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Abstract Target identification of ship-radiated noise is a crucial area in underwater target recognition. However, there is currently a lack of multi-target ship datasets that accurately represent real-world underwater acoustic conditions. To tackle this issue, we conducted experimental data acquisition, resulting in the release of QiandaoEar22—a comprehensive underwater acoustic multi-target dataset. This dataset encompasses 9 h and 28 min of real-world ship-radiated noise data and 21 h and 58 min of background noise data. To demonstrate the availability of QiandaoEar22, we executed two experimental tasks. The first task focuses on assessing the presence of ship-radiated noise, while the second task involves identifying specific ships within the recognized targets in the multi-ship mixed data. In the latter task, we extracted eight features from the data and employed six deep learning networks for classification, aiming to evaluate and compare the performance of various features and networks. The experimental results reveal that ship-radiated noise can be identified from background noise in over 99% of cases. For the specific identification of individual ships, the optimal recognition accuracy achieves 99.56%. Finally, we found using spectrum and MFCC as feature inputs and DenseNet as classifier can achieve excellent recognition performance. Considering the computational efficiency, CRNN and ECAPA-TDNN are also good choices. Our work not only establishes a benchmark for algorithm evaluation but also inspires the development of innovative methods to enhance underwater acoustic target detection (UATD) and underwater acoustic target recognition (UATR).

Abstract In 1834, an American medical missionary, Peter Parker, arrived in Guangdong and established a hospital. He used his medical skills to evangelise and commissioned a local artist named Lam Qua to paint numerous medical portraits. Previous studies on these portraits have mainly focused on historiography or critical discourse studies, with little attention given to the visual thinking behind them. Therefore, this paper uses Foucault’s archaeology of knowledge to systematically sort out similar images from different periods to demonstrate how the epistemological type brought by medical observation operates and is represented through discursive formation. The study shows that Lam Qua’s medical portraits can be traced back to clinicians’ records of cases and served as ethnographic displays, similar to freak shows. Information gradually becomes emphasised partially due to its detachment from the entity in the dissemination process. This idea inspired Rei Kawakubo’s clothing fashions, while Cunningham’s dance art takes it further by abstracting information from the body, visually representing posthuman thinking. These seemingly unrelated cases belong to the same collection of statements that form a system called organs-without-body in this paper, serving as a metaphor for non-physical information to help us better understand the formation of posthuman thought.

Abstract Background Uncertainty remains about the long-term effects of air pollutants (AP) on multiple diseases, especially subtypes of cardiovascular disease (CVD). We aimed to assess the individual and joint associations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), along with its chemical components, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3), with risks of 32 health conditions. Methods A total of 17,566 participants in Sichuan Province, China, were included in 2018 and followed until 2022, with an average follow-up period of 4.2 years. The concentrations of AP were measured using a machine-learning approach. The Cox proportional hazards model and quantile g-computation were applied to assess the associations between AP and CVD. Results Per interquartile range (IQR) increase in PM2.5 mass, NO2, O3, nitrate, ammonium, organic matter (OM), black carbon (BC), chloride, and sulfate were significantly associated with increased risks of various conditions, with hazard ratios (HRs) ranging from 1.06 to 2.48. Exposure to multiple air pollutants was associated with total cardiovascular disease (HR 1.75, 95% confidence intervals (CIs) 1.62–1.89), hypertensive diseases (1.49, 1.38–1.62), cardiac arrests (1.52, 1.30–1.77), arrhythmia (1.76, 1.44–2.15), cerebrovascular diseases (1.86, 1.65–2.10), stroke (1.77, 1.54–2.03), ischemic stroke (1.85, 1.61–2.12), atherosclerosis (1.77, 1.57–1.99), diseases of veins, lymphatic vessels, and lymph nodes (1.32, 1.15–1.51), pneumonia (1.37, 1.16–1.61), inflammatory bowel diseases (1.34, 1.16–1.55), liver diseases (1.59, 1.43–1.77), type 2 diabetes (1.48, 1.26–1.73), lipoprotein metabolism disorders (2.20, 1.96–2.47), purine metabolism disorders (1.61, 1.38–1.88), anemia (1.29, 1.15–1.45), sleep disorders (1.54, 1.33–1.78), renal failure (1.44, 1.21–1.72), kidney stone (1.27, 1.13–1.43), osteoarthritis (2.18, 2.00–2.39), osteoporosis (1.36, 1.14–1.61). OM had max weights for joint effects of AP on many conditions. Conclusions Long-term exposure to increased levels of multiple air pollutants was associated with risks of multiple health conditions. OM accounted for substantial weight for these increased risks, suggesting it may play an important role in these associations.

The amount of data collected from underwater explosion tests is enormous, which is mixed with a large amount of useless data. To protect the data from the effects of the explosion, it is crucial to prioritize the recognition and storage of key data during the test. In response to this, a key signal recognition model that combined feature extraction methods with deep learning models was proposed to improve the accuracy of key signal recognition. Firstly, different preprocessing methods for removing trend components from underwater explosion acceleration signals were studied. Existing test results demonstrated that wavelet packet decomposition, empirical mode decomposition, and high-pass filtering could significantly enhance the model’s recognition performance. Secondly, to make the extracted features more conducive to distinguishing between explosion and non-explosion segments, a feature extraction method based on the inter-class variance ratio for underwater explosion acceleration signals was proposed. According to the actual measured underwater explosion acceleration signal data, it was found that compared to Log Mel features, the proposed features improved classification accuracy by approximately 4.92% using the K-means method. Finally, the ECAPA-TDNN model incorporating the SE-Res2Block module was introduced, ensuring better recognition accuracy. With the proposed features as input, the recognition accuracy reached 99.31%.

Based on an elaboration of the resource potential and annual production of tight sandstone gas and shale gas in the United States and China, this paper reviews the researches on the distribution of tight sandstone gas and shale gas reservoirs, and analyzes the distribution characteristics and genetic types of tight sandstone gas reservoirs. In the United States, the proportion of tight sandstone gas in the total gas production declined from 20%–35% in 2008 to about 8% in 2023, and the shale gas production was 8 310×108 m3 in 2023, about 80% of the total gas production, in contrast to the range of 5%–17% during 2000–2008. In China, the proportion of tight sandstone gas in the total gas production increased from 16% in 2010 to 28% or higher in 2023. China began to produce shale gas in 2012, with the production reaching 250×108 m3 in 2023, about 11% of the total gas production of the country. The distribution of shale gas reservoirs is continuous. According to the fault presence, fault displacement and gas layer thickness, the continuous shale gas reservoirs can be divided into two types: continuity and intermittency. Most previous studies believed that both tight sandstone gas reservoirs and shale gas reservoirs are continuous, but this paper holds that the distribution of tight sandstone gas reservoirs is not continuous. According to the trap types, tight sandstone gas reservoirs can be divided into lithologic, anticlinal, and synclinal reservoirs. The tight sandstone gas is coal-derived in typical basins in China and Egypt, but oil-type gas in typical basins in the United States and Oman.

Background: While gender differences in ball skills are widely recognized, the differences in locomotor skills remain unclear. This study aims to explore these gender differences among preschool children in Jinhua City, China, and to examine the influence of evolutionary factors and local cultural activities on these skills. Methods: A cluster random sampling method was employed to select 777 preschool children aged 5.1–6.7 years from seven kindergartens in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, Eastern China. The Test of Gross Motor Development-Third Edition (TGMD-3) was used to assess GMS, including locomotor and ball skills. Results: Boys outperformed girls in ball skills, such as underhand throwing, catching, two-handed striking, and kicking. However, no significant overall gender differences were found in locomotor skills. A deeper analysis revealed that boys excelled in running-related tasks, whereas girls performed better in skipping-related tasks. These findings suggest that TGMD-3 locomotor skills should be divided into running-related and jumping-related categories. The results also show that not all ball skills are dominated by boys, indicating the impact of environmental factors. The findings highlight the role of both evolutionary factors and local cultural activities in shaping these specific gender differences. Conclusion: The study's cross-sectional design provides a snapshot of existing gender differences in motor skills among preschool children. The results suggest the need for gender-sensitive physical education programs to address these disparities early on. Future research should utilize longitudinal methods and objective measures to further understand the development of these skills over time and the underlying factors contributing to these differences.

BackgroundMetabolic abnormalities in the body increase the risk of gallbladder stones and their complications, which brings a great economic and social burden. The relationship between different types and amounts of metabolic abnormalities and gallstone risk in different sexes is poorly documented and controversial.MethodsBased on the baseline survey data of the Chinese Multi-Ethnic Cohort (CMEC) study, 4,075 Chinese adults aged 30–79 years with complete abdominal ultrasound results and metabolic index data. Logistic regression model was used to evaluate the correlation between five metabolic abnormalities and gallstones, and to explore the gender difference.ResultsThe detection rate of gallbladder stones was found to be 7.0%, with a higher rate in women (8.6%) than in men (4.1%). Logistic results showed adjustment odds ratio (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of dysglycemia + hypertension + central obesity in 3 metabolic combinations was 4.459 (1.653, 12.029). The four metabolic combinations, dysglycemia + dyslipidemia + hypertension + central obesity, dysglycemia + dyslipidemia + hypertension + abnormal blood uric acid and dysglycemia + dyslipidemia + central obesity + abnormal blood uric acid adjusted OR and 95%CI were 3.342 (1.459, 7.659), 5.439 (1.555, 19.018) and 2.971 (1.187, 7.435), respectively. Gender-stratified analysis found that “any three or more metabolic abnormalities and their components were associated with gallstone risk, more significantly in women.ConclusionDifferent types and amounts of five metabolic abnormalities were associated with the risk of gallstone development, and the differences were more significant in women than men.

Time-domain distance protection has a good transient performance and operation speed when applied to wind power transmission lines. In this paper, the error analysis and improved method of phase-to-phase time-domain distance protection are investigated. Firstly, based on the time-domain mathematical model, the location error caused by fault resistance is analyzed, and then the algorithmic convergence and accuracy of conventional phase-to-phase distance relay are evaluated. To solve the computational non-convergence problem, an improved phase-to-phase distance relay is proposed, in which the instantaneous negative-sequence current is used to improve the location accuracy, especially during the fault transient stage of wind farms. In order to avoid the protection overreach problem, the threshold selection method is designed based on the maximum allowable error of the calculated distance. According to the proposed method, the corresponding protection device is developed. And the hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test system is built based on the real-time digital simulation (RTDS) platform. Extensive experimental tests are carried out, to verify the feasibility and superiority of the proposed time-domain distance protection.

The prevalence of dyslipidemia is increasing, and it has become a significant global public health concern. Some studies have demonstrated contradictory relationships between urinary metals and dyslipidemia, and the combined effects of mixed urinary metal exposure on dyslipidemia remain ambiguous. In this study, we examined how individual and combined urinary metal exposure are associated with the occurrence of dyslipidemia. According to the data from the 2018–2019 baseline survey database of the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort (CMEC) Study, a population of 9348 individuals was studied. Inductively coupled plasmamass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to measure 21 urinary metal concentrations in the collected adult urinary samples. The associations between urinary metals and dyslipidemia were analyzed by logistic regression, weighted quantile sum regression (WQS), and quantile-based g-computation (qgcomp), controlled for potential confounders to examine single and combined effects. Dyslipidemia was detected in 3231 individuals, which represented approximately 34.6 % of the total population. According to the single-exposure model, Al and Na were inversely associated with the risk of dyslipidemia (OR = 0.95, 95 % CI: 0.93, 0.98; OR = 0.89, 95 % CI: 0.83, 0.95, respectively), whereas Zn, Ca, and P were positively associated (OR = 1.69, 95 % CI: 1.42, 2.01; OR = 1.12, 95 % CI: 1.06, 1.18; OR = 1.21, 95 % CI: 1.09, 1.34, respectively). Moreover, Zn and P were significantly positively associated even after adjusting for these metals, whereas Al and Cr were negatively associated with the risk of dyslipidemia. The results of the WQS and qgcomp analyses showed that urinary metal mixtures were positively associated with the risk of dyslipidemia (OR = 1.26, 95 % CI: 1.15, 1.38; OR = 1.09, 95 % CI: 1.01, 1.19). This positive association was primarily driven by Zn, P, and Ca. In the sensitivity analyses with collinearity diagnosis, interaction, and stratified analysis, the results remained, confirming the reliability of the study findings. In this study, the individual and combined effects of urinary Zn, P, and Ca on dyslipidemia were determined, which provided novel insights into the link between exposure to metals and dyslipidemia.

Abstract Under the dual‐carbon goal, due to the long‐term operation of thermal power units under wide load and frequent fluctuating load after heat supply transformation, the dynamic process of subcritical units is modeled, and a frequency modulation optimization technology based on frequency signal accuracy is proposed to ensure the accuracy of the speed signal and improve the qualification rate of primary frequency modulation action. At the same time, the frequency regulation technology of steam engine side control optimization under boundary working conditions is proposed, so as to realize the sensitivity and rapidity of the digital electric hydraulic control system. The coordination optimization technology under boundary working conditions is proposed, and the primary frequency regulation performance of the unit is improved through a series of optimization adjustments. Finally, the engineering application is carried out and the optimization effect is analyzed.

Abstract Recently, discriminative and robust identification information has played an increasingly critical role in Person Re-identification (Re-ID). It is a fact that the existing part-based methods demonstrate strong performance in the extraction of fine-grained features. However, their intensive partitions lead to semantic information ambiguity and background interference. Meanwhile, we observe that the body with different structural proportions. Hence, we assume that aggregation with the multi-scale adjacent features can effectively alleviate the above issues. In this paper, we propose a novel Discriminative Multi-scale Adjacent Feature (MSAF) learning framework to enrich semantic information and disregard background. In summary, we establish multi-scale interaction in two stages: the feature extraction stage and the feature aggregation stage. Firstly, a Multi-scale Feature Extraction (MFE) module is designed by combining CNN and Transformer structure to obtain the discriminative specific feature, as the basis for the feature aggregation stage. Secondly, a Jointly Part-based Feature Aggregation (JPFA) mechanism is revealed to implement adjacent feature aggregation with diverse scales. The JPFA contains Same-scale Feature Correlation (SFC) and Cross-scale Feature Correlation (CFC) sub-modules. Finally, to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, extensive experiments are performed on the common datasets of Market-1501, CUHK03-NP, DukeMTMC, and MSMT17. The experimental results achieve better performance than many state-of-the-art methods.

Abstract Employee scheduling aims to assign employees to shifts to satisfy daily workload and constraints. Some employee scheduling problems and their variants have been proven NP-hard, and a series of works have been done. However, the existing algorithms consider the fixed work time, which may cause plenty of overstaffing and understaffing phenomenons. Hence, this paper proposes a fast-flexible strategy based approach (FFS) to solve it. FFS introduces the idea of soft work time, which allows the work time of employees can be adjusted in a range. Based on this, we set the flextime strategy to decide the specific work time of each employee every day. Besides, FFS adopts a pairwise-allocated strategy and proficiency average matrix to boost its efficiency and effectiveness. Finally, the extensive experimental evaluation shows that FFS is more effective and efficient than the baselines for solving the employee scheduling problem considering soft work time.

Objective: This cross-sectional study examined the influence of sedentary behavior (SB) time substitution with physical activity (PA) on depressive symptoms among adults with overweight/obesity. SB time was replaced with equal amount of walking/bicycling or leisure-time moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). Methods: Data of the 18344 adults, who were overweight and obesity was obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2006–2018. PA of participants was measured by the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. Depressive symptoms, including overall, somatic, and cognitive depressive symptoms were assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Isotemporal substitution model based on weighted multiple linear regression was used to assess the association of SB time substitution with PA on depressive symptoms. Results: Independent model analysis showed that 30 min/day SB time was significantly associated with higher PHQ-9 depressive symptoms, while engage in walking/bicycling or leisure-time MVPA for 30 min/day was associated with lower depressive symptoms. Isotemporal substitution analyses revealed that replacing 30 min/day SB time with equal amount of walking/bicycling or leisure-time MVPA was associated with significant lower PHQ-9 total scores (walking/bicycling: β = −0.088, 95%CI = −0.129, −0.047, P

ObjectiveTuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Previous studies have reported that TB susceptibility can be caused by vitamin D deficiency, which is affected by polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene. However, these results have been inconsistent. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to investigate the association between VDR polymorphisms and TB susceptibility.MethodsWe systematically searched for relevant literature in PubMed, Embase, and Medline databases through December 31st, 2022. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were made to ensure that HIV-negative population is the targeted subjects. The pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were then used to assess the strength of the association, and the quality of the included articles was evaluated using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Potential sources of heterogeneity were evaluated based on subgroup and meta-regression analyses.ResultsIn our meta-analysis, we found that the FokI polymorphism in the VDR gene was associated with increased TB susceptibility in the allele and recessive genotype models (OR f vs. F = 1.235, 95%CI: 1.035–1.475; OR ff vs. Ff + FF = 1.317, 95%CI: 1.005–1.727. Further subgroup analysis based on ethnicity demonstrated the association with the risk of TB in all genotype models of the FokI polymorphism for Han population. Meta-regression analysis also indicated that ethnicity could be a potential source of heterogeneity in the FokI and BsmI polymorphisms in the VDR gene. However, publication year was another source of heterogeneity for the TaqI polymorphism.ConclusionIn summary, the FokI polymorphism in the VDR gene was found to increase the risk of TB in the HIV-negative population, both overall and in Asian populations. The findings presented in this paper could provide clues for preventing TB from the perspective of vitamin D supplementation, which is a controversial topic in the field of medicine and health.

As a part of the overall information-processing system of the brain, postural control is related to the cognitive processes of working memory. Previous studies have suggested that cognitive tasks and postural control processes can compete for resources in common brain areas, although there is an “inverted U” relationship between arousal level and behavioral control – the arousal level of individuals changes when performing cognitive tasks. However, the exact neural connections between the two are unclear. This may be related to the nature of cognitive tasks. Some studies believe that posture occupies not only spatial information processing resources but also visual non-spatial information processing resources. Other studies believe that posture control only occupies spatial information processing resources in the central system, but does not occupy non-spatial information processing resources. Previous studies used different cognitive task materials and reached different conclusions. In this study, we used the same visuospatial and non-spatial materials, the n-back visual working memory paradigm, the event-related potential technique to investigate the effects of visuospatial and non-spatial working memory tasks on adolescents’ postural control under different cognitive loads. The results of this study showed that in both visuospatial and non-spatial conditions, the N1 effect of the parieto-occipital lobe was larger during upright posture than in the sitting position (160–180 ms), the P300 effect of the central parieto-occipital region (280–460 ms) was induced by working memory in different postures, and the P300 wave amplitude was higher in the sitting position than in the upright position. We demonstrated that upright postural control enhances early selective attention but interferes with central memory encoding, thus confirming that postural control and visuospatial and non-spatial working memory share brain regions and compete with each other.

Frequency stability and security have been a vital challenge as large-scale renewable energy is integrated into power systems. In contrast, the proportion of traditional thermal power units decreases during the decarbonization transformation process, resulting in poor frequency support. This paper aims to explore the potential of frequency regulation support, dynamic assessment, and capacity promotion of thermal power plants in the transition period. Considering the dynamic characteristics of the main steam working fluid under different working conditions, a nonlinear observer is constructed by extracting the main steam pressure and valve opening degree parameters. The real-time frequency modulation capacity of thermal power units can provide a dynamic state for the power grid. A dynamic adaptive modification for primary frequency control (PFC) of power systems, including wind power and thermal power, is proposed and improved. The power dynamic allocation factor is adaptively optimized by predicting the speed droop ratio, and the frequency modulation capability of the system is improved by more than 11% under extreme conditions. Finally, through the Monte Carlo simulation of unit states of the system under various working conditions, the promotion of the frequency regulation capacity with high wind power penetration (WPP) is verified.

Abstract Various heating disturbances and faults in the heating network are necessary to be controlled and handled by some intelligent heating strategies with the increasing complexity of the heating network. This paper constructed the dynamic modeling of the heating system using standard thermal resistance and obtained a dynamic heat current model of the heating system. On this basis, we analyzed the heat transfer performance of the heating system. Five disturbances are selected, including the behavior of users, indoor heat source, heat exchanger heat transfer performance deterioration, pipe blockage, and pipe leakage. The effects of different disturbances on the overall system and user side water supply temperature were obtained by establishing a dynamic model for segmented heating pipelines. Feasible control methods for the heating network and load side are sorted out, mainly changing the water supply's temperature and the water supply's flow rate to reduce the water supply's fluctuation. Five specific control strategies are proposed for five types of disturbances. Comparing the case without control and the case with control, the results show that the fluctuation of water supply temperature is significantly reduced, and the control strategies can reduce the impact of disturbances on the heat network system and customers and improve the comfort of customers in the presence of disturbances. under the disturbance of pipeline leakage, the method proposed in this article reduces the temperature fluctuation amplitude by 75% and the fluctuation duration by 60%.

Objective To evaluate safety and mechanism of action of mezagitamab (TAK-079), an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, in patients with moderate to severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Methods A phase 1b double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre study was conducted in patients with SLE receiving standard background therapy. Eligible patients were adults who met the 2012 SLICC or ACR criteria for diagnosis, had a baseline SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) score of ≥6 and were positive for anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies and/or anti-extractable nuclear antigens antibodies. Patients received 45 mg, 90 mg or 135 mg of mezagitamab or placebo every 3 weeks over 12 weeks. Primary endpoints were safety and tolerability. Secondary endpoints included pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Exploratory assessments included disease activity scales, deep immune profiling and interferon pathway analysis.Results 22 patients received at least one dose of either mezagitamab or placebo. In patients exposed to mezagitamab (n=17), drug was well tolerated. Adverse event (AEs) were balanced across treatment groups, with no treatment emergent AEs exceeding grade 2. Responder analyses for Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index (CLASI) and SLEDAI-2K did not reveal any observable differences across treatment groups. However, there was a trend for more profound skin responses among patients with higher CLASI scores (>10) at baseline. Pharmacodynamic analysis showed median CD38 receptor occupancy up to 88.4% on CD38+ natural killer cells with concurrent depletion of these cells up to 90% in the 135 mg group. Mean reductions in IgG and autoantibodies were less than 20% in all dose groups. Cytometry by time of flight and type 1 interferon gene analysis revealed unique fingerprints that are indicative of a broad immune landscape shift following CD38 targeting.Conclusions Mezagitamab had a favourable safety profile in patients with moderate to severe SLE and elicited a pharmacodynamic effect consistent with CD38+ cell depletion. These findings reveal novel insights into the drug’s mechanism of action and support the continued investigation of mezagitamab in autoimmune diseases.

INTRODUCTION: In recent years, machine learning and deep learning have emerged as pivotal technologies with transformative potential across various industries. Among these, the automobile industry stands out as a significant arena for the application of these technologies, particularly in the development of smart cars with unmanned driving systems. This article delves into the extensive research conducted on the detection technology employed by autonomous vehicles to navigate road conditions, a critical aspect of driverless car technology. OBJECTIVES: The primary aim of this research is to explore and highlight the intricacies of road condition detection for autonomous vehicles. Emphasizing the importance of this key component in the development of driverless cars, we aim to provide insights into cutting-edge algorithms that enhance the capabilities of these vehicles, ultimately contributing to their widespread adoption. METHODS: In addressing the challenge of road condition detection, we introduce the TidyYOLOv4 algorithm. This algorithm, deemed more advantageous than YOLOv4, particularly excels in pedestrian recognition within urban traffic environments. Its real-time capabilities make it a suitable choice for detecting pedestrians on the road under dynamic conditions. RESULTS: The application of the TidyYOLOv4 algorithm in autonomous vehicles has yielded promising results, especially in enhancing pedestrian recognition in urban traffic settings. The algorithm's real-time functionality proves crucial in ensuring the timely detection of pedestrians on the road, thereby improving the overall safety and efficiency of autonomous vehicles. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the detection of road conditions is a critical aspect of autonomous vehicle technology, with implications for safety and efficiency. The TidyYOLOv4 algorithm emerges as a noteworthy advancement, outperforming its predecessor YOLOv4 in pedestrian recognition within urban traffic environments. As companies continue to invest in driverless technology, leveraging such advanced algorithms becomes imperative for the successful deployment of autonomous vehicles in real-world scenarios.

Abstract In distributed generation systems, converters play a vital role and DC/DC converter technology is constantly being promoted with the increasing demand for electrical equipment in various industries. A cascaded topology of DC/DC converter has been proposed in this paper, named three‐level Buck‐LLC(TL‐BLLC) converter. In the proposed TL‐BLLC, Buck and LLC circuit are cascaded by a switch and a diode, so that the input voltage of the LLC can be adjusted to three levels. The stability of the output voltage of the whole system depends on the three‐level weight, so the LLC works at fixed frequency, which simplifies the control and ensures the efficiency. At the same time, compared with the traditional cascaded Buck‐LLC, this structure can reduce the processing power and reduce the size of passive elements of the previous Buck. Finally, a 980 W experimental prototype was established and the results of the experiment verified the correctness of the theoretical analysis.

Background: Little is known about the association between a plant-based diet and the risk of gallstone disease (GD), especially in developing counties. We tested the hypothesis that shifting dietary patterns would be related to the risk of GD, and that the Mediterranean diet (MED) adjusted for China would be beneficial for lowering risk of GD. Methods: Data were extracted from the baseline survey of the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort study. An alternative Mediterranean diet (aMED) score was assessed based on a food frequency questionnaire, and three posteriori dietary patterns (the modern dietary pattern, the coarse grain dietary pattern, and the rice dietary pattern) were identified using factor analysis. Multivariable logistic regression models were developed to evaluate the association between dietary patterns and GD risks. Results: A total of 89,544 participants were included. The prevalence of GD was 7.5%. Comparing the highest with lowest quintiles, aMED was associated with an increased risk of GD (OR 1.13; 95% CI, 1.04–1.24; Ptrend = 0.003), whereas the rice dietary pattern was inversely related to GD risk (OR 0.79; 95% CI, 0.71–0.87; Ptrend < 0.001). In stratified analysis, the rice dietary pattern had a stronger inverse association in the subgroups of females, older, urban, and overweight participants, and those with diabetes—factors associated with higher rates of GD in previous studies. Conclusion: Higher adherence to the rice dietary pattern was associated with a lower risk of GD. For high-risk populations, making some shift to a traditional agricultural diet might help with primary prevention of GD.

Predicting fishing effort distribution is crucial for guiding fisheries management in developing effective strategies and protecting marine ecosystems. This task requires a deep understanding of how various hydrological factors, such as water temperature, surface height, salinity, and currents influence fishing activities. However, there are significant challenges in designing the prediction model. Firstly, how hydrological factors affect fishing effort distributions remains unquantified. Secondly, the prediction model must effectively integrate the spatial and temporal dynamics of fishing behaviors, a task that shows analytical difficulties. In this study, we first quantify the correlation between hydrological factor fields and fishing effort distributions through spatiotemporal analysis. Building on the insights from this analysis, we develop a deep-learning model designed to forecast the daily distribution of fishing effort for the upcoming week. The proposed model incorporates residual networks to extract features from both the fishing effort distribution and the hydrological factor fields, thus addressing the spatial limits of fishing activity. It also employs Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks to manage the temporal dynamics of fishing activity. Furthermore, an attention mechanism is included to capture the importance of various hydrological factors. We apply the approach to the VMS dataset from 1,899 trawling fishing vessels in the East China Sea from September 2015 to May 2017. The dataset from September 2015 to May 2016 is used for correlation analysis and training the prediction model, while the dataset from September 2016 to May 2017 is employed to evaluate the prediction accuracy. The prediction error ratio for each day of the upcoming week range is only 5.6% across all weeks from September 2016 to May 2017. HyFish, notable for its low prediction error ratio, will serve as a versatile tool in fisheries management for developing sustainable practices and in fisheries research for providing quantitative insights into fishing resource dynamics and assessing ecological risks related to fishing activities.

ObjectivesThe present study analyzed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence and incidence of new leprosy cases, as well as the diversity, distribution, and temporal transmission of Mycobacterium leprae strains at the county level in leprae-endemic provinces in Southwest China.MethodsA total of 219 new leprosy cases during two periods, 2018–2019 and 2020–2021, were compared. We genetically characterized 83 clinical isolates of M. leprae in Guizhou using variable number tandem repeats (VNTRs) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The obtained genetic profiles and cluster consequences of M. leprae were compared between the two periods.ResultsThere was an 18.97% decrease in the number of counties and districts reporting cases. Considering the initial months (January–March) of virus emergence, the number of new cases in 2021 increased by 167% compared to 2020. The number of patients with a delay of >12 months before COVID-19 (63.56%) was significantly higher than that during COVID-19 (48.51%). Eighty-one clinical isolates (97.60%) were positive for all 17 VNTR types, whereas two (2.40%) clinical isolates were positive for 16 VNTR types. The (GTA)9, (TA)18, (TTC)21 and (TA)10 loci showed higher polymorphism than the other loci. The VNTR profile of these clinical isolates generated five clusters, among which the counties where the patients were located were adjacent or relatively close to each other. SNP typing revealed that all clinical isolates possessed the single SNP3K.ConclusionCOVID-19 may have a negative/imbalanced impact on the prevention and control measures of leprosy, which could be a considerable fact for official health departments. Isolates formed clusters among counties in Guizhou, indicating that the transmission chain remained during the epidemic and was less influenced by COVID-19 preventative policies.

Abstract Background Cells and tissues, such as macrophages, express inducible nitric oxide synthase (INOS) after stimulation by certain factors. INOS helps mediate the macrophage inflammatory reaction, but few studies have explored how INOS affects macrophage function in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Objective This study investigated the role of INOS‐mediated macrophage activity in NAFLD. Methods A high‐fat diet was used to establish an NAFLD mouse model. After 12 weeks, blood was collected for immune cell and lipid analyses, and liver tissues were collected for pathological analyses with hematoxylin and eosin and Oil Red O staining. Peritoneal macrophages were extracted in situ, cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium, and stimulated with palmitic acid to mimic in vivo conditions for further assays. Real‐time polymerase chain reaction, western blot analysis, and immunofluorescence were used to verify the expression of target genes or proteins. Results In the NAFLD model, INOS expression in macrophages increased, and INOS knockdown significantly decreased the number of macrophages. Pathological examinations confirmed that INOS knockdown slowed NAFLD progression and macrophage infiltration during inflammation. INOS knockdown also enhanced phagocytosis and lipid transport by macrophages, and increased the expression of autophagy‐related molecules in macrophages, which improved the autophagy level, promoted apoptotic cell degradation, and maintained intracellular environment homeostasis. Conclusions These results indicate a correlation between INOS expression and macrophage function in NAFLD.

The high risk for anxiety and depression among individuals with stress has become a growing concern globally. Stress-related mental disorders are often accompanied by symptoms of metabolic dysfunction. Cordycepin is a Chinese herbal medicine commonly used for its metabolism-enhancing effects. We aimed to investigate the dose-dependent effects of cordycepin on psycho-metabolic disorders induced by stress. Our behavioral tests revealed that 12.5 mg/kg cordycepin by oral gavage significantly attenuated the anxiety- and depression-like behaviors induced by stress in mice. At 25 mg/kg, cordycepin restored the reduced weight and cell size of adipose tissues caused by stress. Besides ameliorating the metabolic dysbiosis of gut microbiota due to stress, cordycepin significantly reduced the elevated contents of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in the serum and prefrontal cortex at 12.5 mg/kg and reversed the decrease in adipose induced by stress at 25 mg/kg. Correlation analyses further revealed that 12.5 mg/kg cordycepin reversed stress-induced changes in the intestinal microbiome of NK4A214_group and decreased serum Myristic acid and PC(15:0/18:1(11Z)) and cytokines, such as IFN-γ and IL-1β. 25 mg/kg cordycepin reversed stress-induced changes in the abundances of Prevoteaceae_UCG-001 and Desulfovibrio, increased serum L-alanine level, and decreased serum Inosine-5'-monophosphate level. Cordycepin thereby ameliorated the anxiety- and depression-like behaviors as well as disturbances in the adipose metabolism of mice exposed to stress. Overall, these findings offer evidence indicating that the prominent effects of cordycepin in the brain and adipose tissues are dose dependent, thus highlight the importance of evaluating the precise therapeutic effects of different cordycepin doses on psycho-metabolic diseases.

Abstract To further accelerate the practical process of polar codes in underwater acoustic communication (UWC) and improve the reliability and efficiency of underwater data transmission, we first propose a polar code construction method suitable for the underwater acoustic channel, which drastically reduces the complexity and meets the need for practical UWC. Then, we establish a practical polar coded UWC scheme by devising a two-step procedure based on the Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing technique. Moreover, through simulation, the scheme's performances with the unimproved and the proposed polar code construction method are analyzed. Moreover, its performances with four different polar decoders are also given. The performance comparison with the LDPC coded UWC system is studied as well. Furthermore, lake-trial results under two different channel conditions demonstrate that the proposed construction method and the scheme effectively guarantee the reliability of data transmission, achieving error-free transmission at a transmission distance of 1718 m with the signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) of 21 dB, and a transmission distance of 749 m with the SNR of 16.5 dB, better than the LDPC coded system with same conditions. The semi-experimental results show that the proposed polar coded system under the Cyclic Redundancy Check-Aided Successive Cancellation List decoder outperforms the LDPC coded system by approximately 2.1–3.7 dB.

Abstract Objectives Prior research on the effect of tea consumption on blood pressure (BP) generated inconsistent findings. The objective of this study was to explore the effects of different types of tea consumption on BP. Methods We included 76,673 participants aged 30–79 from the baseline data of the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort (CMEC) study. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the influences of different types of tea consumption on the risk of hypertensive BP. Moreover, multiple linear regression was used to examine the association between tea drinking and BP. Results Tea consumption was associated with a reduced risk of hypertensive BP by 10% (AOR: 0.90, 95%CI: 0.86–0.94). While dark tea was related to a 1.79–5.31 mmHg reduction in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and a 0.47–1.02 mmHg reduction in diastolic blood pressure (DBP), sweet tea, regardless of the duration, frequency, or amount of consumption, significantly was associated with a reduced SBP by 3.19–7.18 mmHg. Green tea also was associated with a reduced SBP by 1.21–2.98 mmHg. Although scented tea was related to reduced SBP by 1.26-2.48 mmHg, the greatest effect came from the long duration (> 40 years:β=-2.17 mmHg, 95%CI=-3.47 mmHg --0.87 mmHg), low frequency (1–2 d/w: β = -2.48 mmHg, 95%CI=-3.76 mmHg–-1.20 mmHg), and low amount (≤ 2 g/d: β=-2.21 mmHg, 95%CI=-3.01 mmHg–-1.40 mmHg). Additionally, scented tea was correlated to a decrease in DBP at the frequency of 1–2 d/w (β=-0.84 mmHg, 95%CI=-1.65 mmHg–-0.02 mmHg). Drinking black tea only was associated with lowered SBP. The protective effect of black tea on SBP was characterized by the long-duration (> 15 years, -2.63–-5.76 mmHg), high frequency (6–7 d/w, -2.43 mmHg), and medium amount (2.1-4.0 g/d, -3.06 mmHg). Conclusion Tea consumption was associated with lower SBP and a reduced risk of hypertensive BP. The antihypertensive effect varies across types of tea consumed.

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) is a structural event with harmful consequences worldwide. Due to the limited intrinsic regenerative capacity of the peripheral nerve in adults, neural restoration after PNI is difficult. Neurological remodeling has a crucial effect on the repair of the form and function during the regeneration of the peripheral nerve after the peripheral nerve is injured. Several studies have demonstrated that acupuncture is effective for PNI-induced neurologic deficits, and the potential mechanisms responsible for its effects involve the nervous system remodeling in the process of nerve repair. Moreover, acupuncture promotes neural regeneration and axon sprouting by activating related neurotrophins retrograde transport, such as nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), N-cadherin, and MicroRNAs. Peripheral nerve injury enhances the perceptual response of the central nervous system to pain, causing central sensitization and accelerating neuronal cell apoptosis. Together with this, the remodeling of synaptic transmission function would worsen pain discomfort. Neuroimaging studies have shown remodeling changes in both gray and white matter after peripheral nerve injury. Acupuncture not only reverses the poor remodeling of the nervous system but also stimulates the release of neurotrophic substances such as nerve growth factors in the nervous system to ameliorate pain and promote the regeneration and repair of nerve fibers. In conclusion, the neurological remodeling at the peripheral and central levels in the process of acupuncture treatment accelerates nerve regeneration and repair. These findings provide novel insights enabling the clinical application of acupuncture in the treatment of PNI.

Background: Ambient particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5) consists of various toxic constituents. However, the health effect of PM2.5 may differ depending on its constituents, but the joint effect of PM2.5 constituents remains incompletely understood. Objective: Our goal was to evaluate the joint effect of long-term PM2.5 constituent exposures on dyslipidemia and identify the most hazardous chemical constituent. Methods: This study included 67,015 participants from the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort study. The average yearly levels of PM2.5 constituents for all individuals at their residences were assessed through satellite remote sensing and chemical transport modeling. Dyslipidemia was defined as one or more following abnormal blood lipid concentrations: total cholesterol (TC) ≥ 6.22 mmol/L, triglycerides (TG) ≥ 2.26 mmol/L, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)

Abstract Previous investigation on side channel pump mainly concentrates on parameter optimization and internal unsteady vortical flows. However, cavitation is prone to occur in a side channel pump, which is a challenging issue in promoting performance. In the present study, the cavitating flow is investigated numerically by the turbulence model of SAS combined with the Zwart cavitation model. The vapors inside the side channel pump firstly occur in the impeller passage near the inlet and then spread gradually to the downstream passages with the decrease of NPSHa. Moreover, a strong adverse pressure gradient is presented at the end of the cavity closure region, which leads to cavity shedding from the wall. The small scaled vortices in each passage reduce significantly and gather into larger vortices due to the cavitation. Comparing the three terms of vorticity transport equation with the vapor volume fraction and vorticity distributions, it is found that the stretching term is dominant and responsible for the vorticity production and evolution in cavitating flows. In addition, the magnitudes of the stretching term decrease once the cavitation occurs, while the values of dilatation are high in the cavity region and increase with the decreasing NPSHa. Even though the magnitude of the baroclinic torque term is smaller than vortex stretching and dilatation terms, it is important for the vorticity production along the cavity surface and near the cavity closure region. The pressure fluctuations in the impeller and side channel tend to be stronger due to the cavitation. The primary frequency of monitor points in the impeller is 24.94 Hz and in the side channel is 598.05 Hz. They are quite corresponding to the shaft frequency of 25 Hz (f shaft = 1/n = 25 Hz) and the blade frequency of 600 Hz (f blade = Z/n =600 Hz) respectively. This study complements the investigation on cavitation in the side channel pump, which could provide the theoretical foundation for further optimization of performance.

Abstract Background Adiposity is widely recognized as one of the risk factors for high blood pressure (BP) and increasing adiposity is associated with elevated BP. However, which measures of adiposity could be most strongly associated with BP in multi-ethnic population remains uncertain, giving rise to implications that population-based adiposity measures could be necessary. Methods 80,000 multi-ethnic adults recruited from 5 provinces across Southwest China during 2018 ~ 2019 were studied. Multiple linear regression was applied to investigate the associations of systolic blood pressure (SBP) with: (1) two measures of general adiposity, body mass index (BMI) and height-adjusted weight; and (2) three measures of central adiposity, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC) and waist hip ratio (WHR). Results Two distinct population-specific patterns were identified, as “BMI to SBP” and “WC to SBP”. 90% of the participants fall into “BMI to SBP” pattern, in which the associations of SBP with BMI were independent of WC, and SBP-WC associations were considerably decreased by adjustment for BMI. And in this pattern, 10 kg/m2 greater BMI was associated with 11.9 mm Hg higher SBP on average. As for the rest population (Han males in Yunnan and Tibetans in Lhasa), they are suited for “WC to SBP” pattern, 10 cm wider WC was associated with 3.4 mm Hg higher SBP. Conclusion Our results indicated that when selecting proper predictors for BP, population-specific adiposity measures are needed, considering ethnicity, sex and residing regions. A better understanding of adiposity and BP may better contribute to the potential clinical practices and developing precision application strategies.

Background: Anemia is linked to PM 2.5 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters of ⩽2.5 μm) exposure, which can increase the risk of various negative health outcomes. It remains unclear which PM 2.5 components are associated with anemia and the respective contribution of each component to this association. Objective: This study aimed at investigating the association between PM 2.5 and anemia in the general population and to identify the most critical PM 2.5 toxic components in this association. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Our study involved a large cohort of 73,511 individuals aged 30–79 from China’s multi-ethnic population. We employed satellite observations and the chemical transport model (GEOS-Chem)to estimate the long-term exposure to PM 2.5 and its components. Anemia was defined, according to WHO guidelines, as Hb levels below 130 g/L for men and below 120 g/L for women. Through logistic regression, we investigated the association between PM 2.5 components and anemia. By utilizing weighted quantile sum (WQS) analysis, we identified key components and gained insights into their combined impact on anemia. Overall, our study sheds light on the relationship between PM 2.5 exposure, its constituents, and the risk of anemia in a large cohort. Results: PM 2.5 and three components, nitrate (NIT), organic matter (OM), and soil particles (SOIL), were associated with anemia. Per-standard deviation increase in the 3-year average concentrations of PM 2.5 [odds ratio (OR): 1.14, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01, 1.28], NIT (1.20, 1.06, 1.35), OM (1.17, 1.04, 1.32), and SOIL (1.22, 1.11, 1.33) were associated with higher odds of anemia. In WQS regression analysis, the WQS index was associated with anemia (OR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.13, 1.47). SOIL has the highest weight among all PM 2.5 components. Conclusions: Long-term exposure to PM 2.5 and its constituents is associated with anemia. Moreover, SOIL might be the most critical component of the relationship between PM 2.5 and anemia. Our research increases the evidence of the association between PM 2.5 and anemia in the general population, and targeted emission control measures should be taken into consideration to mitigate the adverse effects of PM 2.5 -related anemia.

Abstract Background Older adults with type 2 diabetes are at higher risk of developing common geriatric syndromes and have a lower quality of life. To prevent type 2 diabetes in older adults, it’s unclear whether the health benefits of physical activity (PA) will be influenced by the harms caused by increased exposure to air pollution during PA, especially in developing countries with severe air pollution problem. We aimed to investigate the joint effects of PA and long-term exposure to air pollution on the type 2 diabetes in older adults from China. Methods This cross-sectional study was based on the China Multi-Ethnic cohort (CMEC) study. The metabolic equivalent of PA was calculated according to the PA scale during the CMEC baseline survey. High resolution air pollution datasets (PM10, PM2.5 and PM1) were collected from open products. The joint effects were assessed by the marginal structural mean model with generalized propensity score. Results A total of 36,562 participants aged 50 to 79 years were included in the study. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes was 10.88%. The mean (SD) level of PA was 24.93 (18.60) MET-h/d, and the mean (SD) level of PM10, PM2.5, and PM1 were 70.00 (23.32) µg/m3, 40.45 (15.66) µg/m3 and 27.62 (6.51) µg/m3, respectively. With PM10

Introduction: Carboxylesterases (CXEs) and glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) can terminate olfactory signals during chemosensation by rapid degradation of odorants in the vicinity of receptors. The tea grey geometrid, Ectropis grisescens (Lepidoptera, Geometridae), one of the most devastating insect herbivores of tea plants in China, relies heavily on plant volatiles to locate the host plants as well as the oviposition sites. However, CXEs and GSTs involved in signal termination and odorant clearance in E. grisescens remains unknown.Methods: In this study, identification and spatial expression profiles of CXEs and GSTs in this major tea pest were investigated by transcriptomics and qRT-PCR, respectively.Results: As a result, we identified 28 CXEs and 16 GSTs from female and male antennal transcriptomes. Phylogenetic analyses clustered these candidates into several clades, among which antennal CXEs, mitochondrial and cytosolic CXEs, and delta group GSTs contained genes commonly associated with odorants degradation. Spatial expression profiles showed that most CXEs (26) were expressed in antennae. In comparison, putative GSTs exhibited a diverse expression pattern across different tissues, with one GST expressed specifically in the male antennae.Disscussion: These combined results suggest that 12 CXEs (EgriCXE1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 18, 20-22, 24, 26, and 29) and 5 GSTs (EgriGST1 and EgriGST delta group) provide a major source of candidate genes for odorants degradation in E. grisescens.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is caused by a variety of pathogenic factors, including chronic recurrent inflammation of the ileum, rectum, and colon. Immune cells and adhesion molecules play an important role in the course of the disease, which is actually an autoimmune disease. During IBD, CD34 is involved in mediating the migration of a variety of immune cells (neutrophils, eosinophils, and mast cells) to the inflammatory site, and its interaction with various adhesion molecules is involved in the occurrence and development of IBD. Although the function of CD34 as a partial cell marker is well known, little is known on its role in IBD. Therefore, this article describes the structure and biological function of CD34, as well as on its potential mechanism in the development of IBD.

Background: Epidemiological evidence regarding the relation of exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM) with gallstone disease (GSD) risk remains lacking. We tested the hypothesis that long-term exposure to PM is related to the development of GSD and that dyslipidemia can mediate the effect of PM-associated GSD formation. Methods: We extracted related information on the basis of the baseline survey of the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort Study. The exposure levels of PM (PM1, PM2.5, and PM10) were assessed by validated spatiotemporal models. The relation of exposure to ambient PM with GSD risks was analyzed by non-conditional logistic regression models. Additionally, mediation analysis was conducted to assess whether dyslipidemia was related to the relation of PM exposure with GSD risks. Results: A total of 72,893 participants were included. Increased ambient PM exposure was positively associated with a higher GSD risk, with ORs (and 95% CI) of 1.17 (1.06, 1.28), 1.10 (1.05, 1.15), and 1.07 (1.04, 1.10) for every 10 μg/m3 increment in PM1, PM2.5, and PM10, separately. The association was more remarkable in males, drinkers, and central obesity participants. Dyslipidemia significantly mediated the association between PM and GSD, with mediating proportions of 5.37%, 9.13%, and 7.66% in PM1, PM2.5, and PM10, respectively. Conclusion: Exposure to PM may relate to the increased risk of GSD in Chinese adults, especially among males, drinkers, and central obesity participants. Dyslipidemia may partially mediate the effect of PM-associated GSD development. Our results might provide epidemiological evidence for the progression of GSD related to PM and give new insights into GSD prevention and screening priorities.

Abstract Background Farmers are the integral members of rural communities. In the present study, we determined the association between occupational physical activity (OPA) of farmers and dyslipidaemia. Methods We included 7649 farmers from The China Multi-Ethnic Cohort (CMEC) Study. The working modes of all farmers were divided into four types according to their self-reported seasonal changes in farming work and/or other job changes (1: no change; 2: changing job; 3: seasonal changes; and 4: seasonal and job changes). OPA was self-reported, and the OPA levels in the four groups were classified as Q1, Q2–Q3, and Q4 by quantile. Dyslipidaemia was defined as the presence of abnormalities in lipid indicators. Binary logistic regression was used to estimate the association between OPA and dyslipidaemia. Results Compared with those in the no change group, the participants in other three groups were younger with lower level of education, annual income, and leisure-time physical activity (LTPA). Active OPA could reduce the risk of dyslipidaemia in the no change [men: odds ratios (OR) = 0.21, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.07–0.64; women: OR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.20–0.93] and seasonal change (men: OR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.27–0.77; women: OR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.41–0.86) groups. However, in the seasonal and job change group (men: OR = 3.23, 95% CI: 1.06–9.80; women: OR = 3.24, 95% CI: 1.42–7.41), active OPA increased the risk of dyslipidaemia. Conclusions Different OPA levels might lead to differences in association with blood lipid levels. Thus, OPA guidelines must be developed for farmers, especially for those who experience seasonal changes in farming work and job changes.

Abstract Background The association between serum uric acid (SUA) and the components of dyslipidaemia and their dose-response relationships have not been thoroughly explored. This study assessed the relationship between SUA and each dyslipidaemia component in Dong, Miao, and Bouyei populations in Guizhou by sex and ethnicities and investigated the dose-response relationship. Methods In total, 16,092 participants aged 30–79 years from The China Multi-Ethnic Cohort (CMEC) Study were examined. Multivariable logistic regression models were applied to explore the relationship between SUA and each dyslipidaemia component by sex and three ethnicities. The dose-response associations between SUA and various dyslipidaemias were investigated using restricted cubic spline regression. Results After controlling for confounding factors, the SUA level in total participants positively correlated with each dyslipidaemia component, and women had higher odds ratios (ORs) for each dyslipidaemia component than men (P for trend 6.37 mg/dL, ORs (95% CI) for dyslipidaemia in the Dong, Miao and Bouyei were 2.89 (2.00–4.19), 2.43 (1.70–3.48), and 3.26 (2.23–4.78), respectively. When the SUA concentration increased by 1 mg/dL, the ORs (95% CI) for total dyslipidaemia was 1.31 (1.24–1.37). A positive dose-response but nonlinear association was found between SUA and total dyslipidaemia, high total cholesterol, and low HDL, whereas an inverse U-shaped association was found between SUA and high LDL-C ( P-nonlinear

With the increasing penetration of renewable energy in the power grid, which makes power plant equipment is always in changing operating conditions. The correlation between the main and auxiliary equipment of the unit is easy to lead a potential fault, therefore, the safety and reliability of the auxiliary equipment of thermal power units have become a more challenging issue in the case of large-scale renewable energy. Adaptive condition monitoring of the auxiliary equipment can reduce maintenance costs and improve reliability in the thermal power units. Most existing studies perform poorly at extracting features from distributed control systems data and make less use of time series data. A novel adaptive condition monitoring framework and early fault warning method based on long short-term memory and stack denoising auto-encoder network has been proposed for auxiliary equipment of power plant unit. The proposed framework has two main parts, which contain condition monitoring and adaptive early fault warning. The Mahalanobis distance of a reconstruction error is defined as the monitoring indicator to reflect the condition of the equipment. The Chebyshev inequality determines an adaptive threshold for early anomaly detection that applies to changeable working conditions. The effectiveness of the proposed method was verified by the actual case of the coal mill. The adaptive threshold method can obtain the advance time of 42s and 108s, respectively.

Abstract Comprehensive research on rural–urban disparities in the association of hyperuricaemia (HUA) with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in China, especially among minority groups, is limited. We explored the HUA-CVD relationship between rural and urban areas within ethnic Chinese groups. We included Dong, Miao, and Bouyei adults in Southwest China from the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort Study. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the relationship between HUA and CVD in both residences. We performed stratified analyses by sex and age. The study population included 16,618 people (37.48% Dong, 30.00% Miao, and 32.52% Bouyei) without a reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate. We identified 476 (188 Dong, 119 Miao, and 169 Bouyei) and 175 (62 Dong, 77 Miao, and 36 Bouyei) CVD cases in rural and urban areas. Compared to urban residents, an at least 49% increased CVD risk (adjusted OR 1.49, 95%CI 1.06–2.08 for the Dong ethnic group; 1.55, 1.07–2.25 for the Bouyei ethnic group) and a 1.65-fold elevated coronary heart disease risk (1.65, 1.03–2.64) related to HUA was present in rural residents. Moreover, HUA was positively associated with increased risk of CVD and coronary heart disease in rural women (2.05, 1.26–3.31; 2.11, 1.19–3.75) and rural older adults (1.83, 1.22–2.75; 2.32, 1.39–3.87) among the Bouyei ethnic group, respectively. We found rural elderly individuals with HUA among the Dong ethnic group had a 52% elevated risk of CVD (1.52, 1.05–2.21); furthermore, an at least 79% increased risk of stroke related to HUA was observed in women (2.24, 1.09–4.62) and elderly people (1.79, 1.02–3.13) in rural areas among the Dong ethnic group. But a positive association was not found among the Miao ethnic group. Screening early-onset HUA patients may be helpful for the control and prevention of CVD in rural residents, especially for women and older adults living in a rural community, among the Dong and Bouyei ethnic groups in China.

A sedimentary basin is classified as a super basin when its cumulative production exceeds 5 billion barrels of oil equivalent (6.82×108 t of oil or 7931.66×108 m3 of gas) and its remaining recoverable resources are at least 5 billion barrels of oil equivalent. By the end of 2019, the total output of oil and gas in Sichuan Basin had been 6569×108 m3 with the gas-oil ratio of 80:1, and the total remaining recoverable resources reached 136 404×108 m3, which makes it as a second-tier super basin. Because the output is mainly gas, it is a super gas basin. The reason why the Sichuan Basin is a super gas basin is that it has four advantages: (1) The advantage of gas source rocks: it has the most gas source rocks (9 sets) among all the basins in China. (2) The advantage of resource quantity: it has the most total remaining recoverable resources among all the basins in China (136404×108 m3). (3) The advantage of large gas fields: it has the most large gas fields (27) among all the basins in China. (4) The advantage of total production: by the end of 2019, the total gas production had been 6 487.8×108 m3, which ranked the first among all the basins in China. There are four major breakthroughs in natural gas exploration in Sichuan Basin: (1) A breakthrough in shale gas: shale gas was firstly found in the Ordovician Wufeng-Silurian Longmaxi formations in China. (2) A breakthrough in tight sandstone gas: the Triassic Xu2 Member gas reservoir in Zhongba gas field is the first high recovery tight sandstone gas reservoir in China. (3) A breakthrough in giant carbonate gas fields. (4) A breakthrough in ultra-deep gas reservoir. These breakthroughs have led to important progress in different basins across the country. Super basins are classified according to three criteria: cumulative production and remaining recoverable resources of oil and gas, tectonic attributes of the basin, and the proportions of oil and gas in cumulative oil and gas production.

The study of natural gas migration and accumulation of tight gas has become the focus of the energy industry in recent years. One of the priorities is the research of hydrocarbon migration carrier system of the formation. This study reveals two types of hydrocarbon carrier systems (micro-fractures and micro-coal lines) in the tight formation through a large amount of geological observations, data statistics, and simulations. This study also first put forward the view that the coal lines can be a type of hydrocarbon carrier system in tight sandstone formation. During the research process, an improved permeability testing method and apparatus are used to test the core permeability widely. Based on the real core, three models are established to describe the micro-fracture/micro-coal line characteristics. According to the three typical models, the Voronoi method is used to rebuild the network models. The migration and accumulation process in tight formation is simulated with the Multiple Relaxation Time lattice Boltzmann method in numerical simulation and with displacement apparatus in physical simulation. The results indicate that the micro-fracture/micro-coal line will significantly improve the percolation capacity of sandstone as the hydrocarbon migration carrier system in tight formation, the mechanism is revealed by numerical simulations. The micro-fractures/micro-coal lines are favorable for natural gas accumulation in tight formation. Unlike the conventional formation, in tight formation, micro-fractures/micro-coal lines tend to be the main migration carrier systems during the gas accumulation process.

Islet β-cell biomarkers can reflect changes in the number and function of islet β-cells in the prediabetes or early diabetes stage. CD34 is a commonly used stem cell biomarker; however, its expression and function in pancreatic islets remain unclear. In the present study, double immunofluorescence staining, proteomic bioinformatics analysis, and correlation analysis were used to explore the potential of CD34 as an islet β-cell biomarker. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the amino acid sequence of CD34 was conserved among multiple species and abundantly expressed on mouse and human pancreatic tissues. Immunofluorescence demonstrated that in the control rat pancreas, CD34 was expressed on glucagon-labeled islet α-cells but not on insulin-labeled islet β-cells. Furthermore, the proportion of CD34-positive cells, which were also positive for glucagon, was significantly increased in alloxan-induced diabetes models. Statistical analysis revealed that the expression of CD34 was negatively correlated with the number of insulin-labeled islet β-cells during diabetes progression in dose-dependent fashion in alloxan-induced diabetes models. Furthermore, the results suggested that the transdifferentiation of islet β-cells into islet α-cells may occur in the process of diabetes. Thus, the present study demonstrated that CD34 is expressed on islet α-cells, and its number is linearly and negatively correlated with the number of islet β-cells, suggesting that CD34 can be used as a prospective biomarker for islet β-cells in the early diagnosis of diabetes. The study also suggests the transformation of β-cells to α-cells in diabetes which provide a potential to be applied towards diabetes mechanism research.

BackgroundStudies that address the changing characteristics of diseases are of great importance for preventing and controlling the occurrence and development of diseases and for improving health. However, studies of the epidemiological characteristics of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and malignant tumors (MTs) of the residents in Guiyang, China, are lacking. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalences of NCDs and MTs in residents of Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China, and analyze differences among ages, genders, and regions. MethodsA multistage stratified cluster sampling method was used. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 81,517 individuals were selected for the study. Of these, 77,381 (94.9%) participants completed the study. Structured questionnaires were used to collect information on demographic characteristics, NCDs, and MTs. The chi-square test (with 95% confidence intervals) was used to analyze differences in disease prevalence among genders, ages, and geographical regions. ResultsThe major chronic NCDs of Guiyang residents are obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. MTs in women are mostly breast cancer, cervical cancer, and endometrial cancer, whereas in men, MTs are mainly lung cancer, rectal cancer, and gastric cancer. The prevalences of hypertension and diabetes in women are higher than in men, but the prevalences of lung cancer and gastric cancer in men are higher than in women. The epidemiological characteristics of individuals in different life stages are dissimilar. In terms of regional distribution, the prevalences of the above diseases in the Baiyun and Yunyan districts of Guiyang are relatively high. ConclusionsSeveral NCDs (obesity, hypertension, and diabetes) and MTs (women: breast cancer, cervical cancer, and endometrial cancer; men: lung cancer, rectal cancer, and gastric cancer) should be the focus for the prevention and control of chronic diseases in the future. In particular, the Baiyun and Yunyan districts of Guiyang are the important regions to emphasize.

Norovirus is a common cause of sporadic cases and outbreaks of gastroenteritis worldwide, although its prevalence and the dominant genotypes responsible for gastroenteritis outbreaks remain obscure. A systematic review was conducted on norovirus infection in China between January 2009 and March 2021. A meta-analysis and beta-binomial regression model were used to explore the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of norovirus infection and the potential factors contributing to the attack rate of the norovirus outbreaks, respectively. A total of 1132 articles with 155,865 confirmed cases were included, with a pooled positive test rate of 11.54% among 991,786 patients with acute diarrhea and a pooled attack rate of 6.73% in 500 norovirus outbreaks. GII.4 was the predominant genotype in both the etiological surveillance and outbreaks, followed by GII.3 in the etiological surveillance, and GII.17 in the outbreaks, with the proportion of recombinant genotypes increasing in recent years. A higher attack rate in the norovirus outbreaks was associated with age group (older adults), settings (nurseries, primary schools, etc.) and region (North China). The nation-wide pooled positive rate in the etiological surveillance of norovirus is lower than elsewhere in the global population, while the dominant genotypes are similar in both the etiological surveillance and the outbreak investigations. This study contributes to the understanding of norovirus infection with different genotypes in China. The prevention and control of norovirus outbreaks during the cold season should be intensified, with special attention paid to and enhanced surveillance performed in nurseries, schools and nursing homes from November to March.

Among the world's 10 major gas producing countries, only the United States (USA), Russia and Iran have annual gas production of 250 × 109 m3 or more. China is expected to have gas output of 250 × 109 m3 in 2025. There are three advantages for the great development of natural gas industry in China. Firstly, the natural gas resources are rich and the proved rate is low and only 8.6%, so it has the resource advantage for faster development; Secondly, over the past 35 years, natural gas production continues to grow, with the growth advantage for faster development; Finally, since 2006, the remaining recoverable reserves of natural gas have been increasing year by year, showing the reserve advantage for faster development. In recent 10 years, China's annual natural gas production growth rate, remaining recoverable reserves and reserve-production ratio of natural gas support that China's annual gas production in 2025 will reach 250 × 109 m3. Suggestions for accelerating natural gas exploration and development during the 14th Five-Year Plan Period: (1) Opening new exploration and development fields of Carboniferous-Permian shale gas in the Ordos Basin; (2) Exploring three potential large gas districts with hidden coal measures in the northern Tianshan Piedown Depression, Qaidam Depression, and Xihu Sag; (3) Accelerating the development of seven large gas fields with proved reserves over 100 × 109 m3, such as Lingshui 17–2 Gas Field; (4) Increasing the drilling of gas wells and ultra-deep exploration wells.

Abstract Introduction Acute liver inflammatory reactions contribute to many health problems; thus, it is critical to understand the underlying pathogenic mechanisms of acute hepatitis. In this study, an experimental in vivo model of concanavalin A (ConA)‐induced hepatitis was used. Materials and Methods C57BL/6 (wild‐type, WT) or inducible nitric oxide synthase‐deficient (iNOS−/−) mice were injected with PBS or 15 mg/kg ConA via tail vein. Detection of liver injury by histological examination and apoptosis, and flow cytometry to detect the effect of immune cells on liver injury. Results iNOS−/− mice had lower levels of the liver enzymes aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, suggesting that they were protected against ConA‐induced pathological liver injury and that iNOS participated in the regulation of hepatitis. Furthermore, iNOS deficiency was found to lower CD86 expression and suppressed the messenger RNA levels of inflammatory factors in the liver. In vitro experiments also demonstrated that iNOS deficiency suppressed the sequential phosphorylation of the mitogen‐activated protein kinase pathway cascade, thereby inhibiting the M1 polarization of macrophages and consequently suppressing the transcription of inflammation factors. Conclusion iNOS may contribute to ConA‐induced inflammation by promoting the activation of proinflammatory macrophages.

Background/Purpose: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) constitutes a spectrum of liver diseases associated with various metabolic disorders. Exercise interventions reportedly manage the clinical outcomes of NAFLD, but their efficacy depends on exercise as well as characteristics of patient. We hypothesized that exercise could alleviate the elevated transaminases level, which may be associated with the characteristics of patients (age/bodyweight/sex) or exercise variables (frequency/intensity/duration). Therefore, we examined the effect of exercise on serum transaminases, and identified the variables influencing transaminases in NAFLD patients.Methods: Article search was conducted using electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar) until December 2021. Studies that involved examination and comparison of the effect of an exercise intervention on alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels in NAFLD/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis patients were included. We calculated pooled effect upon a meta-analysis, determined correlations (between transaminases and characteristics of patients/exercise) by meta-regression, and assessed the influencing variable through subgroup analysis.Results: A total of 18 studies (22 trials) with 1098 NAFLD patients (exercise = 568; control = 530) were included. The pooled outcomes revealed that exercise intervention significantly decreased both ALT (p = 0.004) and AST (p = 0.001) levels in NAFLD patients. Meta-regression analysis showed decreased ALT (coef. = 1.138, p < 0.01) and AST (coef. = 0.459, p = 0.041) after intervention was correlated with the age of patients. Particularly, patients aged 30–39 years (MD: −25.89 U/L, 95% CI: −36.40 to −15.37, p < 0.00001) and 40–49 years (MD: −12.17 U/L, 95% CI: −20.38 to −3.96, p = 0.004) represented a substantial decrease in ALT levels. Additionally, the 50–59 years age group tended to have decreased ALT levels (MD: −3.94 U/L, 95% CI: −8.19 to 0.31, p = 0.07); however, patients above 60 years did not respond (p = 0.92) to exercise intervention. In contrast, exercise-induced AST reduction was found in only the 30–39 years age group (MD: −11.92 U/L, 95% CI: −16.78 to −7.06, p < 0.00001) and not in patients under the 40–49 (p = 0.19), and 50–59 groups (p = 0.12) and above 60 years (p = 0.15).Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the age of NAFLD patients may be an important variable in improving the levels of serum transaminases, and clinically young patients may have greater benefits from exercise than older patients.