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Abstract The vacancy effect in quantum spin liquid (QSL) has been extensively studied. A finite density of random vacancies in the Kitaev model can lead to a pileup of low-energy density of states (DOS), which is generally experimentally determined by a scaling behavior of thermodynamic or magnetization quantities. Here, we report detailed muon spin relaxation (μSR) results of H3LiIr2O6, a Kitaev QSL candidate with vacancies. The absence of magnetic order is confirmed down to 80 mK, and the spin fluctuations are found to be persistent at low temperatures. Intriguingly, the time-field scaling law of longitudinal-field (LF)-μSR polarization is observed down to 0.1 K. This indicates a dynamical scaling, whose critical exponent of 0.46 is excellently consistent with the scaling behavior of specific heat and magnetization data. All the observations point to the finite DOS with the form $$N(E)\sim {E}^{-\nu }$$ N ( E ) ∼ E − ν , which is expected for the Kitaev QSL in the presence of vacancies. Our μSR study provides a dynamical fingerprint of the power-law low-energy DOS and introduces a crucial new insight into the vacancy effect in QSL.

Abstract Optically addressable spin defects hosted in two-dimensional van der Waals materials represent a new frontier for quantum technologies, promising to lead to a new class of ultrathin quantum sensors and simulators. Recently, hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) has been shown to host several types of optically addressable spin defects, thus offering a unique opportunity to simultaneously address and utilise various spin species in a single material. Here we demonstrate an interplay between two separate spin species within a single hBN crystal, namely S = 1 boron vacancy defects and carbon-related electron spins. We reveal the S = 1/2 character of the carbon-related defect and further demonstrate room temperature coherent control and optical readout of both S = 1 and S = 1/2 spin species. By tuning the two spin ensembles into resonance with each other, we observe cross-relaxation indicating strong inter-species dipolar coupling. We then demonstrate magnetic imaging using the S = 1/2 defects and leverage their lack of intrinsic quantization axis to probe the magnetic anisotropy of a test sample. Our results establish hBN as a versatile platform for quantum technologies in a van der Waals host at room temperature.

The assessment of ecological functions, such as those of forest structure zoning and carbon sinks, heavily relies on forest age classification. Therefore, monitoring forest age is a crucial element of forest resource surveys. With the increased availability of high-quality open-access satellite data and advancements in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Light Detection and Ranging (UAV-LiDAR) technology, remote sensing has emerged as an essential method for acquiring accurate forest age information. In this study, Sentinel-2 remote sensing data, UAV-LiDAR data, and combined Sentinel-2 and LiDAR data are used as data sources. Three machine learning algorithms, Adaptive Boosting (AdaBoost), Random Forest (RF), and Extreme Random Tree (ERT), are used to predict forest age in a Masson pine (Pinus massoniana Lamb.) forest. The optimal model is used to predict the forest age and simulate the spatial age distribution. The machine learning models based on separate Sentinel-2 and LiDAR data accurately predict the age of the Masson pine forest. Nevertheless, the accuracy of the RF model with combined data was higher than that in other cases, with an accuracy R value of 0.81. The model displayed good stability, and the spatial uncertainty of age estimation was low. Compared with the RF model using only Sentinel-2 data (R = 0.43), the RF model with combined LiDAR and Sentinel-2 data achieved the highest accuracy, with R values 88.37% higher. In addition, the forest canopy structure parameters, such as the average height of the forest stand extracted from UAV-LiDAR data, had a significant impact on the estimation of forest age. Thus, when the combined Sentinel-2 and LiDAR data were used to establish these parameters, the highest accuracy in the estimation of Masson pine was obtained. The findings of this study provide new insights for forest age estimation based on multi-source remote sensing data.

ObjectiveSchizonepeta tenuifolia -Saposhnikovia divaricata (Jingjie-Fangfeng, JF) has been used for years to treat allergic inflammatory skin diseases like atopic dermatitis, but the specific effects and mechanisms of JF are still unclear.PurposeWe aim to investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of JF in MC903-induced atopic dermatitis-like model.MethodsJF decoction was subjected to rigorous HPLC and GC analysis. The JF decoction was then freshly prepared and administered to MC903-induced atopic dermatitis -like mice models to investigate its therapeutic effects. Our evaluation focused on several markers of inflammation including the TEWL index, ear thickness, swelling, and specific inflammation indicators such as TSLP, IL33, IgE, and immune cell presence at the lesion sites. We measured Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) expression levels through immunofluorescent staining in skin tissue from both atopic dermatitis patients and the MC903-treated mice. Furthermore, TRPV1 expression and macrophage activation markers were measured in LPS/IFN-γ-stimulated Raw264.7 and THP-1 cell models in vitro. Additionally, we developed cell lines that overexpress TRPV1 and investigated how JF treatment affects NF-κB p65 phosphorylation in these cells to understand better the role of TRPV1 in atopic dermatitis.ResultsThe JF decoction met the standards outlined in the Chinese pharmacopeia. The JF decoction significantly alleviated inflammatory skin symptoms and helped restore skin barrier function. Additionally, it reduced the levels of IgE and pro-inflammatory cytokines TSLP, IL-33, and IL-4. There was also a noticeable decrease in mast cell infiltration and degranulation. Notably, JF decoction reduced infiltrated macrophages with limited affection on T cell infiltration. It also decreased F4/80+/TRPV1+ cells in atopic dermatitis mice and TRPV1 expression in LPS/IFNγ-stimulated microphages. Additionally, we observed that CD68+/TRPV1+ cells increased in human atopic dermatitis tissue. Further studies showed that JF water extract (JF-WE) suppressed TRPV1 expression in macrophages, potentially by affecting NF-κB p65 phosphorylation rather than the JAK-STAT6 pathway.ConclusionThis study offers initial evidence of the effectiveness of JF-WE in suppressing inflammation in atopic dermatitis. The therapeutic effect might stems from its ability to downregulate TRPV1 expression and subsequent NF-κB p65 phosphorylation in macrophages.

BackgroundGrowing evidence indicates a potential association between the gut microbiome and psoriasis. Nevertheless, the precise nature of these associations and whether they constitute causal relationships remain unclear.MethodsA rigorous bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study was undertaken to establish a putative causal link between gut microbiota and psoriasis. We drew upon publicly available datasets containing summary statistics from GWAS to accomplish this. Utilizing various analytical techniques, including inverse variance weighting, MR-Egger, weighted median, weighted model, and MR-PRESSO, we sought to validate the putative causal association between gut microbiota and psoriasis. A reverse Mendelian randomization analysis was conducted to further investigate the relationship.ResultsAfter conducting a forward Mendelian randomization analysis, a causal relationship was established between 19 gut microbiota and psoriasis. Furthermore, the reverse MR study revealed causality between psoriasis and 13 gut microbiota. Notably, no substantial heterogeneity of instrumental variables or horizontal pleiotropy was observed.ConclusionThis research suggests a potential genetic association and causal nexus between gut microorganisms and psoriasis, indicating potential implications for the clinical management and therapy of psoriasis. Additional observational studies with a larger population sample size and animal model experiments are imperative to fully elucidate this association’s underlying mechanisms.

Abstract Residue-level coarse-grained (CG) molecular dynamics (MD) simulation is widely used to investigate slow biological processes that involve multiple proteins, nucleic acids, and their complexes. Biomolecules in a large simulation system are distributed non-uniformly, limiting computational efficiency with conventional methods. Here, we develop a hierarchical domain decomposition scheme with dynamic load balancing for heterogeneous biomolecular systems to keep computational efficiency even after drastic changes in particle distribution. These schemes are applied to the dynamics of intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) droplets. During the fusion of two droplets, we find that the changes in droplet shape correlate with the mixing of IDP chains. Additionally, we simulate large systems with multiple IDP droplets, achieving simulation sizes comparable to those observed in microscopy. In our MD simulations, we directly observe Ostwald ripening, a phenomenon where small droplets dissolve and their molecules redeposit into larger droplets. These methods have been implemented in CGDYN of the GENESIS software, offering a tool for investigating mesoscopic biological processes using the residue-level CG models.

Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) has been widely used in construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of civil infrastructures. Anchor system is one of the most crucial part ensuring load transfer between CFRP and the structures. However, for CFRP plate anchors, there is a contradiction between the anchor capacity and the anchor size. In this paper, a novel cylinder shaped anchor for thick CFRP plates was developed based on a detailed experimental and numerical study. The proposed anchor weighs only 6 kg and it can develop 98 % strength of the 3 mm thickness CFRP plates. The experimental and numerical results revealed that the anchor efficiency of the proposed cylinder shaped anchor system is significantly affected by wedge shape, anchor material, tooth shape, pretightening force and magnitude of interference. The proposed anchor system can significantly promote application of thick CFRP plates.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of subthreshold depression among Chinese college students and to explore the related factors. Methods: The research subjects were Chinese college students participating in the “2022 Psychology and Behavior Investigation of Chinese Residents (PBICR-2022)''. Data on respondents' general characteristics, quality of life, perceived pressure, family communication, perceived social support, self-efficacy, and depression status were gathered. To investigate the association between each variable and the risk of subthreshold depression, statistical analyses, including chi-square tests and rank sum tests were conducted. Furthermore, a binary stepwise logistic regression was employed to establish the regression model of the factors related to subthreshold depression among Chinese college students. Results: A prevalence of subthreshold depression of about 39.7 % was found among the 8934 respondents. Logistic regression analysis revealed that respondents who are female, have chronic diseases, are in debt, experience significant impacts from epidemic control policies, have lower self-assessed quality of life, experience challenges in family communication, perceive lower social support, have lower self-efficacy, and feel higher perceived pressure are more likely to develop subthreshold depression compared to the control group. (P

(1) Background: Reproductive performance is crucial for the pork industry’s success. The Large White pig is central to this, yet the genetic factors influencing its reproductive traits are not well understood, highlighting the need for further research. (2) Methods: This study utilized Genome-Wide Association Studies to explore the genetic basis of reproductive traits in the Large White pig. We collected data from 2237 Large White sows across four breeding herds in southern China, focusing on eight reproductive traits. Statistical analyses included principal component analysis, linkage disequilibrium analysis, and univariate linear mixed models to identify significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms and candidate genes. (3) Results: Forty-five significantly related SNPs and 17 potential candidate genes associated with litter traits were identified. Individuals with the TT genotype at SNP rs341909772 showed an increase of 1.24 in the number of piglets born alive (NBA) and 1.25 in the number of healthy births (NHBs) compared with those with the CC genotype. (4) Conclusions: The SNPs and genes identified in this study offer insights into the genetics of reproductive traits in the Large White pig, potentially guiding the development of breeding strategies to improve litter size.

Prestressed spun high-strength concrete (PHC) piles are commonly used in various types of structures, including bridges, buildings and marine infrastructures. However, piles installed in aggressive environments are vulnerable to corrosion of the steel, which can lead to rapid degradation of the piles. As a corrosion-resistant material, carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) is considered an alternative to steel tendons for durability enhancement. In this study, a new pile system with CFRP was proposed. Experimental tests of three full-scale piles and a numerical analysis of eight piles with various parameters were performed to investigate the flexural performance of CFRP prestressed spun high-strength concrete pile. The proposed piles were loaded under four-point bending after prestressing. The experimental and numerical results verified the feasibility of the proposed system, and the CFRP pile exhibited twice of flexural capacity of that of steel-reinforced piles. The flexural performance of the CFRP PHC pile was significantly affected by the reinforcement ratio, prestressing level and modulus of the CFRP. An analytical approach predicting the flexural capacity of the CFRP PHC pile was proposed based on the parametric study. Ninety percent accuracy was achieved for the proposed analytical approach. The presented study can significantly promote the application of CFRP in pile foundations and improve the durability of PHC piles.

Background: Elderly patients undergoing surgery are prone to cognitive decline known as perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PND). Several studies have shown that the microglial activation and the decrease of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in gut induced by surgery may be related to the pathogenesis of PND. The purpose of this study was to determine whether microglia and short-chain fatty acids were involved in cognitive dysfunction in aged rats. Methods: Male wild-type Wistar rats aged 11–12 months were randomly divided into control group (Ctrl: Veh group), propionic acid group (Ctrl: PA group), exploratory laparotomy group (LP: Veh group) and propionic acid + exploratory laparotomy group (LP: PA group) according to whether exploratory laparotomy (LP) or PA pretreatment for 21 days was performed. The motor ability of the rats was evaluated by open field test on postoperative day 3 (POD3), and then the cognitive function was evaluated by Y-maze test and fear conditioning test. The expression of IL-1β, IL-6, RORγt and IL-17A mRNA in hippocampus was detected by RT-qPCR, the expression of IL-17A and IL-17RA in hippocampus was detected by Western blot, and the activation of microglia was detected by immunofluorescence. Results: The PND rat model was successfully established by laparotomy. Compared with Ctrl: Veh group, the body weight of LP: Veh group decreased, the percentage of spontaneous alternations in Y maze decreased (P

BackgroundNumerous studies have cast light on the relationship between the gastric microbiota and gastric carcinogenesis. In this study, we conducted a bibliometric analysis of the relevant literature in the field of gastric cancer and the gastric microbiota and clarified its research status, hotspots, and development trends.Materials and methodsPublications were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection on 18 July 2023. CiteSpace 6.2.R4, VOSviewer 1.6.19.0, and Biblioshiny were used for the co-occurrence and cooperation analyses of countries, institutions, authors, references, and keywords. A keyword cluster analysis and an emergence analysis were performed, and relevant knowledge maps were drawn.ResultsThe number of published papers in this field totaled 215 and showed an increasing trend. The analysis of funding suggested that the input in this field is increasing steadily. China had the highest number of publications, while the United States had the highest betweenness centrality. Baylor College of Medicine published the most articles cumulatively. Both Ferreira RM and Cooker OO had the highest citation frequency. The journal Helicobacter showed the most interest in this field, while Gut provided a substantial research foundation. A total of 280 keywords were obtained using CiteSpace, which were primarily focused on the eradication and pathogenic mechanisms of Helicobacter pylori, as well as the application of the gastric microbiota in the evaluation and treatment of gastric cancer. The burst analysis suggested that in the future, research may focus on the application of gastric microorganisms, particularly Fusobacterium nucleatum, in the diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer, along with their pathogenic mechanisms.ConclusionCurrent studies have been tracking the eradication of Helicobacter pylori and its pathogenic mechanisms, as well as changes in the gastric microbiota during gastric carcinogenesis. Future research may focus on the clinical application and pathogenesis of stomach microorganisms through bacteria such as Fusobacterium nucleatum.

BackgroundFreezing of gait (FOG) is one of the most disabling gait disturbances in Parkinson’s disease (PD), affecting mobility and balance severely, thereby leading to an increased risk of falls.ObjectivesThe purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation on FOG in PD.MethodsBased on PRISMA guidelines, we searched the databases of MEDLINE (PubMed), Cochrane Library, PEDro, Embase, and Web of Science. Studies of the English language published up to July 2023 were searched. We retrieved for studies of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of transcranial magnetic stimulation to treat FOG after PD and screened by inclusion and exclusion criteria. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration’s tool (Revman5.30). Characteristics of RCTs were extracted. The heterogeneity of the trials was measured by I2 statistic. The effect size was expressed by a standardized mean difference (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI).ResultsA total of 488 articles were screened, after screening sixteen RCTs involved in 408 patients were included in the qualitative analysis, and 15 RCTs were included in meta-analysis. The outcome measures included FOG-Q, walking time, TUG, and UPDRS. Six studies used FOG-Q as outcome measure, six studies used walking time, four studies used TUG, and six studies used UPDRS. Compared with placebo treatment, transcranial magnetic stimulation has positive significant effects in improving gait status with increased walking speed (SMD = −0.41, 95% CI = −0.75 to −0.06, I2 = 7% p = 0.02), FOG-Q scores (SMD = −0.55, 95% CI = −0.89 to −0.21, I2 = 29%, p = 0.002), UPDRS scores (SMD = −1.08, 95% CI = −1.39 to −0.78, I2 = 49%, P < 0.001) and the time of TUG (SMD = −0.56, 95% CI = −0.88 to −0.23, I2 = 25%, p = 0.02) decreased.ConclusionTranscranial magnetic stimulation could significantly improving gait conditions in PD patients with FOG.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/#recordDetails, CRD42023434286.

Objectives: This research aimed to investigate changes in defecation sensory threshold and related factors in patients with posterior vaginal wall prolapse. Methods: A total of 214 patients with pelvic organ prolapse were recruited between October 2019 to January 2021. All patients underwent a defecation sensory threshold examination, physical examination, and pelvic floor ultrasound examination. Factors related to the defecation sensory threshold were analyzed. Results: (1) Among the participants, 57 patients (26.6%) had a defecation sensory threshold of more than 90 ​ml. Patients with a threshold > 90 ​ml showed higher scores of defecation dysfunction in the Constipation Scoring System (CSS) score (p=0.003) and higher scores of constipation in the Colorectal-anal Distress Inventory 8 (CRADI-8) score (p=0.002). (2) The defecation sensation threshold positively correlated with the Ap point (r=0.448, p＜0.001), the Bp point (r=0.345, p=0.009), the area of the levator-ani hiatus measured by transvaginal ultrasound (r=0.403, p=0.002), and parity (r=0.355, p=0.007). Conclusions: Patients diagnosed with pelvic organ prolapse commonly experience an increased threshold of defecation sensation. Elevated thresholds were associated with more frequent constipation symptoms. Additionally, the severity of posterior pelvic prolapse positively correlated with the defecation sensory threshold.

Abstract Background Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most malignant glioma, with poor survival rates and prognosis. Several studies have reported the abnormal expression of circular RNAs (circRNAs) and their functions in the malignant biological behavior of GBM. However, such research is still in the preliminary stages, and further study is needed to confirm the therapeutic potential of circRNAs in GBM. Methods RNA-seq was performed using four tumor tissues from patients with GBM and their adjacent non-tumor brain tissues to screen differentially expressed circRNAs. Fluorescence in situ hybridization assay was used to examine the location of circ_0021350 in glioma cells. In addition, a series of biological function assays were employed to verify the oncogenic role of circ_0021350 in GBM. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR was used to examine circular, micro- (miRNA), and messenger RNA (mRNA) levels. Furthermore, dual-luciferase reporter, RNA pull-down, and RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation assays were applied to verify the interaction between circ_0021350 and its downstream effectors. Results Circ_0021350 was significantly elevated in GBM tissues and glioma cells. Overexpression of circ_0021350 promoted glioma cell proliferation and metastatic ability; silencing of circ_0021350 had the opposite effect. Mechanistic analysis revealed that circ_0021350 sponged miR-1207-3p to regulate PIK3R3, whose overexpression reversed the reduction in the malignant biological behavior of glioma cells caused by silencing circ_0021350. Conclusion Our findings suggest that circ_0021350 is an oncogenic circRNA in GBM, and the circ_0021350/miR-1207-3p/PIK3R3 axis may serve as a potential therapeutic target in GBM treatment.

Parameters such as the leaf area index (LAI), canopy chlorophyll content (CCH), and canopy carotenoid content (CCA) are important indicators for evaluating the ecological functions of forests. Currently, rapidly developing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) equipped with hyperspectral technology provide advanced technical means for the real-time dynamic acquisition of regional vegetation canopy parameters. In this study, a hyperspectral sensor mounted on a UAV was used to acquire the data in the study area, and the canopy parameter estimation model of moso bamboo forests (MBF) was developed by combining the PROSAIL radiative transfer model and the machine learning regression algorithm (MLRA), inverted the canopy parameters such as LAI, CCH, and CCA. The method first utilized the extended Fourier amplitude sensitivity test (EFAST) method to optimize the global sensitivity analysis and parameters of the PROSAIL model, and the successive projections algorithm (SPA) was used to screen the characteristic wavebands for the inversion of MBF canopy parameter inversion. Then, the optimized PROSAIL model was used to construct the ‘LAI-CCH-CCA-canopy reflectance’ simulation dataset for the MBF; multilayer perceptron regressor (MLPR), extra tree regressor (ETR), and extreme gradient boosting regressor (XGBR) employed used to construct PROSAIL_MLPR, PROSAIL_ETR, and PROSAIL_XGBR, respectively, as the three hybrid models. Finally, the best hybrid model was selected and used to invert the spatial distribution of the MBF canopy parameters. The following results were obtained: Waveband sensitivity analysis reveals 400–490 and 710–1000 nm as critical for LAI, 540–650 nm for chlorophyll, and 490–540 nm for carotenoids. SPA narrows down the feature bands to 43 for LAI, 19 for CCH, and 9 for CCA. The three constructed hybrid models were able to achieve high-precision inversion of the three parameters of the MBF, the model fitting accuracy of PROSAIL_MLRA reached more than 95%, with lower RMSE values, and the PROSAIL_XGBR model yielded the best fitting results. Our study provides a novel method for the inversion of forest canopy parameters based on UAV hyperspectral data.

Abstract In this paper, the operator spectrum theory is applied to study the general stabilisation issues for mean‐field stochastic Markov jump systems (MF‐SMJSs), where multiple delays, multiplicative noises and homogeneous Markov chain exist simultaneously. The innovative contributions are described as follows. On the one hand, a feasible model augmented strategy is adopted to transform the dynamics into an auxiliary delay‐free form. By introducing a delay‐dependent linear Lyapunov operator (DDLLO), the Lyapunov/spectrum stabilising conditions are constructed, which are both necessary and sufficient. On the other hand, in terms of spectral analysis technique, the notions of interval stabilisation and essential destabilisation are generalised to MF‐SMJSs for the first time. The necessary and sufficient stabilisation conditions are derived, respectively, which can be verified availably by LMI feasibility tests. To confirm the effectiveness of the theoretic results, two illustrative examples are included.

Abstract Genetic mapping to identify genes and alleles associated with or causing economically important quantitative trait variation in livestock animals such as pigs is a major goal in animal genetic improvement. Despite recent advances in high-throughput genotyping technologies, the resolution of genetic mapping in pigs remains poor due in part to the low density of genotyped variant sites. In this study, we overcame this limitation by developing a reference haplotype panel for pigs based on 2259 whole genome-sequenced animals representing 44 pig breeds. We evaluated software combinations and breed composition to optimize the imputation procedure and achieved an average concordance rate in excess of 96%, a non-reference concordance rate of 88%, and an r 2 of 0.85. We demonstrated in two case studies that genotype imputation using this resource can dramatically improve the resolution of genetic mapping. A public web server has been developed to allow the pig genetics community to fully utilize this resource. We expect this resource to facilitate genetic mapping and accelerate genetic improvement in pigs.

BackgroundHydrotherapy can improve the motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD), but the long-term effects of hydrotherapy on PD are still unclear.ObjectiveThe purpose of this systematic evaluation and meta-analysis was to explore the long-term effects of hydrotherapy on balance function in PD patients.MethodsA systematic search of five databases was conducted to identify appropriate randomized controlled trials (RCTs) according to the established inclusion and exclusion criteria. The general characteristics and outcome data (balance, exercise, mobility, quality of life, etc.) of the included studies were extracted, and the quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool. Finally, the outcome data were integrated for meta-analysis.ResultsA total of 149 articles were screened, and 5 high-quality RCTs involving 135 PD patients were included. The results of the meta-analysis showed positive long-term effects of hydrotherapy on balance function compared to the control group (SMD = 0.69; 95% CI = 0.21, 1.17; p = 0.005; I2 = 44%), However, there were no significant long-term effects of hydrotherapy on motor function (SMD = 0.06; 95% CI = −0.33, 0.44; p = 0.77; I2 = 0%), mobility and quality of life (SMD = −0.21; 95% CI = −0.98, 0.57; p = 0.6; I2 = 71%). Interestingly, the results of the sensitivity analysis performed on mobility showed a clear continuation effect of hydrotherapy on mobility compared to the control group (SMD = −0.80; 95% CI = −1.23, −0.37; p

Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) has been proved effective in flexural strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) beams. Various anchor systems have been developed to prevent premature debonding of CFRP plates for structural reinforcement applications. In this study, a novel circular wedged anchor system was proposed and tested under tensile load. The new anchor system includes circular barrel, connector and toothed wedges. Parameters such as intensity and height of tooth, gap between wedges and wedge angle were investigated in order to optimize the proposed anchor system. Effects of above parameters on capacity of the proposed anchor system are presented in the paper. The test results indicate full tensile strength of the tested CFRP plate could be developed using the optimized anchor system. A practical application of the proposed anchor system has been employed in the structural reinforcements of Tongyu River Bridge in China, and this system is found very effective in bridge cracking control via the practical long-term bridge inspections after strengthening.

ABSTRACTBackground: China lacks a standard for reference intervals (RIs) of complete blood cell (CBC) counts in newborns. This study aimed to determine local haematological RIs for newborns.Methods: This prospective study was conducted from January 2020 to December 2020 in Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital. We collected capillary blood specimens from 497 healthy newborns aged 5–28 days. We calculated the RIs as nonparametric 2.5th to 97.5th percentiles and 90% confidence intervals following the EP28-A3c guideline. We validated the RIs in another 20 specimens from healthy newborns.Results: The RIs for the 18 CBC parameters were: white blood cell count 7.17–15.69 × 109/L; monocytes# 0.52–1.66 × 109/L; Mono% 5.7–14.1; eosinophils# 0.16–1.08 × 109/L; Eos% 1.5–8.9; Lymphocytes# 4.04–8.08 × 109/L; Lymph% 40.1–67.8; Neutrophils# 1.59–6.41 × 109/L; Neut% 18.1–46.7; Basophils# 0.00–0.04 × 109/L; Baso% 0.0–0.4; red blood cell count 3.38–5.89 × 1012/L; haemoglobin (Hb) 116–198 g/L; Hematocrit % 35.2–61.2; mean corpuscular Hb (MCH) 30.9–36.3 pg/L; MCH concentration 310–341 g/L; mean corpuscular volume 94.5–112.2 fL; and platelets 210–610 × 109/L. The RIs had a conformity rate of 90%–100% in the validation specimens.Conclusion: We established region-specific RIs for CBC parameters in healthy newborns to help diagnose haematological disease in neonates.

Summary: Macroautophagy/autophagy plays a pivotal role in immune regulation. Its significance is evident in modulation of immune cell differentiation and maturation, physiologically and pathologically. Here, we investigate the role of macrophage autophagy on the development of atopic dermatitis (AD). By employing an MC903-induced AD mice model, we observe reduced cutaneous inflammation in macrophage Atg5 cKO mice compared with WT mice. Notably, there is a decreased infiltration of M2 macrophages in lesional skin from Atg5 cKO mice. Furthermore, impaired STAT6 phosphorylation and diminished expression of M2 markers are detected in autophagy-deficient macrophages. Our mechanistic exploration reveals that CEBPB drives the transcription of SOCS1/3 and SQSTM1/p62-mediated autophagy degrades CEBPB normally. Autophagy deficiency leads to CEBPB accumulation, and further promotes the expression of SOCS1/3. This process inhibits JAK1-STAT6 pathway activation and M2 marker expression. Together, our study indicates that autophagy is required for M2 activation and macrophage autophagy may be a promising target for AD intervention.

Deep visualization is a new visualization method for single-cell data that is able to preserve the inherent local and global structure of the single cell data while simultaneously handling complex batch effects.

Kagome metals continue to attract interest due to the coexistence of electronic correlations and band topology. Here the authors use proton gating to modulate disorder and carrier density in CsV3Sb5 nanoflakes, and show its effect on superconductivity, charge density wave and anomalous Hall effect.

Generalized broadband operation facilitates multifunction or multiband highly integrated applications, such as modern transceiver systems, where ultra-wideband bidirectional passive mixers are favored to avoid a complex up/down-conversion scheme. In this paper, a modified Ruthroff-type transmission line transformer (TLT) balun is presented to enhance the isolation of the mixer from the local oscillator (LO) to the radio frequency (RF). Compared to the conventional methods, the proposed Ruthroff-type architecture adopts a combination of shunt capacitors and parallel coupled lines to improve the return loss at the LO port, thus effectively avoiding the area consumption for the diode-to-balun impedance transformation while simultaneously providing a suitable point for IF extraction. In addition, a parallel compensation technique consisting of an inductor and resistor is applied to the RF balun to significantly improve the amplitude/phase balance performance over a wide bandwidth. Benefiting from the aforementioned operations, an isolation-enhanced 8–30 GHz passive double-balanced mixer is designed as a proof-of-principle demonstration via 0.15-micrometer GaAs p-HEMT technology. It exhibits ultra-broadband performance with 7 dB average conversion loss and 50 dB LO-to-RF isolation under 15 dBm LO power. The monolithic microwave integrated circuit area is 0.96 × 1.68 mm2 including all pads.

This paper analyzes the main factors limiting the bandwidth expansion of low-noise amplifiers (LNA) and designs a broadband LNA with a bandwidth of 2-40.5 GHz. The LNA is designed using multiple bandwidth expansion methods, including cascode, resistance feedback, and cascode Darlington amplifier. The amplitude-frequency characteristics and bandwidth expansion principle of the three structures are studied theoretically based on the small-signal equivalent circuit model. Thanks to these techniques, a three-stage LNA is designed in a 0.15- $\mu \text{m}$ GaAs pseudomorphic high-electron-mobility (pHEMT) process. The measured results show that the designed LNA achieves an average gain of 21.6 dB in 2-40.5 GHz while maintaining a noise figure (NF) below 3.6 dB. The measured output 1-dB gain compression point (OP1 dB) is from 4.5 to 12.8 dBm and the input/output return loss are better than 5 dB. The chip area is only 1.57 mm2, including input and output test pads.

This paper presents a high-accuracy multifunction chip (MFC) with amplitude and phase control in X-band. The MFC is designed with a common leg structure and incorporates a 6-bit attenuator (ATT), a 6-bit phase shifter (PS), two gain compensation amplifiers (GCAs), three single pole double throw switches (SPDTs), and fourteen logic control circuits. The interstage matching networks (IMNs) are inserted to compensate for the insertion phase and attenuation changes from the design due to the mismatches occurring when cascading the separately designed PS and ATT blocks. The receive and transmit modes switching is achieved by using four SPDTs. In addition, the resistance feedback is used in GCAs to compensate for passive losses and provide gain to the MFC. The proposed MFC is fabricated in 0.15- $\mu \text{m}$ GaAs pseudomorphic high-electron-mobility transistor (pHEMT) process. In the range of 8–11 GHz, the measured maximum root-mean-square (RMS) amplitude error of the MFC is less than 0.28 dB, and the maximum RMS phase error is less than 3.3°. Moreover, the MFC is achieved with a size of 4.3 mm $\times2.85$ mm. Excellent performance and compact size make the MFC great potential in spaceborne phased array applications.

Abstract Background Despite current intervention measures/therapies are able to ameliorate neuronal death following retinal injuries/diseases, the recovery of visual function remains unsatisfactory. Previous studies revealed that the retinal synapse and neurite changed during the early stage after retinopathy, which was considered to be detrimental to visual signal transmission. However, the specific profiles and the mechanisms underlying retinal neurite and synaptic alteration after retinal pathologies remain poorly understood. Methods Here, we revealed the spatiotemporal pattern of neurite and synaptic alteration following retinal pathologies using a rat model of acute RI/R induced by high intraocular pressure (HIOP) with Western blotting, Immunofluorescence, and electron microscopy. We further explored the potential role of activated astrocytes and their derived thrombospondin 2 (TSP2) in RI/R induced retinal neurite and synaptic alteration and visual dysfunction through viral transduction and drug injection. Results We found a defasciculation of RGC axons, a compensatory increase of presynaptic proteins (synaptophysin and synapsin 1) and synaptic vesicles between bipolar cells and ganglion cells in the inner plexiform layer (IPL), and the degenerated visual function preceded the neuronal death in rat retinae. These events were accompanied by the activation of astrocytes. Furthermore, we showed that suppressing the activation of astrocytes (intravitreal injection of fluorocitric acid, FC), TSP2 knockdown (TSP2 shRNA-AAV transduction), and competitively inhibiting the binding of TSP2 and α2δ1 (intraperitoneal injection of gabapentin, GBP) effectively alleviated the retinal synaptic and neurite alteration and the visual dysfunction following RI/R injury. Conclusions (1) At the early stage following RI/R injury, the rat retinae develop a degeneration of ganglion cell axons and the resulting compensatory synaptic remodeling between bipolar cells and ganglion cells in IPL. These changes occur earlier than the massive loss of neurons in the ganglion cell layer (GCL). (2) Activated astrocytes may secret TSP2, which bind to α2δ1, to mediate the degeneration of rat retinal ganglion cell axons, compensatory synaptic remodeling in IPL, and visual dysfunction following RI/R injury.

The phase separation model for transcription suggests that transcription factors (TFs), coactivators, and RNA polymerases form biomolecular condensates around active gene loci and regulate transcription. However, the structural details of condensates remain elusive. In this study, for Nanog, a master TF in mammalian embryonic stem cells known to form protein condensates in vitro, we examined protein structures in the condensates using residue-level coarse-grained molecular simulations. Human Nanog formed micelle-like clusters in the condensate. In the micelle-like cluster, the C-terminal disordered domains, including the tryptophan repeat (WR) regions, interacted with each other near the cluster center primarily via hydrophobic interaction. In contrast, hydrophilic disordered N-terminal and DNA-binding domains were exposed on the surface of the clusters. Electrostatic attractions of these surface residues were responsible for bridging multiple micelle-like structures in the condensate. The micelle-like structure and condensate were dynamic and liquid-like. Mutation of tryptophan residues in the WR region which was implicated to be important for a Nanog function resulted in dissolution of the Nanog condensate. Finally, to examine the impact of Nanog cluster to DNA, we added DNA fragments to the Nanog condensate. Nanog DNA-binding domains exposed to the surface of the micelle-like cluster could recruit more than one DNA fragments, making DNA-DNA distance shorter.

AimsWe conducted bibliometric and visualization analyses to evaluate the current research status, hotspots, and trends related to the human microbiota markers in colorectal cancer screening.MethodsThe related studies were acquired from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database on 5 January 2023. Analyses of the co-occurrence and cooperation relationships between the cited authors, institutions, countries/regions, cited journals, cited articles, and keywords in the studies were carried out using CiteSpace 5.8.R3 software and the Online Analysis platform of Literature Metrology. Additionally, relevant knowledge graphs were drawn to perform visualization analyses; a keywords cluster analysis and a burst analysis were also conducted.ResultsAfter analyzing 700 relevant articles, this bibliometric analysis found that the annual publications showed an increasing trend from 1992 to 2022. Yu Jun from the Chinese University of Hong Kong had the highest cumulative number of publications, whereas Shanghai Jiao Tong University was the most productive institution. China and the USA have contributed the largest number of studies. The keywords frequency analysis demonstrated that “colorectal cancer,” “gut microbiota,” “Fusobacterium nucleatum,” “risk,” and “microbiota” were the most frequent keywords, and the keywords cluster analysis found that the current hotspots were as follows: (a) the precancerous lesions of colorectal cancer (CRC) that need to be screened, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and advanced adenoma, (b) the gut-derived microbiome for CRC screening, and (c) the early detection of CRC. The burst analysis further showed that the combination of microbiomics with metabolomics might be the future research trend in the field of CRC screening.ConclusionThe findings of the current bibliometric analysis firstly provide an insight into the current research status, hotspots, and future trends in the field of CRC screening based on the microbiome; the research in this field is becoming more in-depth and diversified. Some human microbiota markers, especially “Fusobacterium nucleatum,” are promising biomarkers in CRC screening, and a future hotspot might be the combined analysis of microbiomics and metabolomics for CRC risk screening.

Pine wood nematode (PWN) is an invasive species which causes pine wilt disease (PWD), posing a significant threat to coniferous forests globally. Despite its destructive nature, strategies for the management of PWD spread lack a comprehensive understanding of the occurrence pattern of PWNs. This study investigates the outbreak timing and spread distances of PWD on a monthly scale. Two regions (A and B) in southeastern China, characterized by varying mixed ratios of coniferous and broadleaf trees, were examined. Infected trees were classified into early, middle, late, and dead stages. Monthly unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) RGB data covering one year and three deep learning algorithms (i.e., Faster R-CNN, YOLOv5, and YOLOv8) were employed to identify the stress stages and positions of the trees. Further, each month, newly infected trees were recorded to calculate spread distances from the location of surrounding trees. The results indicate that the YOLOv5 model achieved the highest accuracy (mean average precision (mAP) = 0.58, F1 = 0.63), followed by Faster R-CNN (mAP = 0.55, F1 = 0.58) and YOLOv8 (mAP = 0.57, F1 = 0.61). Two PWD outbreak periods occurred between September–October and February of the following year, with early and middle-stage outbreaks in August and September and late and dead-tree outbreaks occurring between October and February of the following year. Over one year, the nearest spread distance for PWD-infected trees averaged 12.54 m (median: 9.24 m) for region A in September and 13.14 m (median: 10.26 m) for region B in October. This study concludes that February through August represents the optimal period for PWD control. Additionally, mixed conifer–broadleaf forests with a higher proportion of broadleaf trees prove beneficial in mitigating PWD outbreaks and reducing the number of infected trees. This work demonstrates the effectiveness of integrating monthly UAV-based imagery and deep learning algorithms for monitoring PWD outbreak times and spread distances, offering technical support for forest pest prevention and management.

In a beamforming circuit for a modern broadband phased-array system, high accuracy and compactness have received sufficient attention as they are directly related to side lobe level and fabrication cost, respectively. In order to meet the low phase error required, this paper proposed an ultra-broadband 6-bit digital step switched-type attenuator (STA) with capacitive/inductive compensation networks. Compared to the conventional methods, the proposed technique employs an improved simplified T-structure with capacitive compensation networks, which simultaneously achieves low insertion loss and high-accuracy amplitude/phase control. In addition, on-chip level shifting circuit is integrated to avoid complex control schemes. The strategy of prioritizing return loss is adopted to alleviate the performance degradation caused by impedance mismatch after cascade. As a proof-of-principle demonstration, a wideband 6-bit STA with core area of only 0.5 mm × 1.8 mm was designed via 0.15-micrometer GaAs pHEMT technology. It exhibits ultra-broadband operation with a 31.5 dB amplitude tuning range and a 0.5 dB tuning step. The insertion loss of the reference state is 4–5.3 dB. The return loss is better than 15 dB for all the 64 states. The RMS amplitude and phase errors are less than 0.2 dB and 2° over the 10 to 20 GHz.

Abstract Defecation disorder is one of the main symptoms in pelvic organ prolapse (POP) patients. Our study aims to translate the Chinese version of the constipation scoring system (CSS) questionnaire and test the reliability and validity of its application in Chinese POP women. We recruited 140 women suffering prolapse with stage II or above POP who reported at least one abnormal defecation symptom. We chose CRADI-8 as the criterion validity. Cronbach's α coefficient of the total score of CSS was 0.721, the ICC and Kappa coefficient of CSS total score were 0.877 and 0.424, respectively. The total score of CSS was significantly correlated with the CRADI-8 score (p

Abstract This letter presents a novel method to implement a 10–20 GHz low‐noise amplifier (LNA) with simultaneous noise and input matching performance. That is, the Mille effect caused by the gate‐drain parasitic capacitance Cgd is eliminated by converting the succeeding‐stage impedance into the required load using frequency‐dependent negative feedbacks and a π‐type network. The corresponding analytical equation is also derived for the first time. To verify the feasibility, the circuit is fabricated via a 0.15‐μm GaAs p‐HEMT process with a compact size of 0.9×1.9 mm2. The measured results show that the proposed LNA features a peak gain of 26.1 dB, a minimum noise figure of 1.08 dB, and an input return loss of less than −15.8 dB.

Quinoline analogs are an important class of N-based heterocyclic compounds, which have received extensive attention because of their use in medicinal chemistry and organic synthesis. Over the past few decades, several new scaffold-based functionalization synthesis strategies have been reported for quinolines. Quinoline derivatives have a wide range of biological activities, including anti-Alzheimer’s disease activity. Herein, we review research on quinoline and related analogs as anti-Alzheimer’s disease agents from 2001 to 2022 and particularly highlight the structure–activity relationships and molecular binding modes. This review provides information for the rational design of more effective and target-specific drugs for Alzheimer's disease.

This paper proposes a novel 8–18 GHz 90° switched T-type phase shifter (TPS). In contrast to the conventional TPS, the proposed TPS adds a compensation capacitance to greatly enhance the phase shifting capacity. Moreover, the designed structure also integrates a filtering compensation network, which can effectively achieve a flat relative phase shift in a wide band. The proposed 90° TPS is fabricated using 0.15 μm GaAs pHEMT technology. The TPS achieves homogeneous phase shift at 8–18 GHz, with the measured phase error of less than ±1.5°. The insertion loss of the proposed phase shifter is 1.3–2.6 dB, and the chip size is merely 0.53 × 0.86 mm2. Thanks to these excellent performance characteristics, the designed phase shifter is well-suited for ultra-wideband wireless communication and radar systems.

The shear deformation of rock joints is significant for the safety and stability of rock engineering. In order to study the constitutive relation of shear deformation in jointed rock mass under a normal stress, the direct shear tests under different normal stresses were carried out on the sandstone specimens with irregular joints using the RDS-200 rock direct shear test system. Based on the shear stress−deformation curve of the jointed rock, it can be divided into four stages including pre-peak compaction stage, linear stage, yield stage and post-peak softening stage. The post-peak softening stage can be further divided into three types including platform type, gradual decline type and drop type based on the decreasing magnitude and rate of shear stress at the post-peak period. The shear deformation constitutive model of the sandstone with irregular joints was established using piecewise function based on the shear deformation characteristics at different stages. Compared with the existing constitutive models, the new proposed shear deformation constitutive model of the jointed rock mass has a much higher fitting accuracy for the experimental results, which can better describe the deformation characteristics of the jointed rock in the whole shear process. The shear stress−shear displacement curve of irregular joints with different roughness coefficients under different normal stresses can be predicted after determining the relevant model parameters in the corresponding empirical formula after some direct shear tests. The research is practical for understanding the shear deformation of joints in rocks by numerical simulation and the safety evaluation of engineering.

Abstract Background Genomic selection using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers has been widely used for genetic improvement of livestock, but most current methods of genomic selection are based on SNP models. In this study, we investigated the prediction accuracies of haplotype models based on fixed chromosome distances and gene boundaries compared to those of SNP models for genomic prediction of phenotypic values. We also examined the reasons for the successes and failures of haplotype genomic prediction. Methods We analyzed a swine population of 3195 Duroc boars with records on eight traits: body judging score (BJS), teat number (TN), age (AGW), loin muscle area (LMA), loin muscle depth (LMD) and back fat thickness (BF) at 100 kg live weight, and average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion rate (FCR) from 30 to100 kg live weight. Ten-fold validation was used to evaluate the prediction accuracy of each SNP model and each multi-allelic haplotype model based on 488,124 autosomal SNPs from low-coverage sequencing. Haplotype blocks were defined using fixed chromosome distances or gene boundaries. Results Compared to the best SNP model, the accuracy of predicting phenotypic values using a haplotype model was greater by 7.4% for BJS, 7.1% for AGW, 6.6% for ADG, 4.9% for FCR, 2.7% for LMA, 1.9% for LMD, 1.4% for BF, and 0.3% for TN. The use of gene-based haplotype blocks resulted in the best prediction accuracy for LMA, LMD, and TN. Compared to estimates of SNP additive heritability, estimates of haplotype epistasis heritability were strongly correlated with the increase in prediction accuracy by haplotype models. The increase in prediction accuracy was largest for BJS, AGW, ADG, and FCR, which also had the largest estimates of haplotype epistasis heritability, 24.4% for BJS, 14.3% for AGW, 14.5% for ADG, and 17.7% for FCR. SNP and haplotype heritability profiles across the genome identified several genes with large genetic contributions to phenotypes: NUDT3 for LMA, LMD and BF, VRTN for TN, COL5A2 for BJS, BSND for ADG, and CARTPT for FCR. Conclusions Haplotype prediction models improved the accuracy for genomic prediction of phenotypes in Duroc pigs. For some traits, the best prediction accuracy was obtained with haplotypes defined using gene regions, which provides evidence that functional genomic information can improve the accuracy of haplotype genomic prediction for certain traits.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision technologies have gained significant prominence in the field of education. These technologies enable the detection and analysis of students’ classroom behaviors, providing valuable insights for assessing individual concentration levels. However, the accuracy of target detection methods based on Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) can be compromised in classrooms with multiple targets and varying scales, as convolutional operations may result in the loss of location information. In contrast, transformers, which leverage attention mechanisms, have the capability to learn global features and mitigate the information loss caused by convolutional operations. In this paper, we propose a students’ classroom behavior detection system that combines deformable DETR with a Swin Transformer and light-weight Feature Pyramid Network (FPN). By employing a feature pyramid structure, the system can effectively process multi-scale feature maps extracted by the Swin Transformer, thereby improving the detection accuracy for targets of different sizes and scales. Moreover, the integration of the CARAFE lightweight operator into the FPN structure enhances the network’s detection accuracy. To validate the effectiveness of our approach, extensive experiments are conducted on a real dataset of students’ classroom behavior. The experimental results demonstrate a significant 6.1% improvement in detection accuracy compared to state-of-the-art methods. These findings highlight the superiority of our proposed network in accurately detecting and analyzing students’ classroom behaviors. Overall, this research contributes to the field of education by addressing the limitations of CNN-based target detection methods and leveraging the capabilities of transformers to improve accuracy. The proposed system showcases the benefits of integrating deformable DETR, Swin Transformer, and the lightweight FPN in the context of students’ classroom behavior detection. The experimental results provide compelling evidence of the system’s effectiveness and its potential to enhance classroom monitoring and assessment practices.

The difference in fuel consumption of wheel loaders can be more than 30% according to different shoveling trajectories for shoveling operations, and the optimization of shoveling trajectories is an important way to reduce the fuel consumption of shoveling operations. The existing shoveling trajectory optimization method is mainly through theoretical calculation and simulation analysis, which cannot fully consider the high randomness and complexity of the shoveling process. It is difficult to achieve the desired optimization effect. Therefore, this paper takes the actual shoveling operation data as the basis. The factors that have a high impact on the fuel consumption of shoveling are screened out through Kernel Principal Component Analysis. Moreover, the mathematical model of fuel consumption of shoveling operation is established by Support Vector Machine and combined with the Improved Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm to optimize the shoveling trajectory. To demonstrate the generalization ability of the model, two materials, gravel, and sand, are selected. Meanwhile, the influence of different engine speeds on the shoveling operation is considered. We optimize the shoveling trajectories for three different engine speeds. The optimized trajectories are verified and compared with the sample data and manually controlled shoveling data. The results show that the optimized trajectory can reduce the fuel consumption of shoveling operation by 27.66% and 24.34% compared with the manually controlled shoveling of gravel and sand, respectively. This study provides guidance for the energy-efficient operation of wheel loaders.

The digital and physical methods of establishing minimal curved surfaces are the basis for realizing the design of the minimal curved surface modeling structure. Based on this research background, the paper showed an artistic surface modeling method based on nonlinear over-limit difference equations. The article combines parameter optimization and 3D modeling methods to model the constructed surface modeling. The research found that the nonlinear out-of-limit difference equation proposed in the paper is more accurate than the standard fractional differential equation algorithm. For this reason, the method can be extended and applied to the design of artistic surface modeling.

Abstract Objective To explore the risk factors for intrapartum fever and to develop a nomogram to predict the incidence of intrapartum fever. Methods The general demographic characteristics and perinatal factors of 696 parturients who underwent vaginal birth at the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from May 2019 to April 2020 were retrospectively analysed. Data was collected from May 2019 to October 2019 on 487 pregnant women who formed a training cohort. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify the independent risk factors associated with intrapartum fever during vaginal birth, and a nomogram was developed to predict the occurrence. To verify the nomogram, data was collected from January 2020 to April in 2020 from 209 pregnant women who formed a validation cohort. Results The incidence of intrapartum fever in the training cohort was found in 72 of the 487 parturients (14.8%), and the incidence of intrapartum fever in the validation cohort was 31 of the 209 parturients (14.8%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the following factors were significantly related to intrapartum fever: primiparas (odds ratio [OR] 2.43; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15–5.15), epidural labour analgesia (OR 2.89; 95% CI 1.23–6.82), premature rupture of membranes (OR 2.37; 95% CI 1.13–4.95), second stage of labour ≥ 120 min (OR 4.36; 95% CI 1.42–13.41), amniotic fluid pollution degree III (OR 10.39; 95% CI 3.30–32.73), and foetal weight ≥ 4000 g (OR 7.49; 95% CI 2.12–26.54). Based on clinical experience and previous studies, the duration of epidural labour analgesia also appeared to be a meaningful factor for intrapartum fever; therefore, these seven variables were used to develop a nomogram to predict intrapartum fever in parturients. The nomogram achieved a good area under the ROC curve of 0.86 and 0.81 in the training and in the validation cohorts, respectively. Additionally, the nomogram had a well-fitted calibration curve, which also showed excellent diagnostic performance. Conclusion We constructed a model to predict the occurrence of fever during childbirth and developed an accessible nomogram to help doctors assess the risk of fever during childbirth. Such assessment may be helpful in implementing reasonable treatment measures. Trial registration Clinical Trial Registration: ( www.chictr.org.cn ChiCTR2000035593 )

The complex spin textures induced by the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction (DMI) allow for a host of intriguing phenomena, however the strength of the DMI is typically fixed. Here, Zheng et al. demonstrate the controlled modulation of the DMI, via solid state ionic gating of a transition metal dichalcogenide.

The Qinghai–Tibet Plateau is a region sensitive to climate change with significant changes in topography, and the increase in extreme precipitation in the region easily leads to landslides and debris flows. To mitigate the effects of climate change, the Chinese government has pledged to an emission reduction target that achieves a “carbon peak’” in 2030 and being “carbon neutral” in 2060 at a huge cost. In order to explore the quantitative flood risk at the county level in Qinghai province (the core province of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau) and the contribution of emission reduction efforts to risk mitigation, this article constructs a loss rate curve based on the data of more than 1,000 single flood disasters from 2009 to 2019 through government cooperation and the data of observed cumulative precipitation. Combined with the latest CMIP6 climate model data, the temporal and spatial variation characteristics of the flood loss ratio in Qinghai province from 2020 to 2060 are quantitatively characterized. The results show the following: 1) the curve of the flood loss rate in Qinghai province from 2020 to 2060 may present a trend of “rising in the early stage, stable in the middle stage, and declining in the late stage” under low (SSP126) and medium (SSP245) emission scenarios and presents a trend of rising fluctuation under the high-emission (SSP585) scenario. The flood loss ratio under SSP585 is 10 times higher than that under SSP126; 2) the flood risk of 44 counties from 2020 to 2060 in Qinghai province may be concentrated in the southeast region, with Jiuzhi county, Banma county, Nangqian county, Gande county, and Dari county being the most prominent; (3) compared with SSP585, the Qinghai province in SSP126 may cumulatively avoid about 24 billion CNY in economic losses from 2020 to 2060 and avoid nearly 600 million CNY in losses per year, which is equivalent to 93% of Qinghai province’s special funds for ecological and environmental protection in 2019. The research aims to provide theoretical and data support for flood disaster risk prevention and management in China’s high-altitude areas and to promote the initiative of emission reduction in China and even the world.

BackgroundSepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) has been identified as a frequent complication of sepsis, featured by an aberrant level of cognitive and affective functions. The present study is designed to explore the changes in functional connectivity (FC) of the hippocampus in rats with SAE utilizing resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI).MethodsSprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to the SAE and control groups. We acquired rs-fMRI data using a 7T MRI to evaluate hippocampal network functional differences between the two groups with a seed-based approach. Behavioral performance was assessed using the open field test and forced swimming test. Statistical analysis was undertaken to evaluate the correlation between the hippocampal FC and behavioral findings.ResultsCompared with the control group, the SAE group showed increased FC between the bilateral hippocampus and thalamus, septum, bed nuclei stria terminalis (BNST), left primary forelimb somatosensory cortex (S1FL), primary motor cortex (M1), and inferior colliculus. Increased FC between the left hippocampus and thalamus, septum, BNST, left S1FL, and inferior colliculus was observed. While with the right hippocampus, FC in thalamus, septum, left S1FL and inferior colliculus was enhanced. Additionally, positive correlations were found between the hippocampal FC and the immobility time in the forced swimming test.ConclusionHippocampus-related brain networks have significant alterations in rats with SAE, and the elevated hippocampal resting-state FC was positively related to affective deficits. Changes in FC between the hippocampus and other brain regions could be a potential neuroimaging biomarker of cognitive or mental disorders triggered by SAE.

Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) has advantageous characteristics such as lightweight, high strength, high corrosion and fatigue resistance, low creep, and high damping, etc. It is suitable to be used in bridge structures as cables, which can effectively solve the problems of easy rusting, heavyweight, low tensile strength, and low fatigue performance of steel cables. This paper firstly illustrates the advantageous properties of CFRP lamella compared with CFRP rod in terms of cable anchoring and then investigates the performance of wedge-shaped clamp anchorage for CFRP lamella cable by finite element analysis and static tensile test. Finally, the process of measuring the cable force of CFRP lamella stay-cable with non-contact microwave cable force measurement technology is introduced. The finite element analysis and experiment show that the wedge-shaped clamp anchorage can effectively anchor the CFRP lamella stay-cable with a relatively high anchorage efficiency, and the maximum stress of the CFRP lamella stay-cable is at the free section instead of the anchorage section, and the failure pattern is mainly the fiber explosion of the free section. The results of microwave cable force measurement are consistent with those of the traditional pressure sensor and strain gauge methods. The non-contact microwave cable force measurement technology is easy and fast to operate, and it is suitable for measuring the force of CFRP cable.