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ObjectiveLithology identification lays the foundation for fine-scale reservoir evaluation. However, traditional identification methods generally utilize the interactive relationships between only 2‒3 logging parameters, suffering from low utilization rates of logging information and low identification accuracy for strata with small differences in logging responses. This seriously restricts the effects of old well reexamination. The efficient, intelligent CatBoost classification algorithm can fully mine the correlations between multi-source logging information and lithology. MethodsThis study investigated the Jurassic sandstone and mudstone reservoirs in the Lunnan area, Xinjiang, China. Using five logging parameters determined through sensitivity analysis, i.e., natural gamma-ray value, spontaneous potential, deep and shallow resistivity ratio, sonic interval transit time, and density, this study developed an intelligent lithology identification model based on the CatBoost algorithm. The optimized model was employed to deal with actual logging data for lithology identification, and its performance was evaluated using accuracy, precision, and recall and was then compared with the lithology identification results of the random forest (RF) and k-nearest neighbors (KNN) algorithms. Results and Conclusions The results indicate that the large-scale lithologies of the Jurassic strata in the Lunnan area include mudstones, sandstones, and conglomerates, with complex fine-scale lithologies. In the identification of the fine-scale lithologies of the target reservoir, the intelligent lithology identification model, established using the CatBoost algorithm and lithology-sensitive logging parameters, yielded an accuracy of 92.64%, significantly higher than that of the random forest model (82.95%) and the KNN model (70.16%). This result demonstrates that the CatBoost model can effectively address of the challenges of lithology identification in the study area. The results of this study will provide a scientific basis for the review and further exploration and development of old wells in the Lunnan area. Besides, these results can serve as a valuable reference for research on methods for fine-scale identification of complex lithologies.

Constructing a macromolecular model of coal is essential for conducting in-depth investigations into a myriad of coal-related physical processes and chemical reactions. These processes include the adsorption behavior of coalbed methane (CBM), the pyrolysis mechanisms of coal, and alterations in the microscopic wettability of coal dust. Such research has profound implications for the advancement of CBM mining and the coal chemical industry. Coal is a complex polymer. The cornerstone of constructing the coal macromolecular structure model lies in developing the optimization mechanism and validation methods, which collectively form the foundation for this molecular model. This paper highlights the critical significance and merits of employing molecular simulation techniques for the construction, optimization, and validation of coal macromolecular structure models. These techniques encompass molecular mechanics, molecular dynamics, and quantum mechanics. It also analyzes recent developments in classical coal macromolecular structure models and explores the potential applications of molecular simulation in this domain.

This study investigated the interaction between arachin and eight common polyphenols—ferulic acid, resveratrol, hesperidin, catechin, quercetin, curcumin, gallic acid, and myricetin. The interaction patterns of these polyphenols with arachin were analyzed using UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy, with a focus on their effects on protein structure, surface hydrophobicity and solubility. UV-visible spectroscopy revealed that the polyphenols altered the microenvironment surrounding the amino acid residues of arachin, leading to changes in its molecular conformation. Fluorescence spectroscopy identified static quenching as the quenching mechanism of polyphenols on arachin, with resveratrol and catechin demonstrating the highest binding affinity. Additionally, catechin, myricetin, and gallic acid were observed to form high-molecular-weight polymers with arachin through covalent cross-linking, verified by SDS-PAGE. Fourier infrared spectroscopy showed that polyphenols induced various conformational changes in arachin, notably increasing the proportion of α-helix, with the maximum rise reaching 36.33%. The polyphenols decreased the surface hydrophobicity and solubility of arachin, with the lowest levels dropping to 19.92 µg and 51.7%, respectively. In conclusion, the interaction between the eight polyphenols and arachin induced diverse alterations to the conformation and physicochemical properties of arachin. This study offers a scientific basis and theoretical guidance for the further processing and utilization of polyphenols and arachin.

ObjectiveTo analyze the spatiotemporal clustering of anthrax cases in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region from 2019 to 2022 and to perform molecular typing of 14 strains of Bacillus anthracis (B. anthracis) isolated during the same period. MethodsData on anthrax cases reported in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (Ningxia) from 2019 to 2022 were collected, and spatiotemporal cluster analysis was performed using SaTScan software with districts and counties as units. A total of 14 strains of B. anthracis isolated from local anthrax cases from 2019 to 2021 were subjected to molecular typing analysis using canonical single nucleotide polymorphisms (CanSNPs), twenty-five marker multilocus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA-25), and single nucleotide repeat (SNR-4) methods. ResultsA total of 80 anthrax cases, all of which were cutaneous anthrax, were reported in Ningxia during the 3-year period. SaTScan spatiotemporal cluster analysis revealed a spatiotemporal cluster in north-central Ningxia from 2021 to 2022, with a primary cluster in Yongning county [P < 0.01, relative risk (RR) = 13.83] and secondary clusters in Lingwu city and Litong district (P = 0.022, RR = 3.47). The genetic relationships of the 14 B. anthracis strains isolated during the same period were defined as: A.Br 001/002 subgroup, 6 different MLVA genotypes within A3.b gene cluster, of which 3 common genotypes were defined as 2, 3, and 5 PHANA genotypes, respectively, by SNR-4 analysis; SNR-4 analysis showed 12 SNR genotypes. ConclusionThe incidence of anthrax in Ningxia showed an increasing trend from 2019 to 2022. One of the reasons for the formation of spatiotemporal clusters of anthrax in 2021 – 2022 may be the formation and development of natural foci. Molecular typing revealed that the genetic relationship of the strains isolated in Ningxia from 2019 to 2022 was relatively homogeneous, with abundant genetic diversity within the same genetic relationship.

Abstract The norovirus (NoV) genome is diverse. Therefore, this study explored the epidemiological characteristics and genetic features of NoV in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China, from 2011 to 2022 to clarify the genetic diversity in this region. Stool samples were screened for NoV and then sequenced and genotyped. In total, 1,788 of 13,083 specimens were NoV -positive (13.67%); 204 (1.56%) and 1,584 (12.11%) cases were GI and GII, respectively. Additionally, 559 were NoV infection with other viruses (4.27%), primarily with rotavirus (277/559, 49.55%). The NoV incidence rate was the highest among children aged 0–2 years (18.09%, 1054/5,828) and lowest among adults aged 45–64 years (110/1,495, 7.36%); it was also higher in the winter and spring than in the other seasons. GI.3[P3] was the dominant GI genotype. The dominant GII genotype changed roughly every two years. In the GII group, GII.4 was the most common genotype (46.79%), followed by GII.3 (21.34%), GII.2 (12.34%), and GII.17 (9.77%). There were three variants of GII.4 Den Haag, GII.4 New Orleans and GII.4 Sydney identified in the detected GII.4 strains, with GII.4 Sydney dominating. The GII.4 (87.36%), GII.3 (86.35%), and GII.2 (72.92%) strains were primarily detected in children, whereas it was the GII.17 (52.63%) strain in adults. Overall, the NoV genotypes in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region were diverse. Primarily, GII groups were dominant, but this changed over time.

The Chinese medicine residue (CMR) is composed of wet substances, so using hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) to recover renewable energy from the residue is a suitable treatment method. Chromium (Cr), a kind of heavy metal element, is enriched in hydrochar and severely restricts its effective utilization. An in-depth analysis of the migration path and mechanism of Cr in hydrochar is helpful in promoting energy utilization for CMR. Here, licorice, a significant Chinese medicine, was selected as the example to analyze the evolutions of its pore and chemical structures and their effects on the migration mechanism of Cr during the HTC process. The products obtained under various HTC conditions were analyzed using nitrogen adsorption, FTIR, and 13C NMR. The results show that, considering reaction time and relevant reactions as the primary factors during the HTC process, the migration pathway of Cr in hydrochar undergoes two stages, and they are the accompanying migration stage and the recovery aggregation stage. Active adsorption sites for Cr may exist within the pore structure of hydrochar. In the HTC process, hydrolysis, decarboxylation, and decarbonylation reactions are the direct drivers of Cr migration, while aromatization is the underlying cause of Cr recovery and aggregation. It is hypothesized that Cr catalyzes the acetylene cyclotrimerization reaction, thereby promoting the formation of aromatic structures in hydrochar and integrating into the hydrochar carbon skeleton.

IntroductionMotion blur, primarily caused by rapid camera movements, significantly challenges the robustness of feature point tracking in visual odometry (VO).MethodsThis paper introduces a robust and efficient approach for motion blur detection and recovery in blur-prone environments (e.g., with rapid movements and uneven terrains). Notably, the Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) is utilized for motion blur detection, followed by a blur selection and restoration strategy within the motion frame sequence. It marks a substantial improvement over traditional visual methods (typically slow and less effective, falling short in meeting VO’s realtime performance demands). To address the scarcity of datasets catering to the image blurring challenge in VO, we also present the BlurVO dataset. This publicly available dataset is richly annotated and encompasses diverse blurred scenes, providing an ideal environment for motion blur evaluation.

Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) persistence and potential harm have become more widely recognized in the environment due to its fast-paced research. However, the bibliometric review on the detection, research hotspot, and development trend of environmental ARGs has not been widely conducted. It is essential to provide a comprehensive overview of the last 30 years of research on environmental ARGs to clarify the changes in the research landscape and ascertain future prospects. This study presents a visualized analysis of data from the Web of Science to enhance our understanding of ARGs. The findings indicate that solid-phase extraction provides a reliable method for extracting ARG. Technological advancements in commercial kits and microfluidics have facilitated the efficacy of ARGs extraction with significantly reducing processing times. PCR and its derivatives, DNA sequencing, and multi-omics technology are the prevalent methodologies for ARGs detection, enabling the expansion of ARG research from individual strains to more intricate microbial communities in the environment. Furthermore, due to the development of combination, hybridization and mass spectrometer technologies, considerable advancements have been achieved in terms of sensitivity and accuracy as well as lowering the cost of ARGs detection. Currently, high-frequency terms such as “Antibiotic Resistance, Antibiotics, and Metagenomics” are the center of attention for study in this area. Prominent topics include the investigation of anthropogenic impacts on environmental resistance, as well as the dynamics of migration, dissemination, and adaptation of environmental ARGs, etc. The research on environmental ARGs has made significant advancements in the fields of “Microbiology” and “Biotechnology Applied Microbiology”. Over the past decade, there has been a notable increase in the fields of “Environmental Sciences Ecology” and “Engineering” with a similar growth trend observed in “Water Resources”. These three domains are expected to continue driving extensive study within the realm of environmental ARGs.

Wound dressings play a critical role in promoting healing by protecting wounds from external contaminants and providing an optimal environment for tissue regeneration. Traditional dressings, such as gauze and cotton, offer basic physical barriers but lack the ability to maintain a moist wound environment, which is essential for healing. Modern dressings, particularly those incorporating electrospun nanofibers, have emerged as advanced solutions that can sustain moisture, absorb exudate, and support cell growth and migration. This Review covers recent advances in electrospinning technologies and the design of composite materials that integrate natural and synthetic polymers, bioactive agents, and nanomaterials to enhance wound healing. In addition, it highlights key studies demonstrating the efficacy of these composites in various wound models. The primary objective of this Review is to inspire and guide future research endeavors, address existing limitations, and shed light on the promising research prospects in the field of wound healing and tissue regeneration.

Abstract Background Although previous studies have found that parenting style significantly predicts emotional and behavioral problems (EBPs) among Chinese adolescents, the mechanism between different parenting styles and EBPs requires in-depth investigation. In our study, we aimed to investigate the mediating effect of resilience, a positive psychological characteristic, between parenting style and EBPs among Chinese adolescents. Methods In this cross-sectional study, we used a multistage stratified cluster random sampling method to collect data in Shenyang, Liaoning Province from November to December 2019. Self-developed questionnaires were distributed to 1028 adolescents aged 10–18. Finally, the study consisted of 895 participants. The bootstrap method was used to investigate the role of resilience as a mediator in the relationship between different parenting styles and EBPs from a positive psychology perspective. Results The mean score of EBPs was 12.71 (SD = 5.77). After controlling for variables such as gender, age, left-behind children, family type and family income, resilience partially played a mediating role in the associations of paternal rejection (a × b = 0.051 BCa95%CI:0.023,0.080), maternal rejection (a × b = 0.055 BCa95%CI: 0.024, 0.086), paternal emotional warmth (a × b = -0.139 BCa95%CI: -0.182, -0.099) and maternal emotional warmth (a × b = -0.140 BCa95%CI: -0.182, -0.102), with EBPs. The effect sizes were11.28%, 11.51%, 40.76%, and 38.78%, respectively. Conclusions Resilience could partially mediate the relationship between parenting style and EBPs, highlighting that parents should adopt a positive parenting style and that resilience improvement could be effective in reducing EBPs among Chinese adolescents.

Dissimilar steel welded structures are commonly used in the marine engineering field. Owing to the scarcity of in-depth investigation into the intricate pattern of residual stress distribution in welding within 316L/Q345 dissimilar steel welded joints and methods for reducing this stress, a platform-based vibratory stress relief (VSR) experimental system was established to comprehensively study the effects of VSR on the mechanical properties and microstructure of 316L/Q345 welded structures. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the fracture morphology and explore the intrinsic mechanisms by which VSR enhances the mechanical properties of welded joints. The findings suggest that VSR is capable of significantly homogenizing and diminishing the welding residual stress within the heat-affected area of 316L/Q345 mismatched steel welded specimens. The significant reduction in residual stress after VSR can primarily be attributed to the combination of alternating stress applied by the VSR platform and the welding residual stress, which exceeded the yield limit of the metal materials. Furthermore, the significant reduction in residual stress, refinement of second-phase particles, and changes in fracture mechanisms are the main reasons for the increased strength observed after VSR. This study has significant engineering application value, providing a theoretical basis for the use of VSR treatment to enhance the reliability of the safe operation of marine engineering equipment.

ObjectiveThis study aims to examine the nutritional status of individuals diagnosed with esophageal cancer and compare the nutritional indicators and intestinal flora between malnourished and non-malnourished patients. The findings aim to contribute to the early prevention of malnutrition and the development of interventions targeting the intestinal flora to treat esophageal cancer.MethodsAn 80-patient sample of hospitalized individuals with esophageal cancer was selected from the radiotherapy department of our hospital between July 2021 and July 2022 to evaluate NRS2002 scores and PG-SGA scores. This cross-sectional analysis aimed to examine the disparities in dietary nutrient intake, blood indicators, body composition, and fecal intestinal flora between malnourished and non-malnourished patients with esophageal cancer. Additionally, we randomly selected 40 cases to predict and analyze the relationship between intestinal flora and malnutrition.ResultsThe incidence of nutritional risk and malnutrition in patients with esophageal cancer was 62.5% and 60%, respectively. The low intake of carbohydrates and dietary fiber in the malnutrition group was statistically significant compared to those in the non-malnutrition group (P < 0.05). The albumin (ALB) level was lower in the malnutrition group than in the non-malnutrition group, while the C-reactive protein (CRP) level was higher; these differences were also statistically significant (P < 0.05). The basal metabolic rate, phase angle, body cell mass, muscle mass, skeletal muscle index, and fat-free mass index in the malnutrition group all decreased compared to the non-malnutrition group. The extracellular water/total body water was higher than that in the non-malnutrition group, which was also statistically significant (P < 0.05). As shown by 16S rDNA sequencing of fecal intestinal flora, there was no significant difference in α and β diversity between the malnutrition and non-malnutrition groups; at the genus level, significant differences were observed for Selimonas, Clostridioides, Dielma, Lactobacillus, and [Eubacterium]_siraeum_group. However, Dielma, Sellimonas, and Clostridioides were significantly lower in the malnutrition group than in the non-malnutrition group, while Anaerococcus, Atopobium, Eubacterium_siraeum_group, and Lactobacillus were significantly higher in the malnutrition group. Correlation analysis between different genera and clinical indicators showed that Lactobacillus was positively correlated with ALB, dietary energy, intracellular water/total body water (ICW/TBW), phase angle (PA), muscle mass (MM), skeletal muscle mass (SMM), body cell mass (BCM), basal metabolic rate (BMR), appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASMM), total body water (TBW), fat-free mass index (FFMI), skeletal muscle index (SMI), fat-free mass (FFM), Weight, body mass index (BMI) (r > 0, P < 0.05), but negatively correlated with PG-SGA score, NRS2002 score, and extracellular water/total body water (ECW/TBW) (r < 0, P < 0.05). Based on PG-SGA, there was only a low accuracy for identifying nutrient deficiency (most areas under curve (AUC) values fell within 0.5 to 0.7, or even lower), with Lachnoclostridium's AUC being 0.688 (CI = 0.518–0.858) and Lactobacillus_salivarius_g_Lactobacillus's AUC being 0.257 (CI = 0.098–0.416). A KEGG functional analysis based on 16S data indicated potential differences affecting glucose metabolism pathways and the synthesis or division of DNA, influencing the onset, development, and prognosis of esophageal cancer patients.ConclusionEsophageal cancer patients are more likely to be malnourished. The nutritional status of these patients is closely linked to the intake of carbohydrates and fiber, albumin levels, inflammation levels, and lean body mass. Furthermore, the patient's intestinal flora composition plays a significant role in their nutritional well-being. Consequently, modulating the intestinal flora holds promise as a potential therapeutic approach for addressing malnutrition in esophageal cancer patients.Clinical trial registrationChiCTR2100048141

Abstract Background The effect of SPP1 in squamous cell carcinoma of the penis (PSCC) remained unknown. We attempted to clarify the function of the SPP1 gene in PSCC. Method Eight paired penile cancer specimens (including penile cancer tissue, paracancerous tissue, and positive lymph node tissue) subjected to whole transcriptome sequencing were analysed to identify differentially expressed genes. We used immunohistochemistry to detect the expression of SPP1 protein and immune cell related proteins in penile cancer tissue. Then, we performed weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify the genes related to SPP1 in penile cancer tissue and positive lymph node tissue. Based on the GSE57955 dataset, the CIBERSORT and ssGSEA algorithms were carried out to investigate the immune environment of PSCC. GSVA analysis was conducted to identify the signaling pathways related to SPP1 subgroups. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was adopted to detect SPP1 level in the serum of 60 patients with penile cancer. Results Differential analysis indicated that SPP1 was the most differentially upregulated gene in both penile cancer tissues and positive lymph node tissues. Survival analysis suggested that the prognosis of the low-SPP1 group was significantly poorer than that of the high-SPP1 group. Subsequently, immune-related bioinformatics showed that SPP1 was significantly associated with B cells, CD8 + T cells, CD4 + T cells, macrophages, helper T cells, neutrophils and dendritic cells. The immunohistochemical results showed that the high-SPP1 group was characterized by relatively high expression of CD16 and relatively low expression of CD4. GSVA analysis indicated that high-SPP1 group was significantly associated with immune-related pathways such as PD-L1 expression and the PD-1 checkpoint pathway in cancer and the TNF signaling pathway. ELISA demonstrated that the serum level of SPP1 in patients with positive lymph node metastasis of penile cancer was significantly higher than that in patients with negative lymph node metastasis of penile cancer. Conclusion Our study shows that the SPP1 gene might be an effective biomarker for predicting the prognosis and the efficacy of immunotherapy in PSCC patients.

Abstract Few‐shot segmentation (FSS) enables rapid adaptation to the segmentation task of unseen‐classes object based on a few labelled support samples. Currently, the focal point of research in the FSS field is to align features between support and query images, aiming to improve the segmentation performance. However, most existing FSS methods implement such support/query alignment by solely leveraging middle‐level feature for generalization, ignoring the category semantic information contained in high‐level feature, while pooling operation inevitably lose spatial information of the feature. To alleviate these issues, the authors propose the Iterative Segmentation Network Based on Feature Pyramid (FPIseg), which mainly consists of three modules: Feature Pyramid Fusion Module (FPFM), Region Feature Enhancement Module (RFEM), and Iterative Optimization Segmentation Module (IOSM). Firstly, FPFM fully utilizes the foreground information from the support image to implement support/query alignment under multi‐scale, multi‐level semantic backgrounds. Secondly, RFEM enhances the foreground detail information of aligned feature to improve generalization ability. Finally, ISOM iteratively segments the query image to optimize the prediction result and improve segmentation performance. Extensive experiments on the PASCAL‐5i and COCO‐20i datasets show that FPIseg achieves considerable segmentation performance under both 1‐shot and 5‐shot settings.

Modern planetary gear transmissions are often made with flexible components and operated at high or varying speed. Despite advances in understanding their dynamic performance, they remain vulnerable to problems leading—in some cases—to subsequent system failure. In this study, using angular and translational displacements as generalized coordinates, we establish lumped-parameter dynamic sub-models of the sun and planet gears that accurately consider gear-tooth dynamic behavior; we also develop reduced-order finite-element sub-models that fully consider the flexibility of the housing and carrier. Investigating the coupling between these sub-models in depth enables us to construct a complete hybrid dynamic model that can be used for coupling-dynamics analysis of flexible planetary gears under high- and variable-speed conditions. The accuracy of our planetary-gear-dynamics model is verified by comparing simulation data in the time and frequency domains to the results of experiments conducted on a planetary gear transmission system test bench specially built for this purpose. Finally, the dynamic characteristics of high-speed flexible planetary gears are studied at low speed, high speed, and high acceleration.

Lung cancer is a leading cause of mortality worldwide and shows substantial clinical and biomolecular heterogeneity. Currently, specific therapeutic strategies are lacking, so effective drug targets are urgently needed. E6AP/UBE3A is a multifaceted ubiquitin ligase that controls various signaling pathways implicated in neurological diseases and various cancers; however, its role in lung cancer is incompletely understood. Here, MCM6 was identified as an interacting partner of E6AP using the yeast two‐hybrid assay. MCM2 and MCM4 were then shown to interact with E6AP. E6AP knockout enhanced the ubiquitination of MCM2/4/6, suggesting that E6AP was not the E3 ubiquitin ligase for these three MCM proteins. Ablation of E6AP inhibited proliferation and migration, but had no significant effect on apoptosis in A549 and H1975 cells, and proliferation and migration inhibition was also observed in MCM6 knockdown cells. Furthermore, ablation of MCM6 and E6AP synergistically suppressed the proliferation and migration of A549 and H1975 cells. To verify the above findings in vivo, we established tumor models in nude mice and identified that the tumorigenicity of human lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) cells was synergistically regulated by MCM6 and E6AP. Moreover, the expression levels of MCM6 and E6AP were higher in LUAD tissues than in adjacent tissues. Furthermore, the expression levels of MCM6 and E6AP were positively correlated in human LUAD samples. Thus, our study suggests that the interaction of E6AP and MCM proteins plays an important role in the progression of LUAD, which might offer potential therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.

IntroductionAdolescent suicide is a prevalent issue globally, with various factors contributing to this phenomenon. This study aimed to investigate these factors and their interrelationships to better understand the causes of adolescent suicide and provide evidence for its prevention.MethodsThis study conducted among middle school students in Liaoning Province, China, from April to May 2016, A cross-sectional survey was administered to 1,028 students aged 10–19, using instruments such as the Behavior Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R), Children's Perception of Interparental Conflict Scale (CPIC), and revised version of Inventory of Parent Attachment (IPPA-R).ResultBinary logistic regression analysis revealed that adolescents aged 15–19, adolescents with strong perceptions of parental conflict were at high risk of suicide intention. Adolescents living in rural areas, adolescents with high mother-child attachment, adolescents with high father-child attachment were at low risk of suicide intention. Furthermore, parent-child attachment played a mediating role between two dimensions of parental conflict perception (resolved situations and response effect) and suicide intention.DiscussionThe study concludes that adolescents living in urban areas, older adolescents, adolescents with a high level of parental conflict intensity, and those with low levels of parent-child attachment are at high risk of suicide intention. parent-child attachment played a mediating role between two dimensions of parental conflict perception (resolved situations and response effect) and suicide intention. Interventions aimed at reducing family conflicts and improving parent-child relationships are recommended to decrease the incidence of adolescent suicide.

The present study used a comprehensive analysis combining headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS) to investigate changes in volatile compounds and phospholipid molecules in grilled lambs. The results revealed 19 key volatile compounds (OAV > 1) involved in the grilling process of lambs. Additionally, UPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis detected 142 phospholipid molecules in grilled lamb, with phosphatidylcholine exhibiting the highest content (36.62 %), followed by phosphatidyl ethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidyl glycerol, and phosphatidic acid. Through partial least squares analysis, 63 key differential phospholipids were identified. Principal component analysis of the key differential phospholipids and volatile compounds indicated that phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidyl ethanolamine phospholipids are the key substrates in forming volatile compounds in grilled lambs. This information is essential for precisely regulating the flavor profile, enhancing the grilling process, and minimizing the production of harmful compounds in grilled meat products.

BackgroundMany studies have investigated the efficacy of acupuncture in treating depression, but the mechanism of acupuncture for depression is still controversial and there is a lack of meta-analysis of mechanisms. Consequently, we investigated acupuncture’s efficacy and mechanism of depression.MethodsWe searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science. The SYRCLE Risk of Bias Tool was used to assess bias risk. Meta-analysis was performed using Stata 15.0 for indicators of depression mechanisms, body weight and behavioral tests.ResultsA total of 22 studies with 497 animals with depressive-like behaviors were included. Meta-analysis showed that acupuncture significantly increased BDNF [SMD = 2.40, 95% CI (1.33, 3.46); I2 = 86.6%], 5-HT [SMD = 2.28, 95% CI (1.08, 3.47); I2 = 87.7%] compared to the control group (p

Global electromagnetic induction provides an efficient way to probe the electrical conductivity in the Earth’s deep interior. Owing to the increasing geomagnetic data especially from high-accuracy geomagnetic satellites, inverting the Earth’s three-dimensional conductivity distribution on a global scale becomes attainable. A key requirement in the global conductivity inversion is to have a forward solver with high-accuracy and efficiency. In this study, a finite volume method for global electromagnetic induction forward modeling is developed based on unstructured grids. Arbitrary polyhedral grids are supported in our algorithms to obtain high geometric adaptability. We employ a cell-centered collocated variable arrangement which allows convenient discretization for complex geometries and straightforward implementation of multigrid technique. To validate the method, we test our code with two synthetic models and compare our finite volume results with an analytical solution and a finite element numerical solution. Good agreements are observed between our solution and other results, indicating acceptable accuracy of the proposed method.

The Lower Cambrian Niutitang Formation in the Northern Guizhou harbors abundant organic-rich mud shale, constituting the most significant marine shale gas reservoir in Guizhou. In this article, the reservoir characteristics of Lower Cambrian Niutitang Formation in Northern Guizhou are analyzed in terms of lithology, mineralogy, organic geochemistry, pore structure, gas content and continuous thickness of shale, and the exploration potential of shale gas in this area is evaluated. The results indicate that the content of brittle minerals in the shale of well QX1 is 65.29% to 95.22% (average of 82.10%). The total organic carbon (TOC) content ranges from 2.06% to 12.10% (average of 5.64%). The organic matter maturity (Ro) within the range of 2.29–2.67%, and the kerogen type is identified as type I. The shale samples from the Niutitang Formation have high TOC content, suitable thermal maturity, and a favorable kerogen type, suggesting good gas generation potential. The results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) show that intergranular pores, intragranular pores and microfractures are developed in the shale of well QX1, which can provide sufficient storage space for shale gas. The shale exhibits a continuous thickness of 105.66 m in the QX1 well, comprising a gas-bearing interval of 32.89 m at the top (with an effective continuous thickness of 18 m) and a hydrocarbon source rock layer of 75.78 m at the bottom. In comparison with other shale gas regions, Niutitang Formation shale in Northern Guizhou exhibits characteristics such as favorable gas generation conditions, greater storage conditions, excellent gas-bearing, strong frackability, and substantial continuous thickness, it has greater potential for shale gas exploration.

Abstract Nanosized perovskite ferroelectrics are widely employed in several electromechanical, photonics, and thermoelectric applications. Scaling of ferroelectric materials entails a severe reduction in the lattice (phonon) thermal conductivity, particularly at sub‐100 nm length scales. Such thermal conductivity reduction can be accurately predicted using the information of phonon mean free path (MFP) distribution. The current understanding of phonon MFP distribution in perovskite ferroelectrics is still inconclusive despite the critical thermal management implications. Here, high‐quality single‐crystalline barium titanate (BTO) thin films, a representative perovskite ferroelectric material, are grown at several thicknesses. Using experimental thermal conductivity measurements and first‐principles based modeling (including four‐phonon scattering), the phonon MFP distribution is determined in BTO. The simulation results agree with the measured thickness‐dependent thermal conductivity. The results show that the phonons with sub‐100 nm MFP dominate the thermal transport in BTO, and phonons with MFP exceeding 10 nm contribute ≈35% to the total thermal conductivity, in significant contrast to previously published experimental results. The experimentally validated phonon MFP distribution is consistent with the theoretical predictions of other complex crystals with strong anharmonicity. This work paves the way for thermal management in nanostructured and ferroelectric‐domain‐engineered systems for oxide perovskite‐based functional materials.

In this work, a bimetallic sulfide-coupled graphene hybrid was designed and constructed for capacitive energy storage. The hybrid structure involved decorating copper–cobalt–sulfide (CuCo2S4) nanoparticles onto graphene layers, with the nanoparticles anchored within the graphene layers, forming a hybrid energy storage system. In this hybrid structure, rGO can work as the substrate and current collector to support the uniform distribution of the nanoparticles and provides efficient transportation of electrons into and out of the electrode. In the meantime, CuCo2S4-active materials are expected to offer an evident enhancement in electrochemical activities, due to the rich valence change provided by Cu and Co. Benefiting from the integrated structure of CuCo2S4 nanoparticles and highly conductive graphene substrates, the prepared CuCo2S4@rGO electrode exhibited a favorable capacitive performance in 1 M KOH. At 1 A g−1, CuCo2S4@rGO achieved a specific capacitance of 410 F g−1. The capacitance retention at 8 A g−1 was 70% of that observed at 1 A g−1, affirming the material’s excellent rate capability. At the current density of 5 A g−1, the electrode underwent 10,000 charge–discharge cycles, retaining 98% of its initial capacity, which indicates minimal capacity decay and showcasing excellent cycling performance.

It is highly demanded to steer the charge flow in semiconductor for efficient photocatalytic environmental remediation. Herein, we designed an interfacial contact Ti3C2 MXene/ZnIn2S4 nanosheets (TC/ZISNS) Schottky heterostructure which could greatly enhance photogenerated charge separation of ZnIn2S4 (ZIS). Through TEM and XPS measurement, the strong interface coupling between 2D ZnIn2S4 nanosheets and 2D Ti3C2 MXene were explained, and the formation of Schottky heterostructure was demonstrated by electrochemical method. To investigate the photocatalytic activity of as-prepared samples, the photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) and photocatalytic oxidation degradation tetracycline hydrochloride (TC-H) experiments were carried out. The results showed that the Schottky catalyst (10%-TC/ZISNS) possessed the optimum photocatalytic efficiency. Especially, the apparent rate constant of Cr(VI) reduction with 10%-TC/ZISNS was 3.9 times than that of pure ZIS. The photocatalytic performance of 10%-TC/ZISNS toward degradation rate of TC-H was 1.8 times than that of pure ZIS. Finally, a possible mechanism for great enhancement of visible-light driven photocatalytic activity in the TC/ZISNS system was provided. On the whole, this work provided a new insight on 2D/2D contact Schottky heterostructure for enhancing photocatalytic activity.

The current assembled maize genomes cannot represent the broad genetic diversity of maize germplasms. Acquiring more genome sequences is critical for constructing a pan-genome and elucidating the linkage between genotype and phenotype in maize. Here we describe the genome sequence and annotation of A188, a maize inbred line with high phenotypic variation relative to other lines, acquired by single-molecule sequencing and optical genome mapping. We assembled a 2210-Mb genome with a scaffold N50 size of 11.61 million bases (Mb), compared to 9.73 Mb for B73 and 10.2 Mb for Mo17. Based on the B73_RefGen_V4 genome, 295 scaffolds (2084.35 Mb, 94.30% of the final genome assembly) were anchored and oriented on ten chromosomes. Comparative analysis revealed that ~30% of the predicted A188 genes showed large structural divergence from B73, Mo17, and W22 genomes, which causes high protein divergence and may lead to phenotypic variation among the four inbred lines. As a line with high embryonic callus (EC) induction capacity, A188 provides a convenient tool for elucidating the molecular mechanism underlying the formation of EC in maize. Combining our new A188 genome with previously reported QTL and RNA sequencing data revealed eight genes with large structural variation and two differentially expressed genes playing potential roles in maize EC induction.

Abstract This paper proposes an intelligent Deep Learning (DL) based approach for Data‐Driven Security‐Constrained Unit Commitment (DD‐SCUC) decision‐making. The proposed approach includes data pre‐processing and a two‐stage decision‐making process. Firstly, historical data is accumulated and pre‐processed. Then, the DD‐SCUC model is created based on the Gated Recurrent Unit‐Neural Network (GRU‐NN). The mapping model between system daily load and decision results is created by training the DL model with historical data and then is utilized to make SCUC decisions. The two‐stage decision‐making process outputs the decision results based on various applications and scenarios. This approach has self‐learning capabilities because the accumulation of historical data sets can revise the mapping model and therefore improve its accuracy. Simulation results from the IEEE 118‐bus test system and a real power system from China showed that compared with deterministic Physical‐Model‐Driven (PMD)‐SCUC methods, the approach has higher accuracy, better efficiency in the practical use case, and better adaptability to different types of SCUC problems.

Abstract Background Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in response to abiotic stresses in plants, by acting as cis- or trans-acting regulators of protein-coding genes. As a widely cultivated crop worldwide, maize is sensitive to salt stress particularly at the seedling stage. However, it is unclear how the expressions of protein-coding genes are affected by non-coding RNAs in maize responding to salt tolerance. Results The whole transcriptome sequencing was employed to investigate the differential lncRNAs and target transcripts responding to salt stress between two maize inbred lines with contrasting salt tolerance. We developed a flexible, user-friendly, and modular RNA analysis workflow, which facilitated the identification of lncRNAs and novel mRNAs from whole transcriptome data. Using the workflow, 12,817 lncRNAs and 8,320 novel mRNAs in maize seedling roots were identified and characterized. A total of 742 lncRNAs and 7,835 mRNAs were identified as salt stress-responsive transcripts. Moreover, we obtained 41 cis- and 81 trans-target mRNA for 88 of the lncRNAs. Among these target transcripts, 11 belonged to 7 transcription factor (TF) families including bHLH, C2H2, Hap3/NF-YB, HAS, MYB, WD40, and WRKY. The above 8,577 salt stress-responsive transcripts were further classified into 28 modules by weighted gene co-expression network analysis. In the salt-tolerant module, we constructed an interaction network containing 79 nodes and 3081 edges, which included 5 lncRNAs, 18 TFs and 56 functional transcripts (FTs). As a trans-acting regulator, the lncRNA MSTRG.8888.1 affected the expressions of some salt tolerance-relative FTs, including protein-serine/threonine phosphatase 2C and galactinol synthase 1, by regulating the expression of the bHLH TF. Conclusions The contrasting genetic backgrounds of the two inbred lines generated considerable variations in the expression abundance of lncRNAs and protein-coding transcripts. In the co-expression networks responding to salt stress, some TFs were targeted by the lncRNAs, which further regulated the salt tolerance-related functional transcripts. We constructed a regulatory pathway of maize seedlings to salt stress, which was mediated by the hub lncRNA MSTRG.8888.1 and participated by the bHLH TF and its downstream target transcripts. Future work will be focused on the functional revelation of the regulatory pathway.

Background. Matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP7) is markedly expressed in patients with chronic kidney disease; its expression in dialysate and role in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) have not been well established. Methods. Participants undergoing PD from June 1st, 2015, to June 30th, 2020, were involved and were followed up every 3 months for the first year and every 6 months thereafter until death, PD withdrawal, or the end of the study. Data at each follow-up point were collected and analyzed for the association with congestive heart failure (CHF), PD withdrawal, and combined endpoint. Results. A total of 283 participants were included in this study. During a median follow-up of 21 months, 20 (7%) participants died, 93 (33%) withdrew from PD, and 105 (37%) developed CHF. A significantly increased level of serum and dialysate MMP7 was observed at baseline. Dialysate MMP7 presented a good linearity with serum MMP7. Baseline serum and dialysate MMP7 levels were associated with CHF in multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models. After categorization, participants with high baseline MMP7 levels had a higher incidence of CHF (42%), and the hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 1.595 (1.023-2.488). Interestingly, participants with higher serum MMP7 levels were trended to use dialysate with higher glucose concentration. However, the ultrafiltration volumes were not significantly increased. Higher MMP7 levels were also positively associated with PD withdrawal and combined endpoint. Conclusions. The expression of MMP7 in serum and dialysate was markedly increased and was tightly associated with the risk of CHF in PD patients. This finding suggests that the measurement of MMP7 may inform strategies for managing CHF at an earlier stage.

The processing of aerial images taken by drones is a challenging task due to their high resolution and the presence of small objects. The scale of the objects varies diversely depending on the position of the drone, which can result in loss of information or increased difficulty in detecting small objects. To address this issue, images are either randomly cropped or divided into small patches before training and inference. This paper proposes a defect detection framework that harnesses the advantages of slice-aided inference for small and medium-size damage on the surface of wind turbine blades. This framework enables the comparison of different slicing strategies, including a conventional patch division strategy and a more recent slice-aided hyper-inference, on several state-of-the-art deep neural network baselines for the detection of surface defects in wind turbine blade images. Our experiments provide extensive empirical results, highlighting the benefits of using the slice-aided strategy and the significant improvements made by these networks on an ultra high-resolution drone image dataset.

The primary aim of this investigation is to identify the relationship between self-directed teams and high-performance organizations (work). Furthermore, exploring the mediating role of knowledge-sharing culture with the self-directed team and high-performance organization relationships. Moreover, this study analyzed the moderating role of a sense of organizational support in the relationship between knowledge-sharing culture and high-performance organizations. Using the PLS-SEM approach (SmartPLS 3.3.7) in this study, we obtained data from employees of high-tech enterprises listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange China to analyze this study. The present research seeks to determine the direct and indirect effects of the study-related factors on the outcome of the investigation. According to the findings, a self-directed team positively impacts knowledge sharing culture, knowledge sharing behavior, knowledge sharing strategy, and mutual trust among its members. Knowledge-sharing culture has no mediating role and its component in the relationship between independent and dependent constructs. This study also indicated that a sense of organizational support has no moderating effect on the relationship between a knowledge-sharing culture and high-performance organizations. This study may practically contribute to high-tech enterprises to develop and implement business development and proper self-directed team, knowledge-sharing culture, and sense of organizational support, and consequently, can contribute to the growth of overall high-performance organizations.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy has changed the treatment model of metastatic bladder cancer. However, only approximately 20% of patients benefit from this therapy, and robust biomarkers to predict the effect of immunotherapy are still lacking. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether immune-related genes could be indicators for the prognosis of bladder cancer patients and the effect of immunotherapy.Methods: Based on bladder cancer dataset from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and GSE48075, 22 immune microenvironment-related cells were identified by CIBERSORT. After performing a series of bioinformatic and machine learning approaches, we identified distinct tumor microenvironment clusters and three bladder cancer specific immune-related genes (EGFR, OAS1 and MST1R). Then, we constructed immune-related gene risk score (IRGRS) by using the Cox regression method and validated it with the IMvigor210 dataset.Results: IRGRS-high patients had a worse overall survival than IRGRS-low patients, which was consistent with the result in the IMvigor210 dataset. Comprehensive analysis shows that patients with high IRGRS scores are mainly enriched in basal/squamous type (Ba/Sq), and tumor metabolism-related pathways are more Active, with higher TP53 and RB1 gene mutation rates, lower CD4+/CD8+ T cell infiltration, higher M0 macrophage infiltration, and lower immunotherapy efficacy. In contrast, Patients with low IRGRS scores are mainly enriched in the luminal papillary type (LumP), which is associated with the activation of IL-17 and TNF signaling pathways, higher mutation rates of FGFR3 and CDKN1A genes, higher CD4+/CD8+ T cell infiltration content, and The level of M0 macrophage infiltration was relatively low, and the immunotherapy was more probably effective.Conclusion: Our study constructed an IRGRS for bladder cancer and clarified the immune and molecular characteristics of IRGRS-defined subgroups of bladder cancer to investigate the association between IRGRS and its potential implications for prognosis and immunotherapy.

BackgroundSleep disorders are common in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the longitudinal relationship between sleep quality and the other non-motor symptoms of PD has not been well characterized, especially in early PD.ObjectiveTo explore the value of baseline sleep quality in predicting the progression of other non-motor symptoms in early PD.Methods109 early PD patients were recruited to the study. Patients were stratified into good and poor sleepers using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Assessments performed at baseline and 1 year follow-up included the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Fatigue Severity Scale, Non-Motor Symptom Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Apathy Scale, Montreal Cognitive Assessment and detailed neuropsychological assessments. Multivariable linear regression was performed at baseline to investigate differences in clinical scores between poor and good sleepers, while multivariable regression models were used to investigate associations between sleep quality and progression of test scores at 1 year follow-up.Results59 poor sleepers and 50 good sleepers were identified. At baseline, poor sleepers had greater HADS anxiety scores (p = 0.013) [2.99 (95% CI 2.26, 3.73)] than good sleepers [1.59 (95% CI 0.75, 2.42)]. After 1 year, poor sleepers had greater fatigue (FSS scores +3.60 as compared to −2.93 in good sleepers, p = 0.007) and depression (GDS scores +0.42 as compared to −0.70, p = 0.006).ConclusionThis study shows a longitudinal association between sleep quality, fatigue, and depression in early PD patients, independent of medication effect and disease severity, this may support the hypothesis that a common serotonergic pathway is implicated in these non-motor symptoms.

Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) contributes to the development of triple-negative breast cancer. In this study, the authors show that TEM8 is expressed in VM-forming breast cancer stem cells and it promotes stemness and VM differentiation capacity through a RhoC/ROCK1/SMAD5 axis

Abstract Objective To evaluate the accuracy and safety of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) guided biopsy in the diagnosis of radiologically determined pleural based lesions. Method A prospective study was conducted on patients with radiologically determined pleural based lesions. Patients who met the inclusion criteria received pleural biopsy guided by CEUS to obtain specimens, followed by histomathological and microbiological examinations. After treatment and follow-up, surgical thoracoscopy was performed on cases with undefinite diagnosis. Result A total of 460 patients were finally included. CEUS showed internal necrosis in 72.17% cases and obvious peripheral vessels in 55.43% cases, both of which were significantly higher than the conventional ultrasound imaged (p

The abnormal deposition of the extracellular amyloid-β peptide is the typical pathological hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. Strategies to reduce the amyloid-β deposition effectively alleviate the neuronal degeneration and cognitive deficits of Alzheimer’s disease. Danggui-Shaoyao-San has been considered a useful therapeutic agent known for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. However, the mechanism of Danggui-Shaoyao-San for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease remains unclear. We investigated Danggui-Shaoyao-San’s effect on amyloidosis and neuronal degeneration in an APP/PS1 mouse model. We found Danggui-Shaoyao-San alleviated the cognitive deficits in APP/PS1 mice. Additionally, Danggui-Shaoyao-San ameliorated the neuronal degeneration in these mice. Danggui-Shaoyao-San reduced the amyloidosis and amyloid-β1-42 deposition in APP/PS1 mouse brain and down-regulated the receptor for advanced glycation end products, and up-regulated the level of low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1. However, the protein expression of the β-amyloid precursor protein, β-Secretase and presenilin-1 (PS1) in the amyloid-β production pathway, and the expression of neprilysin and insulin-degrading enzyme in the amyloid-β degradation pathway were not altered. Our findings collectively suggest that Danggui-Shaoyao-San could ameliorate the amyloidosis and neuronal degeneration of Alzheimer’s disease, which may be associated with its up-regulation lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 and down-regulation of the receptor for advanced glycation end products.

Panicum milliaceum is a specialty crop that maintains the economic stability of agriculture in arid and barren regions of the world. Predicting the potential geographic distribution of Panicum milliaceum globally and clarifying the ecological needs of Panicum milliaceum will help to advance the development of agriculture, which is important for the maintenance of human life and health. In this study, based on 5637 global distribution records of Panicum milliaceum, we used the MaxEnt model and ArcGIS software, the Beijing Climate Center Climate System Model (BCC-CSM2-MR) was selected to predict the potential global geographic distribution of Panicum milliaceum in the present and future in combination with the environmental factor variables; we evaluated the significant factors constraining the potential geographic distribution of Panicum milliaceum by combining the contributions of environmental factor variables; and we assessed the accuracy of the MaxEnt model by using AUC values and Kappa statistics. The results showed that the MaxEnt model was highly accurate, the simulation results were credible, and the total suitable area of Panicum milliaceum in the world is 4563.82 × 104 km2. The high habitat area of Panicum milliaceum is 484.95 × 104 km2, accounting for 10.63% of the total habitat area, and is mainly distributed in the United States, the Russian Federation, France, Ukraine, Australia, Germany, etc. The soil factor (hswd) was the most important environmental factor limiting the potential geographic distribution of Panicum milliaceum, followed by the precipitation factor (Precipitation of the Driest Month, bio14) and temperature factor (Mean Temperature of the Wettest Quarter, bio8). Under four future climate change scenarios, the area of the potential geographic distribution of Panicum milliaceum decreased to different extents at different levels compared to the contemporary period. Therefore, climate change may significantly affect the global distribution pattern of Panicum milliaceum cultivation in the future and thus reshape global Panicum milliaceum production and trade patterns.

The new type of coronavirus pneumonia is caused by the new type of coronavirus which appeared at the end of 2019. Because of its strong contagiousness, rapid spread and great harm, it has already given countries around the world serious effects. So far there is no clear specific drug. Scientifically grasping the development law of epidemics is extremely important for preventing and controlling epidemics. Since the latent of this epidemic are also highly contagious, traditional infectious disease models cannot accurately describe the regularity of this epidemic transmission. Based on the traditional infectious disease model, an infectious disease model with a time delay is proposed. The time difference is used to characterize the cycle of viral infection and treatment time. Using the epidemic data released in real time, firstly, through the numerical simulation parameter inversion, the minimum error is obtained; then we simulate the development trend of the epidemic according to the dynamics system; finally, we compare and analyze the effectiveness of isolation measures. This article has simulated COVID-19 and analyzed the development of the epidemic in Beijing and Wuhan. By comparing the severity of the epidemic in the two regions, early detection and isolation are still the top priority of epidemic prevention and control.

The high time-resolved spectrum of natural lightning is obtained by a slitless spectrograph. The spectrum of natural lightning is compared to the spectrum of laser-induced air plasma. The results show that the spectra of lightning and the spectra of laser-induced air plasma are similar, but they also have some differences. In the superimposed spectrum of lightning, the intensities of atomic lines are far stronger than those of ionic lines, and the continuous spectrum in the whole wavelength region is very strong. However, in the spectrum of laser-induced air plasma, the intensities of atomic lines are similar to those of ionic lines, and there is almost no continuous spectrum in the near-infrared region. In addition, the Hα line is strong in the lightning spectrum but very weak in the spectrum of laser-induced air plasma. The temperature, electron density, and conductivity are calculated, and their evolution with time is also given. The differences in the three physical parameters between lightning and laser-induced air plasma are analyzed. In addition, the reasons of spectral differences have been explained. These results will provide an important reference for the simulation of the lightning spectrum.

This study was intended to characterize six types of commercial smoked chicken products in China by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), odor-activity values (OAVs), and sensory evaluation. Results demonstrated that a total of 89 components were identified in all samples, and 34 were considered as odor-active compounds because their OAVs were greater than one. Liaocheng Chicken that smoked with fruit tree sawdust had more phenols, which contributed to the smoky aroma. Jinshan and Goubangzi Chicken that smoked with sugar had more furans which contributed the overall odor with sweety and caramel aroma. Zhuozishan and Laoting Chicken that smoked with sugar and wood chips had similar flavor and volatile compounds. Tengqiao Chicken that smoked with sugar, tea and rice had significant difference with other chicken in smoky, bittern and caramel aroma (P< .05). The diversity of these smoked chicken flavors was mainly due to the cooking culture differences.

Abstract Background Regional metastasis sometimes occurs in anatomies that are not included in traditional neck dissections. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the treatment outcomes of squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity (SCCOC) patients with unconventional metastatic lymph nodes (UMLNs) in sublingual, buccinator, and parotid anatomies. Methods This retrospective multi-institutional analysis of squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity patients with unconventional metastatic lymph nodes was performed from January 2008 to December 2015. All the included patients received surgical treatment for unconventional metastatic lymph nodes. The end point of the study was to determine the factors influencing these patients’ survival and the corresponding solutions to improve survival. Pathological grade, contralateral metastasis, extranodal extension, and other factors were collected and analyzed by logistic regression and the Cox model. Results A total of 89 patients were identified. Among these patients, 25 (28.1%) received primary treatment, 28 (31.5%) received staged (therapeutic) neck dissections, and 36 (40.4%) had recurrent or residual diseases. Altogether, 45 patients (51%) had buccinator node metastases, 31 (35%) had sublingual metastases, 12 (14%) had parotid metastases, and 1 had both buccinator and parotid metastases. Regarding regional metastases, 31 patients (34.8%) had isolated unconventional metastatic lymph nodes. Adjuvant therapies were administered to 72 (80.9%) patients, 25 (28.1%) of whom were treated with radio-chemotherapies. The overall survival rate was 38.2%. Multivariate analysis found that the subsites of unconventional metastatic lymph nodes (P = 0.029), extranodal extension in both unconventional metastatic lymph nodes (P = 0.025) and cervical lymph nodes (P = 0.015), sites of primary or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity (P = 0.035), and types of neck dissections (P = 0.025) were significantly associated with overall survival. Conclusions Unconventional metastatic lymph nodes are uncommon, yet awareness of potential unconventional metastatic lymph nodes should be heightened. Early surgical interventions are warranted in patients with sublingual or buccinator metastases, while caution should be given to those with parotid metastases. Aggressive en bloc (in-continuity) resections may be mandatory in advanced oral cancer cases for close anatomic locations with possible buccal or sublingual metastases.

Background: Serum phosphorus (SP) level is closely associated with overall mortality and cardiovascular events, while the role of SP controlled duration is not fully recognized. Here, we conducted a retrospective cohort study in our department to identify the relationship of SP controlled duration with clinical outcomes in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). Methods: PD patients in our center from January 1, 2009, to June 30, 2019, were followed up at 2-month (the first year) or 5-month (the next follow-up period) intervals, and until death, until PD withdrawal, or until June 30, 2019. Data at each follow-up point were collected from their medical records. SP levels, changed degree of SP over baseline, and SP controlled duration were analyzed with overall mortality, PD withdrawal (including death, transferred to hemodialysis, and received renal transplantation), and combined endpoint (including death, acute heart failure, cardiovascular event, and stroke). Results: A total of 530 patients entered the analysis. Of them, 456 (86.0%) had hyperphosphatemia before dialysis, and the SP levels decreased soon after dialysis. The degree of SP change over baseline was the maximum at the 3rd month after dialysis (−31.0%), and lower degree was associated with higher overall mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.012; 95% CI, 1.004–1.020; p = 0.003). The median SP controlled duration was 13 (5–28) months, and longer duration was significantly associated with lower overall mortality (HR, 0.968; 95% CI, 0.956–0.981; p < 0.001). After categorization, duration more than 12 months greatly improved overall mortality with a HR of 0.197 (0.082–0.458; p < 0.001 vs. SP never controlled group) and 0.329 (0.150–0.724; p = 0.006 vs. duration

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative brain disorder currently without satisfactory therapeutic treatments. Triggering receptors expressed on a myeloid cells-2 (Trem2) gene mutation has been reported as a powerful AD risk factor that induces Trem2 gene deletion aggravated microglia disfunction and Amyloid-β (Aβ) aggregation in the brain. The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula Danggui-Shaoyao-San (DSS) has shown therapeutic effect on alleviating the symptoms of AD. However, the neuroprotective effect and underlying mechanism of DSS against AD is still far from fully understood. Methods: Double-label immunofluorescence and Western blotting were employed to evaluate the different polarization states of mouse BV2 microglial (BV2) cells after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or interleukin (IL)-4 treatment. Trem2 over-expression lentiviral vector and Trem2 siRNA were used respectively to evaluate the effect of Trem2 on microglia polarization via detecting the proteins expression of iNOS and arginase1 (Arg1) by Western blotting while the Aβ-scavenging capacity of BV2 cells was assessed by flow cytometry. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) assay was performed to assess the effect of DSS on the viability of BV2 cells. Flow cytometry was used to investigate the effect of DSS on the Aβ-scavenging capacity of BV2 cells treated with corresponding concentration of DSS-containing serum. Protein of Trem2 and the gene expression of the M1 or M2 phenotype in BV2 cells treated with DSS after Trem2 over-expression or silence were detected by Western blot and RT-qPCR, respectively. Results: In vitro experiments. DSS exhibited anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective functions. It was found that Trem2 had an effect on inducing a shift of M1 microglia towards the M2 phenotype and enhanced the Aβ-scavenging capacity of BV2 cells, further that DSS administration relieved inflammation by engulfing Aβ through the activities of Trem2. Importantly, DSS treatment effectively increased the Aβ-scavenging capacity of BV2 cells through accelerating the shift of M1 microglia towards an M2 phenotype via increasing Trem2 expression. Conclusions: Results demonstrated that DSS promoted the clearance of Aβ through the regulation of microglia polarization via increased expression of Trem2 in BV2 cells.

The fault of power systems introduces a severe challenge in terms of fault recording analysis, and the traditional Prony method cannot perform satisfactorily in the process of signal recordings fitting caused by faults. Therefore, an improved adaptive Prony algorithm is proposed in this article to study the characteristics of fault recordings. Specifically, the search step size is taken as an adaptive variable, and the mean square relative fitting error (MSRFE) is set as the criterion. Then, a large step is employed to rapidly determine an approximate segmentation point in the initial stage of the searching process, and its horizon is gradually reduced to establish an accurate subsegment point. Finally, the Prony algorithm is deployed to analyze the subsegment fitting original signal. The proposed approach has been simulated on an assumed fault signal, and the results validate the accuracy and efficiency of the method.

Biomass-based thin film composites (TFCs) fabricated only from abundant natural resources are emerging as next-generation organic solvent nanofiltration membranes. However, most of the existing membrane fabrication processes still use toxic chemicals, harsh solvents, and fossil-based supports. We report a plant-based, green TFC membrane based solely on sustainable resources. It is the thinnest defect-free nanofilm (only 12-nm-thick) fabricated only from natural resources. Dialdehyde starch was crosslinked with priamine at the interface of a water–eucalyptol solvent system. Interfacial polymerization occurred on a biodegradable cellulose acetate support obtained using phase inversion. The membrane has an ultrathin (12-nm-thick) selective layer, and the molecular weight cut-off and permeance were fine-tuned between 366 and 624 ​g ​mol−1 and 7 and 23 ​L ​m−2 ​h−1 ​bar−1, respectively. Stable nanofiltration performance under continuous crossflow filtration was achieved for seven days. The sustainability of the membrane fabrication platform was compared with those of other platforms. Our TFC membrane fabrication platform enables the conversion of biomass-based building blocks into high-value-added products.

Background: Fo-Shou-San (FSS) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) decoction that can effectively treat vascular dementia (VD). In the face of unclear pharmacological mechanisms, we set out to validate that FSS treats chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH)-induced cognitive impairment in mice. Methods: CCH animal model caused by permanent right unilateral common carotid arteries occlusion (rUCCAO) was established to verify that FSS could treat subcortical ischemic vascular dementia (SIVD). We performed novel object recognition test and Morris water maze test, observed morphological changes via HE and Nissl staining, and detected hippocampus apoptosis by TUNEL staining and oxidative stress by biochemical assays. Ferroptosis-related markers and NRF2/HO-1 signaling-related expressions were examined via qPCR and immunofluorescence staining. Results: We found that FSS ameliorated cognitive disorders, and lessened oxidative stress by decreasing MDA and GSH-PX while increasing the reduced glutathione (GSH)/oxidized glutathione disulfide (GSSG) ratio, which are associated with ferroptosis. Additionally, FSS reduced expression of SLC7A11, GPX4, ROX and 4HNE, as vital markers of ferroptosis. Further, FSS regulated NRF2/HO-1 signaling by downregulating NRF2 and HO-1. Conclusions: Our study suggests that FSS may ameliorate chronic cerebral hypoperfusion-induced cognitive deficits through regulation of the NRF2/HO-1 pathway against ferroptosis. Taken together, our study highlights the neuroprotective efficacy of FSS.

The study of extraordinarily high organic matter content (EHOMC) is beneficial to promote the fine evaluation of shale oil and gas, but so far, there have been few studies on its mechanism. This paper carried out a comprehensive lithological and geochemical analysis of the black shales of the Wujiaping Formation in the Kaijiang-Liangping Trough. The results showed that the black shales of the Wujiaping Formation can be divided into two units (the upper and lower parts), and EHOMC occurs in its upper part. The redox-sensitive trace elements (RSTEs), MoEF-UEF covariation, and Ni/Co correlation showed that the lower part of Wujiaping Formation was a weakly restricted oxidation environment, while the upper part evolved into a sulfidation reducing environment. The productivity indicator elements (BaXS, NiXS, CuXS, P, and Mo) indicated that the upper Wujiaping Formation had higher primary productivity than the lower part. However, rare earth elements ((La/Yb)N) indicated that the deposition rate in the lower part of the Wujiaping Formation was higher than that in the upper part. In general, although the oxygenated water in the lower part of the Wujiaping Formation is not conducive to the preservation of organic matter, the high input of nutrients from land sources and the high deposition rate inhibit the decomposition of organic matter, so the lower part has a certain degree of organic matter accumulation. The sulfidation reducing environment and high paleoproductivity are the main reasons for the enrichment of organic matter in the upper part of the Wujiaping Formation. In addition, the sulfidation reducing environment and high paleoproductivity occurred during the violent upwelling at the end of Guadeloupe, a period of high sea level, these factors have jointly contributed to the enrichment of OM in the upper the Wujiaping Formation.

The volatile compounds in Jinhua ham samples after different aging times were characterized using solvent-assisted flavor evaporation (SAFE), solid-phase microextraction (SPME), and needle trap (NT) extraction methods combined with gas chromatography–time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC–TOF/MS). Hundreds of aroma compounds were identified, including aldehydes, alcohols, ketones, furans, esters, acids, pyrazines, and sulfides. The results showed that NT extracted the greatest number of volatile compounds, whereas the extraction efficiency of SPME headspace adsorption was highest among the three sample preparation methods. Principal component analysis of SPME effectively distinguished the variation in the aroma of the Jinhua hams specific to aging time. Butyrolactone, 2,6-dimethylpyrazine, 2,3,5-trimethylpyrazine, phenylacetaldehyde, and acetic acid were considered as the main volatile compounds in the Jinhua ham samples at three years of aging. The results showed that SPME–GC–TOF/MS effectively discriminated among samples by age. By comparing the three extraction methods, this study provides a theoretical basis for the selection of extraction methods of volatile aroma compounds in Jinhua ham.