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Semi-supervised video object segmentation is a task of propagating instance masks given in the first frame to the entire video. It is a challenging task since it usually suffers from heavy occlusions, large deformation, and large variations of objects. To alleviate these problems, many existing works apply time-consuming techniques such as fine-tuning, post-processing, or extracting optical flow, which makes them intractable for online segmentation. In our work, we focus on online semi-supervised video object segmentation. We propose a GCSeg (Guided Co-Segmentation) Network which is mainly composed of a Reference Module and a Co-segmentation Module, to simultaneously incorporate the short-term, middle-term, and long-term temporal inter-frame relationships. Moreover, we propose an Adaptive Search Strategy to reduce the risk of propagating inaccurate segmentation results in subsequent frames. Our GCSeg network achieves state-of-the-art performance on online semi-supervised video object segmentation on Davis 2016 and Davis 2017 datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI) is an index which indicates arterial stiffness. This work aims to explore the mathematical relationship between AASI and mean value of PP (P P ‾), and reveal the importance of P P ‾ during AASI estimating. Meanwhile, a well-performing AASI estimation model is presented. Methods: To evaluate AASI, electrocardiograph (ECG) signal, photoplethysmogram (PPG) signal and arterial blood pressure (ABP) are used as the source of AASI estimation. Features are extracted from the above three signals. Meanwhile, fitting curve analysis and regression models are implemented to describe the relationship between AASI and P P ‾. Results: Among three fitting curves on AASI and P P ‾ , cubic polynomial curve performs best. The introduction of feature P P ‾ in AASI estimation reduced LR's MAE from 0.0556 to 0.0372, SVMR's MAE from 0.0413 to 0.0343 and RFR's MAE from 0.0386 to 0.0256. All three estimation models obtain considerable improvement, especially on the previous worst-performing linear regression. Significance: This work presents the mathematical association between AASI and P P ‾. AASI estimation using regression models can be significantly improved by involving P P ‾ as its key feature, which is not only meaningful for exploring the connection between vascular elasticity function and pulse pressure, but also hold importance for the diagnosis of cardiovascular arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis at the early stage. • Mathematical relation between AASI and P P ‾. • The fitting formula of AASI and P P ‾. • Results indicate enhanced AASI estimation with P P ‾ in regression methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated aging-related changes in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d) in the spinal cord of aged dogs. At all levels of the spinal cord examined, NADPH-d activities were observed in neurons and fibers in the superficial dorsal horn (DH), dorsal gray commissure (DGC) and around the central canal (CC). A significant number of NADPH-d positive macro-diameter fibers, termed megaloneurites, were discovered in the sacral spinal cord (S1–S3) segments of aged dogs. The distribution of megaloneurites was characterized from the dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) into the superficial dorsal horn, along the lateral collateral pathway (LCP) to the region of sacral parasympathetic nucleus (SPN), DGC and around the CC, but not in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar segments. Double staining of NADPH-d histochemistry and immunofluorescence showed that NADPH-d positive megaloneurites co-localized with vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) immunoreactivity. We believed that megaloneurites may in part represent visceral afferent projections to the SPN and/or DGC. The NADPH-d megaloneurites in the aged sacral spinal cord indicated some anomalous changes in the neurites, which might account for a disturbance in the aging pathway of the autonomic and sensory nerve in the pelvic visceral organs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated aging-related changes in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d) in the spinal cord of aged dogs. At all levels of the spinal cord examined, NADPH-d activities were observed in neurons and fibers in the superficial dorsal horn (DH), dorsal gray commissure (DGC) and around the central canal (CC). A significant number of NADPH-d positive macro-diameter fibers, termed megaloneurites, were discovered in the sacral spinal cord (S1–S3) segments of aged dogs. The distribution of megaloneurites was characterized from the dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) into the superficial dorsal horn, along the lateral collateral pathway (LCP) to the region of sacral parasympathetic nucleus (SPN), DGC and around the CC, but not in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar segments. Double staining of NADPH-d histochemistry and immunofluorescence showed that NADPH-d positive megaloneurites co-localized with vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) immunoreactivity. We believed that megaloneurites may in part represent visceral afferent projections to the SPN and/or DGC. The NADPH-d megaloneurites in the aged sacral spinal cord indicated some anomalous changes in the neurites, which might account for a disturbance in the aging pathway of the autonomic and sensory nerve in the pelvic visceral organs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has led to an increasing trend in the intensity of global extreme weather events, including chilling. Breeding cultivars with high cold tolerance could be an important pathway to mitigate the negative effects of climate change. For rice, few studies have been focusing on the responses of different cold‐tolerance cultivars on chilling stress. In this study, we selected four japonica rice cultivars and conducted a chilling treatment experiment (with three chilling temperatures and three chilling durations) at the booting and flowering stages in 2020 and 2021 in Northeast China. The results showed that chilling treatment at the booting stage affected the biomass allocation and yield traits more than the chilling treatment at the flowering stage did. Overall, the chilling treatment affected the cold‐sensitive cultivars more than the cold‐tolerant cultivars. Among all the study yield traits, chilling treatment affected spikelet fertility the most, followed by the number of grains per panicle. For every 10°C day increase in CDD at the booting (flowering) stage, the grain yield per plant and spikelet fertility decreased by 4.8–12.8% and 3.6–10.8% (2.1–5.3% and 2.2–4.9%), respectively. Even with the intense chilling treatment, the cold‐tolerant cultivars had relatively high number of effective spikes per plant, grain weight, and stable spikelet fertility, hence they maintained relatively high grain yield. Therefore, it is important to factor in the cold tolerance of the cultivars when assessing the chilling effects on biomass allocation and yield traits for rice. In order to combat the negative effects of extremely low temperature at the reproductive stage on rice grain yield, the future breeding technology could focus on improving the spikelet fertility, grain filling size, and number of spikes per plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective We aimed to explore the discrepancies in clinical features and outcomes between damp-heat stasis jaundice syndrome and qi-deficiency stasis jaundice syndrome in patients with hepatitis B virus-associated acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF). Methods We performed an analysis including 111 HBV-ACLF patients recruited from December 2017 to December 2021 in the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital. According to traditional Chinese medicine syndromes, these patients were divided into the dampness-heat stasis jaundice syndrome group (n = 90) and the qi- deficiency stasis jaundice syndrome group (n = 21). All patients adopt the standard internal medicine treatment plan. Baseline data, laboratory indicators, complications, and disease scores, including the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD), MELD-Na, and Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure (ACLF) Research Consortium (AARC) scores, were recorded. All patients were followed up to 90 days after enrollment. We compared the baseline demographic characteristics, 90 d mortality, and complications of HBV-ACLF patients with different syndromes. The confounding factors were adjusted through Cox analysis to evaluate the impact of dampness-heat stasis jaundice syndrome and qi-deficiency stasis jaundice syndrome on the prognosis and the development of complications. Results There were differences in age, clinical indicators, and outcomes between HBV-ACLF patients with dampness-heat stasis jaundice syndrome group and the qi-deficiency stasis jaundice syndrome group. The patients with qi-deficiency stasis jaundice syndrome group had higher MELD scores, MELD-Na scores, and AARC scores. Compared to patients with dampness-heat stasis jaundice syndrome group, patients with qi- deficiency stasis jaundice syndrome group were older, had worse liver synthesis and reserve function of the liver, and had a milder inflammatory response, and the proportion of patients with cirrhosis was higher (P<0. 05). Patients with qi-deficiency stasis jaundice syndrome group had a higher cumulative mortality rate within 90 days than patients with dampness-heat stasis jaundice syndrome group (P = 0. 013). Qi-deficiency stasis jaundice syndrome was dependently associated with a higher mortality risk than dampness-heat stasis jaundice syndrome (HR = 1.57, P = 0. 014). Multivariate analysis showed that older age (HR = 1. 06, P = 0. 006), elevated total bilirubin levels (HR =1.11, P = 0. 003), hyponatremia (HR = 1. 86, P = 0. 004), renal dysfunction (HR = 3. 27, P = 0. 027), and a basis of cirrhosis (HR = 2. 12, P = 0.024) were risk factors for 90-day mortality, and elevated prothrombin activity (HR = 0.94, P = 0.007) was a protective factor for 90-day mortality in HBV-ACLF patients. Additionally, patients with qi-deficiency stasis jaundice syndrome group had higher rates of new-onset spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, hepatic encephalopathy, and renal insufficiency than those with dampness-heat stasis jaundice syndrome group within 90 days (P < 0.05). Conclusion Our study suggested that qi-deficiency stasis jaundice syndrome is more serious than damp-heat stasis jaundice syndrome. Our multivariate analysis indicated that patients with qi-deficiency stasis jaundice syndrome had higher rates of mortality, new-onset spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, hepatic encephalopathy, and kidney dysfunction than patients with damp-heat stasis jaundice syndrome. This study preliminarily demonstrated that dampness-heat stasis jaundice syndrome and qi-deficiency stasis jaundice syndrome may hold significant value for disease conditions and prognosis prediction for HBV-ACLF patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease worldwide and the strongest predictor of mortality in patients with diabetes. Despite its significance, the pathological mechanism underlying the onset and progression of DKD remains incompletely understood. In this study, we have shown that mitochondrial ribosomal protein L12 (MRPL12) plays a significant role in DKD by modulating mitochondrial function. We demonstrated that MRPL12 was mainly ubiquitinated at K150 in renal tubular epithelial cells. We have found that Cullin3 (CUL3), an E3 ubiquitin ligase, directly interacts with MRPL12 and induces the K63‐linked ubiquitination of MRPL12, resulting in mitochondrial biosynthesis dysfunction. Moreover, under high‐glucose (HG) conditions in renal tubular epithelial cells, we observed up‐regulation of CUL3 expression, significant increase in CUL3‐mediated ubiquitination of MRPL12 and dysregulation of mitochondrial biosynthesis. Notably, CUL3 knockdown stabilised the MRPL12 protein and protected mitochondrial biosynthesis under HG conditions. Our findings provide novel insight into how CUL3 affects mitochondrial biosynthesis in renal tubular epithelial cells through MRPL12 ubiquitination and suggest a potential therapeutic strategy for DKD in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is widely known that muscle mass influences the outcomes of many chronic diseases. Erector spine mass is a convenient parameter obtained from routine abdominal computed tomography (CT). The clinical application value of erector spine mass, and whether erector spine mass could predict the outcome of disease has not been studied. Aim: To evaluate the role of the erector spine index (ESI) calculated based on abdominal CT imaging in the progression of acute-on-chronic liver failure related to the hepatitis B virus (HBV-ACLF). Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 118 HBV-ACLF patients and calculated the ESI (the total erector spine area normalized for height2 in meters) for each patient through abdominal CT. The findings were analyzed regarding the progression of HBV-ACLF and the ESI at baseline, including mortality and the development of complications. Results: The ESI level was associated with mortality and the development of complications. During the 90-day follow-up period, patients with a low ESI (<12.05 cm2/m2) had higher mortality than those with a high ESI (≥ 12.05 cm2/m2) (51.7% vs. 26.7%), and the cumulative survival rates were 71.0%±4.6 and 85.8%±3.9, respectively (log-rank P = 0.003). The hazard ratios (HRs) calculated using univariable and multivariable analyses were 2.23(95% confidence interval (CI): 1.25–4.21, P = 0.005) and 2.52 (95% CI: 1.34–9.24, P = 0.011), respectively. Patients with a low ESI (<12.05 cm2/m2) had higher incidences of kidney dysfunction (43.5% vs. 23.2%, P = 0.029; log-rank P = 0.017) and hepatic encephalopathy (39.6% vs. 14.0%, P = 0.003; log-rank P = 0.010) than those with a high ESI. A low ESI was an independent risk factor for kidney dysfunction (adjusted HR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.05–2.93, P = 0.043) and the development of hepatic encephalopathy (adjusted HR = 2.26; 95% CI: 2.05–3.13, P = 0.036). In addition, the presence of hepatic encephalopathy (the odds ratio (OR) = 2.26, 95% CI: 2.05–3.18, P = 0.006), spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (OR = 3.95, 95% CI: 1.01–5.46, P = 0.037), and kidney dysfunction (OR = 4.47, 95% CI: 1.02–9.64, P = 0.032) was independently associated with a low ESI in patients. Conclusion: A low ESI is an independent risk factor for mortality in patients with HBV-ACLF, as well as the development of kidney dysfunction and hepatic encephalopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incipient faults in electrical drive systems will evolve into faults or failures as time goes on. Successful detection and diagnosis of incipient faults can not only improve the safety and reliability but also provide optimal maintenance instructions for electrical drive systems. In this paper, an integration strategy of data-driven and deep learning-based method is proposed to deal with incipient faults. The salient advantages of the proposed method can be summarized as: (1) The moving average technique is firstly introduced into the canonical correlation analysis (CCA) framework, which makes the new residual signals more sensitive to incipient faults than the traditional CCA-based method; (2) Based on the defined residual signals, the new test statistics cooperating closely with Kullback–Leibler divergence (KLD) are proposed from the probability viewpoint, which can greatly improve the fault detectability; (3) It is of high computational efficiency because the estimation of probability density functions of residual signals is skilly avoided; (4) Based on the new developed test statistics, the fault matrices are defined and regarded as the input of convolutional neural network (CNN) whose feature extraction ability is highly improved compared with the traditional method, which helps to accurately diagnose of incipient faults; (5) The proposed method can be implemented without any priori knowledge on system information. Theoretical analysis and three sets of experiments on a practical electrical drive system demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interfaces are often crucial determinants of the physicochemical properties of a material. As a result, the rational production and engineering of heterogeneities, and the resulting interfaces, can enhance the functionality of a material system. This is especially true of two dimensional (2D) materials, which are only a few atoms thick and thus sensitive to small perturbations of their surroundings. As a result, 2D materials and their heterostructures have been recently modified to function as catalysts, photodetectors, chemical sensors, memory, logic devices, single photon emitters, and more. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of functional interfaces in few-layered chalcogenide 2D systems, and address the following topics: The classification of interfaces by dimensionality and electronic structure, methods of creating 2D interfaces, characterization techniques and related challenges, applications of interfacial engineering in 2D systems, and finally a perspective on the future of this rapidly advancing field of study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: After a loss of coolant accident (LOCA) in a pressurized water reactor (PWR), the chemical environment inside containment is complex; there is a potential trend for some materials to be corroded by high‐temperature alkaline water. The subsequent corrosion products may be recirculated through the sump strainers using the emergency core cooling system (ECCS), and ultimately transported into the reactor core. This phenomenon would aggravate the blockage and head loss across the fuel assembly, thereby prohibiting decay heat transfer. To analyze the potential impact of "chemical effects" on flow resistance in the fuel assembly, the specific test loop was established and a series of analysis tests were performed. Four types of chemical precipitates were used in the tests: AlOOH, NaAlSi3O8, Ca3(PO4)2, and Zn3(PO4)2. This study concluded that the AlOOH precipitates could effectively increase pressure drop across the fibrous bed. The final head loss could also be affected by the physical and chemical characteristics of precipitates, such as the particle size, settling rate, and chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glyphosate is a widely used pesticide worldwide. The problem surrounding glyphosate is worth investigating, especially with its increased use, and an increasing number of studies have found that the toxic effect of glyphosate is objective. MiR-203 was seldom found in fish diseases or glyphosate researches. This article aims to explore the effect of miR-203 on carp lymphocytes during glyphosate exposure. Therefore, acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) and flow cytometry were carried out to evaluate apoptosis, and we also detected CYPs (CYP1A1, CYP1B1, CYP1C), cytokine secretion (IL-1β, IL-8, IL-10, IFN-γ, TNF-α), inflammatory factors (NF-κB, cox-2), and the expression of miR-203 and the PI3K/AKT pathway by RT-PCR and Western blot analyses. Our results demonstrated that glyphosate exposure could induce lymphocyte apoptosis via regulation of miR-203 targeting of PI3K/AKT, which was accompanied by CYPs activation, abnormal cytokine expression and an inflammatory response. These results show that glyphosate is not nontoxic to fish and provide new insights for the usage of glyphosate as an herbicide in the future. Image 1 • Glyphosate exposure would induce common carp lymphocyte apoptosis. • Glyphosate exposure would increase oxidation response and activation of CYPs in carp lymphocyte. • Glyphosate exposure would induce abnormal cytokine expression in carp lymphocyte. • MiR-203 targets PI3K/AKT pathway to participate lymphocyte apoptosis under glyphosate exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aberrant fibrogenesis impairs the architectural and functional homeostasis of the kidneys. It also predicts poor diagnosis in patients with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD). Renal tubular epithelial cells (RTEC) can trans‐differentiate into myofibroblasts to produce extracellular matrix proteins and contribute to renal fibrosis. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a cytokine upregulated in RTECs during renal fibrosis. In the present study, we investigated the regulation of CTGF transcription by megakaryocytic leukemia 1 (MKL1). Genetic deletion or pharmaceutical inhibition of MKL1 in mice mitigated renal fibrosis following the unilateral ureteral obstruction procedure. Notably, MKL1 deficiency in mice downregulated CTGF expression in the kidneys. Likewise, MKL1 knockdown or inhibition in RTEs blunted TGF‐β induced CTGF expression. Further, it was discovered that MKL1 bound directly to the CTGF promoter by interacting with SMAD3 to activate CTGF transcription. In addition, MKL1 mediated the interplay between p300 and WDR5 to regulate CTGF transcription. CTGF knockdown dampened TGF‐β induced pro‐fibrogenic response in RTEs. MKL1 activity was reciprocally regulated by CTGF. In conclusion, we propose that targeting the MKL1–CTGF axis may generate novel therapeutic solutions against aberrant renal fibrogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Dry eye disorders are a major health care burden. We previously reported the identification of N-methyl-N-phenyl-6-(2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropoxy)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine [cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)act-K267], which activated human wild-type CFTR chloride conductance with EC50 ∼ 30 nM. Here, we report in vivo evidence for CFTRact-K267 efficacy in an experimental mouse model of dry eye using a human compatible ophthalmic vehicle. Methods: CFTR activation in mice in vivo was demonstrated by ocular surface potential difference (OSPD) measurements. Ocular surface pharmacodynamics was measured in tear fluid samples obtained at different times after topical administration of CFTRact-K267. Dry eye was produced by lacrimal duct cautery (LDC) and corneal epithelial injury and was assessed by Lissamine green (LG) staining. Results: OSPD measurements demonstrated a hyperpolarization of -8.6 ± 3 mV (standard error of the mean, 5 mice) in response to CFTRact-K267 exposure in low chloride solution that was reversed by a CFTR inhibitor. Following single-dose topical administration of 2 nmol CFTRact-K267, tear fluid CFTRact-K267 concentration was >500 nM for more than 6 h. Following LDC, corneal surface epithelial injury, as assessed by LG staining, was substantially reversed in 10 of 12 eyes receiving 2 nmol CFTRact-K267 3 times daily starting on day 2, when marked epithelial injury had already occurred. Improvement was seen in 3 of 12 vehicle-treated eyes. Conclusion: These studies provide in vivo evidence in mice for the efficacy of a topical, human use compatible CFTRact-K267 formulation in stimulating chloride secretion and reversing corneal epithelial injury in dry eye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predictable reliability of inter-vehicle communications is a basis for the paradigm shift from single-vehicle-oriented safety and efficiency control to networked vehicle control. The lack of predictable interference control in existing vehicular communication mechanisms, however, makes them incapable of ensuring predictable communication reliability. To address the gap, we propose the Cyber-Physical Scheduling (CPS) framework that leverages the PRK interference model and addresses the challenges of vehicle mobility and broadcast to PRK-based scheduling. To address vehicle mobility, CPS leverages the physical locations of vehicles to define the gPRK interference model, a geometric approximation of the PRK model, for lightweight control signaling and effective interference relation estimation, and CPS leverages cyber-physical structures of vehicle traffic flows for effective instantiation and use of the gPRK model. To support predictable broadcast, CPS controls the interactions between gPRK model adaptations of the links of the same sender to ensure predictable broadcast reliability in the presence of vehicle mobility. Through experimental analysis with high-fidelity ns-3 and SUMO simulation, we observe that CPS enables predictable reliability while achieving high throughput and low delay in communication. To the best of our knowledge, CPS is the first field-deployable method that ensures predictable interference control and thus reliability in inter-vehicle communications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depression is often triggered by prolonged exposure to psychosocial stressors and associated with coronary heart disease (CHD). Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in the pathogenesis of various emotional and cardiovascular disorders. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether Kai-Xin-San (KXS), which may terminate the signaling of MMPs, exerts antidepressant-like and cardioprotective effects in a myocardial infarction (MI) plus depression rat model. Rats were randomly assigned to five groups: A normal control (control group), a celisc-injection of isopropyl adrenaline group (ISO group), depression (depression group), an ISO + depression (depression + ISO group), and an ISO + depression group treated with intragastric administration of 1,785 mg/kg KXS (KXS group). Behavioral changes, echocardiography, biochemical index, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and apoptosis-related proteins were assessed. Compared with the depression + ISO group, KXS significantly improved stress-induced alterations of behavioral parameters and protected the heart by enlarging the left ventricular (LV) fractional shortening (FS) and LV ejection fraction (EF). Moreover, KXS significantly attenuated ISO + depression-induced MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression at the mRNA and protein level and decreased TIMP in the heart compared to the complex model group. Myocardial apoptosis was significantly attenuated by KXS by regulating the Bcl-2/Bax axis. These results indicated that MI comorbid with depression may damage the MMP balance in the central and peripheral system, and KXS may have a direct anti-depressive and cardio-protective effect by regulating the level of MMPs and associated myocardial apoptosis. It is promising to further explore the clinical potential of KXS for the therapy or prevention of MI plus depression comorbidity disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sorafenib is an important first-line treatment option for liver cancer due to its well-characterized safety profile. While novel first-line drugs may have better efficacy than Sorafenib, they also have limitations such as worse safety and cost-effectiveness. In addition to inducing apoptosis, Sorafenib can also trigger ferroptosis, which has recently been recognized as an immunogenic cell death, unleashing new possibilities for cancer treatment. However, resistance to Sorafenib-induced ferroptosis remains a major challenge. To overcome this resistance and augment the efficacy of Sorafenib, a wide range of nanomedicines has been developed to amplify its pro-ferroptotic effects. This review highlights the mechanisms underlying Sorafenib-triggered ferroptosis and its resistance, and outlines innovative strategies, particularly nanomedicines, to overcome ferroptosis resistance. Moreover, we summarize molecular biomarkers that signify resistance to Sorafenib-mediated ferroptosis, which can assist in predicting therapeutic outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Adaptive parameter selection variational mode decomposition was proposed to diagnose bearing faults. • A new hybrid entropy, which includes the envelop fuzzy and discrete properties of the entropy was proposed. • Hybrid entropy is used to describe the complexity and detection dynamics of the intrinsic mode function of VMD. • The sensitive intrinsic mode function can be chosen by the novel hybrid entropy based on its features. The emission signal of locomotive bearings is non-stationary, nonlinear and mixed with complex noise when operating online. The adaptive decomposition method is widely employed for denoising and feature extraction. Variational mode decomposition (VMD) is a powerful adaptive decomposition method, but the number of modes K and the penalty factor α are difficult to set in advance and the unreasonable parameter selection may probably bring faulty feature loss. To address this problem, a novel hybrid entropy, which includes the envelope fuzzy and dispersion characteristics of entropy, is proposed to describe the complexity and detect dynamic change of intrinsic mode functions component of VMD. Furthermore, an adaptive parameter selection variational mode decomposition (APSVMD) based on the novel hybrid entropy is presented to obtain the optimal parameter combination (K and α). Then the sensitive intrinsic mode function (IMF) can be chosen by novel hybrid entropy based on its new features. In order to verify the performance of the proposed diagnostic approach, the locomotive online running test was performed. The experimental results demonstrated that the APSVMD represents the signal modes explicitly and can process different types of signals. As a result, different kinds of bearings faults were diagnosed successfully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Traditional waterborne resin could not be effectively solidified in the oil wells. • A new waterborne modified resin system was developed by controlling hydrophily. • The resin improved mechanical properties of cement by crosslinking and filling. • The durability of resin in the wells depends on its glass transition temperature. Given the poor environmental performance of epoxy resin for oil and gas wells and the lack of research on curing and durability in well conditions, a waterborne modified epoxy resin was synthesized, and then combining with the matched viscosity regulator, curing agent and coagulant, a new cementitious material waterborne modified epoxy resin system was developed for oil and gas wells. The new cementitious material was evaluated by means of macroscopic and microcosmic tests. The effects of curing conditions and hydrophilic monomer ratio on the solidification of waterborne resin and the long-term durability of resin under well conditions were discussed. Research shows that the safe construction and effective curing of resin under sealed conditions can be realized by adequately controlling the proportion of hydrophilic groups and selecting appropriate regulators. This also ensures that the system is cleanable, safe, and environmentally friendly. This resin system enables effective control of thickening time in the temperature range of 30 to 110 °C. After curing, compared with traditional oil well cement, its compressive strength increased by 81.1 %, Young 's modulus decreased by 62.5 % and Poisson 's ratio increased by 131.6 %. It can significantly improve the mechanical properties of oil well cement stone by film forming, filling, and optimizing pore structure. In addition, microscopic studies have shown that the sealing conditions of wells will seriously affect the curing and crosslinking of traditional waterborne epoxy resins due to the inability of water to volatilize, and it is inappropriate for oil and gas wells to adopt an epoxy resin system cured by volatilization mechanism. The durability of resin after curing under well conditions mainly depends on its glass transition temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Membrane Attack Complex and Perforin (MACPF) proteins play a crucial role in plant development and adaptation to environmental stresses. Heretofore, few MACPF genes have been functionally identified, leaving gaps in our understanding of MACPF genes in other plants, particularly in the Solanaceae family, which includes economically and culturally significant species, such as tomato, potato, and pepper. In this study, we have identified 26 MACPF genes in three Solanaceae species and in the water lily, which serves as the base group for angiosperms. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that angiosperm MACPF genes could be categorized into three distinct groups, with another moss and spikemoss lineage-specific group, which is further supported by the examination of gene structures and domain or motif organizations. Through inter-genome collinearity analysis, it is determined that there are 12 orthologous SolMACPF gene pairs. The expansion of SolMACPF genes is primarily attributed to dispersed duplications, with purifying selection identified as the principal driving force in their evolutionary process, as indicated by the ω values. Furthermore, the analysis of expression patterns revealed that Solanaceae genes are preferentially expressed in reproductive tissues and regulated by various environmental stimuli, particularly induced by submergence. Taken together, these findings offer valuable insights into and a fresh perspective on the evolution and function of SolMACPF genes, thereby establishing a foundation for further investigations into their phenotypic and functional characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While medication regimen complexity, as measured by a novel medication regimen complexity-intensive care unit (MRC-ICU) score, correlates with baseline severity of illness and mortality, whether the MRC-ICU improves hospital mortality prediction is not known. After characterizing the association between MRC-ICU, severity of illness and hospital mortality we sought to evaluate the incremental benefit of adding MRC-ICU to illness severity-based hospital mortality prediction models. This was a single-center, observational cohort study of adult intensive care units (ICUs). A random sample of 991 adults admitted ≥ 24 h to the ICU from 10/2015 to 10/2020 were included. The logistic regression models for the primary outcome of mortality were assessed via area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC). Medication regimen complexity was evaluated daily using the MRC-ICU. This previously validated index is a weighted summation of medications prescribed in the first 24 h of ICU stay [e.g., a patient prescribed insulin (1 point) and vancomycin (3 points) has a MRC-ICU = 4 points]. Baseline demographic features (e.g., age, sex, ICU type) were collected and severity of illness (based on worst values within the first 24 h of ICU admission) was characterized using both the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) and the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score. Univariate analysis of 991 patients revealed every one-point increase in the average 24-h MRC-ICU score was associated with a 5% increase in hospital mortality [Odds Ratio (OR) 1.05, 95% confidence interval 1.02–1.08, p = 0.002]. The model including MRC-ICU, APACHE II and SOFA had a AUROC for mortality of 0.81 whereas the model including only APACHE-II and SOFA had a AUROC for mortality of 0.76. Medication regimen complexity is associated with increased hospital mortality. A prediction model including medication regimen complexity only modestly improves hospital mortality prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the role and related mechanism of chordin‐like 1 (CHRDL1) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Methods: The expressions of CHRDL1 were analyzed in both mRNA and protein levels by bioinformatics analysis, immunohistochemistry, and fluorescence in situ hybridization in OSCC. Survival analysis was used to determine the relationship between CHRDL1 and prognosis. In addition, enrichment analysis was used to suggest signal pathways involved in CHRDL1. Besides, the relationships between CHRDL1 and miRNAs, hypoxia, and immune infiltration were explored. Results: The mRNA level of CHRDL1 in OSCC was significantly lower than that in normal tissues, while the protein level was significantly higher than that in normal tissues. The high mRNA levels of CHRDL1 suggested a poor prognosis in patients with OSCC. The enrichment results showed that CHRDL1 might be involved in the Calcium signaling pathway, dilated cardiomyopathy, and focal adhesion. 7 immune cells were positively correlated with CHRDL1, while Tgd was negatively correlated with CHRDL1. In addition, we also found that hsa‐miR‐455‐3p directly targeted CHRDL1 and reduced the mRNA levels of CHRDL1. Conclusion: CHRDL1 plays a vital role in promoting cancer in OSCC and is down‐regulated at the mRNA levels by hsa‐miR‐455‐3p. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

mRNA-based therapeutics have emerged as a promising strategy for cancer treatment. However, the effective delivery of mRNA into hard-to-transfect cancer cells remains a significant challenge. This study introduces a novel approach that utilizes iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized through a layer-by-layer (LbL) method for safe and efficient mRNA delivery. The developed NPs consist of an iron oxide core modified with a thin charge-bearing layer, an mRNA middle layer, and an outer layer composed of perfluorinated polyethyleneimine with heparin (PPH), which facilitates efficient mRNA delivery. Through a comparative analysis of four nanoparticle delivery formulations, we investigated the effects of the iron oxide core's surface chemistry and surface charge on mRNA complexation, cellular uptake, and mRNA release. We identified an optimal and effective mRNA delivery platform, namely, (IOCCP)-mRNA-PPH, capable of transporting mRNA into various hard-to-transfect cancer cell lines in vitro. The (IOCCP)-mRNA-PPH formulation demonstrated significant enhancements in cellular internalization of mRNA, facilitated endosomal escape, enabled easy mRNA release, and exhibited minimal cytotoxicity. These findings suggest that (IOCCP)-mRNA-PPH holds great promise as a solution for mRNA therapy against hard-to-transfect cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this study, plasma electrolytic nitriding technology and an annealing treatment are used to modify titanium bipolar plates. Subsequently, the surface topography, corrosion resistance, and interfacial contact resistance of the nitrided samples are characterized. The results show that the nitrided layer consists of porous volcano-like micro-nano structure surface layer and the dense inner layer. Compared to the blank sample (87.9°±1.7°), the contact angle between the nitrided samples with annealing and deionized water significantly increases (104.7°±1.4° (nitrided for 15 min), 114.3 ± 3.0° (nitrided for 30 min)). The results of the electrochemical and atomic force microscopy analysis indicate that the nitrided samples with annealing have good corrosion resistance. The corrosion potential and corrosion current density of the nitrided samples with annealing are −0.016 V (Ag/AgCl) and 0.275 μA cm−2 (nitrided for 15 min) and 0.04 V (Ag/AgCl) and 0.195 μA cm−2 (nitrided for 30 min), respectively, which satisfy the requirement of DOE 2020 target (<1 μA cm−2). After potentiostatic polarization at 600 mV (SCE) in the simulated environment, the contact resistance of the samples remains very low (6.47 mΩ cm2 (nitrided for 15 min) and 3.91 mΩ cm2 (nitrided for 30 min)) and also satisfies the requirement of the DOE (≤10 mΩ cm2). Highlights • Plasma electrolytic nitriding technique was used to modify titanium bipolar plates. • Nitriding and annealing treatment improved significantly the corrosion resistance. • ICR of nitrided samples with annealing met the goal of DOE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract We developed a simple way to prepare the polymer functionalized N -doping carbon dots (CDs) inspired by the mussel chemistry for white LED application. The N -doping CDs were decorated by catechol-terminated hydrophilic poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PPEGMA) and hydrophobic polystyrene (PS) through Schiff base condensation/Michael addition reaction (CD@PEGMA and CD@PS), which owns two advantages: (1) polymer anchored CDs improved the optical properties of pure CDs; (2) hydrophobic PS could transfer hydrophilic CDs into nonpolar organic solvents to expand the application range of water-soluble CDs. The white-light bulk nanohybrid was obtained via in-situ polymerization of styrene monomers containing CD@PS as blue component and 5-(2-methacryloyl-ethyloxymethyl)-8-quinolinol (MQ) coordinated CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) as green and red components. The warm white light-emitting diode (WLED) was also fabricated based on the white bulk nanomaterials with CIE coordinate (0.32, 0.31) and the correlated color temperature 6250 K. Graphical abstract Polymer functionalized N -doping CDs were prepared inspired by the simple mussel chemistry for white LED application. The grafting hydrophobic PS chains can transfer hydrophilic CDs into nonpolar organic solvents to expand the application range of water-soluble CDs. The white-light bulk nanohybrid was obtained by in-situ polymerization of styrene monomers in the presence of CD@PS as blue component and MQ coordinated CdSe/ZnS QDs as green and red components. The cold WLED was fabricated based on the white bulk nanohybrid with CIE coordinate (0.32, 0.31). Image 1 Highlights • Catechol-terminated polymers were grafted to N -doping blue-light CDs by mussel-inspired chemistry. • Grafting hydrophobic PS chains can transfer hydrophilic CDs into nonpolar organic solvents. • White-light bulk nanohybrid with CD@PS and MQ coordinated QDs was obtained by in-situ polymerization. • Cold WLED was fabricated based on the white-light nanohybrid with CIE coordinate (0.32, 0.31). • Our surface modification method for CDs can be extended to other CDs for different applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) is a stable semiconducting material with an intermediate band gap (2–3 eV), which is efficient for catalysis and optoelectronics. However, it is still a big challenge to synthesize large-area and transferrable PCN films for applications in solid state optoelectronics. In this work, by using nitrogen-doped graphene (NG) as a van der Waals epitaxial substrate, centimeter-size PCN films are synthesized via polymerization of melamine molecules. As-grown PCN/NG films can be then transferred onto other substrates (e.g. SiO 2 /Si wafers, quartz slides, polymer substrates). Structural characterization reveals a polymerized structure of PCN films with nitrogen-containing heterocycles. By stacking PCN/NG films with graphene films, it is possible to construct a photodetector responsive to near-UV and UV illumination under ambient conditions. The responsivities of the photodetector are 0.59 mA/W and ∼30 μA/W towards 365 nm lamp and 488 nm laser, respectively. Our PCN photodetectors also show fast response times (e.g. ∼0.29 s to 488 nm laser illumination). Furthermore, our PCN photodetector can be fabricated on polymer substrates. As-obtained flexible photodetectors can maintain its photo-response after 100 times bending. Our results clearly demonstrate the possibility of employing large-area carbon-based semiconductors to meet the increasing demands of wearable and portable electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aromas and anthocyanins are important factors affecting grapes and wines quality. Monoterpenes are regarded as typical volatile aroma compounds in Muscat Hamburg grapes. In this study, we determined the effects of exogenous salicylic acid (SA) on anthocyanins and monoterpene components of Muscat Hamburg (Vitis vinifera) berries and wines. Berries were treated with aqueous solutions of SA (0.0, 50, 100 and 200 mg/L) at E-L 34 (berry color change stage) during 2018 and 2019 seasons. 50 mg/L salicylic acid (SA50) significantly increased the sum of anthocyanins contents in ripe berries, while 100 mg/L and 200 mg/L salicylic acid had the opposite effect. Additionally, SA50 significantly promoted the free or bound monoterpenes accumulation in mature grapes. The concentrations of geraniol, neral, geranic acid, nerol, nerol oxide, and phellandrene were higher in the wine produced from SA50 treatment grapes than in the wine produced from control groups. The SA50 treatments increased the transcription of some key genes related to monoterpene biosynthesis, namely, VviPNLinNer1 , VviPNLinNer2 , VviPNLNGl2 , VviPNLNGl4 , VviTer , and VviGT14 , which accelerated the synthesis and accumulation of monoterpene components in grapes. Overall, these study findings can provide fundamental knowledge for future improvements to grape aromas and anthocyanins. • 50 mg/L salicylic acid increased monoterpenes profiles contents in mature grapes as well as resulted wine. • SA with lower concentration was conducive to the accumulation of anthocyanins in ripen berries. • 50 mg/L salicylic acid promoted the transcription of VviPNLinNer1 , VviPNLinNer2 , VviTer and VviGT14. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introducing anionic redox in layered oxides is an effective approach to breaking the capacity limit of conventional cationic redox. However, the anionic redox reaction generally suffers from excessive oxidation of lattice oxygen to O2 and O2 release, resulting in local structural deterioration and rapid capacity/voltage decay. Here, a Na0.71Li0.22Al0.05Mn0.73O2 (NLAM) cathode material is developed by introducing Al3+ into the transition metal (TM) sites. Thanks to the strong Al–O bonding strength and small Al3+ radius, the TMO2 skeleton and the holistic TM–O bonds in NLAM are comprehensively strengthened, which inhibits the excessive lattice oxygen oxidation. The obtained NLAM exhibits a high reversible capacity of 194.4 mAh g‐1 at 20 mA g‐1 and decent cyclability with 98.6% capacity retention over 200 cycles at 200 mA g−1. In situ characterizations reveal that the NLAM experiences phase transitions with an intermediate OP4 phase during the charge–discharge. Theoretical calculations further confirm that the Al substitution strategy is beneficial for improving the overlap between Mn 3d and O 2p orbitals. This finding sheds light on the design of layered oxide cathodes with highly reversible anionic redox for sodium storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online Judge (OJ) is an important aid for programming learning that can help students evaluate learning effects in real-time, while teachers can adjust practice tasks in time according to the records of the tool. With these advantages, OJ shows great value for promoting teaching and learning in programming. The existing OJ system usually only provides information such as problem status list and recent rank list. However, it is unable to provide teachers with more fine-grained analysis information, such as the distribution of students' incorrect responses and level of knowledge mastery. And it also cannot provide students with effective comparative information on their learning status. This research developed a visual learning analytics dashboard named VisOJ for the OJ system, which includes two types of user interfaces: teacher and student. The teacher interface presents students' learning status and ranking trends, which help teachers monitor and give feedback on their learning activities. The student interface provides views such as error type analysis and evaluation, which promote students' self-reflection and self-regulation. Preliminary case studies and expert interviews prove the usability of the dashboard. In the end, we summarize our main work and suggest future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Northeast China, the frequency and intensity of chilling events has been increasing continuously, which places regional rice production at an increasing risk for yield loss. Previous studies have shown that continuous chilling at the tillering, booting and flowering stages could reduce rice grain yield. However, the effects of intermittent chilling at different growth stages on rice yield have rarely been reported. In this study, we conducted a temperature‐controlled experiment on rice plants at the tillering, booting and flowering stages, with both continuous and intermittent chilling treatments at two chilling temperatures and four chilling durations. The results showed that rice grain yield was most affected by chilling at the booting stage, followed by chilling at the flowering stage and least affected by chilling at the tillering stage. For per 1 day increase in chilling duration, the continuous (intermittent) chilling treatment at T1 (11°C/12°C/12°C) at the tillering, booting and flowering stages decreased the grain yield per plant by 1.0%, 6.0% and 2.9% (0.9%, 2.7% and 1.6%), respectively. For per 10°C·day increase in cooling degree days, the continuous (intermittent) chilling treatment at the booting stage decreased the grain yield per plant, spikelet fertility, grain number per spike and thousand grain weight by 10.7%, 7.9%, 5.4% and 1.6% (5.6%, 1.5%, 4.4% and 1.2%), respectively. While the continuous (intermittent) chilling treatment at the flowering stage decreased the grain yield per plant and spikelet fertility by 4.9% and 3.9% (2.8% and 3.2%), respectively. Our study is complementary to the current knowledge gap concerning the mechanism of chilling‐induced yield losses for rice. In particular, the results of this study could be used to (a) modify the chilling effects algorithms in rice models to improve the simulation accuracy in rice yields and (b) target the genetic features to breed new rice varieties with greater cold tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: PRPP synthase (PRPS) transfers the pyrophosphate groups from ATP to ribose-5-phosphate to produce 5-phosphate ribose-1-pyrophosphate (PRPP), a key intermediate in the biosynthesis of several metabolites including nucleotides, dinucleotides and some amino acids. There are three PRPS isoforms encoded in human genome. While human PRPS1 (hPRPS1) and human PRPS2 (hPRPS2) are expressed in most tissues, human PRPS3 (hPRPS3) is exclusively expressed in testis. Although hPRPS1 and hPRPS2 share 95% sequence identity, hPRPS2 has been shown to be less sensitive to allosteric inhibition and specifically upregulated in certain cancers in the translational level. Recent studies demonstrate that PRPS can form a subcellular compartment termed the cytoophidium in multiple organisms across prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Forming filaments and cytoophidia is considered as a distinctive mechanism involving the polymerization of the protein. Previously we solved the filament structures of Escherichia coli PRPS (ecPRPS) using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) 1. Results: Order to investigate the function and molecular mechanism of hPRPS2 polymerization, here we solve the polymer structure of hPRPS2 at 3.08 Å resolution. hPRPS2 hexamers stack into polymers in the conditions with the allosteric/competitive inhibitor ADP. The binding modes of ADP at the canonical allosteric site and at the catalytic active site are clearly determined. A point mutation disrupting the inter-hexamer interaction prevents hPRPS2 polymerization and results in significantly reduced catalytic activity. Conclusion: Findings suggest that the regulation of hPRPS2 polymer is distinct from ecPRPS polymer and provide new insights to the regulation of hPRPS2 with structural basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, a series of ursolic acid (UA) derivatives were identified as potential PTP1B enzyme inhibitors. All of the tested compounds showed potent PTP1B inhibitory activity (87.79–96.80%) at a concentration of 20 μg/mL and dose-dependently inhibited PTP1B enzyme with IC50 values ranging from 4.15 ± 0.01 to 14.10 ± 0.45 μM. Compound 11e showed the best PTP1B inhibitory potency, with IC50 values of 4.15 ± 0.01 μM, which was slightly lower than that of the positive control. Molecular docking simulation and analysis suggested that compound 11e has a good binding interaction with the active pocket. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aimed at the difficulty of path planning resulting from the variable configuration of the wheel-legged robot for future deep space explorations, this paper proposes a path planning algorithm based on the Theta* algorithm and Timed Elastic Band (TEB) algorithm. Firstly, the structure of the wheel-legged robot is briefly introduced, and the workspace of a single leg is analyzed. Secondly, a method to judge complete obstacles and incomplete obstacles according to the height of the obstacles is proposed alongside a method to search for virtual obstacles, to generate a grid map of the wheel and a grid map of the body, respectively. By dividing obstacles into complete obstacles and incomplete obstacles, the path planning of the wheel-legged robot is split into the planning of the body path and the planning of the wheel path. The body can be still simplified as a point by searching for the virtual obstacle, which avoids the difficulty of a planning path of a variable shape. Then, we proposed hierarchical planning and multiple optimization algorithms for the body path and wheel path based on the Theta* algorithm and TEB algorithm. The path can be optimized and smoothed effectively to obtain a shorter length and higher safety. On that basis, the proposed algorithm is simulated by Matlab. The results of simulations show that the algorithm proposed in this paper can effectively plan the path of the wheel-legged robot by using variable configurations for different types of obstacles. The path-planning algorithm of the wheel-legged robot proposed in this paper has a broad prospect for deep space exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Endothelial activation and sickle red blood cell (RBC) adhesion are central to the pathogenesis of sickle cell disease (SCD). Quantitatively, RBC‐derived extracellular vesicles (REVs) are more abundant from SS RBCs compared with healthy RBCs (AA RBCs). Sickle RBC‐derived REVs (SS REVs) are known to promote endothelial cell (EC) activation through cell signalling and transcriptional regulation at longer terms. However, the SS REV‐mediated short‐term non‐transcriptional response of EC is unclear. Here, we examined the impact of SS REVs on acute microvascular EC activation and RBC adhesion at 2 h. Compared with AA REVs, SS REVs promoted human pulmonary microvascular ECs (HPMEC) activation indicated by increased von Willebrand factor (VWF) expression. Under microfluidic conditions, we found abnormal SS RBC adhesion to HPMECs exposed to SS REVs. This enhanced SS RBC adhesion was reduced by haeme binding protein haemopexin or VWF cleaving protease ADAMTS13 to a level similar to HPMECs treated with AA REVs. Consistent with these observations, haemin‐ or SS REV‐induced microvascular stasis in SS mice with implanted dorsal skin‐fold chambers that was inhibited by ADAMTS13. The adhesion induced by SS REVs was variable and was higher with SS RBCs from patients with increased markers of haemolysis (lactate dehydrogenase and reticulocyte count) or a concomitant clinical diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis. Our results emphasise the critical contribution made by REVs to the pathophysiology of SCD by triggering acute microvascular EC activation and abnormal RBC adhesion. These findings may help to better understand acute pathophysiological mechanism of SCD and thereby the development of new treatment strategies using VWF as a potential target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe phenomena of across range-Doppler unit (ARDU) and decoherence occur when radar detects high-speed and high-maneuvering targets, causing degradation in detection performance of traditional FFT radar detection methods. The improvement in radar resolution causes a multi-dimensional spread phenomenon, where different scattering centers of the target are distributed on different range units, along with motion parameters such as velocity and acceleration. Unfortunately, current radar detection methods focus solely on range spread targets and cannot handle multi-dimensional spread, leading to a significant decline in detection performance. To overcome this problem, this paper proposes several methods to achieve high detection performance for multi-dimensional spread target detection with ARDU phenomenon. Firstly, the generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT) is derived, and the energy integration generalized Rayleigh Fourier transform (EI-GRFT) is introduced to improve the detection performance of range spread cross-unit targets. Additionally, the double-threshold based hybrid GRFT (DT-HGRFT) is presented as an enhancement of EI-GRFT, enabling long-time integration along slow time and integration among multiple scatters by using HGRFT and multi-dimensional sliding double-threshold detection, respectively. Furthermore, a method for joint detections of multiple DT-HGRFTs is provided to handle the case where the number of scattering centers of multi-dimensional spread targets is unknown. Finally, a detailed theoretical analysis of the performance of the proposed method is presented, along with extensive simulations and practical experiments to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corrosion tests of Ni-based alloy Inconel 740H were carried out in supercritical carbon dioxide (S-CO2) at 650–700°C under 25 MPa. The corrosion kinetics were measured by weight change as a function of time, and the surface oxide layers were characterised and identified by a series of characterisation methods. It is found that Inconel 740H experienced general oxidation, localised exfoliation and internal oxidation. A dense Cr2O3 oxide scale rapidly formed on the surface of Inconel 740H at 650–700°C, resulting in good general corrosion resistance. Nodular oxidation was triggered by Ti-rich and Nb-rich oxides. Internal oxidation selectively oxidised Al. The causes of oxide-induced exfoliation are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conducting polymer of polypyrrole (PPy) was employed to functionalize the ordered silicon nanowire (SiNWs) with the aim to enhance gas-sensing response at room temperature (RT). A dual-MACE process was first developed to form loose SiNWs (LNWs) array facilitating uniform attachment of PPy on whole nanowire surface. The LNWs array functionalized with continuous PPy ultrathin film and discrete PPy nanoparticles, i.e., PPy-shell@LNWs and PPy-NPs@LNWs, were prepared respectively via vapor chemical polymerization (VCP) and liquid chemical polymerization (LCP) of pyrrole monomer (Py). Comparative investigations on the NH 3 -sensing properties of the pristine SiNWs before and after dual-MACE treatment, and PPy-functionalized SiNWs of PPy-shell@LNWs and PPy-NPs@LNWs were carried out at RT. It was found that PPy functionalization enhances the NH 3 -sensing response of SiNWs-based sensors effectively. Formation of continuous PPy shell film is further found to result in more pronounced response enhancement when compared to the modification by discrete PPy NPs. The PPy-shell@LNWs and PPy-NPs@LNWs respectively exhibit about 27 and 6 times response enhancement to 10 ppm NH 3 gas compared to the pristine one. The underlying NH 3 -sensing mechanism for the PPy-functionalized SiNWs, especially for the remarkable response enhancement of PPy-shell@SiNWs was demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, a series of ursolic acid (UA) derivatives were identified as potential protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) enzyme inhibitors. All of the tested compounds showed potent PTP1B inhibitory activity (47.01–67.89%). Compound 2d (67.89%) exhibited the highest activity of all the synthesized compounds, which showed higher activity than observed for the positive control UA (51.13%). Molecular docking simulation and analysis suggested that compound 2d has a good binding interaction with the active pocket. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of Cr content on the corrosion behavior of Ni-Mo steel in the tropical marine atmospheric environment is systematically investigated. The increase of Cr content accelerates the aggregation and the enrichment of Ni element, and thus promotes the formation of an inner electronegative film which attracts positively charged ions including Mo6+, Mo4+, Ni2+ and Cr3+ ions, and repels negatively charged Cl- ions. Cr promotes the formation of more nano-FeOOH and the conversion of γ-FeOOH into α-FeOOH. A small amount of chromium promotes the formation of micro-pits at the initial stage, and with time, those micro-pits gradually accumulate into pieces. • Adding a small amount of Cr into Ni-Mo steel reduces the corrosion rate. • An electronegative inner film composed of Cr and Ni elements attracts Mo6+, Mo4+, Ni2+ and Cr3+ ions, and repels Cl- ions. • Cr 2 O 3 acts as the nucleation site of FeOOH, generating more nano FeOOH, and doping Cr promotes the transformation of γ-FeOOH to α-FeOOH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents chemical equations related to the asymmetric oxaziridination which has been catalyzed by cinchona alkaloid derivatives with sulfide group published in the journal "Tetrahedron" in 2013.

In recent years, the benefits of carrots and carotene in different areas of health have been examined. The purpose of this umbrella review was to identify the associations between carrots and carotene and multiple health outcomes. The review considered evidence from meta‐analyses of interventional and observational studies of carrots and carotene and any health outcome. We comprehensively searched Web of Science, PubMed, and Embase. For each association, we estimated the summary effect size using random and fixed effects models and the 95% confidence interval. A total of 1329 studies were searched, and 30 meta‐analyses with 26 health outcomes were identified that met the eligibility criteria. Carrot intake was associated with a lower risk of multiple cancer outcomes including breast cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, gastric cancer, urothelial cancer, and prostate cancer. Carotene intake was associated with a lower risk of fracture, age‐related cataract, sunburn, Alzheimer's disease, breast cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, gastric cancer, esophageal cancer, prostate cancer, and head and neck cancer (HNC). Serum carotene was inversely associated with all‐cause mortality, breast cancer, and lung cancer. Our study revealed that carrot or carotene intake could reduce the risk of various negative health outcomes. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • β-1, 3-galactosyltransferase 2 (B3galt2) contributes to diabetic encephalopathy. • F3/contactin is involved in B3galt2-mediated hippocampus neuron apoptosis. • Diabetic cognitive dysfunction can be alleviated by salidroside. • B3galt2/F3/Contactin pathway plays a vital role in diabetic cognitive dysfunction. Diabetes is frequently accompanied by cognitive impairment with insidious onset, and progressive cognitive and behavioral changes. β-1, 3-galactosyltransferase 2 (B3galt2) contributes to glycosylation, showing a clue for neuronal apoptosis, proliferation and differentiation. However, the role of B3galt2 in diabetic cognitive dysfunction (DCD) has not been investigated. In the present study, we aimed to explore the role of B3galt2 in DCD. Additionally, the potential therapeutic effects of salidroside on DCD was also explored. Diabetic C57BL/6J mice showed cognitive dysfunction together with down-regulated B3galt2. Overexpression of B3galt2 reversed the cognitive decline of diabetic C57BL/6J. Moreover, cognitive impairment was aggravated in B3galt2+/− diabetic mice compared with C57BL/6J diabetic mice. Immunohistochemistry fluorescence indicated that B3galt2 and F3/Contactin were co-localized in the hippocampal regions. Importantly, the expression of F3/Contactin can be regulated by the manipulation of B3galt2, overexpression of which assuaged hippocampal neuronal damage, protected the synapsin, and reduced neuronal apoptosis in diabetic mice. Interestingly, SAL alleviated DCD and reversed the expression of B3galt2 in diabetic C57BL/6J mice. These findings indicate that inhibition of B3galt2/F3/Contactin pathway contributes to DCD, and participates in SAL reversed DCD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) and methyltransferase-like 14 (METTL14) were two core components of the N6-methyadenosine (m6A) methyltransferase complex (MTC) and played a basic role in maintaining an appropriate m6A level of target genes. In gastric cancer (GC), previous researches on the expression and role of METTL3 and METTL14 were not consistent, and their specific function and mechanism have remained elusive. In this study, the expression of METTL3 and METTL14 was evaluated based on the TCGA database, 9 paired GEO datasets, and our 33 GC patient samples, and METTL3 was highly expressed and acted as a poor prognostic factor, whereas METTL14 showed no significant difference. Moreover, GO and GSEA analyses were performed, and the results pointed out that METTL3 and METTL14 were jointly involved in multiple biological processes, while they could also take part in different oncogenic pathways independently. And BCLAF1 was predicted and identified as a novel shared target of METTL3 and METTL14 in GC. In total, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of METTL3 and METTL14 in GC including their expression, function, and role, which could provide a novel insight into the research of m6A modification in GC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To strengthen the understanding of the clinical features for CASPR2 neurological autoimmunity in children. A multicenter retrospective and prospective analysis of CASPR2 autoimmunity was conducted. Twenty-six patients were enrolled, including 25 with serum positivity and 3 with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) positivity; 5 patients were co-positive with anti-NMDAR or anti-GABABR antibodies. Eleven patients (who manifested with refractory epilepsy, psychobehavioral abnormalities or germinoma) presented with low antibody titers, relatively normal MRI/EEG/CSF examinations, and poor response to immunotherapy and were thus considered false positive (42.3%). Fifteen patients were diagnosed with autoimmune encephalitis/ encephalopathy/ cerebellitis (including 1 whose condition was secondary to Japanese encephalitis). The most common symptoms included disorders of consciousness (10/15), fever (8/15), psychological symptoms/abnormal behaviors (8/15), sleep disorders (8/15), seizures (7/15), movement disorders (5/15), autonomic symptoms (5/15). Brain MRI revealed abnormalities in 10 patients (66.7%). Electroencephalography (EEG) recordings revealed a slow wave background in 13 patients (86.7%). Five patients showed elevated WBCs in CSF, and 4 patients showed elevated protein levels in the CSF. Thirteen patients received immunotherapy (rituximab was adopted in 2 cases) and recovered well. Two patients received symptomatic treatment, and the recovery was slow and accompanied by emotional abnormalities and developmental delay. Autoimmune encephalitis is the most common clinical phenotype; it can be secondary to Japanese encephalitis. Rituximab can be used in patients who respond poorly to conventional immunotherapy. The high false-positive rate of anti-CASPR2 in refractory epilepsy and the psychobehavioral abnormalities needs to be explored further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]