， wear resistance and corrosion resistance of micro-arc oxidation ceramic layer were investigated.Results showed that as the concentration of Li2B4O7 increased in the range of ρ(Li2B4O7)＝3～15 g/L， the conductivity of the electrolyte continued to increase， and the roughness of the ceramic layer continued to increase overall， which only slightly decreased when the electrolyte concentration changed from 6 g/L to 9 g/L.The thickness of micro-arc oxidation ceramic layer first continuously decreased in the range of ρ(Li2B4O7)＝3～9 g/L and then increased in the range of ρ(Li2B4O7)＝9～15 g/L.The hardness of the ceramic layer first decreased in the range of ρ(Li2B4O7)＝3 ～6 g/L， and then increased in the range of ρ(Li2B4O7)＝6 ～15 g/L.In addition， the ceramic layers were all composed of monoclinic zirconia (m-ZrO2).As the concentration of Li2B4O7 in the electrolyte increased， the porosity of the ceramic layer decreased and the micropore size changed little.The friction coefficient of the ceramic layer increased continuously in the range of ρ(Li2B4O7)＝3～12 g/L， and decreased when ρ(Li2B4O7)＝15 g/L.By comprehensive comparison， the ceramic layer with moderate thickness， good hardness， smooth and continuous surface， small porosity and pore size， good wear resistance and corrosion resistance could be obtained in the electrolyte with ρ(Li2B4O7) ＝ 15 g/L.

Abstract Background Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) caused by Orthohantavirus (OHV) and scrub typhus (ST) caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi (OT) are two infectious diseases prevalent in southwest China. Rodents are the natural host and the main source of the two diseases. OT infection to humans is usually resulted from bite of an infective chigger mite on rodents, and OHV is transmitted through contact or inhalation of aerosols and secretions from infected rodent. The use of antibiotics and hormones is crucial for infectious diseases, although the clinical manifestations are not obvious and a definitive diagnosis becomes more difficult in the presence of these drugs. Clinically, fever is the first symptom of these two diseases, and most of them are accompanied by common symptoms such as chills and headaches. The clinical symptoms of these two diseases are very similar and therefore it is not easy to make a differential diagnosis. Case presentation In this case, a 44-year-old male famer with pulmonary tuberculosis and a history of working in coal transportation was admitted to the hospital because of respiratory symptoms accompanied by fever, headache, and skin rashes on his body. Biochemical and urinalysis revealed the hepatic and renal injury. The subsequent molecular testing confirmed he suffered from HFRS and scrub typhus simultaneously that the serological and clinical diagnosis could not identify the cause of infection before. Such case has not been reported in Yunnan Province before. Conclusion The clinical diagnosis should be combined with serological and nucleic acid testing approaches for differential diagnosis in areas where HFRS and ST are endemic.

Due to its excellent performance, aluminum alloys are frequently used in wheels, but the corrosion of aluminum alloy wheels is still a major problem to be further studied. To understand the corrosion of wheels, it is important to consider the role of the organic coating in the corrosion process. Meanwhile, it is also meaningful to find an effective method to remove the organic coating properly to investigate the corrosion products under the organic coating. In this paper, the corrosion status of the A356 aluminum alloy substrate under an organic coating was observed firstly; lipid solutions such as NMP solution and butyl acrylate solution were used to remove the coating, and comparative experiments were carried out by controlling factors such as the soaking temperature, time, composition of solution etc. To find out the optimized soaking method to remove the organic coating; finally, the morphology of the localized corrosion on the aluminum alloy surface and the composition and structure of the corrosion products on the aluminum alloy substrate were analyzed. Results show that the corrosion products mainly contain ZrO2, Zr3O2F8, AlO(OH), and Al2O3. The corrosion process prefers to initiate at the defects where the coating and the substrate are not tightly bonded. This work shows the corrosion behavior of the aluminum alloy under an organic coating and provides a useful method to remove the organic coating from the aluminum alloy substrate effectively, and the results can be valuable for the understanding and mitigation of metal corrosion under an organic coating.

This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effects of inertial flywheel training and accentuated eccentric loading training on the neuromuscular performance of well-trained male college sprinters. Fourteen sprinters were recruited and randomly assigned to either the flywheel training (FWT, n = 7) group or the accentuated eccentric loading training (AELT, n = 7) group. The FWT group completed four sets of 2 + 7 repetitions of flywheel squats, whereas the AELT group performed four sets of seven repetitions of barbell squats (concentric/eccentric: 80%/120% 1RM). Both groups underwent an eight-week squat training program, with two sessions per week. A two-way repeated ANOVA analysis was used to find differences between the two groups and between the two testing times (pre-test vs. post-test). The results indicated significant improvements in all measured variables for the FWT group: 1RM (5.0%, ES = 1.28), CMJ (13.3%, ES = 5.42), SJ (6.0%, ES = 2.94), EUR (6.5%, ES = 4.42), SLJ (2.9%, ES = 1.77), and 30 m sprint (−3.4%, ES = −2.80); and for the AELT group: 1RM (6.3%, ES = 2.53), CMJ (7.4%, ES = 3.44), SJ (6.4%, ES = 2.21), SLJ (2.2%, ES = 1.20), and 30 m sprint (−3.0%, ES = −1.84), with the exception of EUR (0.9%, ES = 0.63, p = 0.134), showing no significant difference. In addition, no significant interaction effects between group and time were observed for 1RM back squat, SJ, SLJ, and 30 m sprint (p > 0.05). Conversely, a significant interaction effect between group and time was observed for both CMJ and EUR (p < 0.001); post hoc analysis revealed that the improvements in CMJ and EUR were significantly greater in the FWT group compared to the AELT group (p < 0.001). These findings indicate that both FWT and AELT are effective at enhancing lower-body strength, power, and speed in well-trained male college sprinters, with FWT being particularly more effective in promoting elastic energy storage and the full utilization of the stretch–shortening cycle.

The giant freshwater prawn (GFP; Macrobrachium rosenbergii), a tropical species cultured worldwide, has high market demand and economic value. Male GFP growth varies considerably; however, the mechanisms underlying these growth differences remain unclear. In this study, we collected gut and hemolymphatic samples of large (ML), medium (MM), and small (MS) male GFPs and used the 16S rRNA sequencing and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry-based metabolomic methods to explore gut microbiota and metabolites associated with GFP growth. The dominant bacteria were Firmicutes and Proteobacteria; higher growth rates correlated with a higher Firmicutes/Bacteroides ratio. Serum metabolite levels significantly differed between the ML and MS groups. We also combined transcriptomics with integrative multiomic techniques to further elucidate systematic molecular mechanisms in the GFPs. The results revealed that Faecalibacterium and Roseburia may improve gut health in GFP through butyrate release, affecting physiological homeostasis and leading to metabolic variations related to GFP growth differences. Notably, our results provide novel, fundamental insights into the molecular networks connecting various genes, metabolites, microbes, and phenotypes in GFPs, facilitating the elucidation of differential growth mechanisms in GFPs.

Road crack detection is of paramount importance for ensuring vehicular traffic safety, and implementing traditional detection methods for cracks inevitably impedes the optimal functioning of traffic. In light of the above, we propose a USSC-YOLO-based target detection algorithm for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) road cracks based on machine vision. The algorithm aims to achieve the high-precision detection of road cracks at all scale levels. Compared with the original YOLOv5s, the main improvements to USSC-YOLO are the ShuffleNet V2 block, the coordinate attention (CA) mechanism, and the Swin Transformer. First, to address the problem of large network computational spending, we replace the backbone network of YOLOv5s with ShuffleNet V2 blocks, reducing computational overhead significantly. Next, to reduce the problems caused by the complex background interference, we introduce the CA attention mechanism into the backbone network, which reduces the missed and false detection rate. Finally, we integrate the Swin Transformer block at the end of the neck to enhance the detection accuracy for small target cracks. Experimental results on our self-constructed UAV near–far scene road crack i(UNFSRCI) dataset demonstrate that our model reduces the giga floating-point operations per second (GFLOPs) compared to YOLOv5s while achieving a 6.3% increase in mAP@50 and a 12% improvement in mAP@ [50:95]. This indicates that the model remains lightweight meanwhile providing excellent detection performance. In future work, we will assess road safety conditions based on these detection results to prioritize maintenance sequences for crack targets and facilitate further intelligent management.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) is a significant medicinal and culinary plant, with its growth influenced by various biotic and abiotic factors. The FWL gene, containing the PLAC8 motif, is prevalent in fungi, algae, higher plants, and animals. In plants, FWL primarily regulates fruit weight, cell division, and participates in heavy metal transport. However, the FWL family members in ginger have not been previously identified. This study identified 21 FWL members within the ginger genome, distributed across nine chromosomes. These 21 FWL genes were categorized into five subfamilies based on the phylogenetic analysis. Gene-structure and motif analyses revealed that ZoFWL has been conserved throughout evolution. Concurrently, the ZoFWL gene exhibits a homologous evolutionary relationship only with Musa acuminata. We identified three pairs of fragment-repeat events encompassing five genes, which likely represent the primary mechanism for amplification within the ZoFWL gene family. The promoter regions of the ZoFWL genes are enriched with numerous cis-acting elements implicated in plant growth, development, and responses to abiotic stress. These include elements responsive to low temperatures, anaerobic induction, MYB binding sites integral to defense and stress responses, and drought inducibility. Expression profiling revealed that the ZoFWL genes are responsive to a quartet of abiotic stressors, with ZoFWL18, in particular, demonstrating a pronounced response to osmotic, low-temperature, heat, and salinity stresses. This underscores the pivotal role of ZoFWLs in abiotic-stress responses. Our findings offer valuable insights into the potential of the ZoFWL gene family in modulating ginger rhizome development and the genes’ response to abiotic stressors, laying a foundational framework for future research into ginger’s resistance breeding.

Vanilla, a quintessential flavoring agent, experiences burgeoning demand globally, particularly for natural variants. In response, Taiwan has ventured into vanilla cultivation, aiming to reduce the energy consumption associated with international transportation by fostering domestic production. This study investigates the sensory attributes of Taiwan and Madagascar vanilla beans amid increasing global demand for natural vanilla. We extended our sensory evaluations to vanilla ice cream products to assess their quality. Employing sensory evaluation questionnaires and experimental techniques, we utilized purposive and snowball sampling methodologies for participant recruitment. Our primary aim is to discern the edible disparities between Taiwan and Madagascar vanilla beans by scrutinizing variations in consumer sensory preferences. Our findings reveal statistically significant disparities between Taiwan and Madagascar vanilla beans concerning product texture and overall aroma in sensory evaluations, while other attributes do not exhibit notable differences. This suggests that the sensory experience of vanilla ice cream products derived from Taiwan and Madagascar vanilla beans primarily diverges in terms of product texture and overall aroma, with negligible disparities elsewhere. Remarkably, Taiwan vanilla beans consistently outperform Madagascar vanilla beans across many evaluation criteria, underscoring the superior quality and competitive edge of Taiwan’s vanilla beans. This empirical evidence highlights the exceptional quality and value proposition of Taiwan vanilla beans, offering insights for the expansion and deepening of sensory evaluations pertaining to vanilla beans. Furthermore, our study contributes to environmental sustainability by promoting local production and presents new avenues for Taiwan’s vanilla processing industry.

The quality of woven carbon fiber fabric/polycarbonate thermoplastic composites after thermoforming and demolding was investigated using finite element simulation and the Taguchi orthogonal array. The simulation utilized a discrete approach with a micro-mechanical model to describe the deformation of woven carbon fabric, combined with a resin model. This simulation was validated with bias extension tests at five temperatures. The thermoforming process parameters considered were blank temperature, mold temperature, and blank holding pressure, with three levels for each factor. Optimal values for the fiber-enclosed angle, spring-back angle, mold shape fitness, and the strain of the U-shaped workpiece were desired. The results indicated that the comparison of the stress-displacement curve of bias extension tests verified the application of the discrete finite element method. Results from the Taguchi array indicated that blank holding pressure was the dominant parameter, with the optimal value being 1.18 kPa. Blank temperature was the second most significant factor, effective in the range of 160 °C to 230 °C, while mold temperature had a minor effect. Furthermore, the four quality values are dependent and have a similar trend. The best combination was identified as a blank holding press of 1.18 kPa, a blank temperature of 230 °C, and a mold temperature of 190 °C.

The observation of superconductivity in MnSe at 12 GPa motivated us to investigate whether superconductivity could be induced in MnSe at ambient conditions. A strain-induced structural change in the ultrathin film could be one route to the emergence of superconductivity. In this report, we present the physical property of MnSe ultrathin films, which become tetragonal (stretched ab-plane and shortened c-axis) on a (001) SrTiO3 (STO) substrate, prepared by the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method. The physical properties of the tetragonal MnSe ultrathin films exhibit very different characteristics from those of the thick films and polycrystalline samples. The tetragonal MnSe films show substantial conductivity enhancement, which could be associated with the presence of superparamagnetism. The optical absorption data indicate that the electron transition through the indirect bandgap to the conduction band is significantly enhanced in tetragonal MnSe. Furthermore, the X-ray Mn L-edge absorption results also reveal an increase in unoccupied state valance bands. This theoretical study suggests that charge transfer from the substrate plays an important role in conductivity enhancement and the emergence of a ferromagnetic order that leads to superparamagnetism.

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease that arises as a multi-stage process involving multiple cell types. Patients diagnosed with the same clinical stage and pathological classification may have different prognoses and therapeutic responses due to alterations in molecular genetics. As an essential marker for the molecular subtyping of breast cancer, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a crucial role in gene expression regulation, cell differentiation, and the maintenance of genomic stability. Here, we developed a modular framework for lncRNA identification and applied it to a breast cancer cohort to identify novel lncRNAs not previously annotated. To investigate the potential biological function, regulatory mechanisms, and clinical relevance of the novel lncRNAs, we elucidated the genomic and chromatin features of these lncRNAs, along with the associated protein-coding genes and putative enhancers involved in the breast cancer regulatory networks. Furthermore, we uncovered that the expression patterns of novel and annotated lncRNAs identified in breast cancer were related to the hormone response in the PAM50 subtyping criterion, as well as the immune response and progression states of breast cancer across different immune cells and immune checkpoint genes. Collectively, the comprehensive identification and functional analysis of lncRNAs revealed that these lncRNAs play an essential role in breast cancer by altering gene expression and participating in the regulatory networks, contributing to a better insight into breast cancer heterogeneity and potential avenues for therapeutic intervention.

The design of the space hatch door mechanisms is crucial in the aerospace field, impacting not only durability and reliability but also the life safety of astronauts during space missions. This review extensively researches vehicle doors and hatches in civil and military systems across various environments, including land, sea, deep sea, aviation, aerospace, and extreme conditions. Specially, it focuses on the structural design of hatches and related mechanisms in civil aviation and military aerospace environments, such as opening and closing mechanisms, release mechanisms, locking mechanisms, sealing mechanisms, and the ergonomic design of door structures. The review highlights the integration of bionic design principles with hatch mechanisms to explore future solutions. By systematically examining these aeras, this review addresses the lack of comprehensive studies in previous reviews, which often overlook the interconnectivity and applicability of hatch mechanisms across different fields. The absence of such holistic reviews has led to fragmented knowledge and missed opportunities for cross-industry innovation. This review aims to fill these gaps by providing a wide range of design solutions and offering insights that can enhance the development of more reliable, efficient, and safe hatch mechanisms in aerospace and other high-stakes environments.

Background: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to analyze whether isoinertial flywheel training (FWT) is superior to traditional resistance training (TRT) in enhancing maximal strength and muscle power in healthy individuals. Methods: Electronic searches were conducted in the Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, SPORTDiscus, and Scopus databases up to 21 April 2024. Outcomes were analyzed as continuous variables using either a random or fixed effects model to calculate the standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: A total of sixteen articles, involving 341 subjects, met the inclusion criteria and were included in the statistical analyses. The pooled results indicate no statistically significant differences between FWT and TRT in developing maximal strength in healthy individuals (SMD = 0.24, 95% CI [−0.26, 0.74], p = 0.35). Additionally, the pooled outcomes showed a small-sized effect in muscle power with FWT (SMD = 0.47, 95% CI [0.10, 0.84]), which was significantly higher than that with TRT (p = 0.01) in healthy individuals. Subgroup analysis revealed that when the total number of FWT sessions is between 12 and 18 (1–3 times per week), it significantly improves muscle power (SMD = 0.61, 95% CI [0.12, 1.09]). Significant effects favoring FWT for muscle power were observed in both well-trained (SMD = 0.58, 95% CI [0.04, 1.13]) and untrained individuals (SMD = 1.40, 95% CI [0.23, 2.57]). In terms of exercise, performing flywheel training with squat and lunge exercises significantly enhances muscle power (SMD = 0.43; 95% CI: 0.02–0.84, and p = 0.04). Interestingly, FWT was superior to weight stack resistance training (SMD = 0.61, 95% CI [0.21, 1.00]) in enhancing muscle power, while no significant differences were found compared to barbell free weights training (SMD = 0.36, 95% CI [−0.22, 0.94]). Conclusions: This meta-analysis confirms the superiority of FWT compared to TRT in promoting muscle power in both healthy untrained and well-trained individuals. Squats and lunges for FWT are more suitable for improving lower limb explosive power. It is recommended that coaches and trainers implement FWT for six weeks, 2–3 times per week, with at least a 48 h interval between each session. Although FWT is not superior to free weights training, it is advisable to include FWT in sport periodization to diversify the training stimuli for healthy individuals.

Traditional stud and perfobond leiste (PBL) shear connectors are commonly used as load-transferring components in steel-concrete composite structures. Composite shear connectors fully utilize the advantages of traditional stud and PBL shear connectors. In order to maximize the advantages of composite shear connectors, a novel shear connector for complex environments was proposed. The steel-FRP composite bars (SFCBs) with excellent fatigue resistance and corrosion resistance were introduced to replace the steel bars. This study discussed the failure modes, load–slip curves, and load–strain curves of the composite shear connector. In addition, a finite element analysis (FEA) model was developed to analyze the influence of various factors on its shear behavior. Results showed that compared with traditional composite shear connectors, the introduction of SFCB resulted in a promotion of 7.85% in shear stiffness, and it also led to a significant increase of 63.61% in ductility, further enhancing the mechanical performance. Meanwhile, FEA models were well fitted to the test results, and parametric analysis showed variate effects on shear bearing capacity. In the end, an equation was established to calculate the shear capacity of composite shear connectors, which could provide a reference for further research and engineering applications.

Optimizing the delivery and penetration of nano-sized drugs within liver cancer sites, along with remodeling the tumor microenvironment, is crucial for enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents. For this study, a platelet (PLT)-mediated nanodrug delivery system (DASA+ATO@PLT) was developed to improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy. This system delivers nano-sized dasatinib and atovaquone specifically to liver tumor sites and facilitates intra-tumoral permeation upon release. Through JC-1, immunohistochemistry, and DNA damage analyses, the therapeutic effect of DASA+ATO@PLT was assessed. In vitro simulation and intravital imaging were carried out to determine the accumulation of dasatinib and atovaquone in liver tumor sites. The experiment demonstrated the accumulation of dasatinib and atovaquone in tumor sites, followed by deep permeation in the tumor microenvironment with the assistance of PLTs, while simultaneously revealing the ability of DASA+ATO@PLT to remodel the liver cancer microenvironment (overcoming hypoxia) and enhance chemotherapeutic efficacy. This system utilizes the natural tumor recognition ability of PLTs and enhances the chemo-immunotherapeutic effect through targeted delivery of nano-chemotherapeutic drugs to the tumor, resulting in effective accumulation and infiltration. The PLT-mediated nanodrug delivery system serves as a “Trojan horse” to carry therapeutic drugs as cargo and deliver them to target cells, leading to favorable outcomes.

The accurate recognition of maize growth stages is crucial for effective farmland management strategies. In order to overcome the difficulty of quickly obtaining precise information about maize growth stage in complex farmland scenarios, this study proposes a Maize Hybrid Vision Transformer (MaizeHT) that combines a convolutional algorithmic structure with self-attention for maize growth stage recognition. The MaizeHT model utilizes a ResNet34 convolutional neural network to extract image features to self-attention, which are then transformed into sequence vectors (tokens) using Patch Embedding. It simultaneously inserts category information and location information as a token. A Transformer architecture with multi-head self-attention is employed to extract token features and predict maize growth stage categories using a linear layer. In addition, the MaizeHT model is standardized and encapsulated, and a prototype platform for intelligent maize growth stage recognition is developed for deployment on a website. Finally, the performance validation test of MaizeHT was carried out. To be specific, MaizeHT has an accuracy of 97.71% when the input image resolution is 224 × 224 and 98.71% when the input image resolution is 512 × 512 on the self-built dataset, the number of parameters is 15.446 M, and the floating-point operations are 4.148 G. The proposed maize growth stage recognition method could provide computational support for maize farm intelligence.

Streptomyces can produce secondary metabolites with a wide range of activities and is often used in agriculture as a biocontrol strain to control soil-borne diseases. Screening and isolation from infected soil is an effective method to obtain active strains. In this study, the best antagonistic inter-root growth-promoting bacteria were isolated from grapevine inter-root soil samples, and strain F2 was identified as Streptomyces sp. based on morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics as well as 16S rDNA sequencing results. The results showed that the fermentation broth/liquid and sterile filtrate of strain F2 exhibited antagonistic effects against 10 plant pathogens, with an inhibition rate reaching up to 80%. Notably, two of them exhibited remarkable inhibitory effects against Phytophthora capsici with inhibition rates of 80.58% and 87.71%, respectively. The P. capsici leaf control experiment revealed that the control effect of strain F2 fermentation liquid on P. capsici filaments was 61.09%. Furthermore, indoor pot experiments demonstrated that the fermentation liquid of strain F2 had a significant inhibitory effect on pepper blight, with a maximum inhibition of 83.31%. Antagonistic factor analysis indicated that strain F2 had specific organophosphorus hydrolysis, nitrogen fixation, extracellular protease secretion, and IAA production capabilities. Additionally, root treatment with strain F2’s fermentation liquid significantly enhanced capsicum growth. Taking together, Streptomyces F2 not only exhibits a wide-spectrum antagonistic effect against plant pathogens but also promotes plant growth, which suggests that Streptomyces F2 can be used as an effective biological control resource and provides important theoretical support for the application of Streptomyces F2.

Osteoarthritis (OA), a chronic joint disease affecting over 500 million individuals globally, is characterized by the destruction of articular cartilage and joint inflammation. Conventional treatments are insufficient for repairing damaged joint tissue, necessitating novel therapeutic approaches. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), with their potential for differentiation and self-renewal, hold great promise as a treatment for OA. However, challenges such as MSC viability and apoptosis in the ischemic joint environment hinder their therapeutic effectiveness. Hydrogels with biocompatibility and degradability offer a three-dimensional scaffold that support cell viability and differentiation, making them ideal for MSC delivery in OA treatment. This review discusses the pathological features of OA, the properties of MSCs, the challenges associated with MSC therapy, and methods for hydrogel preparation and functionalization. Furthermore, it highlights the advantages of hydrogel-based MSC delivery systems while providing insights into future research directions and the clinical potential of this approach.

As an important vehicle in road construction, the unmanned roller is rapidly advancing in its autonomous compaction capabilities. To overcome the challenges of GNSS positioning failure during tunnel construction and diminished visual positioning accuracy under different illumination levels, we propose a feature-layer fusion positioning system based on a camera and LiDAR. This system integrates loop closure detection and LiDAR odometry into the visual odometry framework. Furthermore, recognizing the prevalence of similar scenes in tunnels, we innovatively combine loop closure detection with the compaction process of rollers in fixed areas, proposing a selection method for loop closure candidate frames based on the compaction process. Through on-site experiments, it is shown that this method not only enhances the accuracy of loop closure detection in similar environments but also reduces the runtime. Compared with visual systems, in static positioning tests, the longitudinal and lateral accuracy of the fusion system are improved by 12 mm and 11 mm, respectively. In straight-line compaction tests under different illumination levels, the average lateral error increases by 34.1% and 32.8%, respectively. In lane-changing compaction tests, this system enhances the positioning accuracy by 33% in dim environments, demonstrating the superior positioning accuracy of the fusion positioning system amid illumination changes in tunnels.

Quantitative simulation of urban waterlogging using computer models is an effective technical means for urban storm water management, especially for predicting and preventing waterlogging. In this study, a city in the northern Anhui Plain, China, was selected as the study site. The Storm Water Management Model was applied to simulate the dynamic changes in the pipeline overload, node overflow, and discharge port runoff characteristics from three perspectives: surface runoff, pipe network transmission, and flow control of low-impact development. The operation of the rainwater pipe network under different return periods and the real-time operation of the rainwater pipe network were simulated to seek solutions to urban waterlogging problems caused by flat terrain and slow drainage. The results revealed that surface runoff is the primary source of rainfall in the study area, with a runoff coefficient of 0.599. The drainage pipe network was optimized by expanding the diameter of the pipe from ≤1.5 mm to ≥2 mm. The water reduction rate was more than 50%, and overload did not occur after optimization. Therefore, sinking green space technology and optimization methods for expanding a pipe diameter can reduce urban waterlogging.

The eggs of the Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella, are frequently utilized as alternative diets and have demonstrated promising outcomes when consumed by various insects. Nonetheless, the specific reasons for their effectiveness remain unclear. In our study, we assessed the developmental performance of the ladybird Propylea japonica when fed E. kuehniella eggs, alongside 12 factitious prey or artificial diets. Our findings revealed that ladybirds fed E. kuehniella eggs displayed a performance comparable to those fed the natural prey Megoura crassicauda. Transcriptome profiling of larvae raised on E. kuehniella eggs and M. crassicauda revealed that genes upregulated in the former group were enriched in metabolic pathways associated with carbohydrates, lipids, and other essential nutrients. This suggests that E. kuehniella eggs may have a higher nutrient content compared to natural prey. Furthermore, a notable downregulation in the expression of immune effector genes, such as Attacin and Coleoptericin, was observed, which might be attributed to the lower microbial content in E. kuehniella eggs compared to M. crassicauda. We suggest that the difference between E. kuehniella eggs and M. crassicauda as food sources for P. japonica lies in their nutrient and microbial contents. These findings provide valuable insights for the advancement of innovative artificial breeding systems for natural enemies.

Rice straw is not easy to decompose, it takes a long time to compost, and the anaerobic bacteria involved in the decomposition process produce a large amount of carbon dioxide (CO2), indicating that applications for rice straw need to be developed. Recycling rice straw in agricultural crops is an opportunity to increase the sustainability of grain production. Several studies have shown that the probiotic population gradually decreases in the soil, leading to an increased risk of plant diseases and decreased biomass yield. Because the microorganisms in the soil are related to the growth of plants, when the soil microbial community is imbalanced it seriously affects plant growth. We investigated the feasibility of using composted rice stalks to artificially cultivate microorganisms obtained from the Oryza sativa-planted environment for analyzing the mycobiota and evaluating applications for sustainable agriculture. Microbes obtained from the water-submerged part (group-A) and soil part (group-B) of O. sativa were cultured in an artificial medium, and the microbial diversity was analyzed with internal transcribed spacer sequencing. Paddy field soil was mixed with fermented paddy straw compost, and the microbes obtained from the soil used for O. sativa planting were designated as group-C. The paddy fields transplanted with artificially cultured microbes from group-A were designated as group-D and those from group-B were designated as group-E. We found that fungi and yeasts can be cultured in groups-A and -B. These microbes altered the soil mycobiota in the paddy fields after transplantation in groups-D and -E compared to groups-A and -B. Development in O. sativa post treatment with microbial transplantation was observed in the groups-D and -E compared to group-C. These results showed that artificially cultured microorganisms could be efficiently transplanted into the soil and improve the mycobiota. Phytohormones were involved in improving O. sativa growth and rice yield via the submerged part-derived microbial medium (group-D) or the soil part-derived microbial medium (group-E) treatments. Collectively, these fungi and yeasts may be applied in microbial transplantation via rice straw fermentation to repair soil mycobiota imbalances, facilitating plant growth and sustainable agriculture. These fungi and yeasts may be applied in microbial transplantation to repair soil mycobiota imbalances and sustainable agriculture.