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The study of the intricate flight patterns and behaviors of swarm insects, such as drosophilas, has long been a subject of interest in both the biological and computational realms. Tracking drosophilas is an essential and indispensable method for researching drosophilas’ behaviors. Still, it remains a challenging task due to the highly dynamic nature of these drosophilas and their partial occlusion in multi-target environments. To address these challenges, particularly in environments where multiple targets (drosophilas) interact and overlap, we have developed a long-term Trajectory 3D Position and Orientation Tracking Method (Long 3D-POT) that combines deep learning with particle filtering. Our approach employs a detection model based on an improved Mask-RCNN to accurately detect the position and state of drosophilas from frames, even when they are partially occluded. Following detection, improved particle filtering is used to predict and update the motion of the drosophilas. To further enhance accuracy, we have introduced a prediction module based on the self-attention backbone that predicts the drosophila’s next state and updates the particles’ weights accordingly. Compared with previous methods by Ameni, Cheng, and Wang, our method has demonstrated a higher degree of accuracy and robustness in tracking the long-term trajectories of drosophilas, even those that are partially occluded. Specifically, Ameni employs the Interacting Multiple Model (IMM) combined with the Global Nearest Neighbor (GNN) assignment algorithm, primarily designed for tracking larger, more predictable targets like aircraft, which tends to perform poorly with small, fast-moving objects like drosophilas. The method by Cheng then integrates particle filtering with LSTM networks to predict particle weights, enhancing trajectory prediction under kinetic uncertainties. Wang’s approach builds on Cheng’s by incorporating an estimation of the orientation of drosophilas in order to refine tracking further. Compared with those methods, our method performs with higher accuracy on detection, which increases by more than 10% on the F1 Score, and tracks more long-term trajectories, showing stability.

With the emerging large- and medium-sized engineering projects, prominent project delivery methods make sense in terms of cost, risk, management, and schedule. Among these, the Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) method stands out due to its adaptability for growing scale and complexity projects. This study compares the IPD method with other methods, emphasizing its benefits in large- and medium-sized projects and introducing the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) model to analyze IPD’s adaptability quantitatively. By conducting a matrix calculation of eighteen second-level indicators, this study derived weight values for four first-level indicators: Cost control, Risk control, Management control, and Schedule control. These first-level indicators were then used to formulate the total evaluation index calculation. Based on this foundation, we verified the calculations using a case study in Fujian. Implementing the IPD method led to a lower cost than the Owner’s Representative method and a one-year schedule acceleration. The FAHP model introduced in this study offers a novel and objective approach for adaptability analysis of the IPD method in large- and medium-sized engineering projects, coupling decision theory into project management.

Taste, dietary choices, and gut microbiota are often analyzed as major factors of metabolic health. Populations living in cold or hot regions have different dietary habits. This study aims to investigate the potential association among ambient temperature, food taste preferences, and cecal microbiota community profiles in mice. By exposing mice to mixed diets containing sweet, sour, salty, and bitter flavors at low (4 °C) and high (37 °C) ambient temperatures, the taste preferences of mice at both ambient temperatures were in the order of saltiness > sweetness > bitterness > sourness. Exposing mice to sweet, sour, salty, and bitter diets, respectively, revealed that in a low-temperature environment, mice consuming salty (5.00 ± 1.49 g), sweet (4.99 ± 0.35 g), and sour (3.90 ± 0.61 g) diets had significantly higher weight gain compared to those consuming normal feeds (2.34 ± 0.43 g, p < 0.05). Conversely, in a high-temperature environment, no significant changes in body weight were observed among mice consuming different flavored diets (p > 0.05). In a low-temperature environment, mice fed sour and sweet diets showed a significant difference in the gut microbiota composition when compared to those fed a normal diet. A higher abundance of Lachnospiraceae, UBA1819, and Clostridiales was identified as the most significant taxa in the sour group, and a higher abundance of Ruminiclostridium was identified in the sweet group. These differences were associated with microbial pathways involved in carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and energy metabolism. A high-temperature environment exhibited only minor effects on the gut microbiota profile. Overall, our findings provide evidence for temperature-modulated responses to the taste, gut microbiota functions, and body weight changes in mice.

Electrocardiography (ECG) has emerged as a ubiquitous diagnostic tool for the identification and characterization of diverse cardiovascular pathologies. Wearable health monitoring devices, equipped with on-device biomedical artificial intelligence (AI) processors, have revolutionized the acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of ECG data. However, these systems necessitate AI processors that exhibit flexible configuration, facilitate portability, and demonstrate optimal performance in terms of power consumption and latency for the realization of various functionalities. To address these challenges, this study proposes an instruction-driven convolutional neural network (CNN) processor. This processor incorporates three key features: (1) An instruction-driven CNN processor to support versatile ECG-based application. (2) A Processing element (PE) array design that simultaneously considers parallelism and data reuse. (3) An activation unit based on the CORDIC algorithm, supporting both Tanh and Sigmoid computations. The design has been implemented using 110 nm CMOS process technology, occupying a die area of 1.35 mm2 with 12.94 µW power consumption. It has been demonstrated with two typical ECG AI applications, including two-class (i.e., normal/abnormal) classification and five-class classification. The proposed 1-D CNN algorithm performs with a 97.95% accuracy for the two-class classification and 97.9% for the five-class classification, respectively.

This paper proposes a prescribed performance control policy for spacecraft attitude tracking control. The designed controller employs a kind of performance envelope function that can configure the convergence rate arbitrarily. Moreover, the controller design is based on the barrier Lyapunov function and indirect adaptive methods, which can suppress the fluctuation of external disturbances to obtain lower steady-state errors. Compared to prior studies on spacecraft attitude tracking, the proposed policy can arbitrarily configure the system convergence performance to achieve performance trade-offs in different scenarios. Moreover, the barrier Lyapunov function design and adaptive methods can achieve low steady-state errors with low computational resource consumption. Simulations that verify its effectiveness and superiority are provided herein.

The geological structure of the upper reaches of the Yellow River is complex, especially in the Sigouxia-Laganxia section. It has always been a high-incidence area of landslide disasters, which poses a threat to the safe operation of the upper reaches of the Yellow River. In this study, based on the high-precision remote sensing image data, the spatial distribution of each landslide was obtained by superimposing the remote sensing image and the 1:50,000 digital elevation model (DEM). Some typical landslides were selected for detailed field investigation and field verification. The results show that the remote sensing image characteristics of landslides in the upper reaches of the Yellow River are obvious. Through remote sensing interpretation and field investigation, a total of 508 landslides of various types were found, including 24 giant landslides. The spatial spreading patterns of landslides mainly include six types: dumb-bell shape, rectangle, saddle type, long arc shape, triangle, and side-by-side shape. The length and width of the landslide deposit are mainly concentrated at 550–1500 m and 600–1500 m, and the average elevation of the sliding body is mainly concentrated between 2000 and 2800 m. The average slope of the landslide is mainly distributed between 15–20°. Giant landslides are mainly distributed in the Jianzha basin area, surrounded by the Jishishan fault and the Lajishan fault in the West Qinling Mountains. The spatial distribution characteristics of giant landslides have obvious regional differences due to different factors such as lithologic differences and riverside erosion. The research results are of great significance for the early identification, prevention, and mitigation of landslide disasters in the upper reaches of the Yellow River.

Deep foundation pit excavation is an important way to develop underground space in congested urban areas. Rock bridges prevent the interconnection of joints and control the deformation and failure of the rock mass caused by excavation for foundation pits. However, few studies have considered the acoustic properties and strain field evolution of rock bridges. To investigate the control mechanisms of rock bridges in intermittent joints, jointed specimens with varying rock bridge length and angle were prepared and subjected to laboratory uniaxial compression tests, employing acoustic emission (AE) and digital image correlation (DIC) techniques. The results indicated a linear and positive correlation between uniaxial compressive strength and length, and a non-linear and negative correlation with angle. Moreover, AE counts and cumulative AE counts increased with loading, suggesting surges due to the propagation and coalescence of wing and macroscopic cracks. Analysis of RA-AF values revealed that shear microcracks dominated the failure, with the ratio of shear microcracks increasing as length decreased and angle increased. Notably, angle exerted a more significant impact on the damage form. As length diminished, the failure plane’s transition across the rock bridge shifted from a complex coalescence of shear cracks to a direct merger of only coplanar shear cracks, reducing the number of tensile cracks required for failure initiation. The larger the angle, the higher the degree of coalescence of the rock bridge and, consequently, the fewer tensile cracks required for failure. The decrease of length and the increase of angle make rock mass more fragile. The more inclined the failure mode is to shear failure, the smaller the damage required for failure, and the more prone the areas is to rock mass disaster. These findings can provide theoretical guidance for the deformation and control of deep foundation pits.

2-methylfuran is a significant organic chemical raw material which can be produced by hydrolysis, dehydration, and selective hydrogenation of biomass hemicellulose. 2-methylfuran can be converted into value-added chemicals and liquid fuels. This article reviews the latest progress in the synthesis of liquid fuel precursors through hydroxyalkylation/alkylation reactions of 2-methylfuran and biomass-derived carbonyl compounds in recent years. 2-methylfuran reacts with olefins through Diels–Alder reactions to produce chemicals, and 2-methylfuran reacts with anhydrides (or carboxylic acids) to produce acylated products. In the future application of 2-methylfuran, developing high value-added chemicals and high-density liquid fuels are two good research directions.

In the realm of electrochemical nitrite detection, the potent oxidizing nature of nitrite typically necessitates operation at high detection potentials. However, this study introduces a novel approach to address this challenge by developing a highly sensitive electrochemical sensor with a low reduction detection potential. Specifically, a copper metal nanosheet/carbon paper sensitive electrode (Cu/CP) was fabricated using a one-step electrodeposition method, leveraging the catalytic reduction properties of copper’s high occupancy d-orbital. The Cu/CP sensor exhibited remarkable performance in nitrite detection, featuring a low detection potential of −0.05 V vs. Hg/HgO, a wide linear range of 10~1000 μM, an impressive detection limit of 0.079 μM (S/N = 3), and a high sensitivity of 2140 μA mM−1cm−2. These findings underscore the efficacy of electrochemical nitrite detection through catalytic reduction as a means to reduce the operational voltage of the sensor. By showcasing the successful implementation of this strategy, this work sets a valuable precedent for the advancement of electrochemical low-potential nitrite detection methodologies.

The post-genomic era has ushered in the extensive application of epigenetic editing tools, allowing for precise alterations of gene expression. The use of reprogrammable editors that carry transcriptional corepressors has significant potential for long-term epigenetic silencing for the treatment of human diseases. The ideal scenario involves precise targeting of a specific genomic location by a DNA-binding domain, ensuring there are no off-target effects and that the process yields no genetic remnants aside from specific epigenetic modifications (i.e., DNA methylation). A notable example is a recent study on the mouse Pcsk9 gene, crucial for cholesterol regulation and expressed in hepatocytes, which identified synthetic zinc-finger (ZF) proteins as the most effective DNA-binding editors for silencing Pcsk9 efficiently, specifically, and persistently. This discussion focuses on enhancing the specificity of ZF-array DNA binding by optimizing interactions between specific amino acids and DNA bases across three promoters containing CpG islands.

DOX/TPOR4@CB[7]4 was synthesized via self-assembly, and its physicochemical properties and ability to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) were evaluated. The impact of photodynamic therapy on SH-SY5Y cells was assessed using the MTT assay, while flow cytometry analysis was employed to detect cell apoptosis. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was utilized to observe the intracellular distribution of DOX/TPOR4@CB[7]4 in SH-SY5Y cells. Additionally, fluorescence imaging of DOX/TPOR4@CB[7]4 in nude mice bearing SH-SY5Y tumors and examination of the combined effects of photodynamic and chemical therapies were conducted. The incorporation of CB[7] significantly enhanced the optical properties of DOX/TPOR4@CB[7]4, resulting in increased ROS production and pronounced toxicity towards SH-SY5Y cells. Moreover, both the apoptotic and mortality rates exhibited significant elevation. In vivo experiments demonstrated that tumor growth inhibition was most prominent in the DOX/TPOR4@CB[7]4 group. π–π interactions facilitated the binding between DOX and photosensitizer TPOR, with TPOR’s naphthalene hydrophilic groups encapsulated within CB[7]’s cavity through host–guest interactions with CB[7]. Therefore, CB[7] can serve as a nanocarrier to enhance the combined application of chemical therapy and photodynamic therapy, thereby significantly improving treatment efficacy against neuroblastoma tumors.

Extrinsic parameter calibration is the foundation and prerequisite for LiDAR and camera data fusion of the autonomous system. This technology is widely used in fields such as autonomous driving, mobile robots, intelligent surveillance, and visual measurement. The learning-based method is one of the targetless calibrating methods in LiDAR and camera calibration. Due to its advantages of fast speed, high accuracy, and robustness under complex conditions, it has gradually been applied in practice from a simple theoretical model in just a few years, becoming an indispensable and important method. This paper systematically summarizes the research and development of this type of method in recent years. According to the principle of calibration parameter estimation, learning-based calibration algorithms are divided into two categories: accurate calibrating estimation and relative calibrating prediction. The evolution routes and algorithm frameworks of these two types of algorithms are elaborated, and the methods used in the algorithms’ steps are summarized. The algorithm mechanism, advantages, limitations, and applicable scenarios are discussed. Finally, we make a summary, pointing out existing research issues and trends for future development.

Blue lasers are integral to a variety of applications, including marine communication, underwater resource exploration, cold laser processing, laser medicine, and beyond. Vertical external cavity surface-emitting lasers (VECSELs) have the advantages of high output power and tunable wavelength, and can output blue laser via frequency doubling. In this article, a new type of intracavity beam control external-cavity structure is introduced. The laser beam waist is effectively adjusted by intracavity beam control, and the frequency conversion efficiency is improved. A laser cavity stability analysis model was developed to investigate the impact of laser cavity lens parameters and relative positions on stability. The external resonant cavity of VECSELs utilizes two optical lenses to position the beam waist near the laser output coupling mirror and locates the frequency doubling crystal at a high optical power density position to optimize frequency conversion efficiency. The VECSEL straight external-cavity structure achieves a frequency conversion efficiency of up to 60.2% at 488 nm, yielding a blue laser output exceeding 1.3 W. The full width at half maximum of the 488 nm spectrum measures approximately 0.23 nm. This intracavity beam-controlled direct external-cavity structure effectively mitigates laser mode leakage and shows potential for the development of an efficient and compact blue laser source.

Abstract Purpose Tuberculosis is a high-burden disease and a major health concern in China, especially among children and adolescents. The purpose of this study was to assess risk factors for diagnostic delay in students with pulmonary tuberculosis in Quzhou City in eastern China. Patients and methods Cases of PTB in students and relevant information in Quzhou from 2011 to 2021 were collected using the TB Management Information System. The outcome of interest was diagnostic delay (i.e. ≥ 28 days between symptom onset and treatment initiation). Risk factors for diagnostic delay were identified using multivariable logistic regression. Results A total of 629 students in Quzhou were diagnosed with PTB during the study period, of whom 55.5% were male. The median diagnostic delay was 18 days (Inter Quartile Range, [IQR]: 8–38) and 38.0% of the students had a diagnostic delay. Living in a rural area (adjusted odds ratio, [AOR]: 1.56, 95% confidence interval [CI:] 1.11–2.19), developing PTB symptoms in the first quarter of the year (AOR: 2.18, 95% CI: 1.40–3.40), and no sputum smear result (AOR: 8.73, 95% CI: 1.68–45.30) were significantly associated with a diagnostic delay. Discovery through health examinations (AOR: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.17–0.63) was associated with reduced risk of diagnostic delay. Conclusion Schools in rural areas should pay special attention to increasing student awareness of the symptoms of tuberculosis and provide health education on tuberculosis prevention and control to students and staff.

Abstract Background Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute pediatric vasculitis affecting genetically susceptible infants and children. Although the pathogenesis of KD remains unclear, growing evidence links genetic susceptibility to the disease. Methods To explore the genes associated with susceptibility in KD, we applied whole-exome sequencing to KD and control subjects from Yunnan province, China. We conducted association study analysis on the two groups. Results In this study, we successfully identified 11 significant rare variants in two genes (MYH14 and RBP3) through the genotype/allele frequency analysis. A heterozygous variant (c.2650G > A, p.V884M) of the RBP3 gene was identified in 12 KD cases, while eight heterozygous variants (c.566G > A, p.R189H; c.1109 C > T, p.S370L; c.3917T > G, p.L1306R; c.4301G > A, p.R1434Q; c.5026 C > T, p.R1676W; c.5329 C > T, p.R1777C; c.5393 C > A, p.A1798D and c.5476 C > T, p.R1826C) of the MYH14 gene were identified in 8 KD cases respectively. Conclusion This study suggested that nine variants in MYH14 and RBP3 gene may be associated with KD susceptibility in the population from Yunnan province.

Abstract Therapies using dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) or stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) have shown promising applications for bone tissue engineering. This in vitro experiment evaluated the joint osteogenic capability of DPSCs and EVs on alloplastic (maxresorp), allogeneic (maxgraft), and xenogeneic (cerabone) bone grafts. We hypothesize that osteogenic differentiation and the proliferation of human DPSCs vary between bone grafts and are favorable under the influence of EVs. DPSCs were obtained from human wisdom teeth, and EVs derived from DPSCs were isolated from cell culture medium. DPSCs were seeded on alloplastic, allogeneic, and xenogeneic bone graft substitutes for control, and the same scaffolds were administered with EVs in further groups. The cellular uptake of EVs into DPSC cells was assessed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Cell vitality staining and calcein acetoxymethyl ester staining were used to evaluate cell attachment and proliferation. Cell morphology was determined using scanning electron microscopy, and osteogenic differentiation was explored by alkaline phosphatase and Alizarin red staining. Within the limitations of an in vitro study without pathologies, the results suggest that especially the use of xenogeneic bone graft substitutes with DPSCS and EVs may represent a promising treatment approach for alveolar bone defects.

Abstract Mitochondrial RNA splicing 2 (Mrs2), a eukaryotic CorA ortholog, enables Mg2+ to permeate the inner mitochondrial membrane and plays an important role in mitochondrial metabolic function. However, the mechanism by which Mrs2 permeates Mg2+ remains unclear. Here, we report four cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) reconstructions of Homo sapiens Mrs2 (hMrs2) under various conditions. All of these hMrs2 structures form symmetrical pentamers with very similar pentamer and protomer conformations. A special structural feature of Cl−-bound R-ring, which consists of five Arg332 residues, was found in the hMrs2 structure. Molecular dynamics simulations and mitochondrial Mg2+ uptake assays show that the R-ring may function as a charge repulsion barrier, and Cl− may function as a ferry to jointly gate Mg2+ permeation in hMrs2. In addition, the membrane potential is likely to be the driving force for Mg2+ permeation. Our results provide insights into the channel assembly and Mg2+ permeation of hMrs2.

Abstract Background At present, there are few studies on whether there is reproductive advantage in advanced polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients, and the existing research results are also controversial. Some research results show that the reproductive window of advanced reproductive age patients with polycystic ovary syndrome is longer than that of the normal control group, and the clinical pregnancy rate and cumulative live birth rate of in vitro fertilization / intracytoplasmic sperm injection(IVF/ICSI)are higher. However, some studies have contradicted the results, and believed that the clinical pregnancy rate and cumulative live birth rate in IVF/ICSI in advanced PCOS patients and normal control groups were roughly similar. This retrospective study aimed to compare IVF/ICSI outcomes in advanced reproductive age patients with PCOS and in advanced reproductive age patients with tubal factor infertility alone. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on advanced reproductive age (age ≥ 35 years) patients who received their first IVF/ICSI cycle between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2020. This study was divided into two groups, one group was PCOS group, the other group was control group, namely tubal factor infertility group, a total of 312 patients and 462 cycles were enrolled. Compare the differences in outcomes such as cumulative live birth rate and clinical pregnancy rate between the two groups. Results In fresh embryo transfer cycles(ET), there was no statistically significant difference in live birth rate [19/62 (30.6%) vs. 34/117 (29.1%), P = 0.825] and clinical pregnancy rate [24/62 (38.7%) vs. 43/117 (36.8%), P = 0.797] between the PCOS and control groups.In the frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycle, the difference in cumulative live birth rate [63/217 (29.0%) vs. 14/66 (21.2%), P = 0.211] and clinical pregnancy rate [74/217 (34.1%) vs. 18/66 (27.3%), P = 0.300] were not statistically significant between the two groups. Conclusions The IVF/ICSI outcomes of advanced reproductive age patients with PCOS are similar to those of advanced reproductive age patients with tubal factor infertility alone, and the clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate are roughly the same. Age is an important factor that affects clinical pregnancy rate. It is recommended that patients with PCOS complicated by infertility seek medical treatment as soon as possible to obtain better pregnancy outcomes.

Abstract Background N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) modification is the most common modification that occurs in eukaryotes. Although substantial effort has been made in the prevention and treatment of gastric cancer (GC) in recent years, the prognosis of GC patients remains unsatisfactory. The regulatory mechanism between m6A modification and GC development needs to be elucidated. In this study, we examined m6A modification and the downstream mechanism in GC. Methods Dot blotting assays, The Cancer Genome Atlas analysis, and quantitative real‑time PCR (qRT‐PCR) were used to measure the m6A levels in GC tissues. Methylated RNA‐immunoprecipitation sequencing and RNA sequencing were performed to identify the targets of m6A modification. Western blotting, Transwell, wound healing, and angiogenesis assays were conducted to examine the role of centromere protein F (CENPF) in GC in vitro. Xenograft, immunohistochemistry, and in vivo metastasis experiments were conducted to examine the role of CENPF in GC in vivo. Methylated RNA‐immunoprecipitation‐qPCR, RNA immunoprecipitation‐qPCR and RNA pulldown assays were used to verify the m6A modification sites of CENPF. Gain/loss‐of‐function and rescue experiments were conducted to determine the relationship between CENPF and the mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway in GC cells. Coimmunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry, qRT‐PCR, and immunofluorescence assays were performed to explore the proteins that interact with CENPF and elucidate the regulatory mechanisms between them. Results CENPF was upregulated in GC and facilitated the metastasis of GC both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, increased m6A modification of CENPF was mediated by methyltransferase 3, and this modified molecule could be recognized by heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1 (HNRNPA2B1), thereby promoting its mRNA stability. In addition, the metastatic phenotype of CENPF was dependent on the MAPK signaling pathway. Furthermore, CENPF could bind to FAK and promote its localization in the cytoplasm. Moreover, we discovered that high expression of CENPF was related to lymphatic invasion and overall survival in GC patients. Conclusions Our findings revealed that increased m6A modification of CENPF facilitates the metastasis and angiogenesis of GC through the CENPF/FAK/MAPK and epithelial‐mesenchymal transition axis. CENPF expression was correlated with the clinical features of GC patients; therefore, CENPF may serve as a prognostic marker of GC.

Abstract In order to improve the stability of doubly‐fed induction generator (DFIG)‐based wind turbines under weak grid, previous works have proposed the power synchronization control strategy in the rotor side converter (RSC). However, the potential instability risk of dc‐link voltage control in the grid side converter (GSC) has been neglected. Here, DFIG with power synchronization and phase‐locked synchronization for RSC and GSC respectively, is called as hybrid synchronization mode (HSM)‐controlled DFIG and, the full‐order state space model of HSM‐controlled DFIG are established. Eigenvalue and participation factor analysis shows that the HSM‐controlled DFIG is unstable under extremely weak grid due to the interaction of phase‐locked loop (PLL) and current‐loop in GSC. Furthermore, dominant pole analysis indicates that the HSM‐controlled DFIG exhibits weak damping at the AC side in strong grid. To enhance the stability of HSM‐controlled DFIG under extremely weak grid, an improved hybrid synchronization control strategy is proposed. The improved control strategy utilizes active power and dc‐link voltage to achieve PLL‐free operation of DFIG. The effects of the parameters in dc‐link voltage synchronous loop on control bandwidth, system stability and dynamic coupling are analysed. Finally, the validity of the theoretical analysis is investigated with experiments based on 2MW control‐hardware‐in‐loop platform.

Introduction: Behaviors of swimming rodents are not uniform, exhibiting large variations, which may underlie the individual differences in swimming exercise-induced benefits. The study aimed to monitor individualized swimming behavior and evaluate its biological significance.Methods: A swimming tank which can monitor individualized rodent swimming behavior during exercise was established. A total of 45 mice were subjected to swimming training for 1 month (1 h per day) and the swimming behaviors of each mouse were recorded.Results: The swimming behaviors of mice displayed considerable variations in aspects of distance, velocity, and area preference. For example, nearly one-third of mice preferred to swim in central area and most of the mice exhibited an even area distribution. Long-term exercise training improved cardiac systolic function and decreased blood pressure in mice, but hardly changed swimming behaviors. Analyses of the relationship between swimming behavior and cardiovascular adaptations to exercise training revealed that swimming behavior indicated the biological effects of swimming training. Specifically, mice which preferred swimming at the central zone or were trainable in behavior during 1-month training exhibited better outcomes in cardiac function and blood pressure post long-term exercise. Mechanistically, a centralized swimming behavior indicated a smaller stress during exercise, as evidenced by a milder activation of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis.Discussion: These results suggest that swimming behavior during training indicates individualized adaptations to long-term exercise, and highlight a biological significance of swimming behavior monitoring in animal studies.

Heavy metal toxicity is a significant global health concern, with particular attention given to lead (Pb) exposure due to its adverse effects on cognitive development, especially in children exposed to low concentrations. While Pb neurotoxicity has been extensively studied, the analysis and molecular mechanisms underlying the transgenerational effects of Pb exposure-induced neurotoxicity remain poorly understood. In this study, we utilized Drosophila, a powerful developmental animal model, to investigate this phenomenon. Our findings demonstrated that Pb exposure during the developmental stage had a profound effect on the neurodevelopment of F0 fruit flies. Specifically, we observed a loss of correlation between the terminal motor area and muscle fiber area, along with an increased frequency of the β-lobe midline crossing phenotype in mushroom bodies. Western blot analysis indicated altered expression levels of synaptic vesicle proteins, with a decrease in Synapsin (SYN) and an increase in Bruchpilot (BRP) expression, suggesting changes in synaptic vesicle release sites. These findings were corroborated by electrophysiological data, showing an increase in the amplitude of evoked excitatory junctional potential (EJP) and an increase in the frequency of spontaneous excitatory junctional potential (mEJP) following Pb exposure. Importantly, our results further confirmed that the developmental neurotoxicity resulting from grandparental Pb exposure exhibited a transgenerational effect. The F3 offspring displayed neurodevelopmental defects, synaptic function abnormalities, and repetitive behavior despite lacking direct Pb exposure. Our MeDIP-seq analysis further revealed significant alterations in DNA methylation levels in several neurodevelopmental associated genes (eagle, happyhour, neuroglian, bazooka, and spinophilin) in the F3 offspring exposed to Pb. These findings suggest that DNA methylation modifications may underlie the inheritance of acquired phenotypic traits resulting from environmental Pb exposure.

Kirsten rats sarcoma viral oncogene (KRAS), the first discovered human oncogene, has long been recognized as “undruggable”. KRAS mutations frequently occur in multiple human cancers including non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC), colorectal cancer(CRC) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC), functioning as a “molecule switch” determining the activation of various oncogenic signaling pathways. Except for its intrinsic pro-tumorigenic role, KRAS alteration also exhibits an unique immune signature characterized by elevated PD-L1 level and high tumor mutational burden(TMB). KRAS mutation shape an immune suppressive microenvironment by impeding effective T cells infiltration and recruiting suppressive immune cells including myeloid-derived suppressor cells(MDSCs), regulatory T cells(Tregs), cancer associated fibroblasts(CAFs). In immune checkpoint inhibitor(ICI) era, NSCLC patients with mutated KRAS tend to be more responsive to ICI than patients with intact KRAS. The hallmark for KRAS mutation is the existence of multiple kinds of co-mutations. Different types of co-alterations have distinct tumor microenvironment(TME) signatures and responses to ICI. TP53 co-mutation possess a “hot” TME and achieve higher response to immunotherapy while other loss of function mutation correlated with a “colder” TME and a poor outcome to ICI-based therapy. The groundbreaking discovery of KRAS G12C inhibitors significantly improved outcomes for this KRAS subtype even though efficacy was limited to NSCLC patients. KRAS G12C inhibitors also restore the suppressive TME, creating an opportunity for combinations with ICI. However, an inevitable challenge to KRAS inhibitors is drug resistance. Promising combination strategies such as combination with SHP2 is an approach deserve further exploration because of their immune modulatory effect.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the leading risk factor for gastric carcinogenesis. Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) is a member of transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptors that are activated in cancer. We investigated the role of FGFR4 in regulating the cellular response to H. pylori infection in gastric cancer. High levels of oxidative stress signature and FGFR4 expression were detected in gastric cancer samples. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) demonstrated enrichment of NRF2 signature in samples with high FGFR4 levels. H. pylori infection induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) with a cellular response manifested by an increase in FGFR4 with accumulation and nuclear localization NRF2. Knocking down FGFR4 significantly reduced NRF2 protein and transcription activity levels, leading to higher levels of ROS and DNA damage following H. pylori infection. We confirmed the induction of FGFR4 and NRF2 levels using mouse models following infection with a mouse-adapted H. pylori strain. Pharmacologic inhibition of FGFR4 using H3B-6527, or its knockdown, remarkably reduced the level of NRF2 with a reduction in the size and number of gastric cancer spheroids. Mechanistically, we detected binding between FGFR4 and P62 proteins, competing with NRF2-KEAP1 interaction, allowing NRF2 to escape KEAP1-dependent degradation with subsequent accumulation and translocation to the nucleus. These findings demonstrate a novel functional role of FGFR4 in cellular homeostasis via regulating the NRF2 levels in response to H. pylori infection in gastric carcinogenesis, calling for testing the therapeutic efficacy of FGFR4 inhibitors in gastric cancer models.

Teachers play a pivotal role, both as educators and community leaders at the heart of any communities. This study seeks to address: "How do community-based interventions influence teacher resilience and well-being in the context of disaster education, and consequently, how does this affect overall community resilience?" Employing the rigorous PRISMA systematic review approach, we examined relevant studies, emphasizing the relationship between teacher resilience, well-being, and the efficacy of community-based disaster education interventions. 47 studies met the specific inclusion criteria and were included in in-depth analysis. This study identified a set of key interventions that have demonstrably boosted teacher resilience and well-being. There was a discernible positive relationship between teacher resilience and the effectiveness of community disaster education initiatives. The relationship between teacher resilience, their well-being, and effective community-based disaster education interventions is intricate and multifaceted. Enhanced teacher resilience contributes substantially to the success of disaster education programs. The interplay between teacher and community resilience emerged as a complex, symbiotic relationship, with teacher well-being acting as a cornerstone for effective community-based interventions. Reinforcing teacher resilience and well-being is integral to the success of community-based disaster education initiatives. Ensuring their well-being not only enhances educational outcomes but also fortifies community resilience. Teachers play a pivotal role in not only educating the younger generation but also in enhancing community resilience. Thus, any strategy aimed at supporting community resilience must integrate comprehensive measures to ensure the well-being and resilience of teachers. This nexus between education and community resilience emphasizes the necessity for integrated, holistic, and community-centric approaches to disaster management.

The continuous development of the economy and the constant improvement in living standards have led tourists to have higher expectations for the entire travel experience. However, outdated Pingyao lacquerware tourism souvenirs have struggled to attract tourists' attention and cannot better meet their demands. It is worth considering whether analyzing tourists' demands could solve the current issues with lacquerware tourism souvenirs. To address this question, tourists in the Pingyao region were surveyed, and semi-structured interviews and questionnaires as research methods. Initially, semi-structured interviews were conducted with tourists in the Pingyao region to obtain the initial demand indicators for Pingyao lacquerware tourism souvenirs. Based on a literature review and expert summaries, 21 demand indicators were selected for the KANO model questionnaire, and 400 tourists were surveyed using stratified sampling. Data analysis revealed that of the 21 demand indicators evaluated by tourists, 5 as must-be quality, 7 as one-dimensional quality, 5 as attractive quality, and 4 as indifferent quality. The results of this study indicate that the demand attributes evaluated are related to tourists' satisfaction levels, and the lack of these attributes could lead to dissatisfaction with lacquerware tourism souvenirs. Tourists have shown a strong demand for appearance and a desire for functional diversification in lacquerware souvenirs, with higher expectations for regional and commemorative aspects. Due to the uniqueness of lacquerware materials, tourists have highly prioritized safety and environmental friendliness. Combining the KANO model and AHP have better-assisted researchers in identifying the quality types and importance of tourist demands, providing more targeted insights for designing Pingyao lacquerware tourism souvenirs.

Abdominal fat deposition (AFD) in chickens is closely related to the gut microecological balance. In this study, the gut microbiota from high-AFD chickens was transplanted into the same strain of 0-day-old chicks via fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). The FTM from chickens with high AFD had no obvious effects on growth traits, adult body weight, carcass weight, abdominal fat weight, and abdominal fat percentage, but did reduce the coefficient of variation of AFD traits. FMT significantly decreased cecal microbiome richness, changed the microbiota structure, and regulated the biological functions associated with energy metabolism and fat synthesis. Additionally, the cecal metabolite composition and metabolic function of FMT recipient chickens were also significantly altered from those of the controls. Transplantation of high-AFD chicken gut microbiota promoted fatty acid elongation and biosynthesis and reduced the metabolism of vitamins, steroids, and carbohydrates in the cecum. These findings provide insights into the mechanisms by which chicken gut microbiota affect host metabolic profiles and fat deposition.

Previous research has indicated that natural landscapes exhibit a greater capacity for ameliorating negative emotional states in individuals when compared to urban landscapes. Nevertheless, significant scientific inquiries, such as the uniformity of the rejuvenating effect across distinct categories of natural landscapes on college students and the choice of the optimal plant community for achieving the most potent restorative effect, remain unexplored. This study aimed to address these questions by selecting four plant communities (single-layer grassland, single-layer woodland, tree-grass composite woodland, tree-shrub-grass composite woodland) and using an electroencephalography method to capture the neuroelectric activity of the participants in combination with the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule score to explore the effects of plant community types on emotional recovery. The results showed that all four plant communities significantly increased positive emotions and significantly reduced negative emotions. There was no significant difference in the recovery effect of positive emotions among the four plant community types, but there was a significant difference in the recovery effect of negative emotions. The effect of tree-shrub-grass composite woodland on the negative emotion recovery effect is the best; the EEG results found that the alpha wave amplitude induced by the tree-shrub-grass composite woodland was significantly higher than that of the other three groups of plant communities, and the EEG and behavioral results were consistent. The results show that the tree-shrub-grass composite woodland has the best restoration effect and has stronger planning and design significance.

ObjectiveSystemic immune-inflammation index (SII), a novel inflammatory marker, has been reported to be associated with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in the U.S., however, such a close relationship with DKD in other countries, including China, has not been never determined. We aimed to explore the association between SII and DKD in Chinese population.MethodsA total of 1922 hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) included in this cross-sectional study were divided into three groups based on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR): non-DKD group, DKD stages 1–2 Alb group, and DKD-non-Alb+DKD stage 3 Alb group. The possible association of SII with DKD was investigated by correlation and multivariate logistic regression analysis, and receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves analysis.ResultsMoving from the non-DKD group to the DKD-non-Alb+DKD stage 3 Alb group, SII level was gradually increased (P for trend

Douyin is the Chinese version of TikTok. Using Douyin at bedtime is a very common behavior among Douyin users. However, the reasons why users like using Douyin before sleep are yet unclear. We conducted a cross-section survey from January 1st to January 16th, 2023 to capture data to examine the associations of depression, anxiety, life satisfaction, well-being, loneliness, and physical activity with Douyin usage at bedtime. The mediation role of insomnia in these associations was examined. A total of 3,392 participants who met the inclusion criteria were included for analysis. Our structural equation modeling analysis showed that depression on (β = 0.08; p

Background: There is growing evidence indicating a connection between fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and depressive symptoms. Metabolic risk factors are critical determinants of depressive symptoms. However, the mediating role of these factors on the association between PM2.5 and depressive symptoms remains elusive. We aimed to investigate whether and to what extent metabolic risk factors mediated the link between long-term PM2.5 exposure and depressive symptoms. Methods: This study comprised 7794 individuals aged between 30 and 79 years who participated in two waves of the on-site surveys in the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort. Ambient PM2.5 concentrations were assessed utilizing a random forest method based on satellite data. We employed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 to assess depressive symptoms at wave 2, and the overall as well as three sub-domain symptom scores (emotional, neurovegetative, and neurocognitive symptoms) were calculated. Three metabolic risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia, were considered. Mediation analyses were conducted to assess the indirect effects of PM2.5 on depressive symptoms through metabolic risk factors. Results: We found a positive association between chronic exposure to ambient PM2.5 and overall depressive symptoms as well as the three sub-domains. In mediation analyses, metabolic risk factors partially mediated the associations of PM2.5 on depressive symptoms. The natural indirect effects (RR, 95% CI) of PM2.5 on overall, emotional, neurovegetative, and neurocognitive symptoms mediated through metabolic risk factors were 1.004(1.001, 1.007), 1.004 (1.001, 1.008), 1.004 (1.001, 1.007), and 1.003(0.999, 1.007), respectively. Larger indirect effects were found in elderly participants (mediated proportion, 29.3%), females (13.3%), and people who did not consume alcohol (19.6%). Conclusions: Metabolic risk factors may act as mediators in the relationship between chronic PM2.5 exposure and depression. Treatment of metabolic risk factors may be an opportunity to reduce the burden of depression caused by long-term exposure to PM2.5.

Summary: Realizing camouflage by illusion and cloaking based on the metasurface has received widespread attention recently. However, existing metasurface-based illusion and cloaking devices are valid for the incident wave with a specific frequency, angle, or polarization, or exhibit a single function. Therefore, a terahertz tunable vanadium dioxide (VO2) metasurface carpet cloak is proposed for dynamic illusion and cloaking. Simulation results show that by controlling the state of the VO2, the metasurface carpet cloak can simultaneously achieve illusion and cloaking functions, working at 0.45 THz and 0.6 THz, and is effective for orthogonal circularly polarized waves with different incidence angles. That is the function, frequency, incident angle, and polarization of the metasurface carpet cloak are dynamically adjustable. Besides, the metasurface carpet cloak is robust to the incident angle and is capable of polarization angle stability. This work has potential value in the real-life application of metasurface-based illusion and cloaking devices.

Background: Particulate matter (PM) exposure has been linked with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and metabolic syndrome (MetS), the latter characterized by concurrent multiple metabolic disorders. As a result, the mechanisms assumption from PM to CVD through MetS have emerged, thus requiring further epidemiological evidence. This cohort study aimed to assess whether MetS mediates the associations of PM with CVD risk. Methods: This study included 14,195 participants from the Chengdu cohort of the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort (CMEC) study in 2018. The primary outcome of incident CVD diagnoses was identified using matched hospital records from the Health Information Center of Sichuan Province. Residence-specific levels of PM with aerodynamic diameters of ≤ 1 µm (PM1), ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5), and ≤ 10 µm (PM10) were estimated by spatiotemporal models. Causal mediation analyses were applied to evaluate the indirect effect of MetS. Results: Increased exposure levels to PM were significantly associated with MetS and CVD. Mediation analyses indicated that the associations between PM exposure and CVD were mediated by MetS, with the proportion of multiple mediations being 19.3%, 12.1%, and 13.5% for PM1, PM2.5, and PM10, respectively. Further moderated mediation analyses suggested that male, overweight individuals, alcohol drinkers, and those suffering from indoor air pollution may experience more significant adverse effects from PM exposure on CVD via MetS than others. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that MetS partially mediates the association between long-term exposure to PM and CVD. These mediation effects appear to be amplified by demographic characteristics and unhealthy lifestyles.

Summary: Background: The biological aging process can be modified through lifestyle interventions to prevent age-related diseases and extend healthspan. However, evidence from population-based studies on whether tea consumption could delay the biological aging process in humans remains limited. Methods: This study included 7931 participants aged 30–79 years from the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort (CMEC) Study and 5998 participants aged 37–73 years from the UK Biobank (UKB) who participated in both the baseline and first follow-up surveys. Tea consumption information was collected through questionnaires. Biological age (BA) acceleration was calculated using clinical biomarkers and anthropometric measurements based on the Klemera Doubal method (KDM). Change-to-change analyses were performed to estimate the associations between changes in tea consumption status and changes in BA acceleration using multiple linear models. Follow-up adjusted for baseline analyses were further conducted to examine the prospective exposure-response relationship between tea consumption and BA acceleration among individuals with constant tea consumption status. Findings: During a median follow-up of 1.98 (1.78, 2.16) years in the CMEC and 4.50 (3.92, 5.00) years in the UKB, tea consumption was consistently associated with attenuated BA acceleration in both cohorts. Transitioning from nondrinking to tea-drinking was associated with decreased BA acceleration (CMEC: β = −0.319, 95% CI: −0.620 to −0.017 years; UKB: β = −0.267, 95% CI: −0.831 to 0.297 years) compared to consistent nondrinking. Even stronger associations were found in consistent tea drinkers. The exposure-response relationship suggested that consuming around 3 cups of tea or 6–8 g of tea leaves per day may offer the most evident anti-aging benefits. Interpretation: Tea consumption was associated with attenuated BA acceleration measured by KDM, especially for consistent tea drinkers with moderate consumption. Our findings highlight the potential role of tea in developing nutrition-oriented anti-aging interventions and guiding healthy aging policies. Funding: National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 82273740).

Artificial cells have received much attention in recent years as cell mimics with typical biological functions that can be adapted for therapeutic and diagnostic applications, as well as having an unlimited supply. Although remarkable progress has been made to construct complex multifunctional artificial cells, there are still significant differences between artificial cells and natural cells. It is therefore important to understand the techniques and challenges for the fabrication of artificial cells and their applications for further technological advancement. The key concepts of top-down and bottom-up methods for preparing artificial cells are summarized, and the advantages and disadvantages of the bottom-up methods are compared and critically discussed in this review. Potential applications of artificial cells as drug carriers (microcapsules), as signaling regulators for coordinating cellular communication and as bioreactors for biomolecule fabrication, are further discussed. The challenges and future trends for the development of artificial cells simulating the real activities of natural cells are finally described.

Recent advances in deep learning have significantly improved the ability to infer protein sequences directly from protein structures for the fix-backbone design. The methods have evolved from the early use of multi-layer perceptrons to convolutional neural networks, transformers, and graph neural networks (GNN). However, the conventional approach of constructing K-nearest-neighbors (KNN) graph for GNN has limited the utilization of edge information, which plays a critical role in network performance. Here we introduced SPIN-CGNN based on protein contact maps for nearest neighbors. Together with auxiliary edge updates and selective kernels, we found that SPIN-CGNN provided a comparable performance in refolding ability by AlphaFold2 to the current state-of-the-art techniques but a significant improvement over them in term of sequence recovery, perplexity, deviation from amino-acid compositions of native sequences, conservation of hydrophobic positions, and low complexity regions, according to the test by unseen structures, "hallucinated" structures and diffusion models. Results suggest that low complexity regions in the sequences designed by deep learning, for generated structures in particular, remain to be improved, when compared to the native sequences.

How to inhibit the formation of point defects in the preparation process of hybrid perovskite for improving the stability and photovoltaic characteristics has been a hot research issue in recent years. Herein, molecular engineering of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) is focused as a Lewis base for an additive to improve the interface matching of hybrid perovskite solar cells. Based on the molecular binding strategy, the film crystallinity, bond binding, interfacial transport, and water resistance can be effectively regulated, resulting in preferred photovoltaic characteristics. Herein, the highest photoelectric conversion efficiency of perovskite solar cells reaches 19.7% as well as the improved stability of solar cells. Moreover, combined with first‐principles calculation, the mechanism of PVP macromolecules inducing perovskite interfacial binding through molecular engineering is revealed, which provides a feasible route for using organic macromolecules to regulate the crystallinity and photovoltaic characteristics of hybrid perovskite devices.

Background & Aims: Existing evidence suggests that long-term exposure to ambient fine particulate pollution (PM2.5) may increase metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) risk. However, there is still limited evidence on the association of PM2.5 constituents with MAFLD. Therefore, this study explores the associations between the five main chemical constituents of PM2.5 and MAFLD to provide more explicit information on the liver exposome. Methods: A total of 76,727 participants derived from the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort, a large-scale epidemic survey in southwest China, were included in this study. Multiple linear regression models were used to estimate the pollutant-specific association with MAFLD. Weighted quantile sum regression was used to evaluate the joint effect of the pollutant-mixture on MAFLD and identify which constituents contribute most to it. Results: Three-year exposure to PM2.5 constituents was associated with a higher MAFLD risk and more severe liver fibrosis. Odds ratios for MAFLD were 1.480, 1.426, 1.294, 1.561, 1.618, and 1.368 per standard deviation increase in PM2.5, black carbon, organic matter, ammonium, sulfate, and nitrate, respectively. Joint exposure to the five major chemical constituents was also positively associated with MAFLD (odds ratio 1.490, 95% CI 1.360–1.632). Nitrate contributed most to the joint effect of the pollutant-mixture. Further stratified analyses indicate that males, current smokers, and individuals with a high-fat diet might be more susceptible to ambient PM2.5 exposure than others. Conclusions: Long-term exposure to PM2.5 and its five major chemical constituents may increase the risk of MAFLD. Nitrate might contribute most to MAFLD, which may provide new clues for liver health. Males, current smokers, and participants with high-fat diets were more susceptible to these associations. Impact and implications: This large-scale epidemiologic study explored the associations between constituents of fine particulate pollution (PM2.5) and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), and further revealed which constituents play a more important role in increasing the risk of MAFLD. In contrast to previous studies that examined the effects of PM2.5 as a whole substance, this study carefully explored the health effects of the individual constituents of PM2.5. These findings could (1) help researchers to identify the specific particles responsible for hepatotoxicity, and (2) indicate possible directions for policymakers to efficiently control ambient air pollution, such as targeting the sources of nitrate pollution.

Aims: Endothelial dysfunction plays a pivotal role in atherosclerosis, but the detailed mechanism remains incomplete understood. Nogo-B is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-localized protein mediating ER-mitochondrial morphology. We previously showed endothelial Nogo-B as a key regulator of endothelial function in the setting of hypertension. Here, we aim to further assess the role of Nogo-B in coronary atherosclerosis in ApoE−/− mice with pressure overload. Methods and results: We generated double knockout (DKO) mouse models of systemically or endothelium-specifically excising Nogo-A/B gene on an ApoE−/− background. After 7 weeks of transverse aortic constriction (TAC) surgery, compared to ApoE−/− mice DKO mice were resistant to the development of coronary atherosclerotic lesions and plaque rapture. Sustained elevation of Nogo-B and adhesion molecules (VCAM-1/ICAM-1), early markers of atherosclerosis, was identified in heart tissues and endothelial cells (ECs) isolated from TAC ApoE−/− mice, changes that were significantly repressed by Nogo-B deficiency. In cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) exposure to inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β), Nogo-B was upregulated and activated reactive oxide species (ROS)-p38-p65 signaling axis. Mitofusin 2 (Mfn2) is a key protein tethering ER to mitochondria in ECs, and we showed that Nogo-B expression positively correlated with Mfn2 protein level. And Nogo-B deletion in ECs or in ApoE−/− mice reduced Mfn2 protein content and increased ER-mitochondria distance, reduced ER-mitochondrial Ca2+ transport and mitochondrial ROS generation, and prevented VCAM-1/ICAM-1 upregulation and EC dysfunction, eventually restrained atherosclerotic lesions development. Conclusion: Our study revealed that Nogo-B is a critical modulator in promoting endothelial dysfunction and consequent pathogenesis of coronary atherosclerosis in pressure overloaded hearts of ApoE−/− mice. Nogo-B may hold the promise to be a common therapeutic target in the setting of hypertension.

AbstractAs a landmark in China’s hydraulic engineering history, the Central Route of the South–North Water Diversion Project (SNWD-CR) plays a major role in alleviating severe water shortages in Northern China. Existing InSAR monitoring of the SNWD-CR based on one-dimensional viewing geometry and Sentinel-1 imaging is insufficient for a comprehensive assessment of deformation causes. Moreover, the poor geocoding accuracy hampers the previous interpretation of the estimated deformations. Here we carry out comprehensive two-dimensional deformation analyses over the head of the SNWD-CR by integrating the multitemporal PS/DS InSAR and the stress–strain model, where the well-designed topography and geocoded error correction can help to identify the causes of deformation. We apply our strategy to ascending and descending TerraSAR-X meter-resolution datasets acquired from June 2020 to February 2021. Geocoding errors in both ascending and descending orbits are corrected, and the relationship between topography error and horizontal positioning error is discussed. The multi-data fusion results reveal insignificant deformations in the east–west direction except for a makeshift rigid-frame bridge, whereas the vertical deformation field shows two uplifts and a subsidence area in the narrow canal with a maximum rate of 23 mm/y, which are likely to be related to rainfall and water diversion pressure. Furthermore, the combination of the external DEM and topographic residual offers the chance to reconstruct the high-accuracy DEM.

Abstract Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is the second common primary hepatic malignancy tumor. In this study, an integrative analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and miRNAs from the ICC onset and adjacent normal tissues were performed to explore the regulatory roles of miRNA–mRNA interaction. A total of 1018 DEGs and 39 miRNAs were likely involved in ICC pathogenesis, suggesting the changes in cell metabolism in ICC development. The built network indicated that 30 DEGs were regulated by 16 differentially expressed miRNA. The screened DEGs and miRNA together were probably considered the biomarkers of ICC, and their important roles in ICC pathogenesis remain to be elucidated. This study could provide a good basis to uncover the regulatory mechanism of miRNA and mRNAs in ICC pathogenesis.

Abstract Infant‐type hemispheric glioma, a new subtype of pediatric high‐grade glioma, arises in the cerebral hemispheres. Despite better survival outcomes, the treatment of infant‐type hemispheric glioma is still facing challenges. Here, we reported a case of QKI‐ALK fusion, infant‐type hemispheric glioma with lung metastasis who achieved a complete clinical response after lorlatinib treatment. This typical case demonstrated the importance of appropriate molecularly targeted treatments in ALK‐fused tumors, and lorlatinib may serve as an effective complement to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy in primary glioma harboring ALK fusions and its metastasis.

The microstructure and texture evolution of pure nickel sheets during cryorolling and subsequent short-time low-temperature annealing were analyzed by electron backscatter diffraction technique. Results show that the content of typical texture of brass, copper, S, cube, and Goss texture is no significant change during cryorolling with a reduction of 40%. When the reduction reaches 60%, it begins to significantly increase, and when the reduction reaches 80%, it exhibits a copper type texture. However, when the reduction is 20%, the fiber texture of //normal direction (ND) orientation begins to significantly increase, which was mainly caused by dislocation slip during cryorolling. During low temperature and short time annealing, the content of typical textures decreases except S texture, and the grain changes mainly occur in grains other than //ND orientation which is due to the rich substructure and high dislocation density formed in the cryorolling process leading to rapid response to annealing.

Many Photovoltaic (PV) units connected to the low-voltage level greatly impact the distribution network’s dynamic characteristics. However, the dynamic characteristics of PV units under large disturbances are widely different, which leads to the model being unable to effectively describe the dynamic performance of aggregated PV units in the low-voltage transient stability analysis. To overcome this issue, an aggregated dynamic model of PV units is proposed in this paper. First, a general dynamic model of a PV unit is proposed, focusing on the control triggered by voltage disturbances, and multiple PV units is established based on ADPSS. The simulation results show that the major factor which influences the transient characteristics of multiple distributed PV units is its Low Voltage Ride-Through (LVRT) control. Then, an aggregated dynamic model that can describe the multiple transient characteristics is proposed. The simulation verifies that the proposed model can effectively represent aggregated transient characteristics.

Object detection in drone-captured scenarios is a recent popular task. Due to the high flight altitude of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the large variation of target scales, and the existence of dense occlusion of targets, in addition to the high requirements for real-time detection. To solve the above problems, we propose a real-time UAV small target detection algorithm based on improved ASFF-YOLOv5s. Based on the original YOLOv5s algorithm, the new shallow feature map is passed into the feature fusion network through multi-scale feature fusion to improve the extraction capability for small target features, and the Adaptively Spatial Feature Fusion (ASFF) is improved to improve the multi-scale information fusion capability. To obtain anchor frames for the VisDrone2021 dataset, we improve the K-means algorithm to obtain four different scales of anchor frames on each prediction layer. The Convolutional Block Attention Module (CBAM) is added in front of the backbone network and each prediction network layer to improve the capture capability of important features and suppress redundant features. Finally, to address the shortcomings of the original GIoU loss function, the SIoU loss function is used to accelerate the convergence of the model and improve accuracy. Extensive experiments conducted on the dataset VisDrone2021 show that the proposed model can detect a wide range of small targets in various challenging environments. At a detection rate of 70.4 FPS, the proposed model obtained a precision value of 32.55%, F1-score of 39.62%, and a mAP value of 38.03%, which improved 2.77, 3.98, and 5.1%, respectively, compared with the original algorithm, for the detection performance of small targets and to meet the task of real-time detection of UAV aerial images. The current work provides an effective method for real-time detection of small targets in UAV aerial photography in complex scenes, and can be extended to detect pedestrians, cars, etc. in urban security surveillance.

Abstract Background Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent age-related disease in the world. Chondrocytes undergo an age-dependent decline in their proliferation and synthetic capacity, which is the main cause of OA development. However, the intrinsic mechanism of chondrocyte senescence is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role of a novel long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), AC006064.4–201 in the regulation of chondrocyte senescence and OA progression and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods The function of AC006064.4–201 in chondrocytes was assessed using western blotting, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), immunofluorescence (IF) and β-galactosidase staining. The interaction between AC006064.4–201 and polypyrimidine tract-binding protein 1 (PTBP1), as well as cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1B (CDKN1B), was evaluated using RPD-MS, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and RNA pull-down assays. Mice models were used to investigate the role of AC006064.4–201 in post-traumatic and age-related OA in vivo. Results Our research revealed that AC006064.4–201 was downregulated in senescent and degenerated human cartilage, which could alleviate senescence and regulate metabolism in chondrocytes. Mechanically, AC006064.4–201 directly interacts with PTBP1 and blocks the binding between PTBP1 and CDKN1B mRNA, thereby destabilizing CDKN1B mRNA and decreasing the translation of CDKN1B. The in vivo experiments were consistent with the results of the in vitro experiments. Conclusions The AC006064.4–201/PTBP1/CDKN1B axis plays an important role in OA development and provides new molecular markers for the early diagnosis and treatment of OA in the future. Graphical Abstract Schematic diagram of AC006064.4–201 mechanism. A schematic diagram of the mechanism underlying the effect of AC006064.4–201