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Abstract Intracerebral hemorrhage is a lethal cerebrovascular disease, and the inevitable secondary brain injury (SBI) is responsible for serious disability and death. Perfect therapeutic goal is to minimize SBI and restore neurobehavioral functions. Recently, neuroprotection is highlighted to reduce SBI, but it still faces “Neuronal survival but impaired functions” dilemma. Herein, this work further proposes a novel combinational therapeutic strategy of neuroprotection and neurogenesis toward this goal. However, appropriate therapeutic agents are rarely reported, and their discovery and development are urgently needed. Selenium participates in various physiological/pathological processes, which is hypothesized as a potential targeting molecule. To explore this effect, this work formulates an ultra-small selenium nanodot with a seleno-amino acid derived carbon dot domain and a hydrophilic PEG layer, surprisingly finding that it increases various selenoproteins levels at perihematomal region, to not only exert multiple neuroprotective roles at acute phase but promote neurogenesis and inhibit glial scar formation at recovery phase. At a safe dose, this combinational strategy effectively prevents SBI and recovers neurobehavioral functions to a normal level. Furthermore, its molecular mechanisms are revealed to broaden application scopes in other complex diseases. Graphical abstract

Abstract Intravenous thrombolysis using recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) remains the primary treatment for patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). However, the mechanism of tPA-related hemorrhagic transformation (HT) remains poorly understood. Elevation of histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) expression was detected by nano-liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry at 1 h following tPA infusion as compared to baseline prior to tPA infusion (discovery cohort, n = 10), which was subsequently confirmed in a validation cohort (n = 157) by ELISA. Surprisingly, no elevation of HRG was detected in individuals who subsequently developed HT. During in vitro experiments, HRG reduced neutrophil NETosis, inflammatory cytokine production, and migration across the blood–brain barrier induced by tPA. In a photothrombotic murine AIS model, HRG administration ameliorated HT with delayed thrombolysis, by inhibiting neutrophil immune infiltration and downregulating pro-inflammatory signaling pathways. Neutrophil depletion or NETosis inhibition also alleviated HT, whereas HRG siRNA treatment exacerbated HT. In conclusion, fluctuations in HRG levels may reflect tPA therapy and its associated HT. The inhibitory effect of HRG on neutrophils may counteract tPA-induced immune abnormalities and HT in patients with AIS.

Abstract Constructing highways in deserts is expensive due to the difficulty of acquiring materials; utilizing aeolian sand effectively has become a problem, especially in the Xinjiang region, where the desert widely occurs. This paper aims to investigate the vibration response of a geocell-reinforced aeolian sand subgrade under traffic loading based on field tests of highways in deserts. The vibration acceleration response of geocell-reinforced aeolian sand and gravelly soil upper roadbed structures is tested. The field test results illustrate the effects of dynamic loading on geocell-reinforced aeolian sand roadbeds, and the thickness substitution ratio between geocell-reinforced aeolian sand roadbeds and conventional gravelly soil roadbeds is determined and verified based on the vibration acceleration monitoring values. The results show that the vibration response induced by the test vehicle is concentrated within the 30 Hz frequency band, and the higher the vibration frequency, the faster the vertical decay in the road. The vibration damping capacity of the reinforced aeolian sand roadbed is better than that of the gravelly soil roadbed; when replacing the gravelly soil roadbed with the reinforced aeolian sand roadbed, the substitution ratio is 0.31–0.42. It is verified that half thickness of gravel soil on roadbeds can be replaced by geocell-reinforced aeolian sand under different working conditions. The results of this study can provide reference data for the design of highway subgrades in deserts.

Abstract In recent years, sleep problems among college students have become increasingly prominent, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and their sleep quality has deteriorated dramatically, severely affecting their physical and mental health. Numerous research studies have investigated the relationship between mindfulness and sleep quality; however, it is still unclear what psychological process underlies this relationship. In the current study, college students’ bed procrastination and self-control as mediating factors in the association between mindfulness and sleep quality were investigated. Using the convenience sampling method, 763 Chinese college students (mean age = 19.48 years, SD = 2.06) were recruited to complete self-reported questionnaires that included the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, Self-Control Scale, Bed Procrastination Scale, and Sleep Quality Scale. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 23.0 software. Results showed that (a) mindfulness was positively associated with sleep quality; (b) both self-control and bed procrastination mediated the relationship between mindfulness and sleep quality, and (c) self-control and bed procrastination sequentially mediated the relationship between mindfulness and sleep quality. These findings collectively suggest a potential mechanism for how mindfulness influences sleep quality, providing a therapeutic target for mindfulness-based interventions aimed at helping college students improve sleep quality.

Abstract Background Extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness is closely related to the progress of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) and the response of treatment of DCM to anti-diabetic drugs. Dapagliflozin (Dapa) has been proven to have cardio-protective efficacy for diabetes and listed as the first-line drug to treat heart failure. But the regulatory relationship between ECM stiffness and treatment efficacy of Dapa remains elusive. Materials and methods This work investigated the effect of ECM stiffness on DCM progression and Dapa efficacy using both in vivo DCM rat model and in vitro myocardial cell model with high glucose injury. First, through DCM rat models with various levels of myocardial injury and administration with Dapa treatment for four weeks, the levels of myocardial injury, myocardial oxidative stress, expressions of AT1R (a mechanical signal protein) and the stiffness of myocardial tissues were obtained. Then for mimicking the stiffness of myocardial tissues at early and late stages of DCM, we constructed cell models through culturing H9c2 myocardial cells on the polyacrylamide gels with two stiffness and exposed to a high glucose level and without/with Dapa intervention. The cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and expressions of mechanical signal sensitive proteins were obtained. Results The DCM progression is accompanied by the increased myocardial tissue stiffness, which can synergistically exacerbate myocardial cell injury with high glucose. Dapa can improve the ECM stiffness-induced DCM progression and its efficacy on DCM is more pronounced on the soft ECM, which is related to the regulation pathway of AT1R-FAK-NOX2. Besides, Dapa can inhibit the expression of the ECM-induced integrin β1, but without significant impact on piezo 1. Conclusions Our study found the regulation and effect of biomechanics in the DCM progression and on the Dapa efficacy on DCM, providing the new insights for the DCM treatment. Additionally, our work showed the better clinical prognosis of DCM under early Dapa intervention.

Abstract The mammalian SWI/SNF-like BAF complexes play critical roles during animal development and pathological conditions. Previous gene deletion studies and characterization of human gene mutations implicate that the complexes both repress and activate a large number of genes. However, the direct function of the complexes in cells remains largely unclear due to the relatively long-term nature of gene deletion or natural mutation. Here we generate a mouse line by knocking in the auxin-inducible degron tag (AID) to the Smarca4 gene, which encodes BRG1, the essential ATPase subunit of the BAF complexes. We show that the tagged BRG1 can be efficiently depleted by osTIR1 expression and auxin treatment for 6 to 10 h in CD4 + T cells, hepatocytes, and fibroblasts isolated from the knock-in mice. The acute depletion of BRG1 leads to decreases in nascent RNAs and RNA polymerase II binding at a large number of genes, which are positively correlated with the loss of BRG1. Further, these changes are correlated with diminished accessibility at DNase I Hypersensitive Sites (DHSs) and p300 binding. The acute BRG1 depletion results in three major patterns of nucleosome shifts leading to narrower nucleosome spacing surrounding transcription factor motifs and at enhancers and transcription start sites (TSSs), which are correlated with loss of BRG1, decreased chromatin accessibility and decreased nascent RNAs. Acute depletion of BRG1 severely compromises the Trichostatin A (TSA) -induced histone acetylation, suggesting a substantial interplay between the chromatin remodeling activity of BRG1 and histone acetylation. Our data suggest BRG1 mainly plays a direct positive role in chromatin accessibility, RNAPII binding, and nascent RNA production by regulating nucleosome positioning and facilitating transcription factor binding to their target sites.

Abstract As the development of well types for low permeability reservoirs shifts from vertical to highly inclined/horizontal wells, targeted studies of oil and gas reservoir damage must be conducted for such well types to improve the science and effectiveness of acidification conversion. Taking into account the formation of mud cake and the dynamic damage factors caused by drilling fluid on the reservoir during horizontal well drilling, a refined dynamic description model for nonuniform damage in horizontal wells was established. The coupled simulation accounts for the dynamical destruction of the skin factor of the reservoir and the dynamical generation of the slurry. The coupled model consists of a radial mud cake dynamic formation model, a reservoir damage radius model, a permeability distribution model, and a horizontal well inhomogeneous skin factor model. It captures the dynamic evolution of reservoir damage due to drilling fluid contamination during horizontal well drilling and provides a real‐time representation of changes in the reservoir skin factor of horizontal wells, measuring the depth and extent of radial reservoir damage. Clarifying the extent of reservoir damage and its impact in horizontal well sections can help select appropriate acidification methods, improve acid distribution processes, and ultimately improve the effectiveness of mitigating reservoir damage and increasing oil and gas well productivity.

Abstract Objectives Perioperative bleeding poses a significant issue during thoracic surgery. Tranexamic acid (TXA) is one of the most commonly used antifibrinolytic agents for surgical patients. The purpose of the current study was designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of TXA in patients undergoing thoracic surgery. Methods An extensive search of PubMed, Web of Science (WOS), Cochrane Library (trials), Embase, OVID, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, and VIP electronic databases was performed to identify studies published between the inception of these databases and March 2023. The primary outcomes included perioperative blood loss and blood transfusions. Secondary outcomes of interest included the length of stay (LOS) in hospital and the incidence of thromboembolic events. Weighted mean differences (WMDs) or odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to determine treatment effects for continuous and dichotomous variables, respectively. Results Five qualified studies including 307 thoracic surgical patients were included in the current study. Among them, 65 patients were randomly allocated to the group receiving TXA administration (the TXA group); the other 142 patients were assigned to the group not receiving TXA administration (the control group). TXA significantly reduced the quantity of hemorrhage in the postoperative period (postoperative 12h: WMD = -81.90 ml; 95% CI: -139.55 to -24.26; P = 0.005; postoperative 24h: WMD = -97.44 ml; 95% CI: -121.44 to -73.44; P< 0.00001); The intraoperative blood transfusion volume (WMD = -0.54 units; 95% CI: -1.06 to -0.03; P = 0.04); LOS in hospital (WMD = -0.6 days; 95% CI: -1.04 to -0.16; P = 0.008); And there was no postoperative thromboembolic event reported in the included studies. Conclusions The present study demonstrated that TXA significantly decreased blood loss within 12 and 24 hours postoperatively. A qualitative review did not identify elevated risks of safety outcomes such as thromboembolic events. It also suggested that TXA administration was associated with shorter LOS in hospital as compared to control. To validate this further, additional well-planned and adequately powered randomized studies are necessary.

This study explores the public perception of Chinese fansubbers in an English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) world. The analysis draws from a survey gathering both quantitative and qualitative data from 327 respondents. In an ELF world, Chinese audiences have demonstrated increasing linguistic competence in their appreciation of fansubbing, which has in turn enhanced their language acquisition. While fansubbers are often seen as amateur translators when compared with their professional counterparts, this study suggests that this distinction, already somewhat blurred within academic discourse, is of little concern to the public. In addition to their role as translators, fansubbers are perceived as cultural brokers and language educators who not only teach but also inspire a new generation of viewers to engage with foreign languages, cultures and translation. The public perception of Chinese fansubbers extends beyond translation quality to include broader and more positive attributes. The findings lead to a new understanding of the social impact of fansubbers.

Abstract Non-volatile phase-change memory devices utilize local heating to toggle between crystalline and amorphous states with distinct electrical properties. Expanding on this kind of switching to two topologically distinct phases requires controlled non-volatile switching between two crystalline phases with distinct symmetries. Here, we report the observation of reversible and non-volatile switching between two stable and closely related crystal structures, with remarkably distinct electronic structures, in the near-room-temperature van der Waals ferromagnet Fe5−δ GeTe2. We show that the switching is enabled by the ordering and disordering of Fe site vacancies that results in distinct crystalline symmetries of the two phases, which can be controlled by a thermal annealing and quenching method. The two phases are distinguished by the presence of topological nodal lines due to the preserved global inversion symmetry in the site-disordered phase, flat bands resulting from quantum destructive interference on a bipartite lattice, and broken inversion symmetry in the site-ordered phase.

Abstract Arsenic (As) detoxification in polluted soils by iron-based materials can be mediated by the endogenous soil organic matter (SOM), nevertheless the mechanisms remain unclear. Herein, endogenous SOM in a paddy soil was substantially removed to understand its roles on As immobilization by biochar-supported zero-valent iron (ZVI/BC). The results demonstrated that ZVI/BC application significantly decreased As bioavailability by 64.2% compared with the control soil under the anaerobic condition. XPS and HR-TEM suggested As immobilization by ZVI/BC mainly invoked the formation of ternary complexes (i.e., As-Fe-SOM). However, SOM depletion compromised the efficacy of ZVI/BC for As immobilization by 289.8%. This is likely because SOM depletion increased the fulvic acid and OH− contents in soils. Besides, ZVI/BC increased the proportion of As(III) in available As fraction, but SOM depletion altered the mechanisms associated with As(V) reduction. That is, As(V) reduction resulted from the reductive capacity of ZVI in the pristine soil, but the As(V)-reducing bacteria contributed greater to As(V) reduction in the SOM-depleted soil. Additionally, SOM depletion boosted the abundances of Fe(III)- and As(V)-reducing bacteria such as Bacillus and Ammoniphilus in soils, which enhanced the dissimilatory arsenate reduction. Thus, this work highlighted the importance of SOM in the remediation of As-contaminated soils by ZVI/BC. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Bamboo biochar was modified by lignin impregnation and microwave irradiation to enhance its performance for CO2 capture. The pore structure of lignin-impregnated biochar was significantly affected by the impregnation ratio. The maximum specific surface area of 377.32 m2 g−1 and micropore volume of 0.163 cm3 g−1 were observed on the biochar with an impregnation ratio of 1:20 (mass ratio of lignin to biochar). Lignin impregnation increased the CO2 adsorption capacity of biochar up to 134.46 mg g−1. Correlation analysis confirmed the crucial role of biochar’s pore structure in adsorption. The Avrami model fitted the CO2 capture curves well. The calculation of adsorption activation energy suggested that the adsorption process was dominated by physical mechanism assisted with partial chemical mechanism. Meanwhile, Langmuir isotherm analysis indicated that lignin impregnation transformed the larger pores of biochar into more uniform micropores, thereby making the adsorption process closer to monolayer adsorption. Both the high reusability (89.79–99.06%) after 10 successive cycles and the excellent CO2 selectivity in competitive adsorption confirmed that lignin-impregnated biochar is an outstanding adsorbent for CO2 capture. Graphical Abstract

Abstract The combination of a geometrically frustrated lattice, and similar energy scales between degrees of freedom endows two-dimensional Kagome metals with a rich array of quantum phases and renders them ideal for studying strong electron correlations and band topology. The Kagome metal, FeGe is a noted example of this, exhibiting A-type collinear antiferromagnetic (AFM) order at T N ≈ 400 K, then establishes a charge density wave (CDW) phase coupled with AFM ordered moment below T CDW ≈ 110 K, and finally forms a c-axis double cone AFM structure around T Canting ≈ 60 K. Here we use neutron scattering to demonstrate the presence of gapless incommensurate spin excitations associated with the double cone AFM structure of FeGe at temperatures well above T Canting and T CDW that merge into gapped commensurate spin waves from the A-type AFM order. Commensurate spin waves follow the Bose factor and fit the Heisenberg Hamiltonian, while the incommensurate spin excitations, emerging below T N where AFM order is commensurate, start to deviate from the Bose factor around T CDW, and peaks at T Canting. This is consistent with a critical scattering of a second order magnetic phase transition with decreasing temperature. By comparing these results with density functional theory calculations, we conclude that the incommensurate magnetic structure arises from the nested Fermi surfaces of itinerant electrons and the formation of a spin density wave order.

Reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) is a promising technology for future 6G communications and has been used to enhance secrecy performance. However, the performance improvement is restricted by the “double fading” effect of the reflection channel link. To address this issue, we introduce an active RIS design, where the reflecting elements of RIS not only adjust the phase shift but also amplify the reflected signal through the amplifier integrated into its elements. To obtain a satisfactory solution to the non-convex problem resulting from this design, the penalty dual decomposition based alternating gradient projection (PDDAPG) method is proposed. We compare the proposed algorithm with decoupling-fraction-based alternating optimization (DFAO). Specifically, the complexity of the proposed algorithm grows linearly with the number of reflective units in the RIS, while the complexity of the benchmark algorithm increases with the power of 4.5 times the number of reflective units. To further address the quality of service (QoS) constraints regarding the information rate requirements of users, we apply the fractional programming (FP) method and the successive convex approximation (SCA) method to optimize the precoder of the base station (BS) and the active beamformers of the phase shifts. The simulation results have demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed PDDAPG method. Moreover, the active RIS can effectively mitigate the influence of “double fading” effects and achieve higher energy efficiency (EE) compared to passive RIS.

The heterogeneity of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) poses a barrier to effective treatment. Stratifying highly heterogeneous HCC into molecular subtypes with similar features is crucial for personalized anti-tumor therapies. Although driver genes play pivotal roles in cancer progression, their potential in HCC subtyping has been largely overlooked. This study aims to utilize driver genes to construct HCC subtype models and unravel their molecular mechanisms. Utilizing a novel computational framework, we expanded the initially identified 96 driver genes to 1192 based on mutational aspects and an additional 233 considering driver dysregulation. These genes were subsequently employed as stratification markers for further analyses. A novel multi-omics subtype classification algorithm was developed, leveraging mutation and expression data of the identified stratification genes. This algorithm successfully categorized HCC into two distinct subtypes, CLASS A and CLASS B, demonstrating significant differences in survival outcomes. Integrating multi-omics and single-cell data unveiled substantial distinctions between these subtypes regarding transcriptomics, mutations, copy number variations, and epigenomics. Moreover, our prognostic model exhibited excellent predictive performance in training and external validation cohorts. Finally, a 10-gene classification model for these subtypes identified TTK as a promising therapeutic target with robust classification capabilities. This comprehensive study provides a novel perspective on HCC stratification, offering crucial insights for a deeper understanding of its pathogenesis and the development of promising treatment strategies.

Abstract The widespread organic pollutants in wastewater are one of the global environmental problems. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are widely used because of their characteristics of high efficiency and strong oxidation. However, AOPs may have some defects, such as incomplete mineralization of organic pollutants and the generation of toxic by-products during the degradation process, thus it is essential to seek efficient and green wastewater treatment technologies. Coupling different AOPs or other processes is beneficial for the mineralization of pollutants and reduces ecological risks to the environment. It is worth noting that carbonaceous materials (CMs) have received widespread attention and application in the degradation of organic pollutants in water by advanced oxidation coupling processes (C-AOPs) due to their excellent physicochemical properties in recent years. However, the behaviors and mechanisms of C-AOPs based on CMs on the degradation of organic pollutants are still unknown. Therefore, it is essential to comprehensively summarize the recent research progress. In this review, the applications of different CMs in C-AOPs were reviewed first. Secondly, the synergistic mechanisms of the C-AOPs based on different CMs were discussed. Then, toxic intermediates were explored and important toxicity assessment methods were proposed. Finally, the application potential of the C-AOPs in the future and the challenges were proposed. This review provides an important reference for the application and optimization of the C-AOPs in organic wastewater treatment in the future. Graphical Abstract

Abstract In this work, we report the monolithic three-dimensional integration (M3D) of hybrid memory architecture based on resistive random-access memory (RRAM), named M3D-LIME. The chip featured three key functional layers: the first was Si complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) for control logic; the second was computing-in-memory (CIM) layer with HfAlOx-based analog RRAM array to implement neural networks for feature extractions; the third was on-chip buffer and ternary content-addressable memory (TCAM) array for template storing and matching, based on Ta2O5-based binary RRAM and carbon nanotube field-effect transistor (CNTFET). Extensive structural analysis along with array-level electrical measurements and functional demonstrations on the CIM and TCAM arrays was performed. The M3D-LIME chip was further used to implement one-shot learning, where ~96% accuracy was achieved on the Omniglot dataset while exhibiting 18.3× higher energy efficiency than graphics processing unit (GPU). This work demonstrates the tremendous potential of M3D-LIME with RRAM-based hybrid memory architecture for future data-centric applications.

Abstract Background Spinal cord ischemia–reperfusion injury (SCII) is a catastrophic event, which can cause paraplegia in severe cases. In the reperfusion stage, oxidative stress was up-regulated, which aggravated the injury and apoptosis of neurons. As the main active ingredient of garlic, diallyl trisulfide (DATS) displays strong antioxidant capacity. However, it is unknown whether DATS can protect the neurons of SCII. Materials and methods In this study, the descending aorta at the distal end of the left subclavian artery was ligated and perfused again after 14 min. Samples including blood and spinal cord (L2–L5) were taken 24 h later for morphological and biochemical examination. Results After SCII, the rats showed motor dysfunction, increase apoptosis, malondialdehyde content, mitochondrial biogenesis and dynamic balance disorder. After the application of DATS, the adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase (AMPK) was activated, the mitochondrial damage was improved, the oxidative stress was weakened, and the neuronal damage was recovered to some extent. However, the addition of compound C significantly weakened the protective effect of DATS. Conclusion Oxidative stress caused by mitochondrial damage was one of the important mechanisms of neuronal damage in SCII. DATS could activate AMPK, stabilize mitochondrial biogenesis and dynamic balance, and reduce neuronal damage caused by oxidative stress.

Abstract This study aims to investigate the association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) and continuous glucose monitoring-assessed short-term glycemic variability (GV) and HbA1c among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We conducted a cross-sectional study recruiting 325 patients. The association between 25OHD and GV metrics (mean amplitude of glycemic excursions [MAGE], coefficient of variation [CV], standard deviation of sensor glucose [SD], and TIR) and HbA1c were analyzed using multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses. The 25OHD level and GV metrics showed significant differences among HbA1c groups (P

In direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation with sensor arrays, the background noise is usually modeled to be uncorrelated uniform white noise, such that the related algorithms can be greatly simplified by making use of the property of the noise covariance matrix being a diagonal matrix with identical diagonal entries. However, this model can be easily violated by the nonuniformity of sensor noise and the presence of outliers that may arise from unexpected impulsive noise. To tackle this problem, we first introduce an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) model for DOA estimation in nonuniform noise. Then, to deal with the outliers, a generalized extreme Studentized deviate (ESD) test is applied for outlier detection and trimming. Based on the trimmed data matrix, a modified EFA model, which belongs to weighted least-squares (WLS) fitting problems, is presented. Furthermore, a monotonic convergent iterative reweighted least-squares (IRLS) algorithm, called the iterative majorization approach, is introduced to solve the WLS problem. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm offers improved robustness against nonuniform noise and observation outliers over traditional algorithms.

Background: The COVID-19 outbreak has profoundly affected the psychological well-being of university students globally. Previous studies have found a positive longitudinal link between fear of COVID-19 (FoC-19) and internet addiction. However, there is a notable gap in the literature regarding COVID-19-specific predictors and underlying mechanisms of internet gaming addiction (IGA). Methods: Integrating the compensatory internet use theory and social role theory as frameworks, a three-wave longitudinal approach was used in this study to test the hypothesized model. Data spanning a duration of one year were gathered from undergraduate students in China. From 2021 to 2022, we conducted online self-report surveys in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic to obtain participants’ levels of FoC-19, loneliness, depressive symptoms, and IGA. Results: FoC-19 showed a longitudinal positive relationship with IGA. The longitudinal link between FoC-19 and IGA was mediated by loneliness and depression. Gender moderated the direct effect of FoC-19 on IGA, with this effect being significant only among male students and not among their female counterparts. Conclusion: These findings advance our comprehension of the mechanisms and gender differences underlying the link between FoC-19 and IGA, and provide a novel perspective for interventions to reduce IGA.

With the widespread application of electrochemical energy storage technology, the safety issues of lithium-ion batteries have garnered significant attention. The issue of arc faults resulting from electrical failures is especially critical, as it can lead to catastrophic battery disasters. Therefore, this paper first established an arc testing platform and conducted experiments on top cover and body of prismatic lithium-ion batteries to analyze the thermoelectric characteristics between arc and battery. Under experimental conditions of 300 V and 15 A, it was found that arcs can induce thermal runaway in batteries. Subsequently, based on the experimental conditions, a mathematical model was established to induce thermal runaway in batteries through an equivalent method of arc heat source. By comparing the temperature curves of model and experiment, the RMSE of temperature at the center point of large surface was 5.09 °C (with a maximum temperature of 212 °C), indicating the accuracy of the model. This paper’s research on arc faults in battery systems revealed the evolution pattern and realized that arcs can trigger thermal runaway in batteries. The model for arc-triggered thermal runaway in batteries is highly accurate, capable of reducing the number of experiments, accelerating experimental progress, and is of significant importance for guiding the design of arc experiments about batteries.

The intricate relationships between plants and insects are essential for understanding ecological dynamics. Among these interactions, HIPVs serve as a pivotal defense mechanism. Our findings reveal the highly conserved nature of the GOX gene within the Lepidoptera order, highly expressed in the salivary glands of S. frugiperda, and its role in mediating maize’s defense responses. Notably, salivary GOX activity expression significantly decreases subsequent gene knockout. The presence of GOX in the saliva of S. frugiperda significantly modulates the emission of HIPVs during maize consumption. This research delineates that GOX selectively inhibits the emission of certain green leaf volatiles (GLVs) while concurrently enhancing the release of terpene volatiles. This study unveils a novel mechanism whereby S. frugiperda utilizes GOX proteins in OS to modulate volatile emissions from maize, offering fresh perspectives on the adaptive evolution of phytophagous insects and their interactions with their preferred host plants.

Background: There is currently no consensus regarding the optimal perioperative antiplatelet strategy for carotid artery surgery. This multicentre study aimed to analyse the association between preoperative aspirin monotherapy following postoperative dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) and the risk for stroke and death after carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Methods: This cohort study included 821 patients with carotid artery stenosis who underwent CEA. Primary outcomes included any stroke or death up to the one-month postoperative follow-up. Multilevel multivariate regression analyses and descriptive statistics were performed. Results: Patients were predominantly male (53 %), with a mean age of 66.2 years. The primary outcome occurred in 1.6 % of patients. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exhibited a high risk for stroke or death (P = 0.011). The occurrence of any local complications in the neck was accompanied by an increase in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (P = 0.007). Patients with a high systolic blood pressure (SBP) (P = 0.002) experienced a longer operative duration. The length of hospital stay was longer in the patients with COPD (P = 0.020), minor stroke (P = 0.011), and major stroke (P = 0.001). A positive linear correlation was found between SBP and operative duration in the overall population (β 0.4 [95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.1–0.7]; P = 0.002). The resultant curve for DBP and any local complications in the neck exhibited a two-stage change and one breakpoint in the entire population (k = 68 mmHg,

Silver nanowires (AgNWs) deposited on plastic substrates show potential as electrodes for flexible electronics but face challenges due to high surface roughness and poor compatibility with organic plastics. To overcome these issues, this study incorporates calcium alginate, a cross-linked polymer binder, into the electrodes through the cross-linking of sodium alginate with calcium chloride. This method offers several advantages. Firstly, calcium alginate fills the gaps between AgNWs, reducing surface roughness. Additionally, Cl− ions aid in the welding of AgNW junctions, enhancing conductivity. Furthermore, the carboxylate and hydroxyl groups in calcium alginate establish robust interactions with both AgNWs and plastic substrates, bolstering electrode durability. The resulting electrodes exhibit favorable characteristics, including a reduced roughness of 8.4 nm, a low sheet resistance of 8.3 Ω cm−2, high transmittance (91.2% at 550 nm), and exceptional resistance to air, solvents, and mechanical stress. Consequently, flexible organic solar cells with these electrodes display superior mechanical resilience, maintaining over 96% of their initial power conversion efficiency (PCE) even when subjected to a small fixed bending radius of 1 mm for 1,000 cycles. Furthermore, these devices even experience less than an 8% PCE decrease after 10,000 bending cycles at a radius of 2.5 mm.

Alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH) is an acute-on-chronic liver injury that occurs in patients with chronic alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD). Patients with severe AH have high short-term mortality and lack effective pharmacologic therapies. Inflammation is believed to be one of the key factors promoting AH progression and has been actively investigated as therapeutic targets over the last several decades, but no effective inflammatory targets have been identified so far. In this review, we discuss how inflammatory cells and the inflammatory mediators produced by these cells contribute to the development and progression of AH, with focus on neutrophils and macrophages. The crosstalk between inflammatory cells and liver nonparenchymal cells in the pathogenesis of AH is elaborated. We also deliberate the application of recent cutting-edge technologies in characterizing liver inflammation in AH. Finally, the potential therapeutic targets of inflammatory mediators for AH are briefly summarized.

Genetic load and inbreeding are recognized as important factors to be considered in conservation programs. Elevated levels of both can increase the risk of population extinction by negatively impacting fitness-related characters in many species of plants and animals, including humans (inbreeding depression). Genomic techniques are increasingly used in measuring and understanding genetic load and inbreeding and their importance in evolution and conservation. We used whole genome resequencing data from two sibling grouse species in subarctic Eurasia to quantify both. We found a large range of inbreeding measured as FROH (fraction of runs of homozygosity) in individuals from different populations of Chinese Grouse (Tetrastes sewerzowi) and Hazel Grouse (T. bonasia). FROH estimated from genome-wide runs of homozygosity (ROH) ranged from 0.02 to 0.24 among Chinese Grouse populations and from 0.01 to 0.44 in Hazel Grouse. Individuals from a population of Chinese Grouse residing in the Qilian mountains and from the European populations of Hazel Grouse (including samples from Sweden, Germany and Northeast Poland) were the most inbred (FROH ranged from 0.10 to 0.23 and 0.11 to 0.44, respectively). These levels are comparable to other highly inbred populations of birds. Hazel Grouse from northern China and Chinese Grouse residing in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau showed relatively lower inbreeding levels. Comparisons of the ratio between deleterious missense mutations and synonymous mutations revealed higher levels in Chinese Grouse as compared to Hazel Grouse. These results are possibly explained by higher fixation rates, mutational melt down, in the range-restricted Chinese Grouse compared to the wide-ranging Hazel Grouse. However, when we compared the relatively more severe class of loss-of-function mutations, Hazel Grouse had slightly higher levels than Chinese Grouse, a result which may indicate that purifying selection (purging) has been more efficient in Chinese Grouse on this class of mutations.

For migratory waterbirds, the quality of wintering habitat is related to spring migration and successful breeding in the next year. The availability of food resources in the habitat is critical and varies within water levels. Although the water-level fluctuations in Poyang Lake have been extremely variable interannually in recent years, the wintering waterbird populations have remained relatively stable. Hence, the mechanism of maintaining the stability is worth exploring. This study aimed to compare the distribution of vegetation and herbivorous waterbirds in 2015–2016 and 2016–2017, focusing on three shallow sub-lakes and one main lake are. The results showed that the emergence of tubers and the growth of Carex spp. provided a continuous food supply and habitat for wintering waterbirds with a gradual decline in the water level. Shallow sub-lakes supported almost all of the tuber-eating waterbirds (1.42–1.62 × 105) and most geese (1.34–1.53 × 106). However, the main lake area, covered with Persicaria hydropiper, did not provide adequate and accessible food. This resulted in almost no distribution of tuber-eating waterbirds, with only a few geese congregating in early winter. Our results demonstrated that the shallow sub-lakes under human control provided a different environment from the main lake and are key to sustaining the successful wintering of hundreds of thousands of migratory waterbirds in Poyang Lake. Therefore, we recommend refining the anthropogenic management of the shallow sub-lakes to regulate the water level to ensure the carrying capacity of Poyang Lake.

Abstract INTRODUCTION Although the multimorbidity–dementia association has been widely addressed, little is known on the long‐term trajectory of multimorbidity (TOM) in preclinical dementia. METHODS Based on the Health and Retirement Study, burden of multimorbidity was quantified with the total number of eight long‐term conditions (LTC). Patterns of TOM before dementia diagnosis were investigated with mixed‐effects models. RESULTS In 1752 dementia cases and 5256 matched controls, cases showed higher and faster increasing predicted number of LTC than controls, with a significant case–control difference from 20 years prior to dementia diagnosis. Larger increases in number of LTC during preclinical phase of dementia were found in White participants, females, those whose age at dementia onset was younger, and those who were less educated. DISCUSSION Our findings emphasize the faster accumulation of multimorbidity in prodromal dementia than in natural aging, as well as effect modifications by age and sex. Highlights TOM increased faster in prodromal dementia than in natural ageing. Patterns of TOM by dementia status diverged at 20 years before dementia diagnosis. Patterns of TOM were modified by age and sex.

The efficacy of stem cell therapy is substantially compromised due to low cell survival rate and poor local retention post-delivery. These issues drastically limit the application of stem cells for ischemic limb therapy, which requires effective blood perfusion and skeletal muscle regeneration. Herein, based on microfluidic technology, an integrated stem cell and cytokine co-delivery system designed for functional ischemic limb salvage was constructed by first incorporating the myogenic cytokine, fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19), into microspheres composed of methacrylate gelatin (GelMA). Then adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) were highly absorbed into the porous structure of the microspheres, overcoming the insufficient loading efficiency and activities by conventional encapsulation strategy. The fabricated ADSCs/FGF19@μsphere system demonstrated a uniform size of about 180 μm and a highly porous structure with pore sizes between 20 and 40 μm. The resultant system allowed high doses of ADSCs to be precisely engrafted in the lesion and to survive, and achieved sustained FGF19 release in the ischemic region to facilitate myoblast recruitment and differentiation and myofibrils growth. Furthermore, the combination of ADSCs and FGF19 exhibited a positive synergistic effect which substantially improved the therapeutic benefit of angiogenesis and myogenesis, both in vitro and in vivo. In summary, a stem cell and cytokine co-delivery system with the properties of easy preparation and minimal invasiveness was designed to ensure highly efficient cell delivery, sustained cytokine release, and ultimately realizes effective treatment of ischemic limb regeneration.

Abstract Background Online game addiction has become a prominent public concern, particularly among emerging adults, warranting in-depth investigation. Despite prior cross-sectional research indicating a negative correlation between gratitude and online gaming addiction, a dearth of longitudinal research exists in this area. Furthermore, the underlying mechanisms that explain the link between gratitude and online gaming addiction remain poorly understood, highlighting a critical research gap in the field. Methods To bridge this gap, our study adopted a three-wave longitudinal design and constructed a multiple mediation model. Over the course of one year, data was collected from a sample of Chinese undergraduates, with 319 students participating at Time 1, 305 at Time 2, and 292 at Time 3. Participants were administered online self-report surveys, enabling the acquisition of valuable data regarding their levels of gratitude, online game addiction, self-control, and loneliness. Results The findings revealed a negative correlation between gratitude measured at Time 1 and online game addiction assessed at Time 3. Further analysis demonstrated that both self-control and loneliness played multiple mediating roles at Time 2 in the link between gratitude and online game addiction. Conclusion These research findings shed light on the underlying mechanisms between gratitude and online game addiction, which provide implications for developing interventions (e.g., interventions based on gratitude) for reducing young adults’ online game addiction.

Abstract Background Lotus corniculatus is a widely distributed perennial legume whose great adaptability to different environments and resistance to barrenness make it an excellent forage and ecological restoration plant. However, its molecular genetics and genomic relationships among populations are yet to be uncovered. Result Here we report on a genomic variation map from worldwide 272 L. corniculatus accessions by genome resequencing. Our analysis suggests that L. corniculatus accessions have high genetic diversity and could be further divided into three subgroups, with the genetic diversity centers were located in Transcaucasia. Several candidate genes and SNP site associated with CNglcs content and growth traits were identified by genome-wide associated study (GWAS). A non-synonymous in LjMTR was responsible for the decreased expression of CNglcs synthesis genes and LjZCD was verified to positively regulate CNglcs synthesis gene CYP79D3. The LjZCB and an SNP in LjZCA promoter were confirmed to be involved in plant growth. Conclusion This study provided a large number of genomic resources and described genetic relationship and population structure among different accessions. Moreover, we attempt to provide insights into the molecular studies and breeding of CNglcs and growth traits in L. corniculatus.

Abstract Objective The prognosis for patients presenting with a large ischemic core (LIC) following endovascular thrombectomy is relatively poor. This study aimed to construct and validate a nomogram for predicting 3‐month unfavorable outcome in patients with anterior circulation occlusion‐related LIC who underwent endovascular thrombectomy. Methods A retrospective training cohort and a prospective validation cohort of patients with a large ischemic core were studied. The diffusion weighted imaging related radiomic features and pre‐thrombectomy clinical features were collected. After the selection of relevant features, a nomogram predicting modified Rankin Scale score of 3–6 as an unfavorable outcome was established. The discriminatory value of the nomogram was evaluated with a receiver operating characteristic curve. Results A total of 140 patients (mean age 66.3 ± 13.4 years, 35% female) were included in this study, consisting of a training cohort (n = 95) and a validation cohort (n = 45). The percentage of patients with an mRS scores of 0–2 was 30%, 0–3 was 40.7%, and 32.9% were dead. Age, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, and two radiomic features, Maximum2DDiameterColumn and Maximum2DDiameterSlice, were identified as factors associated with unfavorable outcome in the nomogram. The nomogram demonstrated an area under the curve of 0.892 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.812–0.947) in the training dataset and 0.872 (95% CI, 0.739–0.953) in the validation dataset. Interpretation This nomogram, which includes age, NIHSS score, Maximum2DDiameterColumn, and Maximum2DDiameterSlice, may predict the risk of unfavorable outcome in patients with LIC caused by anterior circulation occlusion.

Abstract Understanding the genetic basis of rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) domestication is crucial for further improving natural rubber production to meet its increasing demand worldwide. Here we provide a high-quality H. brasiliensis genome assembly (1.58 Gb, contig N50 of 11.21 megabases), present a map of genome variations by resequencing 335 accessions and reveal domestication-related molecular signals and a major domestication trait, the higher number of laticifer rings. We further show that HbPSK5, encoding the small-peptide hormone phytosulfokine (PSK), is a key domestication gene and closely correlated with the major domestication trait. The transcriptional activation of HbPSK5 by myelocytomatosis (MYC) members links PSK signaling to jasmonates in regulating the laticifer differentiation in rubber tree. Heterologous overexpression of HbPSK5 in Russian dandelion (Taraxacum kok-saghyz) can increase rubber content by promoting laticifer formation. Our results provide an insight into target genes for improving rubber tree and accelerating the domestication of other rubber-producing plants.

Abstract Background The prevalence of microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasing. The effect of lipid profiles on diabetic microvascular complications remains debated. This research aimed to study the correlation between lipid profiles and microvascular complications. Methods This retrospective cross-sectional study included 1096 T2DM patients. The patients were divided into the control, diabetic retinopathy (DR), nephropathy (DKD), and peripheral neuropathy (DPN) groups based on the existence of corresponding complications. The lipid profiles were analyzed, and the effect on complications was assessed by logistic regression. Results Compared with the control group, the diabetic microvascular complications group had a higher dyslipidemia rate. The rate of high TGs increased significantly with an increasing number of complications. High TG levels contributed to the risk of DKD, DR, and DPN [odds ratios (ORs): 2.447, 2.267, 2.252; 95% confidence interval: 1.648–3.633, 1.406–3.655, 1.472–3.445]. In the age (years) > 55, T2DM duration (years) > 10, and HbA1c (%) ≥ 7 groups, the risk of high TGs was higher for DKD (ORs: 2.193, 2.419, 2.082), DR (ORs: 2.069, 2.317, 1.993), and DPN (ORs: 1.811, 1.405, 1.427). Conclusion High TG levels increase the risk of diabetic microvascular complications, and patients with older age, longer T2DM duration, and higher HbA1c levels are recommended to keep lipid levels more strictly.

In this paper, the deformation behavior and microstructure evolution of 300M steel are comprehensively studied by using the split-Hopkinson pressure bar technology, with an emphasis on the analytical estimate of material flow and microstructure distribution subjected to high strain rate. It is found that the grains have been significantly refined due to dynamic recrystallization (DRX) and major continuous DRX supplemented by few discontinuous ones governs the microstructure evolution. The dislocation activities associated with the angle change of grain boundaries and mechanical twinning dominate the deformation mechanism of 300M steel under high strain rate. Besides, nanoparticles in the form of carbide precipitation are uniformly distributed in the deformed zone, which strengthens the material by pinning the dislocations. A thermo-mechanical coupled analytical model considering dynamic recovery and dynamic recrystallization was innovatively developed, based on which the distribution of grain size and microhardness was predicted. The results indicated that the flow behavior described by the models and the calculated grain size as well as microhardness are proven to agree well with the results of experimental analysis.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of the transverse sinus (TS) stenosis (TSS) position caused by arachnoid granulation on patients with venous pulsatile tinnitus (VPT) and to further identify the types of TSS that are of therapeutic significance for patients. Multiphysics interaction models of six patients with moderate TSS caused by arachnoid granulation and virtual stent placement in TSS were reconstructed, including three patients with TSS located in the middle segment of the TS (group 1) and three patients with TTS in the middle and proximal involvement segment of the TS (group 2). The transient multiphysics interaction simulation method was applied to elucidate the differences in biomechanical and acoustic parameters between the two groups. The results revealed that the blood flow pattern at the TS and sigmoid sinus junction was significantly changed depending on the stenosis position. Preoperative patients had increased blood flow in the TSS region and TSS downstream where the blood flow impacted the vessel wall. In group 1, the postoperative blood flow pattern, average wall pressure, vessel wall vibration, and sound pressure level of the three patients were comparable to the preoperative state. However, the postoperative blood flow velocity decreased in group 2. The postoperative average wall pressure, vessel wall vibration, and sound pressure level of the three patients were significantly improved compared with the preoperative state. Intravascular intervention therapy should be considered for patients with moderate TSS caused by arachnoid granulations in the middle and proximal involvement segment of the TS. TSS might not be considered the cause of VPT symptoms in patients with moderate TSS caused by arachnoid granulation in the middle segment of the TS.

UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs) are a diverse superfamily of enzymes. Insects utilize uridine diphosphate-glucose (UDP-glucose) as a glycosyl donor for glycosylation in vivo, involved in the glycosylation of lipophilic endosymbionts and xenobiotics, including phytotoxins. UGTs act as second-stage detoxification metabolizing enzymes, which are essential for the detoxification metabolism of insecticides and benzoxazine compounds. However, the UGT genes responsible for specific glycosylation functions in S. frugiperda are unclear at present. In this study, we utilized CRISPR/Cas9 to produce a SfUGT50A15-KO strain to explore its possible function in governing sensitivity to chemical insecticides or benzoxazinoids. The bioassay results suggested that the SfUGT50A15-KO strain was significantly more sensitive to chlorantraniliprole, emamectin benzoate, and benzoxazinoids than the wild-type strains. This finding suggests that the overexpression of the SfUGT50A15 gene may be linked to S. frugiperda resistance to pesticides (chlorantraniliprole and emamectin benzoate) as well as benzoxazinoids (BXDs).

Aiming at the electrical safety problem of a high-voltage lithium-ion battery system caused by an arc, and based on the establishment of a battery arc fault experimental platform, the evolution law of safety caused by an arc in the negative terminal of a battery system under different working conditions is discussed. On this basis, a battery arc evolution model based on magnetohydrodynamics is established to analyze the arc’s electro-thermal coupling characteristics to further obtain the distribution of the arc’s multi-physical field. The results show that the arc generated by the high-voltage grade battery pack will break down the cell’s shell and form a hole, resulting in electrolyte leakage. When the loop current is 10 A, the evolution law of arc voltage and current is basically the same under different supply voltages, charges, and discharges. The accuracy of the battery arc simulation model is verified by comparing the simulation with the experimental results. The research in this paper provides a theoretical basis for the electrical safety design of lithium-ion batteries caused by the arc, fills the gaps in the field of battery system arc simulation, and is of great significance for improving the safety performance of arc protection.

Abstract Background With the popularity of mobile socialization, people have become more closely connected with their phones. While people enjoy the convenience that phones bring (e.g., accessing information and socializing), they also feel anxious about missing out on certain information. Previous researches have shown that fear of missing out (FoMO) can trigger depressive symptoms, however, the underlying psychological mechanisms are not yet clear. In addition, limited research has explored this issue in the context of mobile social media. Methods To address this research gap, we surveyed 486 Chinese college students (278 males and 208 females, mean age = 19.95 years, SD = 1.14) and all participants completed a self-report questionnaire including mobile social media-related FoMO scale, phubbing scale, social exclusion scale, and the patient health questionnaire-9. The data were analyzed by SPSS24.0 and the Process macro and developed a mediating and moderating model incorporating phubbing and social exclusion. Results The results showed that (1) mobile social media-related FoMO (MSM-related FoMO) can significantly and positively predict depressive symptoms among college students; (2) phubbing partially mediates the relationship between MSM-related FoMO and depressive symptoms; (3) the direct predictive effect of MSM-related FoMO on depressive symptoms is moderated by social exclusion. Conclusion These findings are not only valuable for understanding the underlying mechanisms linking MSM-related FoMO and depressive symptoms, but also contribute to the development of psychological intervention programs (e.g., interventions based on social exclusion or phubbing) aiming at reducing college students’ depressive symptoms.

Abstract Cancer immunotherapy is revolutionizing oncology. The marriage of nanotechnology and immunotherapy offers a great opportunity to amplify antitumor immune response in a safe and effective manner. Here, electrochemically active Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 can be applied to produce FDA-approved Prussian blue nanoparticles on a large-scale. We present a mitochondria-targeting nanoplatform, MiBaMc, which consists of Prussian blue decorated bacteria membrane fragments having further modifications with chlorin e6 and triphenylphosphine. We find that MiBaMc specifically targets mitochondria and induces amplified photo-damages and immunogenic cell death of tumor cells under light irradiation. The released tumor antigens subsequently promote the maturation of dendritic cells in tumor-draining lymph nodes, eliciting T cell-mediated immune response. In two tumor-bearing mouse models using female mice, MiBaMc triggered phototherapy synergizes with anti-PDL1 blocking antibody for enhanced tumor inhibition. Collectively, the present study demonstrates biological precipitation synthetic strategy of targeted nanoparticles holds great potential for the preparation of microbial membrane-based nanoplatforms to boost antitumor immunity.

Abstract Medical imaging is an important tool for accurate medical diagnosis, while state-of-the-art image reconstruction algorithms raise critical challenges in massive data processing for high-speed and high-quality imaging. Here, we present a memristive image reconstructor (MIR) to greatly accelerate image reconstruction with discrete Fourier transformation (DFT) by computing-in-memory (CIM) with memristor arrays. A high-accuracy quasi-analogue mapping (QAM) method and generic complex matrix transfer (CMT) scheme was proposed to improve the mapping precision and transfer efficiency, respectively. High-fidelity magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) image reconstructions were demonstrated, achieving software-equivalent qualities and DICE scores after segmentation with nnU-Net algorithm. Remarkably, our MIR exhibited 153× and 79× improvements in energy efficiency and normalized image reconstruction speed, respectively, compared to graphics processing unit (GPU). This work demonstrates MIR as a promising high-fidelity image reconstruction platform for future medical diagnosis, and also largely extends the application of memristor-based CIM beyond artificial neural networks.

Abstract Magnetic order in most materials occurs when magnetic ions with finite moments arrange in a particular pattern below the ordering temperature. Intriguingly, if the crystal electric field (CEF) effect results in a spin-singlet ground state, a magnetic order can still occur due to the exchange interactions between neighboring ions admixing the excited CEF levels. The magnetic excitations in such a state are spin excitons generally dispersionless in reciprocal space. Here we use neutron scattering to study stoichiometric Ni2Mo3O8, where Ni2+ ions form a bipartite honeycomb lattice comprised of two triangular lattices, with ions subject to the tetrahedral and octahedral crystalline environment, respectively. We find that in both types of ions, the CEF excitations have nonmagnetic singlet ground states, yet the material has magnetic order. Furthermore, CEF spin excitons from the tetrahedral sites form a dispersive diffusive pattern around the Brillouin zone boundary, likely due to spin entanglement and geometric frustrations.

Abstract Crystal morphology of metal oxides in engineered metal-biochar composites governs the removal of phosphorus (P) from aqueous solutions. Up to our best knowledge, preparation of bio-assembled MgO-coated biochar and its application for the removal of P from solutions and kitchen waste fermentation liquids have not yet been studied. Therefore, in this study, a needle-like MgO particle coated tea waste biochar composite (MTC) was prepared through a novel biological assembly and template elimination process. The produced MTC was used as an adsorbent for removing P from a synthetic solution and real kitchen waste fermentation liquid. The maximum P sorption capacities of the MTC, deduced from the Langmuir model, were 58.80 mg g−1 from the solution at pH 7 and 192.8 mg g−1 from the fermentation liquid at pH 9. The increase of ionic strength (0–0.1 mol L−1 NaNO3) reduced P removal efficiency from 98.53% to 93.01% in the synthetic solution but had no significant impact on P removal from the fermentation liquid. Precipitation of MgHPO4 and Mg(H2PO4)2 (76.5%), ligand exchange (18.0%), and electrostatic attraction (5.5%) were the potential mechanisms for P sorption from the synthetic solution, while struvite formation (57.6%) and ligand exchange (42.2%) governed the sorption of P from the kitchen waste fermentation liquid. Compared to previously reported MgO-biochar composites, MTC had a lower P sorption capacity in phosphate solution but a higher P sorption capacity in fermentation liquid. Therefore, the studied MTC could be used as an effective candidate for the removal of P from aqueous environments, and especially from the fermentation liquids. In the future, it will be necessary to systematically compare the performance of metal-biochar composites with different metal oxide crystal morphology for P removal from different types of wastewater. Graphical Abstract

BackgroundInsulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) is considered a decline in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but it remains controversial that whether such reduction is attributed to obesity.AimsThis systematic review aims to explore whether IGFBP-1 is reduced in PCOS, and whether such reduction is associated with obesity.ResultsOur pooled study included 12 studies with a total of 450 participants. IGFBP-1 levels in PCOS were significantly lower than that in non-PCOS (SMD (95%CI)=-0.49(-0.89, -0.09), P=0.02). No significant difference in IGFBP-1 levels between patients with or without PCOS classified by BMI. Whilst, stratification by PCOS status revealed a significant decrease in IGFBP-1 in overweight (SMD (95%CI)=-0.92(-1.46, -0.37), P=0.001). When comparing fasting insulin in the same way, PCOS patients had significantly elevated fasting insulin level but not statistically declined IGFBP-1 after classified by BMI.ConclusionThis meta-analysis provides evidence that the decrease of IGFBP-1 in PCOS was more strongly influenced by comorbid obesity than by PCOS itself. Additionally, contrast to previous findings that insulin significantly suppresses IGFBP-1, our results suggested that the suppression of PCOS-related hyperinsulinemia on IGFBP-1 seemed diminished. Overall, our work may provide a novel perspective on the mechanism between insulin and IGFBP-1 underlying PCOS development.

Abstract Dynamically evolving adhesions between cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) transmit time‐varying signals that control cytoskeletal dynamics and cell fate. Dynamic cell adhesion and ECM stiffness regulate cellular mechanosensing cooperatively, but it has not previously been possible to characterize their individual effects because of challenges with controlling these factors independently. Therefore, a DNA‐driven molecular system is developed wherein the integrin‐binding ligand RGD can be reversibly presented and removed to achieve cyclic cell attachment/detachment on substrates of defined stiffness. Using this culture system, it is discovered that cyclic adhesion accelerates F‐actin kinetics and nuclear mechanosensing in human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs), with the result that hysteresis can completely change how hMSCs transduce ECM stiffness. Results are dramatically different from well‐known results for mechanotransduction on static substrates, but are consistent with a mathematical model of F‐actin fragments retaining structure following loss of integrin ligation and participating in subsequent repolymerization. These findings suggest that cyclic integrin‐mediated adhesion alters the mechanosensing of ECM stiffness by hMSCs through transient, hysteretic memory that is stored in F‐actin.

The pathogenesis of antibodies in severe alcoholic hepatitis (SAH) remains unknown. We analyzed immunoglobulins (Ig) in explanted livers from SAH patients (n=45) undergoing liver transplantation and tissues from corresponding healthy donors (HD, n=10) and found massive deposition of IgG and IgA isotype antibodies associated with complement fragment C3d and C4d staining in ballooned hepatocytes in SAH livers. Ig extracted from SAH livers, but not patient serum exhibited hepatocyte killing efficacy. Employing human and Escherichia coli K12 proteome arrays, we profiled the antibodies extracted from explanted SAH, livers with other diseases, and HD livers. Compared with their counterparts extracted from livers with other diseases and HD, antibodies of IgG and IgA isotypes were highly accumulated in SAH and recognized a unique set of human proteins and E. coli antigens. Further, both Ig- and E. coli-captured Ig from SAH livers recognized common autoantigens enriched in several cellular components including cytosol and cytoplasm (IgG and IgA), nucleus, mitochondrion, and focal adhesion (IgG). Except IgM from primary biliary cholangitis livers, no common autoantigen was recognized by Ig- and E. coli-captured Ig from livers with other diseases. These findings demonstrate the presence of cross-reacting anti-bacterial IgG and IgA autoantibodies in SAH livers.

AbstractIntroduction Current guidelines recommendations for the initial dose of prednisolone (PSL) in the treatment of subacute thyroiditis (SAT) are based on low-quality studies. We designed a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to compare the efficacy and safety of using a low initial dose of PSL with a standard initial dose of PSL in SAT patients.Patients and methods This open-label RCT was conducted at five hospitals in China from June 2019 to January 2022. SAT patients with moderate-to-severe pain or a poor response to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the experimental and control groups. The initial dose of PSL was 15 mg/d in the experimental group and 30 mg/d in the control group. The primary outcome was the total duration of PSL treatment, with non-inferiority prespecified with a margin of 7 days. Clinical trial registration number: ChiCTR1900023884.Results The full analysis set included 60 patients (30 in each group). The mean duration of PSL treatment in the experimental and control group was 34.62 ± 14.12 and 41.18 ± 16.89 days, respectively, meeting the non-inferiority criterion (pnon-inferiority = 0.0006). The total dose of PSL used in the experimental group was lower than in the control groups (330 vs 595 mg, p