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Abstract Background Breast cancer is a highly prevalent disease worldwide, and early diagnosis and treatment could reduce the mortality rate of breast cancer patients. microRNAs (miRNA) have been shown to regulate the occurrences and progression of many types of cancers. Thus, it is crucial to find novel biomarkers in breast cancer. miR‐449c‐5p acted as a biomarker in non‐small cell lung cancer, gastric carcinoma, and so forth. ERBB2 is an ideal target for breast cancer therapy. However, the molecular mechanisms between miR‐449c‐5p and ERBB2 in breast cancer remain poorly understood. Our study focused on the regulatory role of miR‐449c‐5p in breast cancer and its targeting relationship with ERBB2. Methods The miR‐449c‐5p expression in breast cancer tissue and normal tissue was searched from the online database (Starbase). The clinical prognosis of miR‐449c‐5p and ERBB2 was predicted by using the Kaplan–Meier analysis method. The expression of miR‐449c‐5p mimics and inhibitors was measured by qRT‐PCR. T47D cells were transfected with miR‐449c‐5p mimics and miR‐449c‐5p inhibitors. After that, CCK‐8, colony formation assays and Transwell assays were used to evaluate the cell proliferation ability, migration and invasion. Whether ERBB2 was the target gene of the miR‐449c‐5p was predicted by Starbase and verified by dual‐luciferase activity assay. In addition, protein levels and the relationship between signalling pathways were measured and validated using western blotting analysis. Results We confirmed that miR‐449c‐5p was highly expressed in breast cancer tissue, and its downregulation was linked with poor prognosis. Overexpression of miR‐449c‐5p inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of breast cancer cells. ERBB2 was a target of miR‐449c‐5p. The invasion, migration, and proliferation of breast cancer cells were inhibited by miR‐449c‐5p/ERBB2 through JAK‐STAT. Conclusion This study demonstrated that miR‐449c‐5p inhibits breast cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion by targeting ERBB2 via JAK/STAT, which means miR‐449c‐5p, is a potential biomarker for breast cancer and provides a novel insight for diagnosis.

Abstract To describe the pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) of a 2 h infusion of ceftazidime‐avibactam (CAZ‐AVI) in critically ill patients with augmented renal clearance (ARC). A retrospective review of all critically ill patients with ARC who were treated with CAZ‐AVI between August 2020 and May 2023 was conducted. Patients whose 12‐h creatinine clearance prior to CAZ‐AVI treatment and steady‐state concentration (Css) of CAZ‐AVI were both monitored were enrolled. The free fraction (fCss) of CAZ‐AVI was calculated from Css. The joint PK/PD targets of CAZ‐AVI were considered optimal when a Css/minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ratio for CAZ ≥4 (equivalent to 100% fT > 4 MIC) and a Css/CT ratio of AVI >1 (equivalent to 100% fT > CT 4.0 mg/L) were reached simultaneously, quasioptimal when only one of the two targets was reached, and suboptimal when neither target was reached. The relationship between PK/PD goal achievement, microbial eradication and the clinical efficacy of CAZ‐AVI was evaluated. Four patients were included. Only one patient achieved optimal joint PK/PD targets, while the other three reached suboptimal targets. The patient with optimal PK/PD targets achieved microbiological eradication, while the other three patients did not, but all four patients achieved good clinical efficacy. Standard dosages may not enable most critically ill patients with ARC to reach the optimal joint PK/PD targets of CAZ‐AVI. Optimal drug dose adjustment of CAZ‐AVI in ARC patients requires dynamic drug concentration monitoring.

BackgroundSeveral studies have compared the effects of fixed and flexible gonadotropin releasing hormone antagonist (GnRH-ant) protocols during in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). However, which GnRH-ant initiation strategy is better remains controversial. Moreover, no studies have assessed the optimal timing of GnRH-ant initiation in women of advanced maternal age (AMA).MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study, a total of 472 infertile women aged ≥ 35 years old undergoing their first IVF cycle from August 2015 to September 2021 at a tertiary academic medical center were recruited, of whom 136 followed fixed GnRH-ant protocol and 336 followed flexible GnRH-ant protocol. The primary outcomes measured were the cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) per IVF cycle and the time to live birth (TTLB) from the date of oocyte retrieval. Cox proportional models were used to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of CLBR regarding GnRH-ant timing.ResultsNo significant difference in CLBR was found between the fixed and flexible GnRH-ant groups (27.9% vs 20.5%, p=0.105). The TTLB was also comparable between groups (10.56 vs 10.30 months, p=0.782). The Kaplan-Meier analysis for CLBR also showed comparable results between groups (P=0.351, HR=0.83; 95%CI: 0.56-1.23). After establishing a multiple Cox proportional hazard model, the fixed GnRH-ant group still had comparable CLBR with the flexible GnRH-ant group (HR=0.85; 95%CI: 0.53-1.38; P=0.518). Subgroup and sensitivity analyses also demonstrated similar results.ConclusionGnRH-ant protocols can be tailored to the needs of AMA women, and timing of GnRH-ant initiation can be adjusted flexibly.

The prediction of the agricultural water resources carrying capacity (AWRCC) is important for evaluating the ecological security of water resources and ensure healthy and sustainable socio-economic development. However, the AWRCC is influenced by many important factors such as water resources volume, socio-economic structure and technology level. The existing prediction methods were mainly based on the policies and economic activities under predefined scenarios. It is difficult to fully reflect the future AWRCC and generate regulation schemes based on AWRCC target requirements. The paper proposed a stochastic simulation method to simulate the evaluation indicators, which were selected based on principal component analysis (PCA) and iterative strategy, and structured a support vector machine model to solve the problem of complicated calculations to realize the probability distribution prediction of the AWRCC. Furthermore, the important indicators affecting the improvement of the AWRCC were explored, and finally a regulation schemes that met the AWRCC target were generated. The results of the calculations for Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province, indicated that there is a 97.5% probability that the AWRCC evaluation value will be Level III in 2025 and there is a 2.5% probability that it will be Level II. The probabilities of achieving close to saturated, transition, and close to weakly carriable states for the corresponding Level III are 27.5%, 61%, and 9%, respectively, and the root mean square error of the prediction is 0.0057. In addition, by adjusting the important indicators, the probability of the AWRCC reaching Level IV is 72.5%, and AWRCC improves from Level III to Level IV. The proposed method can achieve higher efficient and accurate AWRCC evaluation, which can better meet the requirements of modern water resources management, effectively reduce the misjudgment risk and provide support for water resources regulation.

Abstract Alzheimer's disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disorder, causes short-term memory and cognition declines. It is estimated that one in three elderly people die from AD or other dementias. Chinese herbal medicine as a potential drug for treating AD has gained growing interest from many researchers. Moschus, a rare and valuable traditional Chinese animal medicine, was originally documented in Shennong Ben Cao Jing and recognized for its properties of reviving consciousness/resuscitation. Additionally, Moschus has the efficacy of “regulation of menstruation with blood activation, relief of swelling and pain” and is used for treating unconsciousness, stroke, coma, and cerebrovascular diseases. However, it is uncertain whether Moschus has any protective effect on AD patients. We explored whether Moschus could protect glutamate (Glu)-induced PC12 cells from cellular injury and preliminarily explored their related action mechanisms. The chemical compounds of Moschus were analyzed and identified by GC–MS. The Glu-induced differentiated PC12 cell model was thought to be the common AD cellular model. The study aims to preliminarily investigate the intervention effect of Moschus on Glu-induced PC12 cell damage as well as their related action mechanisms. Cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), cell apoptosis, autophagic vacuoles, autolysosomes or autophagosomes, proteins related to apoptosis, and the proteins related to autophagy were examined and analyzed. Seventeen active compounds of the Moschus sample were identified based on GC–MS analysis. In comparison to the control group, Glu stimulation increased cell viability loss, LDH release, mitochondrial damage, loss of MMP, apoptosis rate, and the number of cells containing autophagic vacuoles, and autolysosomes or autophagosomes, while these results were decreased after the pretreatment with Moschus and 3-methyladenine (3-MA). Furthermore, Glu stimulation significantly increased cleaved caspase-3, Beclin1, and LC3II protein expression, and reduced B-cell lymphoma 2/BAX ratio and p62 protein expression, but these results were reversed after pretreatment of Moschus and 3-MA. Moschus has protective activity in Glu-induced PC12 cell injury, and the potential mechanism might involve the regulation of autophagy and apoptosis. Our study may promote research on Moschus in the field of neurodegenerative diseases, and Moschus may be considered as a potential therapeutic agent for AD.

The research and application of gob-side entry retaining (GER) technology in Chinese coal mines has been over 60 years. Two major technical types including GER with filling and GER with roof cutting were developed. However, due to the complex mining and geological conditions of the mined-out coal seam in different mining areas, as well as the strong mining pressure behaviours in the retained roadway, the promotion and application of GER technology presented ups and downs. Firstly, the achievements and key technological advances in the main GER types in China, the principle of surrounding rock stability, road-in support technology, roadside support technology, adaptability evaluation and surrounding rock stability monitoring are summarized, and the application applicability of different technologies at this stage is analyzed. Then, the difficulties and challenges faced by current GER technology are summarized: there is still no systematic theory for GER with strong mining pressure; there are still shortcomings in the theoretical understanding of the interaction mechanism between the surrounding rock and the support body for GER with filling; the mechanical and deformation characteristics of the filling materials for the roadside support body are not yet suitable for GER in deep working faces or with strong mining pressure; the mechanism and control technology of floor heave for GER are not yet perfect; the research on stability control of filling body for GER under strong dynamic load or rock burst is still in a blank. Finally, concerned with such difficulties and challenges, several reserve technologies have been proposed: the coordinated control of controlled roof cutting and filling for GER in fully mechanized caving/ full-seam mining in the thick coal seam, and the GER technology with additive modified high-water materials in working faces with strong mining pressure; finally, a set of intelligent inversion workflow for rock mechanical parameters used in GER numerical simulations for GER is established, and an intelligent optimization design method for GER support parameters is proposed.

Abstract Purpose To predict the tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) status and recurrence-free survival (RFS) of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) patients using preoperative CT radiomics. Patients and methods A total of 116 ICC patients were included (training: 86; external validation: 30). The enhanced CT images were performed for the radiomics model. The logistic regression analysis was applied for the clinical model. The combined model was based on the clinical and radiomics models. Results A total of 107 radiomics features were extracted, and after being eliminated and selected, six features were combined to establish a radiomics model for TLSs prediction. Arterial phase diffuse hyperenhancement and AJCC 8th stage were combined to construct a clinical model. The combined (radiomics nomogram) model outperformed both the independent radiomics model and clinical model in the training cohort (AUC, 0.85 vs. 0.82 and 0.75, respectively) and was validated in the external validation cohort (AUC, 0.88 vs. 0.86 and 0.71, respectively). Patients in the rad-score no less than −0.76 (low-risk) group showed significantly better RFS than those in the less than −0.76 (high-risk) group (p

Abstract Objective To predict the very early recurrence (VER) of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) based on TLSs and MVI status, and further perform prognosis stratifications. Methods A total of 160, 51 ICC patients from two institutions between May 2012 and July 2022 were retrospectively included as training, external validation cohort. Clinical, radiological and pathological variables were evaluated and collected. Univariate and multivariate analysis were applied to select the significant factors related to VER of ICC. The factors selected were combined to perform stratification of overall survival (OS) using the Kaplan-Meier method with the log-rank test. Results Overall, 39 patients (24.4%) had VER, whereas 121 (75.6%) did not (non-VER group). In the training cohort, the median OS was 40.5 months (95% CIs: 33.2–47.7 months). The VER group showed significantly worse OS than the non-VER group (median OS: 14.8, 95% CI:11.6–18.0 months vs. 53.4, 34.3–72.6 months; p

Abstract NARFL was reported to be a component of cytosolic iron–sulfur cluster assembly pathway and a causative gene of the diffused pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (dPAVMs). NARFL knockout dramatically impaired mitochondrial integrity in mice, which might promote mitochondrial dysfunction and lead to worse survival rate of lung cancer. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of NARFL deficiency in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is unknown. Knockdown assay was performed in A549 and H1299 cells. The protein levels of HIF-1α and DNMT1 were measured, and then Complex I activity, mtDNA copy numbers and mRNA levels of mtND genes were determined. Cisplatin resistance and cell proliferation were conducted using CCK8 assay. Cell migration and invasion were detected using wound heal assay and transwell assay. Survival analysis of lung cancer patients and KM plotter database were used for evaluating the potential value of NARFL deficiency. NARFL protein was expressed in two cell lines and knockdown assay significantly reduced its levels. Knockdown NARFL increased the protein levels of HIF-1α and DNMT1, and downregulated the mRNA levels of ND genes, mitochondrial Complex I activity, mtDNA copy number, and ATP levels. The mitochondrial dysfunction caused by NARFL deficiency were ameliorated by siHIF-1α and DNMT1 inhibitor. Knockdown NARFL increased the drug resistance and cell migration, and siHIF-1α reversed this effect. Moreover, NSCLC patients with NARFL deficiency had a poor survival rate using a tissue array and KM plotter database, and it would be a target for cancer prognosis and treatment. NARFL deficiency caused dysregulation of energy metabolism in lung cancer cells via HIF-1α–DNMT1 axis, which promoted drug resistance and cell migration. It provided a potential target for treatment and prognosis of lung cancer.

Abstract Introduction Sleep patterns are more frequently interrupted in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), and it is still unclear whether genetic factors are involved in PD-related sleep disorders. In this study, we hypothesize that PD-associated genetic risk affects lipid metabolism, which in turn contributes to different types of sleep disorders. Methods We used a non-targeted lipidomics to explore the lipid composition of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) exosomes derived from patients with PD carrying phospholipase A2 Group VI (PLA2G6) and sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase 1 (SMPD1) mutations. Results PLA2G6 mutations (c.1966C > G, Leu656Val; c.2077C > G, Leu693Val; c.1791delC, His597fx69) significantly increase the exosomal content of glycerophospholipids and lysophospholipids, specifically phosphatidylcholine (PC) and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC). Exosome surface presence of melatomin receptor 1A (MTNR1A) was detectable only in patients with PLA2G6 mutations. We have further shown that, in patients with PD carrying PLA2G6 mutations, sleep latency was significantly longer compared to those carrying WT PLA2G6, and we speculate that functional PLA2G6 mutations lead to structural changes and lipid deregulation of exosomes, which in turn alters exosomal cargo and affects PD-related sleep disorders. In SMPD1, G508R variant-carrying patients with PD abundance of sphingomyelins was significantly higher and had significantly shorter rapid eye movement sleep. Conclusions Our study demonstrated that the disturbed composition and function of CSF-derived exosome lipidome during the pathological stage of PD may affect different types of sleep disorder in PD.

In order to explore the distribution rules of caving zone and water conducted zone of lower layer coal under the influence of mining on upper layer coal, based on theoretical analysis, distribution rules of floor fracture zone of upper coal layer and caving zone and fracture zone of overlying rock of lower coal layer with various of layer spacing have been simulated. Taking actual working face as background, the height of caving zone and fracture zone of overlying rock have been measured by using double-ended water stopper. The results show that the height of the caving zone of No.9+10 coal is 10.6 m, and the height of the fracture zone is 45.79 m. The mining of the upper coal seam has a certain influence on the development height of the fracture zone of the lower coal seam, and there is a negative correlation trend. The fracture zone of the upper and lower coal seams may be connected.

Numerous studies on the pressure fluctuations and cavity volume variations of a transient cavitation flow in viscoelastic pipes are available in the literature. However, the effect of water temperature on the cavity volume and energy conversion has been studied less often. This paper employs the discrete vapor cavity model using quasi-steady friction and quasi-two-dimensional friction models to calculate the cavity volume for different water temperatures and investigates the effects of water temperature on the appearance of the first cavitation at the downstream valve, and on the pressure damping in a tank-piping-valve system using an integrated energy analysis approach. The results show that the differences between the pressure and energy variations of the transient cavitation flow simulated using different models were minimal under different water temperature conditions. Moreover, as the water temperature increased, the appearance time of the cavity is postponed, and the volume of the cavity decreases. The energy dissipation increases continuously with an increase in the volume of the cavitation and water temperature in viscoelastic pipes. This study provides valuable insights into the variation pattern of the cavity and the effect of vapor cavities on the rise and decay of the pipeline pressure in different situations. HIGHLIGHTS This study investigated the effect of different water temperatures on the calculated results of transient cavitation flow in viscoelastic pipes.; The energy variations during transient flow and transient cavitation flow in viscoelastic pipes were compared.; The concept of the conversion ratio from kinetic energy to elastic energy was proposed, where a smaller conversion ratio may result in a larger energy dissipation.;

Abstract Quorum‐sensing (QS) is an essential mechanism of microbial self‐regulation. In this work, the presence of QS in Acetobacter pasteurianus was demonstrated, and N‐acyl‐homoserine lactones N‐C4‐HSL and N‐C8‐HSL were identified as the signal molecules. The exogenous addition of N‐C4‐HSL, N‐C8‐HSL, N‐C10‐HSL, and N‐C12‐HSL result in the reduction in biomass, and lead to 11.56%, 11.91%, 7.94%, and 4.69% decrease in acetic acid production, respectively, when compared with the control. A hypothetical N‐acylhomoserine lactonase (AHL lactonase) 0046 was overexpressed in A. pasteurianus CGMCC 3089, and the recombinant strain exhibites a 17.38% and 12.75% increase in the biomass and the acetic acid production rate, respectively. Those results prove the negative regulation of QS on acetic acid fermentation, and overexpression of 0046 protein alleviates this negative effect.

In this study, the flavonoids in peony seed meal were separated and purified by microfiltration-nanofiltration secondary membrane separation method. The effects of material-liquid ratio, extraction temperature, ethanol volume fraction and extraction time on the extraction amount of total flavonoids were investigated by single-factor experiments, and the extraction process was optimized and validated by response surface methodology on the basis of single factors. Eight types of microfiltration membranes, including polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyethersulfone (PES), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polypropylene (PP), mixed cellulose (MCE), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), aqueous acetate (CA) and polyamide (PA), were selected for the primary separation of PSMF extracts. The nanofiltration membranes were homemade organosilicon/PA composite membranes in the laboratory. The results showed that the optimum extraction conditions for PSMF were 1:15 g/mL, 50 ℃, 70% ethanol volume fraction, 30 min, (240.28±2.25) μg/mL of PSMF extraction amount. The PA membrane had a better separation effect, and the composite membrane had a better purification effect on PSMF, and the water solubility of flavonoids was increased to more than 90% after separation. After calcination at 800 ℃, the residual mass of the raw material solution was 1.43% and that of the PA membrane separation was 0.76%, and the BTESE/PA composite membrane was reduced to 0.26%, with fewer impurities and higher purity. Comparing its antioxidant activity before and after separation, the ·OH, DPPH· scavenging rate and reducing power were improved after separation, and the O2−· scavenging rate decreased from 79.94% to 64.82%. In this study, the active components in peony seed meal were analyzed. PSMF would be a novel phytoflavonoid resource with rich composition and certain research space.

Abstract The occurrence of diabetic nephropathy (DN) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) are closely associated in patients with diabetes. However, the cellular and molecular linkage of DN and DR has not been elucidated, and further revelations are needed to improve mutual prognostic decisions and management. Here, we generate and integrate single-cell RNA sequencing profiles of kidney and retina to explore the cellular and molecular association of kidney and retina in both physiological and pathological conditions. We find renal mesangial cells and retinal pericytes share molecular features and undergo similar molecular transitions under diabetes. Furthermore, we uncover that chemokine regulation shared by the two cell types is critical for the co-occurrence of DN and DR, and the chemokine score can be used for the prognosis of DN complicated with DR. These findings shed light on the mechanism of the co-occurrence of DN and DR and could improve the prevention and treatments of diabetic microvascular complications.

Abstract Background Neoadjuvant radiotherapy has been used as the standard treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, radiotherapy resistance often results in treatment failure. To identify radioresistant genes will provide novel targets for combined treatments and prognostic markers. Methods Through high content screening and tissue array from CRC patients who are resistant or sensitive to radiotherapy, we identified a potent resistant gene SUMO specific peptidase 5 (SENP5). Then, the effect of SENP5 on radiosensitivity was investigated by CCK8, clone formation, comet assay, immunofluorescence and flow cytometric analysis of apoptosis and cell cycle to investigate the effect of SENP5 on radiosensitivity. SUMO-proteomic mass spectrometry combined with co-immunoprecipitation assay were used to identify the targets of SENP5. Patient-derived organoids (PDO) and xenograft (PDX) models were used to explore the possibility of clinical application. Results We identified SENP5 as a potent radioresistant gene through high content screening and CRC patients tissue array analysis. Patients with high SENP5 expression showed increased resistance to radiotherapy. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that SENP5 knockdown significantly increased radiosensitivity in CRC cells. SENP5 was further demonstrated essential for efficient DNA damage repair in homologous recombination (HR) dependent manner. Through SUMO mass spectrometry analysis, we characterized H2AZ as a deSUMOylation substrate of SENP5, and depicted the SUMOylation balance of H2AZ in HR repair and cancer resistance. By using PDO and PDX models, we found targeting SENP5 significantly increased the therapeutic efficacy of radiotherapy. Conclusion Our findings revealed novel role of SENP5 in HR mediated DNA damage repair and cancer resistance, which could be applied as potent prognostic marker and intervention target for cancer radiotherapy.

ABSTRACTGrain sprouting poses a significant global challenge, especially for wheat. Nonetheless, recent investigators have unveiled numerous benefits of germination. In this study, we incorporated various proportions of sprouted wheat flour (SF) into wheat flour to produce sprouted wheat steamed bread (SWSB). The impact of SF on the quality of flour and SWSB was evaluated, resulting a development of GABA-enhanced, green-healthy SWSB. With increased addition of SF, the falling number, pasting viscosity, and dough stability time of flour exhibited significant decreases, whereas the gluten index initially increased and then decreased. The textural properties, such as hardness, chewiness, adhesion, springiness, and cohesion, exhibited varying degrees of fluctuation with increasing SF levels. The specific volume of SWSB was optimal at an SF concentration of 6% and the sensory score was highest at 2%. Lightness of SWSB was comparable to that of the control at 4% SF addition. C-cell images revealed that the fineness of the SWSB texture initially increased and then decreased with increasing SF levels. Overall, an SF concentration of 4% was found to be optimal for dough properties, color, texture characteristics and sensory quality, providing a theoretical foundation for industrial production and application.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important role in cancer metastasis. Exploring metastasis-associated lncRNAs and developing effective strategy for targeted regulation of lncRNA function in vivo are of utmost importance for the treatment of metastatic cancer, which however remains a big challenge. Herein, we identified a new functional lncRNA (denoted lncBCMA), which could stabilize the expression of eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1A1 (eEF1A1) via antagonizing its ubiquitination to promote triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) growth and metastasis. Based on this regulatory mechanism, an endosomal pH-responsive nanoparticle (NP) platform was engineered for systemic lncBCMA siRNA (siBCMA) delivery. This NPs-mediated siBCMA delivery could effectively silence lncBCMA expression and promote eEF1A1 ubiquitination, thereby leading to a significant inhibition of TNBC tumor growth and metastasis. These findings show that lncBCMA could be used as a potential biomarker to predict the prognosis of TNBC patients and NPs-mediated lncBCMA silencing could be an effective strategy for metastatic TNBC treatment.

Since its introduction, discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA) has been widely used in different areas of rock mechanics. By dividing large blocks into subblocks and introducing artificial joints, DDA can be applied to rock fracture simulation. However, parameter calibration, a fundamental issue in discontinuum methods, has not received enough attention in DDA. In this study, the parameter calibration of DDA for intact rock is carefully studied. To this end, a subblock DDA with Voronoi tessellation is presented first. Then, a modified contact constitutive law is introduced, in which the tensile and shear meso-strengths are modified to be independent of the bond lengths. This improvement can prevent the unjustified preferential failure of short edges. A method for imposing confining pressure is also introduced. Thereafter, sensitivity analysis is performed to investigate the influence of the calculated parameters and meso-parameters on the mechanical properties of modeled rock. Based on the sensitivity analysis, a unified calibration procedure is suggested for both cases with and without confining pressure. Finally, the calibration procedure is applied to two examples, including a biaxial compression test. The results show that the proposed Voronoi-based DDA can simulate rock fracture with and without confining pressure very well after careful parameter calibration.

Compared to conventional support methods, the close-fitting pile–wall integration technique features a minimized construction spacing between the retaining pile and the basement retaining wall. This approach leverages the pile stiffness to minimize the wall thickness and enhance underground space utilization. However, it currently lacks significant discussions and measured data about the interaction laws between the pile and the wall. The model test and finite element method (FEM) are employed to study the deformation and internal force interaction laws of two typical close-fitting pile–wall integrated structures, and a comparison with conventional design is conducted. Furthermore, this study separately investigates the impact of sensitivity factors, specifically the pile–wall stiffness ratio and floor plate stiffness, on both structures during the basement construction and serviceability stages. The test results can closely match the numerical simulation. The study results reveal that the wall impacts the bending moment of the pile to some extent. The internal force in the wall is significantly influenced by the lateral deformation of the pile and the floor plate. Compared to conventional designs, this structure significantly reduces the bending moment of the wall, particularly in the composite structure. Additionally, the analysis of sensitivity factors reveals their considerable influence on the pile–wall interaction.

Cation exchange resin (CER) has been reported to promote sludge fermentation. However, previous studies have typically focused on the effects of CER on sludge properties to enhance fermentation, and the role of CER as a biocarrier for anaerobic consortia during fermentation has been overlooked. Thus, in this study, the potential of gel-type and macro-reticular type CERs to serve as biocarriers in fermentation was investigated. A significant number of anaerobes appeared to be attached to the surfaces of CER during 2-day fermentation. However, an extended fermentation time negatively affected the attachment of anaerobic consortia, suggesting that CER may be a suitable carrier for short-term fermentation processes, such as biohydrogen fermentation. Electrochemical analyses revealed that the electron transfer capacities of CER with attached anaerobes were enhanced after both 2-day and 28-day fermentation periods, with the macro-reticular type CER exhibiting higher electron transfer capacity than the gel-type CER. Fermentation experiments using mixing model substrates with macro-reticular and gel-type CERs with attached anaerobes showed that the macro-reticular type CER was more beneficial for biohydrogen fermentation than the gel-type CER. Further analyses of microbial communities revealed that hydrogen-producing bacteria (i.e., Caloramator, unclassified_f_Caloramatoraceace, and Sporanaerobacter) were more likely to adhere to the macro-reticular type CERs. This outcome confirmed that macro-reticular type CERs have significant potential as a carrier for anaerobic consortia to promote the generation of hydrogen and volatile fatty acids. These findings are expected to provide a reference for using materials as biocarriers to enhance the biohydrogen fermentation of sludge.

Excessive use of chemical fertilizer is a global concern. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are considered a potential solution due to their symbiotic association with crops. This study assessed AMF’s effects on maize yield, fertilizer efficiency, plant traits, and soil nutrients under different reduced-fertilizer regimes in medium–low fertility fields. We found that phosphorus supplementation after a 30% fertilizer reduction enhanced AMF’s positive impact on grain yield, increasing it by 3.47% with pure chemical fertilizers and 6.65% with mixed fertilizers. The AMF inoculation did not significantly affect the nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer use efficiency, but significantly increased root colonization and soil mycelium density. Mixed fertilizer treatments with phosphorus supplementation after fertilizer reduction showed greater mycorrhizal effects on plant traits and soil nutrient contents compared to chemical fertilizer treatments. This study highlights that AMF inoculation, closely linked to fertilization regimes, can effectively reduce fertilizer use while sustaining or enhancing maize yields.

A liquid–liquid extraction pretreatment method using n-hexane as the extractant was developed for the analysis of volatile aroma substances in three flavors (six cola samples, six lemon samples, and six orange samples) of carbonated beverages by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Quantitative analysis was conducted using the external standard method. The spiked recovery rate of α-terpineol was used as the evaluation criterion. Single-factor and response surface experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of extraction temperature, extraction time, and solvent-to-sample ratio. The results indicated that the maximum spiked recovery rate of α-terpineol, 81.00%, was achieved at an extraction temperature of 45 °C, extraction time of 30 min, and a solvent-to-sample ratio of 1 mL:15 mL. Thirty-four components were identified by GC-MS on the pretreated samples via the internal standard method. 1,4-Cineole, fenchyl alcohol, borneol, and α-terpineol are covered aroma substances in cola beverages. Two aromatic substances, D-limonene and α-terpineol, were detected in orange juices. α-Terpineol was detected in each lemon-flavor carbonated beverage sample. Going a step further, α-terpineol was detected in all 18 carbonated beverage samples and had high response values. The principal component analysis by functional group classification led to the conclusion that acids, phenols, hydrocarbons, alcohols, and ethers played a major contribution to the aroma of these 18 beverages. Increased separation of target compounds was found using the new pre-treatment methods, resulting in improved analytical resolution and selectivity.

In China, a substantial portion of highway asphalt pavements are no longer capable of accommodating increasing traffic volumes and necessitate renovation and expansion. Prior to commencing such activities, it is crucial to evaluate the performance of the existing asphalt pavements. This study developed a novel normal cloud framework integrating a comprehensive weighted indicator system for existing asphalt pavement. Five key performance indicators including riding quality index (RQI), rutting area ratio (Rr), cracking area ratio (Cr), patching area ratio (Pr), and pavement structural strength index (PSSI) were selected to holistically represent the pavement condition in highway renovation and expansion projects. Subsequently, a method was proposed to determine the weights of these indicators by integrating the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and entropy. A normal cloud model was constructed to address data characteristics and representation of indicator fuzziness/randomness through digital cloud modeling. The model was applied to 12 sections of the Jingjintang Expressway (Tianjin section). The results revealed only one section where the normal cloud model differed from the pavement maintenance quality assessment (PQI) model. The 3D ground-penetrating radar detection results of this different section indicated that the normal cloud model more closely aligned with the road structure condition. Compared to absolute pass/fail criteria of the traditional PQI model, the cloud model offered enhanced sensitivity to define graded condition assessments essential for reconstruction planning and decision analysis. Therefore, the normal cloud model is more suitable for assessing the performance of existing asphalt pavements in highway reconstruction and extension projects compared to the PQI model.

This paper aims to investigate the strengthening mechanism of laser shock peening on the interfacial bonding properties between TiN coatings and TC4 titanium alloy substrates. The different surface textures were induced by LSP on a TC4 titanium alloy substrate. Subsequently, titanium nitride (TiN) coatings were deposited on the surface texture. A scratch test and reciprocating sliding wear assessment were conducted to evaluate the impact of LSP on the interfacial bonding properties and wear performance of the coatings. The experimental results demonstrated that the adhesion of TiN coatings deposited on the surface texture formed by laser shock peening was significantly enhanced. The efficacy of laser shock treatment in reducing wear rates was found to be significantly enhanced in cases of both increased spot overlapping rate and increased laser power density. The surface texture created using laser parameters of 6.43 GW/cm2 and a 50% overlapping rate was found to have the most significant effect on improving the adhesion and anti-wear properties of the coating. The laser shock texture was identified as the main contributor to this improvement, providing a large interfacial contact area and a mechanical bond between the coating and the substrate. This bond inhibited the initiation and propagation of micro-cracks caused by the concentration of internal stress and interfacial stress of the coating.

Coral reef bleaching events have become more frequent all over the world and pose a serious threat to coral reef ecosystems. Therefore, there is an urgent need for better detection of coral reef bleaching in a time- and cost-saving manner. In recent years, remote sensing technology has often been utilized and gained recognition for coral reef bleaching detection. However, bleaching corals in the water always have weak spectral change signals, causing difficulties in using remote sensing data. Additionally, uneven change samples make it challenging to adequately capture the details of coral reef bleaching detection and produce thematic maps. To resolve these problems, a novel method named coral reef bleaching detection by positive-unlabeled bagging (CBD-PUB) is proposed in this paper. To test the capacity of the method, a series of multi-temporal Sentinel-2 remote sensing images are utilized, and Lizard Island in Australia is taken as a case study area. The pseudo-invariant feature atmospheric correction (PIF) algorithm is adopted to improve coral reef bleaching spectral signals. After that, CBD-PUB is employed to effectively explore coral reef bleaching variation and its corresponding influence relations. The experimental results show that the overall accuracy of bleaching detection by the proposed algorithm reaches 92.1% and outperforms the traditional method. It fully demonstrates the feasibility of the model for the field of coral reef bleaching detection and provides assistance in the monitoring and protection of coral environments.

Intelligent Traditional Chinese Medicine can provide people with a convenient way to participate in daily health care. The ease of acceptance of Traditional Chinese Medicine is also a major advantage in promoting health management. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, tongue imaging is an important step in the examination process. The segmentation and processing of the tongue image directly affects the results of intelligent Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnosis. As intelligent Traditional Chinese Medicine continues to develop, remote diagnosis and patient participation will play important roles. Smartphone sensor cameras can provide irreplaceable data collection capabilities in enhancing interaction in smart Traditional Chinese Medicine. However, these factors lead to differences in the size and quality of the captured images due to factors such as differences in shooting equipment, professionalism of the photographer, and the subject’s cooperation. Most current tongue image segmentation algorithms are based on data collected by professional tongue diagnosis instruments in standard environments, and are not able to demonstrate the tongue image segmentation effect in complex environments. Therefore, we propose a segmentation algorithm for tongue images collected in complex multi-device and multi-user environments. We use convolutional attention and extend state space models to the 2D environment in the encoder. Then, cross-layer connection fusion is used in the decoder part to fuse shallow texture and deep semantic features. Through segmentation experiments on tongue image datasets collected by patients and doctors in real-world settings, our algorithm significantly improves segmentation performance and accuracy.

The retina, a tissue of the central nervous system, is vital for vision as its photoreceptors capture light and transform it into electrical signals, which are further processed before they are sent to the brain to be interpreted as images. The retina is unique in that it is continuously exposed to light and has the highest metabolic rate and demand for energy amongst all the tissues in the body. Consequently, the retina is very susceptible to oxidative stress. VDAC, a pore in the outer membrane of mitochondria, shuttles metabolites between mitochondria and the cytosol and normally protects cells from oxidative damage, but when a cell’s integrity is greatly compromised it initiates cell death. There are three isoforms of VDAC, and existing evidence indicates that all three are expressed in the retina. However, their precise localization and function in each cell type is unknown. It appears that most retinal cells express substantial amounts of VDAC2 and VDAC3, presumably to protect them from oxidative stress. Photoreceptors express VDAC2, HK2, and PKM2—key proteins in the Warburg pathway that also protect these cells. Consistent with its role in initiating cell death, VDAC is overexpressed in the retinal degenerative diseases retinitis pigmentosa, age related macular degeneration (AMD), and glaucoma. Treatment with antioxidants or inhibiting VDAC oligomerization reduced its expression and improved cell survival. Thus, VDAC may be a promising therapeutic candidate for the treatment of these diseases.

In this research, with an aim to develop novel pyrazole oxime ether derivatives possessing potential biological activity, thirty-two pyrazole oxime ethers, including a substituted pyridine ring, have been synthesized and structurally identified through 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and HRMS. Bioassay data indicated that most of these compounds owned strong insecticidal properties against Mythimna separata, Tetranychus cinnabarinus, Plutella xylostella, and Aphis medicaginis at a dosage of 500 μg/mL, and some title compounds were active towards Nilaparvata lugens at 500 μg/mL. Furthermore, some of the designed compounds had potent insecticidal effects against M. separata, T. cinnabarinus, or A. medicaginis at 100 μg/mL, with the mortalities of compounds 8a, 8c, 8d, 8e, 8f, 8g, 8o, 8s, 8v, 8x, and 8z against A. medicaginis, in particular, all reaching 100%. Even when the dosage was lowered to 20 μg/mL, compound 8s also expressed 50% insecticidal activity against M. separata, and compounds 8a, 8e, 8f, 8o, 8v, and 8x displayed more than 60% inhibition rates against A. medicaginis. The current results provided a significant basis for the rational design of biologically active pyrazole oxime ethers in future.

Climate data derived from long-term, multisource altimeter significant wave height (SWH) measurements are more valuable than those obtained from a single altimeter source. Such data facilitate exploration of long-term air–sea momentum transfer and more comprehensive investigation of weather system dynamics processes over the ocean. Despite the deployment of the first satellite in the Chinese Haiyang-2 (HY-2) series more than 12 years ago, validation and integration of SWH data from China’s offshore waters, derived using Chinese altimeters, have been limited. This study constructed a high-resolution, long-term, multisource gridded SWH climate dataset using along-track data from the HY-2 series, CFOSAT, Jason-2, Jason-3, and Cryosat-2 altimeters. Validation against observations from 31 buoys covering China’s offshore waters indicated that the SWH variances from HY-2A, HY-2B, HY-2C, CFOSAT, and Jason-3 altimeters correlated well with observations, with a temporal correlation coefficient of approximately 0.95 (except HY-2A, correlation: 0.89). These SWH measurements generally showed a robust linear relationship with the buoy data. Additionally, cross-calibration between Jason-3 and the HY-2A, HY-2B, HY-2C, and CFOSAT altimeters also demonstrated a typically linear relationship for SWH > 6.0 m. Using this relationship, the SWH data were linearly corrected and integrated into a 10 d mean, long-term, multisource altimeter gridded SWH dataset. Compared with in situ observations, the merged 10 d mean SWHs are more accurate and closely match the observations, with temporal correlation coefficients improving from 0.87 to 0.90 and bias decreasing from 0.28 to 0.03 m. The merged gridded SWHs effectively represent the local spatial distribution of SWH. This study revealed the importance of observational data in the process of merging and recalibrating long-term multisource altimeter SWH datasets, particularly before their application in specific ocean regions.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major global health threat despite its virtual elimination in developed countries. Issues such as drug accessibility, emergence of multidrug-resistant strains, and limitations of the current BCG vaccine highlight the urgent need for more effective TB control measures. This study constructed BCG strains overexpressing Rv1002c and found that the rBCG-Rv1002c strain secreted more glycosylated proteins, significantly enhancing macrophage activation and immune protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb). These results indicate that Rv1002c overexpression promotes elevated levels of O-glycosylation in BCG bacteriophages, enhancing their phagocytic and antigenic presentation functions. Moreover, rBCG-Rv1002c significantly upregulated immune regulatory molecules on the macrophage surface, activated the NF-κB pathway, and facilitated the release of large amounts of NO and H2O2, thereby enhancing bacterial control. In mice, rBCG-Rv1002c immunization induced greater innate and adaptive immune responses, including increased production of multifunctional and long-term memory T cells. Furthermore, rBCG-Rv1002c-immunized mice exhibited reduced lung bacterial load and histological damage upon M. tb infection. This result shows that it has the potential to be an excellent candidate for a preventive vaccine against TB.

Incorporating carbon footprints into the production efficiency framework to construct a standardized technology model for cleaner production in black soil regions is of great significance for improving the soil environment and the sustainable development of agriculture. This study used an orthogonal experimental design and the DEA–Malmquist method to calculate the carbon footprint and total factor productivity of orthogonal experimental groups of cleaner production technologies for maize cultivation in China’s black soil region and then identified integrated models of cleaner production technology in the black soil region. The results showed that the carbon footprint of maize cultivation and total factor productivity were generally higher in the experimental group using cleaner production techniques than in the control group. Still, none of them reached the optimum. In the future, the synergistic effect of technological progress and technological efficiency enhancement should be brought into play, and the integrated models of “Soil testing and formulation + Full mobile sprinkler irrigation + Straw tilling and field return” and “No tillage in spring + Soil testing and formulation + Straw tilling and field return” should be promoted in semi-arid and semi-humid black soil regions, which can improve the low carbon productivity of maize by 20.3% and 15.4%, respectively.

cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) activity regulates protein phosphorylation, with Na+ playing a crucial role in PKA activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different Na+ concentrations on PKA activity and protein phosphorylation level in postmortem muscle. The study consisted of two experiments: (1) NaCl of 0, 20, 100, 200 and 400 mM was added to a muscle homogenate incubation model to analyze the effect of Na+ concentration on PKA activity, and (2) the same concentrations were added to pure PKA in vitro incubation models at 4 °C to verify the effect of Na+ on PKA activity. The PKA activity of the muscle homogenate model increased with storage time in groups with different Na+ concentrations. High concentrations of Na+ inhibited sarcoplasmic protein phosphorylation. The PKA activity at 24 h of storage and the sarcoplasmic protein phosphorylation level at 12 h of storage in the group with 200 mM Na+ was lower than that of the other groups. After 1 h incubation, the PKA activity of samples in the 200 mM Na+ group was inhibited and lower than that in the other Na+ groups in the in vitro incubation model. These results suggest that the Na+ concentration at 200 mM could better inhibit PKA activity. This study provided valuable insights for enhancing curing efficiency and improving meat quality.

The ratoon rice cropping pattern is an alternative to the double-season rice cropping pattern in central China due to its comparable annual yield and relatively lower cost and labor requirements. However, the impact of the ratoon rice cropping pattern on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and yields in the double-season rice region requires further investigation. Here, we compared two cropping patterns, fallow-double season rice (DR) and fallow-ratoon rice (RR), by using two early-season rice varieties (ZJZ17, LY287) and two late-season rice varieties (WY103, TY390) for DR, and two ratoon rice varieties (YLY911, LY6326) for RR. The six varieties constituted four treatments, including DR1 (ZJZ17 + WY103), DR2 (LY287 + TY390), RR1 (YLY911), and RR2 (LY6326). The experimental results showed that conversion from DR to RR cropping pattern significantly altered the GHG emissions, global warming potential (GWP), and GWP per unit yield (yield-scaled GWP). Compared with DR, the RR cropping pattern significantly increased cumulative methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 65.73%, 30.56%, and 47.13%, respectively, in the first cropping season. Conversely, in the second cropping season, the RR cropping pattern effectively reduced cumulative CH4, N2O, and CO2 emissions by 79.86%, 27.18%, and 30.31%, respectively. RR led to significantly lower annual cumulative CH4 emissions, but no significant difference in cumulative annual N2O and CO2 emissions compared with DR. In total, the RR cropping pattern reduced the annual GWP by 7.38% and the annual yield-scaled GWP by 2.48% when compared to the DR cropping pattern. Rice variety also showed certain effects on the yields and GHG emissions in different RR cropping patterns. Compared with RR1, RR2 significantly increased annual yield while decreasing annual GWP and annual yield-scaled GWP. In conclusion, the LY6326 RR cropping pattern may be a highly promising strategy to simultaneously reduce GWP and maintain high grain yield in double-season rice regions in central China.

The term “viscoelastic pipe” refers to high polymer pipes that exhibit both elastic and viscoelastic properties. Owing to their widespread use in water transport systems, it is important to understand the transient flow characteristics of these materials for pipeline safety. Despite extensive research, these characteristics have not been sufficiently explored. This study evaluates the impact of friction models on the transient flow of viscoelastic pipes across various Reynolds numbers by employing an energy analysis approach. Given the complexity and computational demands of two-dimensional models, this paper compares the accuracy of one-dimensional and quasi-two-dimensional models. Notably, the superiority of the quasi-two-dimensional model in simulating viscoelastic pipelines is demonstrated. Owing to the interaction between pressure waves and fluid within viscoelastic pipes, fluid–structure coupling significantly attenuates pressure waves during transmission. These findings shed light on the constitutive properties of viscoelastic pipes and the influence of pipe wall friction models on transient hydraulic characteristics, building upon prior studies focused on elastic pipes. Nevertheless, numerous factors affecting transient flow in viscoelastic pipes remain unexplored. This paper suggests further analysis of strain effects, starting with temperature and pipe dynamics, to enhance the understanding of the coupling laws and flow mechanisms in viscoelastic pipelines.

In recent years, the development of hydrogen energy has been widely discussed, particularly in combination with renewable energy sources, enabling the production of “green” hydrogen. With the significant increase in wind power generation, a promising solution for obtaining green hydrogen is the development of wind-to-hydrogen (W2H) systems. However, the high proportion of wind power and electrolyzers in a large-scale W2H system will bring about the problem of renewable energy consumption and frequency stability reduction. This paper analyzes the operational characteristics and economic feasibility of mainstream electrolyzers, leading to the proposal of a coordinated hydrogen production scheme involving both a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer and an alkaline (ALK) electrolyzer. Subsequently, a coordinated control based on Model Predictive Control (MPC) is proposed for system frequency regulation in a large-scale W2H islanded microgrid. Finally, simulation results demonstrate that the system under PEM/ALK electrolyzers coordinated control not only flexibly accommodates fluctuating wind power but also maintains frequency stability in the face of large disturbances. Compared with the traditional system with all ALK electrolyzers, the frequency deviation of this system is reduced by 25%, the regulation time is shortened by 80%, and the demand for an energy storage system (ESS) is reduced. The result validates the effectiveness of MPC and the benefits of the PEM/ALK electrolyzers coordinated hydrogen production scheme.

Using shallow-water buoy observations, reanalysis data, and numerical models, this study analyzes the variations in sea temperature and significant wave height (SWH) caused by two sequential tropical cyclones (TCs) ‘Lionrock’ and ‘Kompasu’ in October 2021 in the northeast Beibu Gulf, South China Sea. The results show that the sea surface temperature (SST) cooling of the nearshore waters was larger than the offshore water in the basin of the gulf, with the cooling amplitude and rate decreasing and the cooling time lagging behind wind increasing from coast to offshore. The near-surface temperature at the buoy station had a maximum decrease of 2.8 °C after ‘Lionrock’, and the decrease increased slightly to 3 °C after the stronger wind of ‘Kompasu’. The total decrease of 4.6 °C indicates that the sequential TCs had a superimposed effect on the cooling of the Beibu Gulf. The heat budget analysis revealed that the sea surface heat loss and the Ekman pumping rate in the nearshore waters during ‘Kompasu’ (−535 W/m2 and 5.8 × 10−4 m/s, respectively) were significantly higher than that (−418 W/m2 and 4 × 10−4 m/s) during ‘Lionrock’. On the other hand, the SST cooling (−1.2 °C) during the second TC is smaller than (−1.6 °C) the first weaker TC in the gulf basin, probably due to the deepening of the mixed layer. During the observation period, the waves in the Beibu Gulf were predominantly wind-driven. The maximum SWHs reached 1.58 m and 2.3 m at the bouy station near shore during the two TCs, and the SWH variation was highly correlated to the wind variation with a correlation of 0.95. The SWH increases from the nearshore to offshore waters during the TCs. The SAWN and ARCIRC coupled model results suggest that wave variations in the Beibu Gulf are primarily influenced by water depth, bottom friction, and whitecapping. Two days after the TCs, sea surface cooling and high waves appeared again due to a cold air event.

Abstract Efficient allocating and scheduling emergency rescue tasks are a primary issue for emergency management. This paper considers emergency scheduling of rescue tasks under stochastic deterioration of the injured. First, a mathematical model is established to minimize the average mathematical expectation of all tasks’ completion time and casualty loss. Second, an improved multi-objective estimation of distribution algorithm (IMEDA) is proposed to solve this problem. In the IMDEA, an effective initialization strategy is designed for obtaining a superior population. Then, three statistical models are constructed, which include two tasks existing in the same rescue team, the probability of first task being processed by a rescue team, and the adjacency between two tasks. Afterward, an improved sampling method based on referenced sequence is employed to efficiently generate offspring population. Three multi-objective local search methods are presented to improve the exploitation in promising areas around elite individuals. Furthermore, the parameter calibration and effectiveness of components of IMEDA are tested through experiments. Finally, the comprehensive comparison with state-of-the-art multi-objective algorithms demonstrates that IMEDA is a high-performing approach for the considered problem.

Using hulled hemp seed powder as raw material, nitrogen was introduced to produce positive pressure cavitation, which realized the effect of accelerating the protein extraction rate. Taking the yield of protein as the evaluation index, the effects of pH, temperature, time, material-liquid ratio and aeration on protein extraction rate were explored by combining univariate test and response surface test. Results showed that, the optimal process conditions for nitrogen-assisted positive pressure cavitation extraction of hemp seed protein were as follows: The material-liquid ratio was 1:50 (g/mL), the pH was 12, the extraction temperature was 52 °C, the extraction time was 50 min, and the nitrogen ventilation was 1.6 L/min, under these conditions, the protein yield was 76.03%±1.64%. It was significantly higher than the magnetic stirring method under the same conditions by 56.32%. The physicochemical properties of hemp seed protein extracted by four methods (positive pressure alkaline solubility, magnetic alkaline solubility, positive pressure enzymatic hydrolysis, and magnetic enzymatic hydrolysis) were compared, and the results showed that the foaming and oil-holding properties of the proteins by magnetic alkalinity solution method were the strongest, 145% and 246%, respectively. There was little difference between water holding capacity and emulsification of the four methods. The protein denaturation temperature of the four extraction methods was compared, and the termination temperature of protein denaturation of the positive pressure alkaline solution method was 105.5 ℃, which was 4~13 ℃ higher than the other three methods. Hemp seed protein treated by positive pressure enzymatic hydrolysis contains 17 amino acids and an EAA/TAA score of nearly 40%, which was very in line with the FAO/WHO recommendation for high-quality protein. Experiments showed that nitrogen-assisted positive pressure cavitation could increase the extraction rate of hemp seed protein and had good physicochemical properties.

The resistance to melting is an important indicator of the quality of ice cream. During transport, storage and distribution, poorly melting resistance ice cream will inevitably become deformed due to fluctuations in ambient temperature, which in turn will affect the consumer experience, product sales and even the brand's reputation. Stabilisers are crucial to the melting resistance of ice cream. This paper reviews the mechanisms of stabilisers on ice cream melting resistance, the properties of different anionic/non-ionic stabilisers and their mechanism of actionon ice cream resistance, mainly in terms of gel formation, inhibition of ice crystal growth and enhancement of ice cream serum phase viscosity. Furtherly, it provides theoretical guidance for the development of cultural and creative ice cream, ice cream with complex structure and ice cream circulation.

The genus Cavariella is distinguished from other Macrosiphini genera (Aphididae, Aphidinae) because it has a supra-caudal process on abdominal tergite VIII which possesses two setae distally. It is Holarctic in distribution, and half of its species are Asian. The Chinese fauna of this genus, 17 species, have been restudied, morphologically and through DNA barcodes. As a result: Cavariella hidaensis Takahashi is transferred to Elatobium; Cavariella sculptura Qiao & Xu, sp. nov. is described from specimens collected on Torilis and Cryptotaenia (Apiaceae); Cavariella cessana Zhang, Chen, Zhong & Li, syn. nov. and Cavariella largispiracula Zhang, Chen, Zhong & Li, syn. nov. are respectively junior synonyms of Cavariella aquatica (Gillette & Bragg) and Cavariella sapporoensis Takahashi; Cavariella gilgiana Zhang, Chen, Zhong & Li and Cavariella lhasana Zhang are confirmed as valid species and complete descriptions are provided; Cavariella bhutanensis Chakrabarti & Das, Cavariella nigra Basu, Cavariella pastinacae (Linnaeus), and Cavariella pustula Essig are recorded for the first time from China. Additionally, keys for species of Cavariella known in China are provided and modifications to the key by Blackman and Eastop of aphid species on Angelica (Aphids on World’s Plants) are presented.

Abstract Azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction is a very common organic reaction to synthesize nitrogen-containing heterocycles. Once catalyzed by Cu(I) or Ru(II), it turns out to be a click reaction and thus is widely applied in chemical biology for labeling. However, besides their poor regioselectivity towards this reaction, these metal ions are not biologically friendly. Hence, it is an urgent need to develop a metal-free azide–alkyne cycloaddition reaction for biomedical applications. In this work, we found that, in the absence of metal ions, supramolecular self-assembly in an aqueous solution could realize this reaction with excellent regioselectivity. Nap-Phe-Phe-Lys(azido)-OH firstly self-assembled into nanofibers. Then, Nap-Phe-Phe-Gly(alkynyl)-OH at equivalent concentration approached to react with the assembly to yield the cycloaddition product Nap-Phe-Phe-Lys(triazole)-Gly-Phe-Phe-Nap to form nanoribbons. Due to space confinement effect, the product was obtained with excellent regioselectivity. Employing the excellent properties of supramolecular self-assembly, we are applying this strategy to realize more reactions without metal ion catalysis.

Abstract Background Fighting against the COVID‐19 pandemic, front‐line nurses were under unprecedented psychological pressure. Therefore, it is necessary to promptly evaluate the psychological status of nurses during the COVID‐19 epidemic period. Aim To investigate nurses' mental health during the COVID‐19 pandemic, and to test the mediating role of social support and psychological resilience between coping and mental health. Design This was a descriptive, cross‐sectional survey which used a structural equation model. Method In total, 711 registered nurses were included. All participants were invited to complete a socio‐demographic questionnaire, the general health questionnaire, the trait coping style questionnaire, the perceived social support scale and the Conner–Davidson Resilience scale. Results In total, 50.1% nurses had high risk of mental health. Positive coping positively affected social support and psychological resilience, while it negatively affected mental health. Negative coping negatively affected social support and psychological resilience, while it positively affected mental health. Social support positively affected psychological resilience, while it negatively affected mental health. In addition, social support mediated coping and psychological resilience, and coping and mental health. Moreover, psychological resilience negatively affected mental health, and it mediated coping and mental health.

To explore the dynamic compression behavior and damage evolution characteristics of “rigid-flexible coupling” surrounding rock supporting structure. Split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) was used to carry out constant amplitude cyclic bi-directional impact compression tests on the combination specimens of “rigid-rigid: rock (sandstone)-like material (RLM) - normal cement mortar (NCM)'', “rigid-flexible: RLM - rubber cement mortar (RCM)'' and “flexible-rigid: RCM - high-performance supporting concrete (HPSC)''. The characteristics of stress-strain curve evolution, stress attenuation, strain growth, energy transformation, damage evolution characteristics, and damage state were compared and analyzed. The results show that compared with RLM-NCM, RLM-RCM and RCM-HPSC had remarkable dynamic yield ductility and excellent impact resistance. RCM and HPSC can work together to hinder the dynamic damage development of “rigid-flexible coupling” supporting structure and surrounding rock. Based on the one-dimensional stress wave propagation theory, the stress wave propagation models of rigid-flexible combination specimens under SHPB cyclic bi-directional impact were established, and the corresponding stress wave propagation equations were derived, which profoundly revealed the propagation law and attenuation mechanism of stress waves in SHPB impact rigid-flexible combination tests. Finally, based on the energy drive theory and residual energy theory, the impact instability energy criteria of surrounding rock under the rigid component combined support system and “rigid-flexible coupling” component combined support system were analyzed and discussed.

To promote the application of rubber-cement composites as the main bearing structure and key components in practical engineering under frequent dynamic disturbances, in this work, the split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) cyclic impact tests of rubber-cement composite specimens with four different confine modes were carried out in which the impact load increased sequentially. The relationship between average strain rate, ultimate strain and impact times and the relationship between peak stress, damage energy, ultimate strain and incident energy were analyzed. The results showed that the appropriate confine reinforcement treatment can make rubber-cement composite give full play to its deformation ability when it was completely damaged. Carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheet and steel cylinder can work together with the rubber-cement composite matrix to resist impact load, which effectively improves the structural strength, damage fracture energy, and cyclic impact resistance of the rubber-cement composite. Finally, based on the effect difference of confine modes, the simplified plane force models of rubber-cement composite specimens with four different confine modes were established, which clearly revealed the completely different impact resistance mechanism of the rubber-cement composites with different constraints under cyclic impact loading.

Abstract The objective of this study was to synthesize and characterize pharmaceutical characteristics of florfenicol sustained-release granules (FSRGs) in vitro and in vivo. FSRGs were synthesized using monostearate, polyethylene glycol 4000 and starch. In vitro dissolution profiles were studied using the rotating basket method in pH 1.2 HCl solution and pH 4.3 acetate buffer. Twenty-four male healthy Landrace×Yorkshire pigs were equally divided into three groups and administered a 20 mg/kg i.v bolus of florfenicol solution and dosed orally with FSRGs in the fasting and fed states. The Higuchi model was the best fit for the drug release profile in pH 1.2 and pH 4.3 media, and the mechanism of drug dissolution was governed by both diffusion and dissolution. We established a level A in vitro - in vivo correlation for FSRGs and the in vivo profile of the FSRGs can be estimated by the in vitro drug release.

Abstract Background The number of pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) cases is increasing in immunocompromised patients without human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV), causing serious morbidity with high mortality. Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMZ) monotherapy has limited effectiveness in the treatment of PCP. Clinical data on whether initial caspofungin plus TMP/SMZ for this disease is superior to monotherapy in non-HIV-infected patients are limited. We aimed to compare the clinical effectiveness of these regimens for severe PCP in non-HIV patients. Methods A retrospective study reviewed 104 non-HIV-infected patients with confirmed PCP in the intensive care unit between January 2016 and December 2021. Eleven patients were excluded from the study because TMP/SMZ could not be used due to severe hematologic disorders or clinical data were missing. All enrolled patients were divided into three groups according to different treatment strategies: Group 1 received TMP/SMZ monotherapy, Group 2 received caspofungin combined with TMP/SMZ as first-line therapy, and Group 3 initially received TMP/SMZ monotherapy and later received caspofungin as salvage therapy. The clinical characteristics and outcomes were compared among the groups. Results A total of 93 patients met the criteria. The overall positive response rate of anti-PCP treatment was 58.06%, and the overall 90-day all-cause mortality rate was 49.46%. The median APACHE II score was 21.44. The concurrent infection rate was 74.19%, among whom 15.05% (n = 14) of those patients had pulmonary aspergillosis, 21.05% (n = 20) had bacteremia, and 23.65% (n = 22) had CMV infections. The patients who received initial caspofungin combination with TMP/SMZ had the best positive response rate (76.74%) compared to others (p = 0.001). Furthermore, the group that received initial caspofungin combined with TMP/SMZ had a 90-day all-cause mortality rate (39.53%) that was significantly different from that of the shift group (65.51%, p = 0.024), but this rate showed no statistically significant difference compared with that in the monotherapy group (48.62%, p = 0.322). None of the patients had serious adverse events from caspofungin therapy. Conclusions For non-HIV-infected patients with severe PCP, initial combination therapy with caspofungin and TMP/SMZ is a promising first-line treatment option compared with TMP/SMZ monotherapy and combination therapy as salvage therapy.