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The phased-mission reliability of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) swarm refers to its capability to successfully complete the missions of each phase under specified conditions for a specified period. In order to study the reliability of phased-mission in UAV swarm, this paper firstly studies the reliability of a single UAV under fault coverage. Then, considering the mission characteristics of UAV swarm, the consecutive k-out-of-n system is studied to model and predict the reliability of UAV swarm phase mission. Some importance measures are introduced to analyze the influence of UAV in different positions on the reliability of the whole system. Finally, numerical examples of linear and circular UAV swarms are given to demonstrate and verify the correctness of the model. The reliability modeling established in this paper can predict the phased-mission reliability of UAV swarm scientifically.

Whispering gallery mode resonators provide an intriguing platform for precision measurement due to their high responsivity and low detection limit. Here, we propose and demonstrate an optofluidic microbottle resonator (OFMBR) that is utilized to measure droplet gravity-induced mechanical force, realized by establishing a lever model between tapered fiber and OFMBR. The mechanical force can be amplified by adjusting the ratio of the load arm to the effort arm of the lever, which is validated by theoretical simulation. The evolved mechanical force deforms OFMBR morphology and enhances light scattering, resulting in mixed variations in the transmission spectrum, including resonance wavelength, mode linewidth, and signal intensity. Experimentally, the mechanical force is first measured by monitoring resonance wavelength shift, and a responsivity of −56 pm/mN is obtained within the range of 0–0.2 mN. Furthermore, to monitor the mixed variations in the transmission spectrum and obtain the actual mechanical force directly, the optical barcode method is utilized to simultaneously monitor the variations of multimode features. The arbitrary unknown mechanical force is determined by the cross correlation function, and the measurement resolution is about 5 µN. Our scheme provides a thread for characterizing the liquid properties and investigating the dynamics at solid–liquid interfaces.

Mycobacterium abscessus is intrinsically resistant to antibiotics effective against other pathogenic mycobacteria largely due to the drug-induced expression of genes that confer resistance. WhiB7 is a major hub controlling the induction of resistance to ribosome-targeting antibiotics. It activates the expression of >100 genes, 7 of which are known determinants of drug resistance; the function of most genes within the regulon is however unknown, but some conceivably encode additional mechanisms of resistance. Furthermore, the hierarchy of gene expression within the regulon, if any, is poorly understood. In the present work we have identified 56 WhiB7 binding sites using chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (CHIP-Seq) which accounts for the WhiB7-dependent upregulation of 72 genes, and find that M. abscessus WhiB7 functions exclusively as a transcriptional activator at promoters recognized by σA/σB. We have investigated the role of 18 WhiB7 regulated genes in drug resistance. Our results suggest that while some genes within the regulon (eg. erm41, hflX, eis2 and the ABCFs) play a major role in resistance, others make smaller contributions (eg. MAB_4324c and MAB_1409c) and the observed hypersensitivity ΔMabwhiB7 is a cumulative effect of these individual contributions. Moreover, our CHIP-Seq data implicate additional roles of WhiB7 induced genes beyond antibiotic resistance. Finally, we identify a σH-dependent network in aminoglycoside and tigecycline resistance which is induced upon drug exposure and is further activated by WhiB7 demonstrating the existence of a crosstalk between components of the WhiB7-dependent and -independent circuits.

Summary: Hypoxic microenvironment is clinically associated with metastasis and poor prognosis of numerous cancers. The mechanisms by which intratumoral hypoxia regulates metastasis are not fully understood. Our study identifies a downregulation of Lnc-CSMD1-7 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and correlated with poor prognosis of HCC patients. Lnc-CSMD1-7 negatively regulated HCC cell migration and invasion in vitro and suppressed lung metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, Lnc-CSMD1-7 directly binds to RBFOX2, thereby affecting RBFOX2-regulated alternative splicing in epithelial and mesenchymal-specific events. More importantly, hypoxic microenvironment and m6A methylation mediate the downregulation of Lnc-CSMD1-7 expression. Specifically, hypoxia transcriptionally upregulates the expression of the m6A methyltransferase METTL16 via HIF-1α, and METTL16 directly binds to Lnc-CSMD1-7 and downregulates the RNA stability of Lnc-CSMD1-7 via m6A methylation, ultimately promoting HCC metastasis. Our findings highlight the regulatory function of the METTL16/Lnc-CSMD1-7/RBFOX2 axis in modulating hypoxia-induced HCC progression, which may provide potential prognostic and therapeutic targets for HCC treatment.

BackgroundLumbar facet joint cysts (FJCs) are a relatively rare clinical pathology that can result in radiculopathy or neurogenic claudication. Various treatments such as percutaneous aspiration and surgery have been reported to have good clinical outcomes. However, few clinical studies have aimed to treat symptomatic lumbar FJCs by using uniportal full-endoscopic (UFE) surgery. This study aimed to investigate the preliminary clinical outcomes of UFE surgery for the treatment of lumbar FJCs under local anesthesia combined with monitored anesthesia care (MAC).MethodsEight patients (five males and three females) with symptomatic lumbar FJCs who underwent UFE surgery under local and MAC anesthesia were enrolled in this study between January 2018 and April 2022. The clinical characteristics, radiological features, operative information, visual analog scale (VAS) score, Oswestry disability index (ODI), and overall outcome rating based on the modified MacNab criteria were retrospectively analyzed.ResultsOf the eight patients, four underwent a transforaminal approach and four underwent an interlaminar approach. Postoperatively, the mean VAS score for leg pain decreased from 6.1 before surgery to 0.6 after surgery, and the ODI decreased from 74.5% to 14.7%. All patients were followed up for more than 1 year, and the good-to-excellent rate based on the modified MacNab criteria remained 100% at the last follow-up. No complications occurred during the follow-up period.ConclusionLumbar FJCs can cause severe radiating leg pain and/or neurogenic claudication due to the dural sac compression and nerve roots. As an alternative treatment, UFE decompression under local and MAC anesthesia may provide effective clinical outcomes for symptomatic lumbar FJCs.

The current study presents advanced finite element (FE) models that combine the stress weighted damage model and the crack propagation using explicit dynamic approach of commercial FE software ABAQUS. The applicability of the subroutine for ductile fracture prediction and crack propagation modeling of structural steel is confirmed by comparing the results of fracture tests performed on circumferential notch specimens. FE analysis is performed on 17 circular hollow section (CHS) XK-joint models with various sized partial penetration welds to simulate the fracture process of the joint models, and the obtained results are used to analyze the fracture ultimate bearing capacity of the joint weld. The results indicate that the crack first appears on the inner side of the weld at the crown point of the intersecting line of the tensile web member. The findings also demonstrate that the joint weld does not lose the bearing capacity completely after the initial cracking. Instead, the joint weld's bearing capacity increased with the displacement at the early stages of fracture propagation to reach the maximum value prior to gradual decrease in bearing capacity. A design formula of weld bearing capacity suitable for partial penetration weld has been proposed herein to incorporate the effects of uneven distribution of joint weld stress in the considered XK-joints.

AbstractThe aim of this study is to demonstrate a method for improving the solubility and relative bioavailability of artemisinin using a self-emulsifying drug delivery system (SEDDS). The self-emulsifying drug load, solubility, and emulsifying time were used as the evaluation indices, based on a solubility test and a ternary phase diagram. Optimal Mixture Design in Design-Expert software was used to optimize the prescription of the artemisinin SEDDS. By determining the water distribution coefficient in vitro, combined with the drug concentration–time curve in vivo, a comparison was made of the relative oral bioavailability of the artemisinin SEDDS and the crude drug. The optimal prescription ratio of oleic acid polyethylene glycol glyceride, polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil, and diethylene glycol monoethyl ether in the artemisinin SEDDS was 0.5:0.2:0.3 (wt/wt/wt), with a drug loading capacity of 41.556 mg/g, a solubility of 1.997 mg/mL, and a self-emulsification time of 214 s. The optimal prescription was transparent, slightly yellow, and oil-like. The average loading capacity of artemisinin was 41.912 mg/g, the emulsification time was 231 s, the average particle size was 128.0 nm, the average Zeta potential was –4.29 mV, and the solubility of artemisinin SEDDS in water was 1.997 mg mL–1. It is 33.85 times of the solubility of artemisinin in water, which achieves the purpose of increasing the solubility of artemisinin. The comparison of the oil/water distribution coefficient of the artemisinin SEDDS with that of the crude drug in vitro showed that SEDDS could improve the permeability of artemisinin and promote the absorption in vivo, and the relative bioavailability of the SEDDS agent was at least 1.47 times higher than that of the crude drug. The artemisinin SEDDS could significantly improve the solubility and relative bioavailability of artemisinin.

AbstractPurpose Clinically, the management of cystic renal masses is tricky. The study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic microwave ablation-assisted partial nephrectomy (LMAPN) for cystic renal tumors.Methods and materials Between November 2017 and January 2022, LMAPN was performed on 43 patients (29 men and 14 women; age range: 22–80 years; median age 54 years) with Bosniak category III (n = 15) or IV (n = 28) cystic renal tumors (size range: 1.2–5.0 cm; mean size 2.8 cm). The median follow-up period was 26 months (range: 7–56 months). Baseline and perioperative data, pathological features, renal function, postoperative complications and oncologic outcomes were collected and evaluated.Results Forty-three cystic renal tumors were successfully managed by LMAPN. The mean operating time was 79 min (range: 40–130 min). The mean time of renal pedicle clamping was 19 min (range: 12–25 min). Mean intraoperative blood loss was 28.4 mL (range: 10–80 mL). The mean postoperative hospitalization duration was 4 days (range: 2–6 days). Negative surgical margins were diagnosed in all cases. During the follow-up, no patient appeared with distant metastasis, wound or peritoneal cavity implantation. No major but minor complications of Clavien–Dindo grade I were encountered after the operation. The 1-, 3- and 4-year overall survival rate was 100%, 96.6% and 88.5%, respectively.Conclusion This is the first study focusing on LMAPN for cystic renal tumors, demonstrating its favorable feasibility, safety and disease control. Long-term follow-up is necessary to draw conclusions on the preference and advantages of the new therapeutic approach.

In this study, we investigate the delamination properties of high-temperature superconducting REBa2Cu3O7−x (REBCO) coated conductor (CC) tapes and lap joints under transverse tension by a finite element model (FEM) based on the cohesive zone model. The interfacial cohesive strength and the initial penalty stiffness used in the FEM calculations are adopted based on the experimental data obtained from the anvil tensile tests. Compared to previous theoretical studies, our calculation results of the delamination behaviors for the REBCO CC tapes and the lap joints are more approaching to the experimental data, and the abrupt failure behavior of the transverse load–displacement curves, which appears in the anvil tests, is reproduced by the simulations. Moreover, the effects of welding strength between the upper and lower tapes and internal tape damage during the welding process on the delamination characteristics, including the delamination strength, initial separation, delamination locations, and damage distribution of the CC lap joints, are presented.

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to evaluate the association between HER-2 expression and clinicopathological features in patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).MethodsBetween 2019 and 2022, 204 patients treated with Transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TURBT) were included in this study. Data of pathologic T (pT) stage, grades of the tumor, age, sex, tumor size and number of the tumors were collected and compared according to the expression level of the human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER-2). ROC curve analysis was performed to assess the discriminative ability of HER-2 expression for tumors grades and pT stage. Multivariable logistic regression analysis were used to evaluate the association between HER-2 expression and tumor grades and pT stage.ResultsPatients were divided into low grade (110, 53.9%) and high grade groups (94, 46.1%) according to the tumor grade. Pathologic stage consisted of pTa in 166 (81.4%) and pT1 in 38 (18.6%). HER-2 expression was semi quantitatively scored to 0 in 44 (21.6%), 1 in 58 (28.4%), 2 in 91 (44.6%), and 3 in 11 (5.4%) cases. HER-2 expression was significantly associated with tumor stages and histological grades, but not with sex, tumor size or number of tumors. The AUC for combination of HER-2 expression with tumor stages and histological grades was 0.652 (p < 0.003) and 0.727 (p < 0.001), respectively.ConclusionThis study demonstrated that HER-2 expression is associated with tumor stages and histological grades in NMIBC. It has diagnostic value for cystoscopic biopsy.

The standard treatments for epilepsy are drug therapy and surgical resection. However, around 1/3 of patients with intractable epilepsy are drug-resistant, requiring surgical resection of the epileptic focus. To address the issue of drug-resistant epileptic focus localization, we have proposed a transfer learning method on multi-modal EEG (iEEG and sEEG). A 10-fold cross-validation approach was applied to validate the performance of the pre-trained model on the Bern-Barcelona and Bonn datasets, achieving accuracy rates of 94.50 and 97.50%, respectively. The experimental results have demonstrated that the pre-trained model outperforms the competitive state-of-the-art baselines in terms of accuracy, sensitivity, and negative predictive value. Furthermore, we fine-tuned our pre-trained model using the epilepsy dataset from Chongqing Medical University and tested it using the leave-one-out cross-validation method, obtaining an impressive average accuracy of 90.15%. This method shows significant feature differences between epileptic and non-epileptic channels. By extracting data features using neural networks, accurate classification of epileptic and non-epileptic channels can be achieved. Therefore, the superior performance of the model has demonstrated that the proposed method is highly effective for localizing epileptic focus and can aid physicians in clinical localization diagnosis.

Flos Sophorae (FS), or the dried flower buds of Sophora japonica L., is widely used as a food and medicinal material in China. The quality of S. japonica flowers varies with the developmental stages (S1–S5) of the plant. However, the relationship between FS quality and maturity remains unclear. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization-triple quadrupole-linear ion trap mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-Q TRAP-MS/MS) were used to analyze inorganic elements and flavonoid metabolites, respectively. A combined analysis of the inorganic elements and flavonoid metabolites in FS was conducted to determine the patterns of FS quality formation. Sixteen inorganic elements and 173 flavonoid metabolites that accumulated at different developmental stages were identified. Notably, 54 flavonoid metabolites associated with the amelioration of major human diseases were identified, and Ca, P, K, Fe, and Cu were postulated to influence flavonoid metabolism and synthesis. This study offers a novel perspective and foundation for the further exploration of the rules governing the quality of plant materials.

Anlotinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor for the treatment of lung cancer. Pneumothorax is a rare complication of anlotinib treatment. Here, the case of a male patient in his early seventies, with lung cancer combined with emphysema, who developed a pneumothorax during treatment with anlotinib, is described. The patient was admitted to hospital mainly for dyspnoea and was diagnosed with pneumothorax after digital radiography of the chest. The patient's symptoms improved significantly after closed chest drainage, and a repeat chest digital radiography showed a more resolved pneumothorax. The patient had no previous history of pneumothorax. After discontinuation of anlotinib, the latest follow-up chest computed tomography assessment in August 2023 showed no recurrence of pneumothorax, thus, the pneumothorax is presumed to have been associated with anlotinib in this patient. In addition, the authors speculate that emphysema may be a cause of pneumothorax in patients with lung cancer receiving anlotinib treatment. Therefore, clinicians should be alert to the risk of pneumothorax occurrence in patients with emphysema combined with lung cancer who are treated with anlotinib.

Background The Rhizophoraceae family comprises crucial mangrove plants that inhabit intertidal environments. In China, eight Rhizophoraceae mangrove species exist. Although complete chloroplast (Cp) genomes of four Rhizophoraceae mangrove plants have been reported, the Cp genomes of the remaining four species remain unclear, impeding a comprehensive understanding of the evolutionary history of this family. Methods Illumina high-throughput sequencing was employed to obtain the DNA sequences of Rhizophoraceae species. Cp genomes were assembled by NOVOPlasty and annotated using CpGAVAS software. Phylogenetic and divergence time analyses were conducted using MEGA and BEAST 2 software. Results Four novel Cp genomes of Rhizophoraceae mangrove species (Bruguiera sexangula, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Bruguiera × rhynchopetala and Rhizophora apiculata) were successfully assembled. The four Cp genomes ranged in length from 163,310 to 164,560 bp, with gene numbers varying from 124 to 128. The average nucleotide diversity (Pi) value of the eight Rhizophoraceae Cp genomes was 0.00596. Phylogenetic trees constructed based on the complete Cp genomes supported the monophyletic origin of Rhizophoraceae. Divergence time estimation based on the Cp genomes of representative species from Malpighiales showed that the origin of Rhizophoraceae occurred at approximately 58.54–50.02 million years ago (Mya). The divergence time within the genus Rhizophora (∼4.51 Mya) was much earlier than the divergence time within the genus Bruguiera (∼1.41 Mya), suggesting recent speciation processes in these genera. Our data provides new insights into phylogenetic relationship and evolutionary history of Rhizophoraceae mangrove plants.

BackgroundHBV coinfection is frequent in people living with HIV (PLWH) and is the leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). While risk prediction methods for HCC in patients with HBV monoinfection have been proposed, suitable biomarkers for early diagnosis of HCC in PLWH remain uncommon.MethodsLiquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to examine serum protein alterations in HCC and non-HCC patients with HIV and HBV co-infection. Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and Disease Ontology (DO) enrichment analysis were performed on the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). The risk prediction model was created using five-cross-validation and LASSO regression to filter core DEPs.ResultsA total of 124 DEPs were discovered, with 95 proteins up-regulated and 29 proteins down-regulated. Extracellular matrix organization and membrane component were the DEPs that were most abundant in the categories of biological processes (BP) and cellular components (CC). Proteoglycans in cancer were one of the top three DEPs primarily enriched in the KEGG pathway, and 60.0% of DEPs were linked to various neoplasms in terms of DO enrichment. Eleven proteins, including GAPR1, PLTP, CLASP2, IGHV1-69D, IGLV5-45, A2M, VNN1, KLK11, ANPEP, DPP4 and HYI, were chosen as the core DEPs, and a nomogram was created to predict HCC risk.ConclusionIn HIV/HBV patients with HCC, several differential proteins can be detected in plasma by mass spectrometry, which can be used as screening markers for early diagnosis and risk prediction of HCC. Monitoring protease expression differences can help in the diagnosis and prognosis of HCC.

Water conservation is important for maintaining a well-functioning ecosystem. Using the Soil & Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model, we simulated the hydrological cycle and evaluated the spatial and temporal variability of water conservation in the Dongjiang River. Spatial autocorrelation analysis and geographically weighted regression (GWR) were used to investigate the effects of landscape patterns and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) on water conservation. Four hydrological stations with regular rate, validation period deterministic coefficient R2, and efficiency coefficient ENS (Nash–Sutcliffe) met the adaptation requirements, and the model accurately simulated the hydrological process of the Dongjiang River. The interannual variation of water conservation showed a non-significant upward trend (0.12 mm/10a), and the spatial distribution is given as follows: midstream > downstream > upstream. Regression coefficients of NDVI of high, medium, and low-density forest land in the sub-basin with water conservation decreased from the upper to lower reaches. The negative correlation of LPI, CONTAG, and IJI was concentrated in the upper reaches and southeast of the basin, and that of SHDI was concentrated in the middle and lower reaches; the regression coefficients of LPI and PLAND of forest land decreased from middle reaches to north and south, and ED decreased from southwest to northeast. The positive correlation of grassland was concentrated in the watershed’s upper reaches; the regression coefficient of construction land showed an increasingly negative correlation from the lower to upper reaches. This study provides scientific support for promoting the hydrological ecosystem and comprehensive utilization of water resources in the Dongjiang River basin.

In order to protect natural ecosystems, areas that can provide higher ecosystem services are usually designated as ecological priority protection areas. However, some areas with good natural and socio-cultural conditions (called ecological improvement zones in this study, EIZs) that do not provide the highest ecosystem services are often ignored. Therefore, this study attempts to use ecological functional zones as the research unit. And delineating the EIZs by combining multiple critical impact thresholds of ecosystem health (EH) change. Northwestern Hubei Province (NWHB), an important ecological function area in China, was selected as the study area. The results show that (1) the landscape of cultivated land tends to be fragmented, due to being occupied by a large amount of rural–urban land; (2) from 2000 to 2020, the EH in NWHB gradually improved; (3) spatially, the western region of NWHB is dominated by multiple ESs synergetic zone, while the eastern region is a food provision zone; and (4) except for GDP and population density, which are monotonically negatively correlated with EH, all other natural and anthropogenic factors have critical impact thresholds. The critical impact thresholds vary significantly among different ecological functional zones in different periods (e.g., In biodiversity - carbon storage synergetic zone, the threshold of DEM of around less than 1150 m in 2000 decreased to 480 m in 2005 with a clear trend of EH improvement). Meanwhile, from 2000 to 2020, EIZs are mainly distributed in key synergistic bundles in different periods. This study aims to provide services for the planning and management of ecological functional zones.

Tripterygium hypoglaucum (Levl.) Hutch (THH) has long been used as a remedy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in China. However, it is unclear whether the anti-RA mechanism of THH is associated with inflammasome or gut-joint axis. In this study, we aimed to explore the critical role of NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) and bile acid (BA) in the anti-RA mechanism. Complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA)-injected mice were treated with THH extract (250 mg/kg/d) for 35 days, and joint swelling and disease scores were measured. After THH treatment, the joint swelling and RA disease score in CFA-treated mice significantly subsided. The increased ratios of lymphocytes, monocytes, and white blood cells were attenuated by THH treatment. Notably, THH treatment blocked the inflammation in both joints and colons by suppressing the NLRP3-mediated inflammasome, as indicated by NLRP3, interleukin 1beta (IL-1β), and Caspase-1. Meanwhile, THH significantly remodeled the bile acid (BA) profiles in RA mice. Spearman’s analysis shed light on the close link between BAs, NLRP3 inflammasome, and RA indicators. However, THH treatment failed to improve inflammasome activation, snoptivis, and joint swelling in RA mice with gut microbiota depletion. In summary, we revealed the pivotal role of BA-mediated gut-joint axis and inflammasome in THH’s RA amelioration. In the future, more work should be done to explain the in-depth mechanism between altered BAs and inflammasome.

Severe consequences can ensue from the rupture and hemorrhage of a renal artery pseudoaneurysm, necessitating immediate intervention upon detection. To date, no reports exist on the development of renal artery pseudoaneurysms as a result of renal abscesses. This document introduces the first reported case of this occurrence.

Background and aimNutrient production by intestinal microbiota corresponds to regulate appetite while gut microbial composition was influenced by diet ingestion. However, the causal relationship between gut microbial taxa and anorexia nervosa (AN) remains unclear. Mendelian Randomization (MR) is a novel research method that effectively eliminates the interference of confounding factors and allows for the exploration of the direct causal effects between exposure and outcome. This study employs MR to explore the causal effect between AN and specific gut microbiome.MethodsLarge-scale Genome Wide Association Study (GWAS) data of AN and 211 gut microbes were obtained from the IEU open GWAS project and Mibiogen Consortium. Two-sample MR was performed to determine the causal relationship between gut microbiota and AN. Furthermore, a bi-directional MR analysis was to examine the direction of the causal relations. The Bonferroni correction test was used to adjust potential correlations among microbial taxa.ResultIn forward MR analysis, 10specific gut microbial taxa have an impact on the occurrence of AN (the p value of IVW

With noises being omnipresent in the modern society, sound-insulating materials are implemented in almost all walks of life. For implementations in practical applications, those that are air-ventilating and mechanically robust are highly sought-after. Herein, we present a novel concept of using lattice structures as potential ventilated sound-insulating structural materials. Focusing on a superimposed tubular and plate morphology, using a defined geometrical factor, a wide range of elastic properties can be achieved. For the isotropic lattice consisting of three layers at a cell size of 20 mm, experimentally measured, a maximum sound attenuation occurs at 1810 Hz with a high intensity of 32 dB. Past 5000 Hz, another strong attenuation band appears. Being porous, the lattice is highly ventilating with 35% of the airflow retainable. Through numerical simulations, the attenuation mechanisms are found to attribute to local Helmholtz resonance and Bragg scattering, successively. Discretizing the lattice microstructure, we propose a microstructure-based analytical model that can be used to predict and design the transmission properties of lattices. Through these, we thus come up with an overall sound transmissibility and mechanical property map based on geometrical factors. Overall, we show the potential of lattice structures as multifunctional sound-insulating materials.

Objective: To date, it is unclear whether deltamethrin (DLM) intake causes damage to colon tissue. Hence, in this study, we aimed to clarify the effect of long-term exposure to low-dose DLM on colon tissues, and its potential mechanisms. Methods: Mice were treated with DLM (0.2 mg/kg/day) or DLM combined with N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) (50 mg/kg/day) for 8 weeks. Human colon cancer cells (HCT-116) were treated with DLM (0, 25, 50, or 100 µM), NAC (2 mM), or overexpression plasmids targeting peroxiredoxin 1 (PRDX1) for 48 h. DLM was detected using a DLM rapid detection card. Colon injury was evaluated using haematoxylin and eosin staining and transmission electron microscopy. Apoptosis was determined using immunofluorescence staining (IF), western blotting (WB) and flow cytometry (FC) assays. MitoTracker, JC-1, and glutathione (GSH) detection were used to detect mitochondrial oxidative stress. Intestinal flora were identified by 16 S rDNA sequencing. Results: DLM accumulation was detected in the colon tissue and faeces of mice following long-term intragastric administration. Interestingly, our results showed that, even at a low dose, long-term intake of DLM resulted in severe weight loss and decreased the disease activity index scores and colon length. The results of IF, WB, and FC showed that DLM induced apoptosis in the colon tissue and cells. MitoTracker, JC-1, and GSH assays showed that DLM increased mitochondrial stress in colonic epithelial cells. Mechanistic studies have shown that increased mitochondrial stress and apoptosis are mediated by PRDX1 inhibition. Further experiments showed that PRDX1 overexpression significantly reduced DLM-induced oxidative stress injury and apoptosis. In addition, we observed that chronic exposure to DLM altered the composition of the intestinal flora in mice, including an increase in Odoribacter and Bacteroides and a decrease in Lactobacillus. The gut microbial richness decreased after DLM exposure in mice. Supplementation with NAC both in vivo and in vitro alleviated DLM-induced oxidative stress injury, colonic epithelial cell apoptosis, and gut microbial dysbiosis. Conclusion: Chronic exposure to DLM, even at small doses, can cause damage to the colon tissue, which cannot be ignored. The production and use of pesticides such as DLM should be strictly regulated during agricultural production.

The family Lauraceae is characterized by numerous species and is an important element in tropical and subtropical forests in China. Altogether 99 species of the family have been considered as threatened, caused mainly by over exploitation and habitat loss, and 13 were listed in the National Key Protected Wild Plants (NKPWP, vers. 2021). However, the distribution characteristics and conservation status of these threatened species in China have not been established. Here we assemble a new distribution database of Lauraceae species in China, then analyze the geographic pattern of Lauraceae richness and the underlying environmental determinants, and further investigate the conservation status of these species. In total, our database contains 36,479 distribution records of 510 native species (including infraspecific taxa), including 2233 records of the 99 threatened species and 1066 records of the 13 NKPWP species. The results indicate that overall species richness of Lauraceae decreases with latitude, and is positively correlated with aridity index (AI), precipitation of warmest quarter (PWQ) and precipitation of coldest quarter (PCQ) while richness of threatened species is mainly influenced by isothermality (ISN) and temperature seasonality (TSN), slightly increases along ISN but decreases with TSN. Eighty-eight of the 99 endangered species (88.9% of the total) are protected in nature reserves. Eleven of the 13 NKPWP species (84.6% of the total) are distributed in different nature reserves, but two species (Cinnamomum chago and Sinopora hongkongensis) are not included in any nature reserves. The richness of NKPWP is positively correlated with the AI, but slowly decreasing with the increasing of precipitation seasonality (PSN) and PWQ. We found that 413 species (85.9% of the total) are distributed in nature reserves and the protection effectiveness of the family is high, but nine threatened species and two NKPWP species have not been conserved in any nature reserves. We propose taking in situ conservation actions urgently, especially for those species with extremely small populations including Machilus longipes, Cinnamomum chago and Sinopora hongkongensis. We reveal the distribution characteristics and identify conservation gaps of overall, threatened and NKPWP species of Lauraceae in China, and propose targeted strategies for further conservation, which is important for the conservation of Lauraceae in China.

Abstract Scoliosis before the age of 5 years is referred to as early-onset scoliosis (EOS). While causes may vary, EOS can potentially affect respiratory function and lung development as children grow. Moreover, scoliosis can lead to thoracic insufficiency syndrome when aggravated or left untreated. Therefore, spinal thoracic deformities often require intervention in early childhood, and solving these problems requires new methods that include the means for both deformity correction and growth maintenance. Therapeutic strategies for preserving the growing spine and thorax include growth rods, vertically expandable titanium artificial ribs, MAGEC rods, braces and casts. The goals of any growth-promoting surgical strategy are to alter the natural history of cardiorespiratory development, limit the progression of underlying spondylarthrosis deformities and minimize negative changes in spondylothorax biomechanics due to the instrumental action of the implant. This review further elucidates EOS in terms of its aetiology, pathogenesis, pathology and treatment.

Abstract Objective Aberrant epigenetic remodeling represents a molecular hallmark in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). We aim to investigate the biological roles of SETDB2 and its underlying associations with oxidative stress, providing therapeutic targets for individualized treatment of LUAD. Methods Differential analysis was conducted via Limma package, and Kaplan–Meier analysis was performed with survival package. CCK‐8, cell proliferation assay, transwell assay, and in vivo assays were conducted to assess the function of SETDB2. Western blot assay, RT‐qPCR, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were conducted to assess the expression levels of SETDB2/NRF2. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay and ChIP‐qPCR were conducted to assess the epigenetic roles of SETDB2. Results We found that SETDB2 expression is decreased in tumor samples versus normal tissues in TCGA‐LUAD cohort, LUAD‐EAS cohort, GSE72094 dataset, and independent Soochow‐LUAD dataset. Patients with low SETDB2 levels had a worse prognosis relative to those with high SETDB2. SETDB2 inhibition could significantly promote cell growth, migration ability, and stemness maintenance. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) suggested that SETDB2 correlated with oxidative stress crosstalk and regulated NRF2 mRNA levels. ChIP assay suggested that SETDB2 mainly recruited the H3K9me3 enrichment at the NRF2 promoter region to suppress the mRNA levels of NRF2. Downregulated SETDB2 could activate NRF2 transcription and expression, thereby promoting its downstream targets, like NQO1, FTH1, and ME1. Functional experiments demonstrated that low SETDB2 allowed NRF2 to drive malignant processes of LUAD. SETDB2 overexpression attenuated the ability of NRF2 signaling to neutralize cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, leading to enhanced cell apoptosis. Overexpressed SETDB2 could inhibit tumor progression in vivo and further render LUAD cells sensitive to chemotherapy. Conclusions In conclusion, these findings uncovered the suppressive role of SETDB2 in LUAD. SETDB2 negatively regulates NRF2 signaling to modulate tumor progression, which creates a therapeutic vulnerability in LUAD.

The nomenclature of Cephalotaxus lanceolata is controversial. After a thorough literature investigation, the nomenclatural problems have been resolved. This name was published in W. C. Cheng et al. (1975) and, although ascribed to “K. M. Feng”, there is no suggestion that the descriptive material in the protologue was provided by K. M. Feng. Under Art. 46.5 of the ICN, this name should be attributed to K. M. Feng ex W. C. Cheng et al. but not to K. M. Feng alone. It has been claimed that the name is an illegitimate later homonym of one published by Beissner in 1901, but Beissner never accepted this name in any of his publications and so, under Art. 36.1, he did not validly publish an earlier homonym. Cephalotaxus lanceolatus was first validly published in W. C. Cheng et al. (1975).

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the characteristics and prognosis of distant metastasis (DM) after primary treatment for early‐stage extranodal nasal‐type natural killer (NK)/T‐cell lymphoma (ENKTCL). A total of 1619 patients from the China Lymphoma Collaborative Group database were retrospectively reviewed. The cumulative incidence of DM was assessed using Fine and Gray's competing risk analysis. The correlation between DM sites was evaluated using phi coefficients, while DM sites were classified using hierarchical clustering. Regression analysis was used to assess the linear correlation between DM‐free survival (DMFS) and overall survival (OS). The 5‐year cumulative DM rate was 26.2%, with the highest annual hazard rate being in the first year (14.9%). The most frequent DM sites were the skin and soft tissues (SSTs, 32.4%) and distant lymph nodes (LNs, 31.3%). DM sites were categorized into four subgroups of distinct prognosis — distant LN, SST, extracutaneous site, and lymphoma‐associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. SST or distant LN, solitary metastasis, and late‐onset DM demonstrated a relatively favorable prognosis. Contemporary chemotherapy significantly decreased DM rates and improved DMFS. Decreased DM rates were further associated with increased OS probabilities. Our findings improve the understanding of the variable clinical behaviors of early‐stage ENKTCL based on four distinct DM sites and thus provide guidance for future therapeutic decisions, metastatic surveillance, and translational trial design.

Abstract Background and aim Eating Disorders (ED) result in impaired well-being, but there exist an insufficient number of studies that have focused on the influence of sex and sexual orientation disparities within ED behaviors. Thus, we aimed to investigate ED behaviors among male and female adolescents with different sexual orientations in a school sample to understand prevalence and correlates of different ED behaviors. Method Data was analysed from 11,440 Chinese school adolescents with a mean age of 14.74 years (SD = 1.46). Reported data was gathered on sociodemographic information including sexual orientation, ED behaviors, health factors (reported health, cognitive function), mental health factors (depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, non-suicidal self-injurious behavior), and social functioning (school bully victimization, and school bully perpetration). Logistic regression models were used to estimate the associations with ED behaviors, using the heterosexual orientation as the reference group as they are the majority. Results Compared to female adolescents, male adolescents reported lower anxiety symptoms (t = − 12.39, p

Surface wear is a major hindrance in the solid/solid interface of triboelectric nanogenerators, severely affecting output performance and stability. Here, authors show metallic glass as one triboelectric interface can enhance the triboelectrification efficiency and endow the device with humidity- and wear-resistance.

A photocatalyst for CO2 reduction to C3H8 is prepared by implanting Cu single atoms on vacancy rich TiO2 single layers. Key reaction intermediates, *CHOCO and *CH2OCOCO, are stabilized on the catalyst which promotes C-C bond formation.

Abstract Background Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone tumor in adolescents and children and prone to develop lung metastasis. Its prognosis has been virtually unimproved over the last few decades, especially in patients with metastases, who suffer from a dismal survival. Recently, increasing attention has been devoted to monocarboxylate transporters-related (MCTs) metabolic reprogramming. However, the role of MCT1 and MCT4 in osteosarcoma progression and the underlying mechanisms remain to be further elucidated. Methods In this study, we established MCT1 and/or MCT4 knockout cell lines by CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology. Then, we assessed glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation capacities by measuring lactate flux and oxygen consumption. We also performed flowcytometry to test circulating tumor cells and PET/CT to evaluate glucose uptake. Results MCT1 was found to be involved in both glycolysis and oxidative respiration due to its ability to transport lactate in both directions. MCT1 inhibition significantly reduced circulating tumor cells and distant metastases partially by increasing oxidative stress. MCT4 was primarily related to glycolysis and responsible for lactate export when the concentration of extracellular lactate was high. MCT4 inhibition dramatically suppressed cell proliferation in vitro and impaired tumor growth with reduction of glucose uptake in vivo. Conclusions Our results demonstrate the functional heterogeneity and redundancy of MCT1 and MCT4 in glucose metabolism and tumor progression in osteosarcoma. Thus, combined inhibition of MCT1 and MCT4 may be a promising therapeutic strategy for treating tumors expressing both transporters.

Abstract Background Osteosarcoma is the most common malignant tumor in bone and its prognosis has reached a plateau in the past few decades. Recently, metabolic reprogramming has attracted increasing attention in the field of cancer research. In our previous study, P2RX7 has been identified as an oncogene in osteosarcoma. However, whether and how P2RX7 promotes osteosarcoma growth and metastasis through metabolic reprogramming remains unexplored. Methods We used CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology to establish P2RX7 knockout cell lines. Transcriptomics and metabolomics were performed to explore metabolic reprogramming in osteosarcoma. RT-PCR, western blot and immunofluorescence analyses were used to determine gene expression related to glucose metabolism. Cell cycle and apoptosis were examined by flowcytometry. The capacity of glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation were assessed by seahorse experiments. PET/CT was carried out to assess glucose uptake in vivo. Results We demonstrated that P2RX7 significantly promotes glucose metabolism in osteosarcoma via upregulating the expression of genes related to glucose metabolism. Inhibition of glucose metabolism largely abolishes the ability of P2RX7 to promote osteosarcoma progression. Mechanistically, P2RX7 enhances c-Myc stabilization by facilitating nuclear retention and reducing ubiquitination-dependent degradation. Furthermore, P2RX7 promotes osteosarcoma growth and metastasis through metabolic reprogramming in a predominantly c-Myc-dependent manner. Conclusions P2RX7 plays a key role in metabolic reprogramming and osteosarcoma progression via increasing c-Myc stability. These findings provide new evidence that P2RX7 might be a potential diagnostic and/or therapeutic target for osteosarcoma. Novel therapeutic strategies targeting metabolic reprogramming appear to hold promise for a breakthrough in the treatment of osteosarcoma.

Abstract Background Many observational epidemiology studies discovered that kidney cancer and impaired kidney function have a bidirectional relationship. However, it remains unclear whether these two kinds of traits are causally linked. In this study, we aimed to investigate the bidirectional causal relation between kidney cancer and kidney function biomarkers (creatinine‐based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFRcrea), cystatin C‐based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFRcys), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum urate, and urinary albumin‐to‐creatinine ratio (UACR)). Methods For both directions, single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), as genetic instruments, for the five kidney function traits were selected from up to 1,004,040 individuals, and SNPs for kidney cancer were from 408,786 participants(1338 cases). In the main analysis, we applied two state‐of‐the‐art MR methods, namely, contamination mixture and Robust Adjusted Profile Score to downweight the effect of weak instrument bias, pleiotropy, and extreme outliers. We additionally conducted traditional MR analyses as sensitivity analyses. Summary‐level data of European ancestry were extracted from UK Biobank, Chronic Kidney Disease Genetics Consortium, and Kaiser Permanente. Results Based on 99 SNPs, we found that the eGFRcrea had a significant negative causal effect on the risk of kidney cancer (OR = 0.007, 95% CI:2.6 × 10−4–0.569, p = 0.041). After adjusting for body composition or diabetes, urate had a significant negative causal effect on kidney cancer (OR

Abstract Background Overall survival (OS) is the gold standard to assess novel therapeutics to treat cancer. However, to identify early efficacy and speed up drug approval, trials have used progression-free survival (PFS) as a surrogate endpoint (SE). Herein, we aimed to examine if PFS could function as an OS surrogate in advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC) treated with first-line immunochemotherapy. Methods Two hundred ninety-two advanced ESCC patients treated using inhibitors of PD-1/PD-L1 + chemotherapy or chemotherapy alone were collected. In addition, six phase III randomized clinical trials were eligible for inclusion. Bayesian normal-induced-copula-estimation model in retrospective patient data and regression analysis in the published trial data were used to determine the PFS-OS correlation. Results PFS correlated moderately with OS in the retrospective cohort (Kendall’s Tau = 0.684, τ = 0.436). In trial-level, treatments effects for PFS correlated weakly with those for OS in intention-to-treat population (R2 = 0.436, adj.R2 = 0.249, P > 0.05) and in PD-L1-enriched population (R2 = 0.072). In arm-level, median PFS also correlated weakly with median OS. Moreover, analysis of the retrospective cohort demonstrated that the annual death risk after progression in the continued immunotherapy group was considerably lower than that in the discontinued group. Conclusion In trials of anti-PD-1 agents to treat advanced ESCC, the current results provide only weak support for PFS as an OS surrogate; OS cannot be substituted completely by PFS in these cases. The results also suggest that qualified patients with advanced ESCC might benefit from continuous immunotherapy beyond progression to achieve a decreased risk of death.

Abstract Since its discovery as a third unique gaseous signal molecule, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been extensively employed to resist stress and control pathogens. Nevertheless, whether H2S can prevent tobacco bacterial wilt is unknown yet. We evaluated the impacts of the H2S donor sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) on the antibacterial activity, morphology, biofilm, and transcriptome of R. solanacearum to understand the effect and mechanism of NaHS on tobacco bacterial wilt. In vitro, NaHS significantly inhibited the growth of Ralstonia solanacearum and obviously altered its cell morphology. Additionally, NaHS significantly inhibited the biofilm formation and swarming motility of R. solanacearum, and reduced the population of R. solanacearum invading tobacco roots. In field experiments, the application of NaHS dramatically decreased the disease incidence and index of tobacco bacterial wilt, with a control efficiency of up to 89.49%. The application of NaHS also influenced the diversity and structure of the soil microbial community. Furthermore, NaHS markedly increased the relative abundances of beneficial microorganisms, which helps prevent tobacco bacterial wilt. These findings highlight NaHS's potential and efficacy as a powerful antibacterial agent for preventing tobacco bacterial wilt caused by R. solanacearum.

American lotus (Nelumbo lutea) is one of the two species in Nelumbo and has only yellow flower. Identification of total flavonoids showed wild American lotus contained almost only flavonols with quercetin 3-O-glucuronide to be the dominant pigment. The variation tendency of the total flavonol content was coincident with yellow color variation of petals during flower development. To understand the mechanism of accumulation and constituent of pigments in petals, three pivotal genes, NlFLS1, NlFLS2 and NlFLS3, which were predicted to encode flavonol synthases were isolated and characterized by analyses of basic bioinformatics, temporal and spatial expression patterns and enzymatic activity. Their temporal expression levels showed the same variation tendency, which was also consistent with the development-dependent variation of total flavonol content. Spatial expression patterns indicated the three genes should function in petals. All the three proteins were demonstrated to be bifunctional dioxygenase, possessing both flavonol synthase activity and flavanone 3-hydroxylase activity. Besides, other flavonol biosynthesis related genes were also investigated on their expression levels to give more clues on the mechanism. Substrate preferences of the three FLSs, substrate competitions between the FLSs and other flavonol biosynthesis related enzymes, and the greatly differential expression levels between F3’H (flavonoid 3′-hydroxylase) and F3’5’H (flavonoid 3′,5′-hydroxylase) contributed to the flavonol constituent in the petals of America lotus, namely abundant quercetin-derivatives while very few kaempferol-derivatives and myricetin-derivatives.

Objectives Arthroscopic excision of dorsal wrist ganglion (DWG) cysts has recently become an alternative to open surgery, with the advantage of lower recurrence. However, in recurrent cases, whether re‐excision using an arthroscopic approach would achieve favorable outcomes has not been determined. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of function evaluation and recurrence rate after arthroscopic excision of recurrent DWG cysts. Methods A total of 11 consecutive patients with clinically diagnosed recurrent DWG cysts were retrospectively reviewed between November 2017 and March 2020. Extensive re‐excision of the ganglion cyst and its surrounding pathological capsule was performed using an arthroscopic approach. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was routinely performed before surgery to identify the location and limits of the cyst. All patients were followed up for a minimum of 2 years. A second recurrence was recorded if a mass reappeared at the same site with a positive transillumination test. Pain during activity was evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS). The active range of motion (ROM) of the wrist was measured using a goniometer, and the hand grip strength was measured using a digital dynamometer. Comparative analysis between the pre‐ and postoperative indexes was performed using Student's t‐test. Results After a mean follow‐up period of 29.3 months (range, 24–34 months), no second recurrence of the cyst was recorded. The VAS score improved from 1.4 to 0.3 (t = 3.833, p = 0.003), and residual pain was reported by three patients (VAS score = 1 for each). Active wrist flexion increased from 73.6° to 78.2° (t = 2.887, p = 0.016). No significant changes were found in active wrist extension or hand grip strength (p > 0.05). No major complications occurred during the study. Conclusion Arthroscopic excision of a recurrent DWG cyst yielded satisfactory results with no second recurrence, significant pain relief, and good wrist function at a minimum of 2‐year follow‐up. Clear identification of the location and limits of the ganglion based on preoperative MRI could be helpful to achieve complete excision and therefore prevent a second recurrence.

Abstract Meplazumab, a humanized CD147 antibody, has shown favourable safety and efficacy in our previous clinical studies. In DEFLECT (NCT04586153), 167 patients with severe COVID-19 were enroled and randomized to receive three dosages of meplazumab and a placebo. Meplazumab at 0.12 mg/kg, compared to the placebo group, showed clinical benefits in significantly reducing mortality by 83.6% (2.4% vs. 14.6%, p = 0.0150), increasing the proportion of patients alive and discharged without supplemental oxygen (82.9% vs. 70.7%, p = 0.0337) and increasing the proportion of patients who achieved sustained clinical improvement (41.5% vs. 31.7%). The response rate in the 0.2 mg/kg group was relatively increased by 16.0% compared with the placebo group (53.7% vs. 46.3%). Meplazumab also reduced the viral loads and multiple cytokine levels. Compare with the placebo group, the 0.3 mg/kg significantly increased the virus negative rate by 40.6% (p = 0.0363) and reduced IL-8 level (p = 0.0460); the 0.2 mg/kg increased the negative conversion rate by 36.9%, and reduced IL-4 (p = 0.0365) and IL-8 levels (p = 0.0484). In this study, the adverse events occurred at a comparable rate across the four groups, with no unexpected safety findings observed. In conclusion, meplazumab promoted COVID-19 convalescence and reduced mortality, viral load, and cytokine levels in severe COVID-19 population with good safety profile.

Abstract Background Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) detection following curative-intent surgery could directly reflect the presence of minimal residual disease, the ultimate cause of clinical recurrence. However, ctDNA is not postoperatively detected in ≥ 50% of patients with stage I-III colorectal cancer (CRC) who ultimately recur. Herein we sought to improve recurrence risk prediction by combining ctDNA with clinicopathological risk factors in stage I-III CRC. Methods Two independent cohorts, both consisting of early-stage CRC patients who underwent curative surgery, were included: (i) the discovery cohort (N = 124) with tumor tissues and postoperative plasmas for ctDNA determination; and (ii) the external validation cohort (N = 125) with available ctDNA results. In the discovery cohort, somatic variations in tumor tissues and plasmas were determined via a 733-gene and 127-gene next-generation sequencing panel, respectively. Results In the discovery cohort, 17 of 108 (15.7%) patients had detectable ctDNA. ctDNA-positive patients had a significantly high recurrence rate (76.5% vs. 16.5%, P

Abstract Abscisic acid (ABA) is a plant hormone that plays an important role in cotton fiber development. In this study, the physiological changes and proteomic profiles of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) ovules were analyzed after 20 days of ABA or ABA inhibitor (ABAI) treatment. The results showed that compared to the control (CK), the fiber length was significantly decreased under ABA treatment and increased under ABAI treatment. Using a tandem mass tags-based quantitative technique, the proteomes of cotton ovules were comprehensively analyzed. A total of 7321 proteins were identified, of which 365 and 69 differentially accumulated proteins (DAPs) were identified in ABA versus CK and ABAI versus CK, respectively. Specifically, 345 and 20 DAPs were up- and down-regulated in the ABA group, and 65 and 4 DAPs were up- and down-regulated in the ABAI group, respectively. The DAPs in the ABA group were mainly enriched in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and flavonoid secondary metabolism, whereas the DAPs in the ABAI group were mainly enriched in the indole alkaloid biosynthesis and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways. Moreover, 9 proteins involved in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis were upregulated after ABA treatment, suggesting that this pathway might play important roles in the response to ABA, and 3 auxin-related proteins were upregulated, indicating that auxin might participate in the regulation of fiber development under ABAI treatment.

Abstract Background Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performs well in the locoregional assessment of extranodal nasal-type NK/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTCL). It’s important to assess the value of multi-modal MRI-based radiomics for estimating overall survival (OS) in patients with ENKTCL. Methods Patients with ENKTCL in a prospectively cohort were systemically reviewed and all the pretreatment MRI were acquisitioned. An unsupervised spectral clustering method was used to identify risk groups of patients and radiomic features. A nomogram-revised risk index (NRI) plus MRI radiomics signature (NRI-M) was developed, and compared with the NRI. Results The 2 distinct type I and II groups of the MRI radiomics signatures were identified. The 5-year OS rates between the type I and type II groups were 87.2% versus 67.3% (P = 0.002) in all patients, and 88.8% versus 69.2% (P = 0.003) in early-stage patients. The discrimination and calibration of the NRI-M for OS prediction demonstrated a better performance than that of either MRI radiomics or NRI, with a mean area under curve (AUC) of 0.748 and 0.717 for predicting the 5-year OS in all-stages and early-stage patients. Conclusions The NRI-M model has good performance for predicting the prognosis of ENKTCL and may help design clinical trials and improve clinical decision making.

Abstract The design of bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) via machine learning (ML) has been a topic of active research recently. However, the prior ML models were mostly built upon supervised learning algorithms with human inputs to navigate the high dimensional compositional space, which becomes inefficient with the increasing compositional complexity in BMGs. Here, we develop a generative deep-learning framework to directly generate compositionally complex BMGs, such as high entropy BMGs. Our framework is built on the unsupervised Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) algorithm for data generation and the supervised Boosted Trees algorithm for data evaluation. We studied systematically the confounding effect of various data descriptors and the literature data on the effectiveness of our framework both numerically and experimentally. Most importantly, we demonstrate that our generative deep learning framework is capable of producing composition-property mappings, therefore paving the way for the inverse design of BMGs.

All-solid-state lithium batteries performance is affected by the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and electrically disconnected (“dead”) Li metal. Here, via operando NMR measurements, the authors quantify the Li metal in the SEI and “dead” regions using various inorganic solid-state electrolytes.

Abstract Chemical-disordered materials have a wide range of applications whereas the determination of their structures or configurations is one of the most important and challenging problems. Traditional methods are extremely inefficient or intractable for large systems due to the notorious exponential-wall issue that the number of possible structures increase exponentially for N-body systems. Herein, we introduce an efficient approach to predict the thermodynamically stable structures of chemical-disordered materials via active-learning accompanied by first-principles calculations. Our method, named LAsou, can efficiently compress the sampling space and dramatically reduce the computational cost. Three distinct and typical finite-size systems are investigated, including the anion-disordered BaSc(OxF1−x)3 (x = 0.667), the cation-disordered Ca1−xMnxCO3 (x = 0.25) with larger size and the defect-disordered ε-FeCx (x = 0.5) with larger space. The commonly used enumeration method requires to explicitly calculate 2664, 1033, and 10496 configurations, respectively, while the LAsou method just needs to explicitly calculate about 15, 20, and 10 configurations, respectively. Besides the finite-size system, our LAsou method is ready for quasi-infinite size systems empowering materials design.

The formation of electrochemically inactive, or “dead”, lithium limits the reversibility of lithium metal batteries. Here the authors elucidate the (electro)chemical roles of ethylene gas produced from electrolyte decomposition on the formation of inactive lithium.

The purpose of pansharpening is to fuse a multispectral (MS) image with a panchromatic (PAN) image to generate a high spatial-resolution multispectral (HRMS) image. However, the traditional pansharpening methods do not adequately take consideration of the information of MS images, resulting in inaccurate detail injection and spectral distortion in the pansharpened results. To solve this problem, a new pansharpening approach based on adaptive high-frequency fusion and injection coefficients optimization is proposed, which can obtain an accurate injected high-frequency component (HFC) and injection coefficients. First, we propose a multi-level sharpening model to enhance the spatial information of the MS image, and then extract the HFCs from the sharpened MS image and PAN image. Next, an adaptive fusion strategy is designed to obtain the accurate injected HFC by calculating the similarity and difference of the extracted HFCs. Regarding the injection coefficients, we propose injection coefficients optimization scheme based on the spatial and spectral relationship between the MS image and PAN image. Finally, the HRMS image is obtained through injecting the fused HFC into the upsampled MS image with the injection coefficients. Experiments with simulated and real data are performed on IKONOS and Pléiades datasets. Both subjective and objective results indicate that our method has better performance than state-of-the-art pansharpening approaches.

Abstract Background To determine the volume and applicability of local autogenous morselized bone (LAMB) harvested and used during posterior-transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (P-TLIF) in the lower lumbar spine. Methods Clinical and radiographic data of 147 patients (87 males) undergoing P-TLIF from January 2017 to December 2019 for lumbar degenerative diseases were retrospectively analyzed. Computed tomography was used to assess the fusion status (at 6 months, 1 year, and the last follow-up postoperatively), restored disc height, graft fusion area and volume, and the minimum required bone volume (MRBV). Clinical outcomes of P-TLIF were assessed using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and visual analog scale (VAS) for low back pain (LBP) and leg pain (LP). Results The mean follow-up period was 28.4 ± 4.49 months. The patient’s age and diagnosis were correlated to the volume and weight of LAMB (mean volume and weight: 3.50 ± 0.45 mL and 3.88 ± 0.47 g, respectively). The ratio of actual fusion area to the total disc endplate and the ratio of actual fusion volume to the total volume of the disc space were > 40%. MRBV ranged from 1.83 ± 0.48 cm3 to 2.97 ± 0.68 cm3. The proportion of grade 4 or 5 fusions increased from 60.6% at 6 months to 96.6% at the last follow-up. The ODI, VAS-LP, and VAS-LBP scores significantly improved after surgery and remained unchanged during the follow-up. Conclusion When combined with a cage, the volume of LAMB harvested from decompression through the unilateral approach at a single-level is sufficient to achieve a solid interbody fusion in the lower lumbar spine with excellent clinical and radiographic outcomes.

ABSTRACTHere, a series of polyurethane porous hydrogels (PUF-s) loaded with different sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) were successfully prepared by one-step foaming method. The physio-chemical properties and morphologies were characterized. The effects of CMC content, adsorbent dosage, temperature, pH value and other factors on the adsorption of methylene blue (MB) dye in water by CMC-PUF-s were also investigated through static adsorption experiments. The results showed that CMC-PUF-10 had excellent adsorption performance for MB solution with removal rate of 81.47%, and the maximum adsorption capacity was 27.5 mg/g. In addition, the study of adsorption kinetics and adsorption isotherms showed that the adsorption of MB by CMC-PUF was more consistent with Langmuir isotherm adsorption model and pseudo second-order kinetic model. The adsorption thermodynamics study suggested that the adsorption process of MB by CMC-PUF-10 was spontaneous and exothermic at room temperature. The results of cyclic adsorption experiment demonstrated that the removal rate of MB reached above 70% after five cycles, indicating the foams with excellent recyclability. Finally, a low-cost, environmentally friendly and recyclable MB adsorbent was synthesized in this study. As polyurethane foam was synthesized by one-step foaming method, this adsorbent can be prepared on site in practical application and reduce the transportation cost.

As we all know, waste pollution is one of the most serious environmental issues in the world. Efficient detection of solid waste (SW) in aerial images can improve subsequent waste classification and automatic sorting on the ground. However, traditional methods have some problems, such as poor generalization and limited detection performance. This article presents an anchor-based object detector for solid waste in aerial images (SWDet). Specifically, we construct asymmetric deep aggregation (ADA) network with structurally reparameterized asymmetric blocks to extract waste features with inconspicuous appearance. Besides, considering the waste with blurred boundaries caused by the resolution of aerial images, this article constructs efficient attention fusion pyramid network (EAFPN) to obtain contextual information and multiscale geospatial information via attention fusion. And the model can capture the scattering features of irregular shape waste. In addition, we construct the dataset for solid waste aerial detection (SWAD) by collecting aerial images of SW in Henan Province, China, to validate the effectiveness of our method. Experimental results show that SWDet outperforms most of existing methods for SW detection in aerial images.