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When underwater acoustic homing weapons identify underwater scale targets, it is necessary to extract different dimensional features from underwater target echoes and combine the features to form a complementary feature set to improve the recognition accuracy. However, due to the different application scenarios of different features, introducing all features leads to a high dimension of the feature set and may contain redundant information among each other, which will increase the difficulty of recognition. In the active recognition problem of underwater acoustic homing weapons, the feature set has a high dimension and needs to be selected. To solve these problems, a feature selection algorithm based on random forest(RF)was proposed in this paper. At the same time, to solve the problem of small amounts and unbalanced types of active echo data of underwater acoustic homing weapons, the synthetic minority oversampling technique was adopted in the feature domain. The feature subsets selected by the proposed method were put into the classifiers for testing by using real data. The results show that the proposed method can obtain better feature subsets and effectively improve the recognition accuracy.

Abstract Chert is a sedimentary rock abundant and conspicuous throughout the geologic record. It serves as an essential geological archive and is vital for palaeogeographic reconstruction. The Chert Database Working Group is part of the OneSediment Working Groups of the Deep‐time Digital Earth (DDE) Big Science Program. To facilitate the sharing of chert information and promote chert research, we have compiled a summary of literature containing chert information worldwide and established the Global Chert Database (GCDB). The main body of the current database consists of seven data tables, each providing details on references, lithology, depositional age, geographic location, depositional environment and geochemical information for each sample. As of December 2023, the GCDB contains 8417 sample data from 617 pieces of literature, which can be downloaded from the ‘DDE Data Publish & Repository’.

As critical conduits for the dissemination of online public opinion, social media platforms offer a timely and effective means for managing emergencies during major disasters, such as earthquakes. This study focuses on the analysis of online public opinions following the Maduo M7.4 earthquake in Qinghai Province and the Yangbi M6.4 earthquake in Yunnan Province. By collecting, cleaning, and organizing post-earthquake Sina Weibo (short for Weibo) data, we employed the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) model to extract information pertinent to public opinion on these earthquakes. This analysis included a comparison of the nature and temporal evolution of online public opinions related to both events. An emotion analysis, utilizing an emotion dictionary, categorized the emotional content of post-earthquake Weibo posts, facilitating a comparative study of the characteristics and temporal trends of online public emotions following the earthquakes. The findings were visualized using Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques. The analysis revealed certain commonalities in online public opinion following both earthquakes. Notably, the peak of online engagement occurred within the first 24 hours post-earthquake, with a rapid decline observed between 24 to 48 hours thereafter. The variation in popularity of online public opinion was linked to aftershock occurrences. Adjusted for population factors, online engagement in areas surrounding the earthquake sites and in Sichuan Province was significantly high. Initially dominated by feelings of “fear” and “surprise”, the public sentiment shifted towards a more positive outlook with the onset of rescue operations. However, distinctions in the online public response to each earthquake were also noted. Following the Yangbi earthquake, Yunnan Province reported the highest number of Weibo posts nationwide; in contrast, Qinghai Province ranked third post-Maduo earthquake, attributable to its smaller population size and extensive damage to communication infrastructure. This research offers a methodological approach for the analysis of online public opinion related to earthquakes, providing insights for the enhancement of post-disaster emergency management and public mental health support.

Abstract Background X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA), also referred to as Bruton’s tyrosine kinase deficiency, is a rare genetic disorder that affects the immune system. We conducted genetic analysis on patients suffering from immunodeficiency by utilizing Next-Generation Sequencing techniques, as well as their closest relatives, to facilitate accurate diagnosis, offer genetic counseling services, and enhance our comprehension of XLA.

Abstract Background Localized scleroderma (LoS) is an autoimmune disorder that primarily affects the skin, and is often treated with autologous fat grafting (AFG). Nevertheless, the retention rate of AFG in patients with LoS is typically low. We hypothesize that the low retention rate may be partially attributed to the inherent abnormalities of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) from nonlesional sites of patients with LoS. Methods We performed a comparative analysis of the single-cell transcriptome of the SVF from nonlesional sites of patients with LoS and healthy donors, including cellular compositional analysis, differential expression analysis, and high-dimensional weighted gene coexpression network analysis. Experimental validation with fluorescence-activated cell sorting and bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis mice models were conducted. Results We found a significant reduction in the relative proportion of CD55high interstitial progenitors in ASCs under the condition of LoS. Differential expression analysis revealed inherent abnormalities of ASCs from patients with LoS, including enhanced fibrogenesis, reduced anti-inflammatory properties, and increased oxidative stress. Compared with CD55low ASCs, CD55high ASCs expressed significantly higher levels of secreted protein genes that had functions related to anti-inflammation and tissue regeneration (such as CD55, MFAP5, and METRNL). Meanwhile, CD55high ASCs expressed significantly lower levels of secreted protein genes that promote inflammation, such as chemokine and complement protein genes. Furthermore, we provided in vivo experimental evidence that CD55high ASCs had superior treatment efficacy compared with CD55low ASCs in bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis mice models. Conclusions We found that the low retention rate of AFG may be partially ascribed to the reduced pool of interstitial progenitor cells (CD55high) present within the ASC population in patients with LoS. We demonstrated the potential for improving the efficacy of AFG in the treatment of LoS by restoring the pool of interstitial progenitors within ASCs. Our study has significant implications for the field of translational regenerative medicine.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of different proportions of dietary fermented sweet potato residue (FSPR) supplementation as a substitute for corn on the nutrient digestibility, meat quality, and intestinal microbes of yellow-feathered broilers. Experiment 1 (force-feeding) evaluated the nutrient composition and digestibility of mixtures with different proportions of sweet potato residue (70%, 80%, 90%, and 100%) before and after fermentation. In Experiment 2 (metabolic growth), a total of 420 one-day-old yellow-feathered broilers were randomly allocated to 4 groups and fed corn-soybean meal-based diets with 0, 5%, 8%, and 10% FSPR as a substitute for corn. The force-feeding and metabolic growth experiments were performed for 9 and 70 d, respectively. The treatment of 70% sweet potato residue (after fermentation) had the highest levels of crude protein, ether extract, and crude fiber and improved the digestibility of crude protein and amino acids (P

Gastric cancer (GC) is a prevalent malignant tumor and ranks as the second leading cause of death among cancer patients worldwide. Due to its hidden nature and difficulty in detection, GC has a high incidence and poor prognosis. Traditional treatment methods such as systemic chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgical resection are commonly used, but they often fail to achieve satisfactory curative effects, resulting in a very low 5-year survival rate for GC patients. Currently, targeted therapy and immunotherapy are prominent areas of research both domestically and internationally. These methods hold promise for the treatment of GC. This article focuses on the signaling pathways associated with the development of GC, as well as the recent advancements and applications of targeted therapy and immunotherapy. The aim is to provide fresh insights for the clinical treatment of GC.

Testicular aging manifests as impaired spermatogenesis and morphological alterations in Drosophila. Nonetheless, the comprehensive molecular regulatory framework remains largely undisclosed. This investigation illustrates the impact of copper overload on testicular aging and underscores the interplay between copper overload and lncRNA. Copper overload triggers Cuproptosis through the mitochondrial TCA cycle, facilitating intracellular interactions with Ferroptosis, thereby governing testicular aging. Dysfunction of lncRNA:CR43306 also contributes to testicular aging in Drosophila, emphasizing the significance of lncRNA:CR43306 as a novel aging-associated lncRNA. Moreover, copper overload exacerbates spermatid differentiation defects mediated by lncRNA:CR43306 deficiency through oxidative stress, copper, and iron transport. Therapeutically, Ferrostatin-1 and Resveratrol emerge as potential remedies for addressing testicular aging. This study offers perspectives on the regulatory mechanisms involving copper overload and lncRNA:CR43306 deficiency in the context of testicular aging.

Aggregate stability strongly affects many soil processes and is critical to maintain sustainable agriculture. Aggregate breakdown is controlled by the interaction between soil intrinsic properties and solution characteristics. Nitrogen fertilization including different forms is well known to influence aggregate stability; however, relative to their long-term effects, there is little recognition on the rapid response of aggregate breakdown to nitrogen solutions. This study aimed to examine the effects of nitrogen form and concentration on aggregate stability for different types of soils. Aggregate breakdown against slaking of three soil types (Phaeozem, Luvisol, and Acrisol) and three horizons (organo-mineral (A), illuvium (B), and parent material horizons (C)) was determined subjected to nitrogen solutions of three forms (CO(NH2)2, NH4+, NO3–) and five concentrations (0.05 ∼ 1.0 mol/L). Among nitrogen forms, urea solution almost had non-significant effect irrespective of soil type and horizon (p > 0.05); for NH4+ and NO3– solutions, aggregate stability showed little variations (MWD of 0.19 ∼ 0.26 mm) with electrolyte concentration for Phaeozem in B and C horizons, overall increased for Luvisol and Phaeozem in A horizon, and decreased first and then reached a steady state for Acrisol. The effects of nitrogen forms on aggregate breakdown were dependent on soil aggregation status or cementing agents (mainly organic matter, clay mineralogy). Electrolyte nitrogen solutions (NH4+ and NO3–) inhibited aggregate breakdown mainly through reducing electrostatic repulsive forces for moderately developed soils rich in swelling clays, and promoted aggregate breakdown by both weakening particle cohesion and enhancing compression pressure of entrapped air for highly developed soils rich in non-swelling clays and Fe/Al oxides. These results facilitate an improvement of fertilizer management and irrigation to improve soil quality on different soil types.

This study aimed to assess the ecological risks posed by sulfamethoxazole (SMX) at environmentally relevant concentrations. Specifically, its effects on the growth and biochemical components (total protein, total lipid, and total carbohydrate) of two marine microalgae species, namely Skeletonema costatum (S. costatum) and Phaeodactylum tricornutum (P. tricornutum), were investigated. Our findings revealed that concentrations of SMX below 150 ng/L stimulated the growth of both microalgae. Conversely, at higher concentrations, SMX inhibited their growth while promoting the synthesis of photosynthetic pigments, total protein, total lipid, and total carbohydrate (P < 0.05). Transmission electron microscope (TEM) observations demonstrated significant alterations in the ultrastructure of algal cells exposed to SMX, including nuclear marginalization, increased chloroplast volume, and heightened vacuolation. In addition, when SMX was lower than 250 ng/L, there was no oxidative damage in two microalgae cells. However, when SMX was higher than 250 ng/L, the antioxidant defense system of algal cells was activated to varying degrees, and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) increased, indicating that algae cells were damaged by oxidation. From the molecular level, environmental concentration of SMX can induce microalgae cells to produce more energy substances, but there are almost no other adverse effects, indicating that the low level of SMX at the actual exposure level was unlikely to threaten P. tricornutum, but a higher concentration can significantly reduce its genetic products, which can affect the changes of its cell structure and damage P. tricornutum to some extent. Therefore, environmental concentration of SMX still has certain potential risks to microalgae. These outcomes improved current understanding of the potential ecological risks associated with SMX in marine environments.

Abstract Background In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a surge in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) transmission, surpassing pre-epidemic levels. We aim to elucidate the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of HMPV infections in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era. Methods In this retrospective single-center study, participants diagnosed with laboratory confirmed HMPV infection through Targeted Next Generation Sequencing were included. The study encompassed individuals admitted to Henan Children's Hospital between April 29 and June 5, 2023. Demographic information, clinical records, and laboratory indicators were analyzed. Results Between April 29 and June 5, 2023, 96 pediatric patients were identified as infected with HMPV with a median age of 33.5 months (interquartile range, 12 ~ 48 months). The majority (87.5%) of infected children were under 5 years old. Notably, severe cases were statistically younger. Predominant symptoms included fever (81.3%) and cough (92.7%), with wheezing more prevalent in the severe group (56% vs 21.1%). Coinfection with other viruses was observed in 43 patients, with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) (15.6%) or human rhinovirus A (HRV type A) (12.5%) being the most common. Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) coinfection rate was significantly higher in the severe group (20% vs 1.4%). Bacterial coinfection occurred in 74 patients, with Haemophilus influenzae (Hin) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (SNP) being the most prevalent (52.1% and 41.7%, respectively). Severe patients demonstrated evidence of multi-organ damage. Noteworthy alterations included lower concentration of IL-12p70, decreased lymphocytes percentages, and elevated B lymphocyte percentages in severe cases, with statistical significance. Moreover, most laboratory indicators exhibited significant changes approximately 4 to 5 days after onset. Conclusions Our data systemically elucidated the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of pediatric patients with HMPV infection, which might be instructive to policy development for the prevention and control of HMPV infection and might provide important clues for future HMPV research endeavors.

Calcification of cartilage by hydroxyapatite is a hallmark of osteoarthritis and its deposition strongly correlates with the severity of osteoarthritis. However, no effective strategies are available to date on the prevention of hydroxyapatite deposition within the osteoarthritic cartilage and its role in the pathogenesis of this degenerative condition is still controversial. Therefore, the present work aims at uncovering the pathogenic mechanism of intra-cartilaginous hydroxyapatite in osteoarthritis and developing feasible strategies to counter its detrimental effects. With the use of in vitro and in vivo models of osteoarthritis, hydroxyapatite crystallites deposited in the cartilage are found to be phagocytized by resident chondrocytes and processed by the lysosomes of those cells. This results in lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP) and release of cathepsin B (CTSB) into the cytosol. The cytosolic CTSB, in turn, activates NOD-like receptor protein-3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes and subsequently instigates chondrocyte pyroptosis. Inhibition of LMP and CTSB in vivo are effective in managing the progression of osteoarthritis. The present work provides a conceptual therapeutic solution for the prevention of osteoarthritis via alleviation of lysosomal destabilization.

The global maritime trade plays a key role in propagating alien aquatic invasive species, which incurs side effects in terms of environment, human health and economy. The existing biosecurity methods did not take into account the invaded risk as well as the diffusion of invasive species at the same time, which may lead to inadequate bioinvasion control. In addition, the lack of considering the impact of bioinvasion control on shipping also makes their methods cost-ineffective. To solve the problems of the existing methods, we employ the automatic identification system (AIS) data, the ballast water data and the water temperature & salinity data to construct two networks: the species invasion network (SIN) and the global shipping network (GSN). The former is used to analyze the potential of a port in propagating marine invasive species while the latter is employed to evaluate the shipping importance of ports. Based on the analysis of SIN and GSN, two categories of biosecurity triggering mechanisms are proposed. The first category takes into consideration both being bioinvaded and spreading invasive species and the second one concerns the shipping value of each port besides its invasion risk. A lot of case studies have been done to discover the key ports needed to be controlled preferentially under the guide of the proposed biosecurity triggering mechanisms. Finally, our correlation analysis shows that closeness is most highly correlated to the invasion risk.

In recent years, immense developments have occurred in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the spread of broadband and ubiquitous connectivity technologies. This has led to the development and commercialization of Digital Twin (DT) technology. The widespread adoption of DT has resulted in a new network paradigm called Digital Twin Networks (DTNs), which orchestrate through the networks of ubiquitous DTs and their corresponding physical assets. DTNs create virtual twins of physical objects via DT technology and realize the co-evolution between physical and virtual spaces through data processing, computing, and DT modeling. The high volume of user data and the ubiquitous communication systems in DTNs come with their own set of challenges. The most serious issue here is with respect to user data privacy and security because users of most applications are unaware of the data that they are sharing with these platforms and are naive in understanding the implications of the data breaches. Also, currently, there is not enough literature that focuses on privacy and security issues in DTN applications. In this survey, we first provide a clear idea of the components of DTNs and the common metrics used in literature to assess their performance. Next, we offer a standard network model that applies to most DTN applications to provide a better understanding of DTN’s complex and interleaved communications and the respective components. We then shed light on the common applications where DTNs have been adapted heavily and the privacy and security issues arising from the DTNs. We also provide different privacy and security countermeasures to address the previously mentioned issues in DTNs and list some state-of-the-art tools to mitigate the issues. Finally, we provide some open research issues and problems in the field of DTN privacy and security.

Drawing upon data from the 2018 CHARLS, this paper utilizes MEPI and a 10% threshold indicator to, respectively, assess the energy poverty (EP) status among middle-aged and older adults in China, focusing on the unavailability and unaffordability of energy services. Additionally, an econometric model is constructed to investigate the effects of EP on the health and welfare of middle-aged and older adults. Regression results indicate that EP exerts a significant negative impact on the health and welfare of middle-aged and older adults. This conclusion remains robust after conducting endogeneity and robustness tests, demonstrating its validity. Finally, based on the calculation results, we propose relevant policy recommendations including enhancing energy services for older adults in rural areas, integrating household energy alternatives with targeted poverty alleviation, enhancing monitoring mechanisms, and conducting energy education activities to alleviate EP and improve the quality of life of middle-aged and older adults.

Objective: Chronic postoperative pain (CPSP) is common after thoracic surgery, even after the less invasive video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). This study investigated the effect of thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA) on the development of CPSP. Materials: We retrospectively analyzed the data of patients who underwent VATS at our center between 2020 and 2022. The enrolled patients were divided into the epidural block (EPI) and patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) groups. A telephone questionnaire was used to collect information regarding CPSP, which was defined as a numerical rating scale (VAS) score ≥1 at 3 or 6 months postoperatively. Additionally, statistical analyses were performed to identify the risk factors for CPSP in the two groups. Results: Overall, 894 patients completed the follow-up interviews at 3 and 6 months, with 325 and 569 patients in the PCIA and EPI groups, respectively. The incidence rates of CPSP in the PCIA group at 3 and 6 months were 16.9 % (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 9.3–32.7 %) and 13.5 % (95 % CI: 8.7–33.4 %), and 10.3 % (95 % CI: 8.1–30.5 %) and 3.6 % (95 % CI: 3.5–21.5 %) in EPI group, respectively. The incidence of CPSP at 3 months (P = 0.0048) and 6 months (P

Active front-end converters are part of high power installations for regenerative energy systems, feeding the regenerated energy into the utility. Under the island mode operation of the regenerative energy system, the load characteristics are difficult to detect, and the change of the load characteristics will cause the corresponding resonance. V/f control is usually used to ensure the harmonic quality. At high switching frequency, it has a good control effect. However, high switching frequency causes high switching loss. In order to reduce the switching loss, it will produce more harmonic distortion. Furthermore, the commonly used modulation strategies in this case face the problem of low real-time performance. Therefore, in order to avoid the harm caused by circuit resonance under the condition of reducing the switching frequency, this paper proposes a specific harmonic suppression algorithm with high real-time performance, which can be used as an optional control algorithm in the island operation state of power system. At the same time, aiming at the difficulty of adjusting the weight factors, this paper proposes a weight factor automatic tuner, which automatically adjusts the weight factors according to the harmonic component.

ABSTRACT: The gut-brain axis is essential in maintaining the homeostasis of neuronal system, endocrine system, and intestinal microbiota in both the afferent and efferent directions. This axis is considered to be a key mechanism that regulates feed efficiency (FE). This study aimed to investigate the regulatory mechanisms of gut–brain axis-related genes on the residual feed intake (RFI) in H-strain small-sized meat ducks. A total of 500 ducks with similar initial BW (635.2 ± 15.1 g) were selected and reared in the same experimental facility until slaughter at 42 d of age. RFI was calculated from the average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and metabolic body weight (MBW0.75). Thirty high-RFI (H-RFI) and 30 low-RFI (L-RFI) birds were selected for further evaluation of growth performance, carcass characteristics, and blood biochemical parameter measurements. Six L-RFI and 6 H-RFI birds were then subjected to hypothalamic transcriptomic and cecal microbial sequencing analyses. Results indicated that L-RFI birds exhibited lower production performance (ADFI, FCR, and RFI) and blood biochemical indices (total cholesterol and ghrelin content) compared with H-RFI birds (P < 0.05). Gene expression differed significantly between the L-RFI and H-RFI birds, with 70 upregulated and 50 downregulated genes. The bacterial communities of L-RFI birds showed higher abundances of Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, and Lactococcus, and lower abundances of Erysipelatoclostridium, Parasutterella, Fournierella, and Blautia compared with H-RFI birds (P < 0.05). Interactive analysis revealed bacterial communities associated with FE were significantly correlated with hypothalamic genes (P < 0.05), for example, Bacteroides was positively correlated with DGKH and LIPT2, while negatively correlated with CAPN9, GABRD, and PDE1A. Bifidobacterium showed significant correlations with ATP2A3, CALHM6, and TMEM121B. Overall, RFI was a crucial indicator of FE, regulated by interactions between brain gene expression and gut microbiota through cAMP signaling, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, and calcium signaling pathways. Notably, increased expression of hypothalamic genes and abundance of carbohydrate-utilization microbiota in L-RFI meat ducks improved FE by enhancing energy metabolism and volatile fatty acids absorption.

IntroductionOxidative stress plays a pivotal role in modulating the balance of intestinal flora and the gut-liver axis, while also serving as a key determinant of the growth potential of weaned piglets. However, few studies have subdivided and compared acute and chronic oxidative stress.MethodsIn this study, an intestinal model of acute oxidative stress in weaned piglets using paraquat (PQ) and a chronic oxidative stress model using D-galactosa in weaned piglets were conducted. And we further systematically compare their effects.ResultsBoth acute and chronic oxidative stress models impaired intestinal barrier function and liver function. Chronic stress caused by D-galactose can result in severe redox dysregulation, while acute stress caused by paraquat can lead to inflammation and liver damage. Additionally, the components involved in the CAR pathway were expressed differently. Chronic or acute oxidative stress can reduce the diversity and composition of intestinal flora. In the PQ group, the richness of Mogibacterium and Denitratisoma improved, but in the D-gal group, the richness of Catenisphaera and Syntrophococcus increased.DiscussionNot only does this research deepen our understanding of the effects of acute and chronic oxidative stress on intestinal functions, but it also characterizes characteristic changes in the gut flora, potentially identifying novel therapeutic targets and opening new avenues for future research.

Abstract Brain-derived extracellular vesicles participate in interorgan communication after traumatic brain injury by transporting pathogens to initiate secondary injury. Inflammasome-related proteins encapsulated in brain-derived extracellular vesicles can cross the blood‒brain barrier to reach distal tissues. These proteins initiate inflammatory dysfunction, such as neurogenic heterotopic ossification. This recurrent condition is highly debilitating to patients because of its relatively unknown pathogenesis and the lack of effective prophylactic intervention strategies. Accordingly, a rat model of neurogenic heterotopic ossification induced by combined traumatic brain injury and achillotenotomy was developed to address these two issues. Histological examination of the injured tendon revealed the coexistence of ectopic calcification and fibroblast pyroptosis. The relationships among brain-derived extracellular vesicles, fibroblast pyroptosis and ectopic calcification were further investigated in vitro and in vivo. Intravenous injection of the pyroptosis inhibitor Ac-YVAD-cmk reversed the development of neurogenic heterotopic ossification in vivo. The present work highlights the role of brain-derived extracellular vesicles in the pathogenesis of neurogenic heterotopic ossification and offers a potential strategy for preventing neurogenic heterotopic ossification after traumatic brain injury. Brain-derived extracellular vesicles (BEVs) are released after traumatic brain injury. These BEVs contain pathogens and participate in interorgan communication to initiate secondary injury in distal tissues. After achillotenotomy, the phagocytosis of BEVs by fibroblasts induces pyroptosis, which is a highly inflammatory form of lytic programmed cell death, in the injured tendon. Fibroblast pyroptosis leads to an increase in calcium and phosphorus concentrations and creates a microenvironment that promotes osteogenesis. Intravenous injection of the pyroptosis inhibitor Ac-YVAD-cmk suppressed fibroblast pyroptosis and effectively prevented the onset of heterotopic ossification after neuronal injury. The use of a pyroptosis inhibitor represents a potential strategy for the treatment of neurogenic heterotopic ossification.

Abstract Objective Metabolic risks play a key role in the progression of pancreatic cancer. This study aimed to present global, regional and national data on mortality and disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) for pancreatic cancer attributable to metabolic risk and to forecast mortality to 2030 using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD). Methods Data on mortality and DALYs due to pancreatic cancer attributable to metabolic risks were obtained from GBD 2019. Metabolic risks include high fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and high body mass index (BMI). Total numbers and age-standardized rates per 100,000 people for mortality and DALYs were reported by age, sex, region and country/territory from 1990 to 2019. The “Bayes age-period-cohort” method was used for projections of mortality to 2030. Results Globally, there was a 3.5-fold increase in the number of pancreatic cancer deaths attributable to metabolic risk, from 22,091 in 1990 to 77,215 in 2019. High-income North America and Central Europe had the highest age-standardized mortality rates (ASMRs) of pancreatic cancer attributable to high FPG and high BMI in 2019, respectively. From 1990 to 2019, the global ASMR of pancreatic cancer attributable to high FPG and high BMI increased. Countries with high healthcare access quality had much higher age-standardized DALY rates. In the next 10 years, the ASMR of pancreatic cancer attributable to high FPG and high BMI will continue to increase. Conclusion Pancreatic cancer mortality and DALYs attributable to metabolic factors remain high, particularly in high-income regions or countries. Studies on the metabolic mechanism of pancreatic cancer and effective treatment strategies are needed.

Abstract Background Central nervous system (CNS) tumors are the most common solid tumors in children and the leading cause of cancer-related death in the latter. Currently, the incidence rate exceeds that of leukemia and ranks first in the incidence of malignant tumors in children. Methods The epidemiological data on childhood CNS tumors were collected from the Chinese Cancer Registry Annual Report. The annual percent change (APC) of incidence and mortality-rate changes were estimated via Joinpoint regression. Due to a lack of pertinent data, we performed a system review on the clinical-pathological characteristics in Chinese publications. Results There was no significant increase in the incidence rate (APC: -0.1, 95% CI: -1.5 to 1.3), but there was a significant increase in the mortality rate (APC: 1.8, 95% CI: 0.3 to 3.4) for childhood CNS tumors. In the subgroup analysis, there were significant increases in both the incidence and mortality rates in rural areas (APC in the incidence: 6.2, 95% CI: 2.4 to 10.2; APC in mortality: 4.4, 95% CI: 0.4 to 8.4). The most common location and type of childhood CNS were, respectively, the cerebral hemisphere (25.5%, 95% CI: 21.7% to 29.4%) and astrocytomas (26.8%, 95% CI: 23.9% to 29.6%). Conclusions The epidemiological trends, and the relevant prediction, highlighted the need to pay continual attention to childhood CNS tumors, and the clinicopathology evinced its own distinctive characteristics. Timely detection and effective treatment must be further promoted regarding childhood CNS tumors with a view to decreasing the disease burden, especially in rural areas.

With the advantages of large transmission capacity, low losses, rapid and flexible power regulation, and the ability to achieve non-synchronous networking, High Voltage Direct Current transmission systems are playing an increasingly important role in long distance transmission and grid interconnection. However, under certain circumstances, such as disturbances in the DC transmission system and sudden load changes, the converter based on PI control in DC transmission system suffer from slow response speed and poor stability. In order to improve the stability of the system and the response speed of DC voltage, this paper proposes an adaptive linear active disturbance rejection control (A-LADRC) method. The method is based on the analysis of the relationship between key bandwidth parameters and output quantities in linear active disturbance rejection control and enables adaptive adjustment of the controller bandwidth parameters for fast regulation of the DC voltage and to improve the stability of the DC voltage in the event of disturbances. Finally, the proposed control method is validated by simulation, and the results show that the proposed control method can effectively improve the response speed and robustness of the DC voltage, which has good practical engineering value.

Soil salinization during wheat cultivation considerably diminishes soil fertility and impedes wheat growth, primarily due to rhizosphere microbial community changes. Our study investigates the application of Bacillus subtilis YJ-15, a strain isolated from the rhizosphere of wheat cultivated in salinized soil, as a soil remediation agent. This strain has demonstrated significant salt tolerance, disease suppression capabilities, and growth-promoting attributes in previous studies. The wheat rhizosphere was examined to assess the impact of Bacillus subtilis YJ-15 on microbial community composition and soil fertility. Fertility of soil in saline soil was significantly increased by inoculating wheat with YJ-15. The microbial community structure within the wheat rhizosphere inoculated with Bacillus subtilis YJ-15 was analyzed through sequencing on the Illumina MiSeq platform. Phyla Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria were identified as the dominant bacteria. Basidiomycota, Mortierellomycota, and Ascomycota dominated the fungal phyla. Among the bacterial genera, Pseudomonas, Arthrobacter, and Bacillus were predominant. The predominant fungal genera included Alternaria, Cephalotrichum, Mortierella, and Chaetomium. A significant increase in Gaiella and Haliangium levels was observed in the YJ group compared to the control group. Additionally, the fungal genera Epicoccum, Sporidiobolus, and Lecythophora have significantly increased in YJ abundance. One of the potential benefits of Bacillus subtilis YJ-15 in the cultivation of wheat on salinized land is its ability to enhance the rhizosphere microbial community structure and improve soil fertility.

Although field medical microgrids have been widely studied as an important component of future medical power systems, current sharing control in field medical microgrids under false information injection (FDI) attacks has rarely been researched. Based on this, this paper proposes a distributed fuzzy control method for power sharing in field medical microgrids considering communication networks under FDI attacks. First, the field medical microgrid is modeled as a multi-bus DC microgrid system with power coupling. To provide voltage control and initial current equalization, fractional order PI control is applied. In order to reduce the model complexity, the concept of block modeling is employed to transform the model into a linear heterogeneous multi-agent system. Secondly, a fully distributed current sharing fuzzy control strategy is proposed. It can precisely realize current sharing control and reduce the communication bandwidth. Finally, the proposed control strategy is verified by simulation results.

BackgroundThe direct acting antiviral remdesivir (RDV) has shown promising results in randomized clinical trials. This study is a unique report of real clinical practice RDV administration for COVID-19 from alpha through delta variant circulation in New Orleans, Louisiana (NOLA). Patients in NOLA have among US worst pre-COVID health outcomes, and the region was an early epicenter for severe COVID.MethodsData were directly extracted from electronic medical records through REACHnet. Of 9,106 adults with COVID, 1,928 were admitted to inpatient care within 7 days of diagnosis. The propensity score is based upon 22 selected covariates, related to both RDV assignment and outcome of interest. RDV and non-RDV patients were matched 1:1 with replacement, by location and calendar period of admission. Primary and secondary endpoints were, death from any cause and inpatient discharge, within 28 and 14 days after inpatient admission.ResultsOf 448 patients treated with RDV, 419 (94%) were successfully matched to a non-RDV patient. 145 (35%) patients received RDV for < 5 days, 235 (56%) for 5 days, and 39 (9%) for > 5 days. 96% of those on RDV received it within 2 days of admission. RDV was more frequently prescribed in patients with pneumonia (standardized difference: 0.75), respiratory failure, hypoxemia, or dependence on supplemental oxygen (0.69), and obesity (0.35) within 5 days prior to RDV initiation or corresponding day in non-RDV patients (index day). RDV patients were numerically more likely to be on steroids within 5 days prior to index day (86 vs. 82%) and within 7 days after inpatient admission (96 vs. 87%). RDV was significantly associated with lower risk of death within 14 days after admission (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.37, 95% CI: 0.19 to 0.69, p = 0.002) but not within 28 days (HR: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.36 to 1.07, p = 0.08). Discharge within 14 days of admission was significantly more likely for RDV patients (p < 0.001) and numerically more likely within 28 days after admission (p = 0.06).ConclusionOverall, our findings support recommendation of RDV administration for COVID-19 in a highly comorbid, highly impoverished population representative of both Black and White subjects in the US Gulf South.

Background: The relationships between maternal genetic and environmental exposure and conotruncal heart defects (CTDs) have been extensively investigated. Nevertheless, there is limited knowledge regarding the impact of ozone (O3) on the risk of CTDs. Objective: To explore the correlation between maternal exposure to O3 and CTDs in China. Methods: Pregnant women who underwent fetal echocardiography at Beijing Anzhen Hospital between January 2013 and December 2021 were enrolled. Their sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyle information, along with fetal data, were systematically collected. Fetal echocardiography was used to detect CTDs. Maternal exposure to ambient O3 during the embryonic period, the first trimester, the three months preceding the last menstrual period, and the perinatal period was estimated using residential addresses or hospital addresses associated with prenatal visits. The concentration of O3 was divided by quartiles, with the first quartile serving as a reference. Adjusted logistic regression models were employed to examine the associations between every 10 μg/m3 increase or quartile increase in ambient O3 exposure and CTDs. Results: Among 24,278 subjects, 1069 exhibited fetuses with CTDs. Maternal exposure to ambient O3 during three pregnancy periods was associated with increased CTD risk. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were 1.271 (1.189–1.360) per 10 μg/m3 increase in O3 during the perinatal period. For each quartile of O3, the risk increased with increasing exposure concentration, particularly during the perinatal period (OR = 2.206 for quartile 2, 2.367 for quartile 3, and 3.378 for quartile 4, all P

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the extensive use of ribavirin (RBV) raised concerns about its environmental residues and associated risks, necessitating remedial actions. This study investigates the degradation efficiency, mechanism, and biotoxicity of RBV using ferrous (Fe2+) activated persulfate (PS) advanced oxidation technology (Fe2+/PS oxidation). Experiments conducted under various conditions revealed that at pH = 3, PS concentration of 4 mM, PS/Fe2+ molar ratio of 2:1, and citric acid of 0.5 mM with Fe2+ added twice, the degradation rate of RBV reached 98.70 %. The degradation process of RBV by Fe2+/PS from 0 to 5 mins followed a first-order reaction kinetics model. The presence of halide ions (Cl-, Br-, I-) was found to inhibit the degradation efficiency. The active species involved were identified as SO4-·, ·OH, 1O2, and FeO2+, with SO4-· and ·OH being the most significant. Moreover, the products of ribavirin were determined and their degradation pathways were proposed. Dehydration, deamidation, C-N bond breaking and hydroxylation were the major pathways. Additionally, toxicity assessment showed that Fe2+/PS oxidation reduced the inhibition rate of bioluminescence in Vibrio fischeri from 31.58 % to 3.88 %, effectively controlling RBV toxicity during the reaction. This study provides insights into managing water environmental risks associated with pharmaceutical residues in the post-pandemic era.

Abstract Heterotopic ossification (HO) comprises the abnormal formation of ectopic bone in extraskeletal soft tissue. The factors that initiate HO remain elusive. Herein, we found that calcified apoptotic vesicles (apoVs) led to increased calcification and stiffness of tendon extracellular matrix (ECM), which initiated M2 macrophage polarization and HO progression. Specifically, single‐cell transcriptome analyses of different stages of HO revealed that calcified apoVs were primarily secreted by a PROCR+ fibroblast population. In addition, calcified apoVs enriched calcium by annexin channels, absorbed to collagen I via electrostatic interaction, and aggregated to produce calcifying nodules in the ECM, leading to tendon calcification and stiffening. More importantly, apoV‐releasing inhibition or macrophage deletion both successfully reversed HO development. Thus, we are the first to identify calcified apoVs from PROCR+ fibroblasts as the initiating factor of HO, and might serve as the therapeutic target for inhibiting pathological calcification.

Abstract Some biomolecules involved in pathological calcification have been identified. However, the exact mechanism in which this intricate process occurs remains unknown. Extracellular DNA (exDNA) has recently been recognized as a partaker in this ectopic phenomenon. Extracellular DNA acts as an intercellular messenger that transmits information and orchestrates complex inflammatory responses. Changes in the morphology or function of exDNA may trigger calcification under pathological conditions. In the present review, recent advances on how DNA is released into the extracellular milieu to become exDNA will be highlighted in conjunction with how exDNA directly and indirectly contributes to the progression of pathological calcification. Emphasis is placed on the “gluing” effect of neutrophil extracellular traps that act as a bridge between inflammation and pathological calcification. Manipulation of exDNA may open new vistas for the development of enterprising strategies that prevent or treat pathological calcification.

Paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD) represents the most prevalent form of paroxysmal dyskinesia, characterized by recurrent and transient attacks of involuntary movements triggered by a sudden voluntary action. In this study, whole-exome sequencing was conducted on a cohort of Chinese patients to identify causal mutations. In one young female case, a de novo CACNA1B variant (NM_000718.3:exon3:c.479C > T:p.S160F) was identified as the causative lesion. This finding may broaden the phenotypic spectrum of CACNA1B mutations and provide a prospective cause of primary PKD. Additionally, a novel start-loss variant (NM_000682.7:c.3G > A) within ADRA2B further denied its association with benign adult familial myoclonic epilepsy, and a KCNQ2 E515D variant that was reported as a genetic susceptibility factor for seizures had no damaging effect in this family. In sum, this study established a correlation between CACNA1B and primary PKD, and found valid evidence that further negates the pathogenic role of ADRA2B in benign adult familial myoclonic epilepsy.

The rotes of attempted and completed suicide among adolescents are increasing globally. Social support can help decrease the risk of adolescent suicide, but this aspect has been rarely studied in China. The present study aimed to use the Delphi methodology to establish a set of guidelines for the development of social support resources, with the goal of collectively reducing suicide risks among adolescents in Shanghai. We commenced the study in April 2021, established a research team, searched the keywords using Web of Science from 2016 to 2021 and ultimately designed a pre-evaluation index. Next, following Donabedian’s Structure–Process-Outcome model, the research developed a questionnaire comprising 3 level-1, 12 level-2, and 73 level-3 indicators. Ten experts were enlisted to conduct three rounds of e-mail inquiries in order to finalize the indicator system, resulting in 2 level-1, 11 level-2, and 52 level-3 indicators, as well as expert consensus. Our findings indicate that the social support systems should include parents, schools, psychiatric hospitals, social organizations, and government departments, with the government sector being the most important ((M = 9.4). Furthermore, our study revealed that school counselors and psychologists play similar roles to psychiatrists within the interdisciplinary team (M ± S = 9.2 ± 1.1). As per the expert consensus, social support systems should strengthen government-led and interdisciplinary collaboration, prioritize suicide prevention in schools and encourage greater involvement from social organizations.

Corrosion caused by the active chemical properties of magnesium (Mg) alloys seriously restricts their applications in aerospace, transportation, biomedicine, and other fields. Although micro-arc oxidation (MAO) coatings can provide some corrosion protection for Mg alloys, their microporous structure is prone to localized corrosion. Herein, nanoflower-shaped zinc phosphate is prepared and hydrophobically modified. The commercial glue is used to bond the nanoflower-shaped zinc phosphate particle arrays to the MAO-coated AZ31B alloy substrate to produce a two-layer composite coating with superhydrophobic properties. The composite coating exhibits obvious repulsive effects in salt and acidic solutions as indicated by contact angles of 160° and 156°, respectively. The composite coating has improved electrochemical properties and immersion corrosion in both the salt and acidic solutions compared to the substrate and MAO-coated sample. Moreover, the composite coating retains the long-term superhydrophobic effects under different conditions such as immersion in salt and acidic solutions, water scouring, and sunlight exposure, which well indicates commercial applications.

Abstract Modern management of MS targets No Evidence of Disease Activity (NEDA): no clinical relapses, no magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) disease activity and no disability worsening. While MRI is the principal tool available to neurologists for monitoring clinically silent MS disease activity and, where appropriate, escalating treatment, standard radiology reports are qualitative and may be insensitive to the development of new or enlarging lesions. Existing quantitative neuroimaging tools lack adequate clinical validation. In 397 multi-center MRI scan pairs acquired in routine practice, we demonstrate superior case-level sensitivity of a clinically integrated AI-based tool over standard radiology reports (93.3% vs 58.3%), relative to a consensus ground truth, with minimal loss of specificity. We also demonstrate equivalence of the AI-tool with a core clinical trial imaging lab for lesion activity and quantitative brain volumetric measures, including percentage brain volume loss (PBVC), an accepted biomarker of neurodegeneration in MS (mean PBVC −0.32% vs −0.36%, respectively), whereas even severe atrophy (>0.8% loss) was not appreciated in radiology reports. Finally, the AI-tool additionally embeds a clinically meaningful, experiential comparator that returns a relevant MS patient centile for lesion burden, revealing, in our cohort, inconsistencies in qualitative descriptors used in radiology reports. AI-based image quantitation enhances the accuracy of, and value-adds to, qualitative radiology reporting. Scaled deployment of these tools will open a path to precision management for patients with MS.

Abstract Background Endometriosis is a common gynecological disease in women of childbearing age. Commonly used treatment methods, such as endocrine and surgical therapies, display poor therapeutic effects with a high relapse probability. Thus, novel treatments for endometriosis are required. Methods In our study, polydopamine (PDA), letrozole (LTZ), and agarose (AG) hydrogels were combined to construct an injectable hydrogel with near-infrared controlled drug delivery named LTZ-PDA@AG hydrogel for endometriosis treatment. The release of letrozole can be accurately controlled by the near-infrared light intensity, exposure duration, polydopamine concentration, and hydrogel composition. Meanwhile, we isolated endometrial stromal cells from endometrium in patients with endometriosis, and constructed the rats’ model of endometriosis to verify the biological effects of LTZ-PDA@AG hydrogel. Results Owing to the sufficiently deep penetration of near-infrared light, the LTZ-PDA@AG hydrogel displayed a high temperature increase for efficient photothermal therapy. In addition, high local temperatures can further enhance the diffusion and penetration of letrozole, thereby achieving excellent therapeutic effect in vivo. Importantly, the in vivo and vitro test demonstrated the capacity of the nanocomposite hydrogel for endocrine-photothermal synergistic therapy and the biocompatibility. Conclusion Our work proposes a novel concept for precision endometriosis therapy by photothermal-enhanced endocrine therapy for endometriosis, which is proposed for the first time for the treatment of endometriosis and demonstrates excellent potential for further clinical translation. Trial registration Not applicable. Graphical Abstract LTZ-PDA@AG hydrogels were synthesized and displayed a high temperature increase for efficient photothermal therapy under NIR. The present study shows the capacity of the nanocomposite hydrogel for endocrine-photothermal synergistic therapy and the biocompatibility.

To mitigate global warming, phasing out coal in the global energy system orderly and rapidly is an important near-term strategy. However, the majority of coal-fired plants in China have operated for less than 15 years. Accelerated coal power plant retirements would lead to substantial asset stranding. Coal-to-nuclear (C2N) technology offers a potential solution by replacing coal boilers in existing coal-fired plants with nuclear reactors. In this study, the G4-ECONS model was used to assess the economics of repowering a 600 MW supercritical coal-fired power plant with two 272 MWe high-temperature gas-cooled reactors. The timeline for the C2N project and the additional cost of dispatching electricity from the grid during retrofitting were discussed. Results showed that the C2N total capitalized costs are 19.4% (baseline estimate, USD 5297.6/kW) and 11.1% (conservative estimate, USD 5847.2/kW) lower than the greenfield project (USD 6576.5/kW), respectively. And C2N projects need to reduce LUEC by at least 20% to become competitive. This study can inform engineering design decisions leading to more precise and cost-effective C2N projects.

Wheat production is intrinsically linked to global food security. However, wheat cultivation is constrained by the progressive degradation of soil conditions resulting from the continuous application of fertilizers. This study aimed to examine the effects of deep tillage on rhizosphere soil microbial communities and their potential role in improving soil quality, given that the specific mechanisms driving these observed benefits remain unclear. Soil fertility in this research was evaluated through the analysis of various soil parameters, including total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium, available phosphorus, and available potassium, among others. The high-throughput sequencing technique was utilized to examine the rhizosphere microbial community associated with deep tillage wheat. The findings indicated that deep tillage cultivation of wheat led to reduced fertility levels in the 0–20 cm soil layer in comparison with non-deep tillage cultivation. A sequencing analysis indicated that Acidobacteria and Proteobacteria are the dominant bacterial phyla, with Proteobacteria being significantly more abundant in the deep tillage group. The dominant fungal phyla identified were Ascomycota, Mortierellomycota, and Basidiomycota. Among bacterial genera, Arthrobacter, Bacillus, and Nocardioides were predominant, with Arthrobacter showing a significantly higher presence in the deep tillage group. The predominant fungal genera included Mortierella, Alternaria, Schizothecium, and Cladosporium. Deep tillage cultivation has the potential to enhance soil quality and boost crop productivity through the modulation of soil microbial community structure.

LNOI devices have emerged as prominent contributors to photonic integrated circuits (PICs), benefiting from their outstanding performance in electro-optics, acousto-optics, nonlinear optics, etc. Due to the physical properties and current etching technologies of LiNbO3, slanted sidewalls are typically formed in LNOI waveguides, causing polarization-related mode hybridization and crosstalk. Despite the low losses achieved with fabrication advancements in LNOI, such mode hybridization and crosstalk still significantly limit the device performance by introducing polarization-related losses. In this paper, we propose a vertically etched LNOI construction. By improving the geometrical symmetry in the waveguides, vertical sidewalls could adequately mitigate mode hybridization in common waveguide cross sections. Taking tapers and bends as representatives of PIC components, we then conducted theoretical modeling and simulations, which showed that vertical etching effectively exempts devices from polarization-related mode crosstalk. This not only improves the polarization purity and input mode transmittance but also enables lower polarization-related losses within more compact structures. As a demonstration of fabrication feasibility, we innovatively proposed a two-step fabrication technique, and successfully fabricated waveguides with vertical sidewalls. Such vertical etching technology facilitates the development of next-generation high-speed modulators, nonlinear optical devices, and other advanced photonic devices with lower losses and a smaller footprint, driving further innovations in both academic research and industrial applications.

Cereal + legume rotation is an integrated system that facilitates soil fertility and sustainable agricultural production. However, research on the management compatibility affecting soil physico-chemical properties yields overall agro-ecosystem sustainability, but profitability is lacking, especially under straw retention and potential reductions in fertilizer application. An 11-year field experiment investigated three treatments: no straw retention + traditional mineral fertilization (TNS), straw retention + traditional mineral fertilization (TS), and straw retention + reduced mineral fertilization (DS). Compared with TNS, TS significantly improved soil physico-chemical properties, including macro-aggregates (R > 0.25 mm), porosity, field water capacity (FWC), soil organic carbon (SOC) storage, total nitrogen storage, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) by 17.3%, 3.2%, 13.0%, 5.5%, 3.2%, 15.5%, and 13.8%, respectively. TS also significantly increased total (wheat + soybean) yields (TYs), economic profits, and emergy sustainability index (ESI) by 15.8%, 25.0%, 3.7 times that of TNS, respectively. Surprisingly, compared with TS, DS further significantly improved R > 0.25 mm, porosity, FWC, SOC storage, MBC, MBN, TY, economic profits, and ESI by 11.4%, 1.5%, 6.1%, 3.0%, 10.6%, 7.2%, 5.7%, 11.1%, and 36.5%, respectively. Overall, retaining straw with reduced fertilization enhances soil properties, yields, and emergy sustainability in wheat–soybean rotation systems.