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Objective: To clarify the specific mechanisms of action of raw Phellodendron chinense Schneid. (RPC) and saltwater-processed PC (SPC) in the treatment of rats with a kidney-yin deficiency pattern (KYDP). Methods: Healthy rats were administered hydrocortisone to establish a KYDP model. The rats were divided into seven groups: blank control, model, positive control (Liuwei Dihuang pills), high-dose RPC, low-dose RPC, high-dose SPC, and low-dose SPC. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the levels of cAMP, cGMP, TRH, TSH, T3, T4, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and testosterone in the serum and the levels of Na+-K+-ATPase and Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase in the liver. TRH mRNA expression in the rat hypothalamus was measured using RT-PCR. THRα1+2 protein expression in the hypothalamus of rats was measured using Western blot. Immunohistochemistry was performed to determine the expression levels of FAS, FasL, and TSHR. Flow cytometry was used to determine CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte levels. Illumina MiSeq sequencing technology was used to evaluate the diversity of intestinal flora in KYDP rats. Results: The cAMP/cGMP ratio was significantly higher in the model group than in the blank control group (P = .048). Compared with the model group, after administration, the levels of the above-mentioned serum and liver indexes decreased, except that of testosterone. The CD4+/CD8+ ratio also decreased. Compared with the RPC group, the levels of T3, IFN-γ, FAS, FasL, and TSHR in the SPC group decreased whereas that of testosterone increased. Additionally, immune function and intestinal flora diversity improved in the SPC group. SPC proved to be more effective in improving liver energy metabolism in KYDP rats than RPC. Conclusion: SPC had a better therapeutic effect on KYDP than RPC. The underlying mechanism of action may be related to improvements in liver energy metabolism, immune function, and intestinal flora diversity.

Abstract Background Adequate sleep and rest are essential for patient recovery; however, lack of sleep has become a common problem faced by Chinese patients during hospital stays. Reduced sleep is often associated with a higher risk of disease progression and is strongly associated with increased hospital stay. However, there is no specific tool in China to assess short-term insomnia caused by hospitalization. This study aimed to translate the Hospital-acquired Insomnia Scale (HAIS) into Chinese, test its applicability to Chinese inpatients through reliability and validity indicators, and investigate the potential influencing factors of hospital-acquired insomnia. Methods Psychometric analysis from a sample of 679 hospitalized patients to whom the HAIS questionnaire was applied. The structural validity was assessed by exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and the content validity of the scale was assessed using the content validity index. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, split-half reliability and test–retest reliability were calculated to evaluate the internal consistency of the scale. Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis was conducted to determine the potential correlates of hospital-acquired insomnia. Results EFA supported a four-factor structure with factor loadings for all dimensions greater than 0.40. CFA showed good indicators of model fit. The content validity index of the scale was 0.94. the Cronbach’s alpha of the scale was 0.915, the split-half reliability coefficient was 0.819, and the retest reliability was 0.844. Gender, age, total hours of sleep during the night, medical insurance, length of hospital stay, perceived stress level, and perceptions about sleep explained 46.2% of the variance in hospital-acquired insomnia. Conclusion The Chinese version of HAIS has good psychometric characteristics and is an effective instrument for evaluating hospital-acquired insomnia. In addition, hospital-acquired insomnia is more common in women, of younger age, less than 5 h of sleep a night, without medical insurance, stressed, and patients with more misconceptions about sleep.

Abstract Objective This study aims to assess the levels of social support, fear of disease progression (FOP) and health promotion behaviors in patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), and to examine the associations between FOP, social support, and health promotion behaviors in OSAHS patients, with a focus on exploring the mediating role of social support. The findings aim to provide insights for enhancing health promotion behaviors among OSAHS patients in China and to offer a theoretical foundation for healthcare professionals in devising intervention strategies to promote health behaviors in individuals with OSAHS. Methods This cross-sectional study included 307 patients diagnosed with OSAHS in Jinzhou City, Liaoning province. The survey instruments utilized included the Demographic Characteristics Questionnaire, Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), Fear of Disease Progression Scale (Fop-Q-SF), and Health-Promoting Lifestyle Scale (HPLP II). Pearson correlation analysis was employed to assess correlations, while multiple linear regression and structural equation modeling were utilized to explore potential mediation effects. Results In the OSAHS patient population, FOP (r=-0.55, p

Abstract Background To study the risk factors associated with misplacement of freehand pedicle screws through a posterior approach for degenerative scoliosis. Methods A total of 204 patients who underwent posterior pedicle screw-rod system surgery for degenerative scoliosis in our hospital from December 2020 to December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Patient demographics, radiographic accuracy, and surgery-related information were recorded. Results A total of 204 patients were included. A total of 2496 screws were placed. 2373 (95.07%) were in good position. Misplacement screws were 123 (4.93%). None of the patients had postoperative spinal nerve symptoms due to screw malposition. The misplacement rate of thoracic (T10-T12) pedicle screws was 11.11% (60/540). Misplacement of pedicle screws in the lumbar spine (L1-L5) was 3.22% (63/1956). Age, gender, surgeon, and operation time had no significant effect on misplacement of pedicle screws (P>0.05). Body mass index, Hu value, number of screw segments, Cobb angle, vertebral rotation, and spinal canal morphology had some correlation with pedicle screw misplacement. Among them, BMI, Hu value, number of screw segments, Cobb angle, and vertebral rotation grade were independent risk factors for PS misplacement (P

Abstract The traditional Chinese medicinal plant Fallopia multiflora (hereafter AYY) is well known for its anti-hyperlipidaemia, immunomodulating, and hepatoprotective effects, attributed to its abundance of anthraquinones and stilbene glycosides, which are distinct to its variety F. multiflora var. angulata (hereafter CYY) in proportion and composition. In this study, telomere-to-telomere (T2T) genomes were assembled for AYY and CYY using PacBio HiFi reads and Hi-C data. The genome sizes, percentages of repetitive sequences, and numbers of protein-coding genes of AYY and CYY assemblies were 1,458.37 Mb/70.48%/84,768 and 1,174.38 Mb/67.36%/69,100, respectively. Comprehensive assessments confirmed high continuity (contig N50: 112.58 Mb and 94.83 Mb; number of gaps: 9 and 5), completeness (BUSCOs: 97.30% and 97.60%; LAI: 16.93 and 16.77), and correctness (QV: 51.42 and 52.60) of AYY and CYY assemblies. These T2T genomes of F. multiflora provide valuable resources for studying the biosynthesis of specialized metabolites and facilitating precise genetic improvement.

Abstract Background Parturition is an inflammation process. Exaggerated inflammatory reactions in infection lead to preterm birth. Although nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) has been recognized as a classical transcription factor mediating inflammatory reactions, those mediated by NF-κB per se are relatively short-lived. Therefore, there may be other transcription factors involved to sustain NF-κB-initiated inflammatory reactions in gestational tissues in infection-induced preterm birth. Methods Cebpd-deficient mice were generated to investigate the role of CCAAT enhancer-binding protein δ (C/EBPδ) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced preterm birth, and the contribution of fetal and maternal C/EBPδ was further dissected by transferring Cebpd −/− or WT embryos to Cebpd −/− or WT dams. The effects of C/EBPδ pertinent to parturition were investigated in mouse and human myometrial and amnion cells. The interplay between C/EBPδ and NF-κB was examined in cultured human amnion fibroblasts. Results The mouse study showed that LPS-induced preterm birth was delayed by Cebpd deficiency in either the fetus or the dam, with further delay being observed in conceptions where both the dam and the fetus were deficient in Cebpd. Mouse and human studies showed that the abundance of C/EBPδ was significantly increased in the myometrium and fetal membranes in infection-induced preterm birth. Furthermore, C/EBPδ participated in LPS-induced upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as genes pertinent to myometrial contractility and fetal membrane activation in the myometrium and amnion respectively. A mechanistic study in human amnion fibroblasts showed that C/EBPδ, upon induction by NF-κB, could serve as a supplementary transcription factor to NF-κB to sustain the expression of genes pertinent to parturition. Conclusions C/EBPδ is a transcription factor to sustain the expression of gene initiated by NF-κB in the myometrium and fetal membranes in infection-induced preterm birth. Targeting C/EBPδ may be of therapeutic value in the treatment of infection-induced preterm birth.

Abstract Digital technology serves as a new industrial driving force, playing a crucial role in promoting the efficiency of regional tourism. To explore the inherent logic between digital technology and tourism development, the study employed the DEA-BCC model and the entropy-weighted TOPSIS method to measure the tourism efficiency and digital technology development level of 31 provinces (municipalities and districts) in China from 2011 to 2022. The evolutionary characteristics of the relationship between digital technology and tourism efficiency were analyzed from the spatio-temporal dimension, and empirical tests were carried out using the spatial error model (SEM) and the spatial lag model (SLM) to explore the mechanism of the impact of digital technology on tourism efficiency. The results show that: during the study period, the overall trend of digital technology development and tourism efficiency is upward, but there is a certain degree of spatial mismatch between the two; digital technology is not only conducive to the improvement of tourism efficiency in the province, but also acts on neighboring provinces through spatial spillover effects, mechanism of action tests show that digital technology can positively moderate the effects of tourism economic growth and tourism industry structure on tourism efficiency; in western and northeast China, the positive effect of digital technology on tourism efficiency is more obvious. The conclusions provide a new perspective for understanding and analyzing the development of provincial tourism in China, as well as a reference for the rational use of digital technology to promote tourism development.

Abstract Over the past decade, there has been a growing interest in ferritin-based vaccines due to their enhanced antigen immunogenicity and favorable safety profiles, with several vaccine candidates targeting various pathogens advancing to phase I clinical trials. Nevertheless, challenges associated with particle heterogeneity, improper assembly and unanticipated immunogenicity due to the bulky protein adaptor have impeded further advancement. To overcome these challenges, we devise a universal ferritin-adaptor delivery platform based on structural insights derived from the natural ferritinophagy complex of the human ferritin heavy chain (FTH1) and the nuclear receptor coactivator 4 (NCOA4). The engineered ferritinophagy (Fagy)-tag peptide demonstrate significantly enhanced binding affinity to the 24-mer ferritin nanoparticle, enabling efficient antigen presentation. Subsequently, we construct a self-assembling rabies virus (RABV) vaccine candidate by noncovalently conjugating the Fagy-tagged glycoprotein domain III (GDIII) of RABV to the ferritin nanoparticle, maintaining superior homogeneity, stability and immunogenicity. This vaccine candidate induces potent, rapid, and durable immune responses, and protects female mice against the authentic RABV challenge after single-dose administration. Furthermore, this universal, ferritin-based antigen conjugating strategy offers significant potential for developing vaccine against diverse pathogens and diseases.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Saldoida armata (Heteroptera: Saldidae) is 16,049 bp in length, comprising 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs) and a control region. All the PCGs are initially encoded by ATN, TTG or GTG, and terminated coding with TAA or a single T. With the exception of trnS(AGN), all tRNAs exhibit a typical cloverleaf secondary structure. Phylogenetic analysis reveals the sister relationship of S. armata with other Saldidae members. The complete mitogenome of S. armata will provide useful genetic information for species identification, phylogenetic analysis and conservation of this species.

Abstract Background This multi-center cohort study aimed to investigate whether sex and prediagnosis lifestyle affect the prognosis of gastric cancer. Methods Patients with gastric cancer were from four gastric cancer cohorts of the National Cancer Center of China, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, and Gansu Provincial Cancer Hospital. Prediagnosis lifestyle factors in our study included body mass index (BMI) at diagnosis, usual BMI, weight loss, the history of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection, and the status of smoking and drinking. Results Four gastric cancer cohorts with 29,779 gastric cancer patients were included. In total patients, female patients had a better prognosis than male patients (HR = 0.938, 95%CI: 0.881–0.999, P = 0.046). For prediagnosis lifestyle factors, BMI at diagnosis, usual BMI and the amount of smoking were statistically associated with the prognosis of gastric cancer patients. Female patients with smoking history had a poorer survival than non-smoking females (HR = 0.782, 95%CI: 0.616–0.993, P = 0.044). Tobacco consumption > 40 cigarettes per day (HR = 1.182, 95%CI: 1.035–1.350, P = 0.013) was independent adverse prognostic factors in male patients. Obesity paradox was observed only in male patients (BMI

Abstract Enhancing work safety behaviors among Small and Medium-Sized Manufacturing Suppliers (SMMs) is crucial for establishing a more secure and efficient supply chain. Since the foundation of safety lies in positive prevention, it is crucial that SMMs adopt proactive and pro-social work safety behaviors that transcend mere compliance with standard regulations. Present-day diversified supply chain safety management apply varying degrees of pressures on SMMs. The effectiveness of such pressures, as well as their potential to spawn advanced safety behaviors in SMMs, is a matter of investigation. This research investigates the impact of Supply Chain Safety Management Pressure(SCSMP) on the SMMs’ Work Safety Behaviors(WSB). A theoretical framework is constructed, grounded in institutional theory and theory of planned behavior, which earmarks three distinct dimensions of SCSMP: Coercive Pressure(CP), Mimetic Pressure(MP), and Normative Pressure(NP). The survey of 265 SMMs facilitated an assessment of the SMMs’ Willingness for Responses(WR), which includes their Willingness for Adaptive Responses(WAR) and Willingness for Co-creative Responses(WCR). Subsequently, the resulting WSB entail Safety Compliance Behavior(SCB), Proactive Safety Behavior(PSB), and Pro-social Safety Behavior(PsSB). Among these, SCB is categorized as a basic safety behavior, while PSB and PsSB which emphasize voluntary, active, and cooperative actions, are classified as advanced safety behaviors. Our research findings underscore the substantial influence of the SCSMP in shaping WSB. WR serves as a critical intermediary, connecting external pressures with internal organizational practices. In particular, WCR is instrumental in the formation of advanced safety behavior. The theoretical contribution of this research is manifested in its enhancement of our comprehension regarding the determinants of WSB among SMMs. Furthermore, it addresses the literature gap in elucidating the effectiveness of supply chain safety management and the mechanisms behind the formation of WSB. The practical significance lies in elevating the overall safety standards throughout the supply chain and minimizing safety-related hazards among SMMs.

Abstract Skull-base chordoma is a rare, aggressive bone cancer with a high recurrence rate. Despite advances in genomic studies, its molecular characteristics and effective therapies remain unknown. Here, we conduct integrative genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and phosphoproteomics analyses of 187 skull-base chordoma tumors. In our study, chromosome instability is identified as a prognostic predictor and potential therapeutic target. Multi-omics data reveals downstream effects of chromosome instability, with RPRD1B as a putative target for radiotherapy-resistant patients. Chromosome 1q gain, associated with chromosome instability and upregulated mitochondrial functions, lead to poorer clinical outcomes. Immune subtyping identify an immune cold subtype linked to chromosome 9p/10q loss and immune evasion. Proteomics-based classification reveals subtypes (P-II and P-III) with high chromosome instability and immune cold features, with P-II tumors showing increased invasiveness. These findings, confirmed in 17 paired samples, provide insights into the biology and treatment of skull-base chordoma.

Abstract As one of the main pathogenic factors of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, the incidence of metabolic diseases such as adiposity and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is increasing annually. It is urgent and crucial to find more therapeutic targets to treat these diseases. Mainly expressed in brown adipocytes, mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) is key to the thermogenesis of classical brown adipose tissue (BAT). Furthermore, white adipose tissue (WAT) is likely to express more UCP1 and subsequently acquire the ability to undergo thermogenesis under certain stimuli. Therefore, targeting and activating UCP1 to promote increased BAT thermogenesis and browning of WAT are helpful in treating metabolic diseases, such as adiposity and MASLD. In this case, the stimuli that activate UCP1 are emerging. Therefore, we summarize the thermogenic stimuli that have activated UCP1 in recent decades, among which cold exposure is one of the stimuli first discovered to activate BAT thermogenesis. As a convenient and efficient therapy with few side effects and good metabolic benefits, physical exercise can also activate the expression of UCP1 in adipose tissue. Notably, for the first time, we have summarized and demonstrated the stimuli of traditional Chinese medicines that can activate UCP1, such as acupuncture, Chinese herbal formulas, and Chinese medicinal herbs. Moreover, pharmacological agents, functional foods, food ingredients, and the gut microbiota are also commonly associated with regulating and activating UCP1. The identification and analysis of UCP1 stimuli can greatly facilitate our understanding of adipose tissue thermogenesis, including the browning of WAT. Thus, it is more conducive to further research and therapy for glucose and lipid metabolism disorders.

Abstract As the core of ontology integration, the task of ontology mapping is to find the semantic relationship between ontologies. Nevertheless, most existing ontology mapping methods only rely ontext information to calculate entity similarity, thereby disregarding semantic nuances and necessitating substantial manual intervention. Therefore, this paper introduces an ontology mapping method. Based on the traditional ontology mapping method, the process employs a deep learning model to mine the semantic information of entity concepts, entity properties and ontology structure to obtain the embedding vector. We use the similarity mechanism to calculate the similarity between different embedding vectors, and combine the similarity values obtained from multiple strategy entities into a similarity matrix. The similarity matrix serves as input to the support vector machine (SVM), and the ontology mapping problem is finally transformed into a binary classification problem. However, since the number of mapped pairs is much larger than the number of non-mapped pairs, the number of positive samples in the data set is much smaller than the number of negative samples. Therefore, based on the traditional SVM, the paper adopts cost-sensitive strategy to deal with the class imbalance problem. In comparative evaluations against contemporary ontology mapping techniques, our method demonstrates a noteworthy 5.0% enhancement in recall and a 3.0% improvement in F1 score when tested on both public benchmark datasets and domain-specific datasets.

Abstract Background Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is common following surgery in elderly patients. The role of the preoperative gut microbiota in POCD has attracted increasing attention, but the potential underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This research aimed to investigate the impact of the preoperative gut microbiota on POCD. Methods Herein, we analyzed the preoperative gut microbiota of POCD patients through a prospective specimen collection and retrospective blinded evaluation study. Then, we transferred the preoperative gut microbiota of POCD patients to antibiotic-treated rats and established POCD model by abdominal surgery to explore the impact of the preoperative gut microbiota on pre- and postoperative cognitive function and systemic inflammation. The gut microbiota was analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing analysis. The Morris water maze test was performed to evaluate learning and memory abilities. The inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in the serum and hippocampus were measured by ELISA. Microglia were examined by immunofluorescence staining for Iba-1. Results Based on the decrease in the postoperative MMSE score, 24 patients were identified as having POCD and were matched with 24 control patients. Compared with control patients, POCD patients exhibited higher BMI and lower preoperative MMSE score. The preoperative gut microbiota of POCD patients had lower bacterial richness but a larger distribution, decreased abundance of Firmicutes and increased abundance of Proteobacteria than did that of control patients. Compared with rats that received preoperative fecal samples of control patients, rats that received preoperative fecal samples of POCD patients presented an increased abundance of Desulfobacterota, decreased cognitive function, increased levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in the serum, increased levels of TNF-α and greater microglial activation in the hippocampus. Additionally, correlation analysis revealed a positive association between the abundance of Desulfobacterota and the level of serum TNF-α in rats. Then, we performed abdominal surgery to investigate the impact of the preoperative gut microbiota on postoperative conditions, and the surgery did indeed cause POCD and inflammatory response. Notably, compared with rats that received preoperative fecal samples of control patients, rats that received preoperative fecal samples of POCD patients displayed exacerbated cognitive impairment; increased levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in the serum and hippocampus; and increased activation of microglia in the hippocampus. Conclusions Our findings suggest that the preoperative gut microbiota of POCD patients can induce preoperative and aggravate postoperative cognitive impairment and systemic inflammation in rats. Modulating inflammation by targeting the gut microbiota might be a promising approach for preventing POCD.

Abstract Background Gastric cancer is a major health problem worldwide, with a high incidence among older adults. Given the aging overall population, it was crucial to understand the current burden and prospective trend of older gastric cancer. This study aimed to analyze the temporal trends of the incidence, mortality, and survival of older gastric cancer in the highest gastric cancer risk area in China from 2010 to 2019, and to predict the future burden of older gastric cancer up to 2024. Methods The study was conducted in Gansu province, an area characterized by the highest gastric cancer incidence and mortality in China. The registration data of gastric cancer incidence and mortality from 2010 to 2019 were pooled from registries in the Gansu Cancer Registration System, while survival data were collected from the First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, and Gansu Cancer Hospital. Chinese standard population in 2000 and the Segi’s world standard population were applied to calculate the age-standardized rate. Joinpoint regression was used to analyze the average annual percentage change (AAPC) in cancer incidence and mortality. Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) models were employed to generate forecasts for incidence and mortality from 2020 to 2024. Results Based on registry data from 2010 to 2019, the incidence and mortality rates of gastric cancer among older adults remained stable. The incidence rates declined from 439.65 per 100,000 in 2010 to 330.40 per 100,000 in 2019, with an AAPC of -2.59% (95% confidence interval[CI], -5.14 to 0.04, P = 0.06). Similarly, the mortality rate changed from 366.98 per 100,000 in 2010 to 262.03 per 100,000 in 2019, with an AAPC of -2.55% (95% CI, -8.77–4.08%, P = 0.44). In the hospital-based cohort, the decline in survival rates was reported among older patients with gastric cancer in the highest gastric cancer risk area in China, with the 3-year overall survival (OS) decreasing from 58.5% (95% CI, 53.5–63.2%) in 2010 to 34.4% (95%CI, 32.1–36.7%) in 2019, and the 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) decreasing from 51.3% (95%CI, 47.5–55.1%) in 2010 to 34.2% (95%CI, 32.0–36.3%) in 2019, respectively. Moreover, forecasts generated by ARIMA models revealed a significant decline in the incidence and mortality of older gastric cancer in China from 2020 to 2024. Specifically, the incidence rate of older gastric cancer was expected to decrease from 317.94 per 100,000 population in 2020 to 205.59 per 100,000 population in 2024, while the anticipated mortality rate was estimated to decrease from 222.52 per 100,000 population in 2020 to 186.22 per 100,000 population in 2024. Conclusion From 2010 to 2019, the incidence and mortality of older gastric cancer remained stable in the highest gastric cancer risk area in China, while the survival rates showed a decline. Based on the ARIMA models, it was anticipated that there might be a continued decline in older gastric cancer incidence and mortality in the highest-risk area in China over the next five years.

Y2O3–Al2O3–ZrO2 composite ceramic powders are an important structural and functional material. The agglomeration problem in the ceramic powder drying process must be resolved to prepare high-quality ceramic powder, and choosing the right drying techniques can significantly lessen ceramic powder agglomeration. Y2O3–Al2O3–ZrO2 ceramic powder was dried using microwave drying. The drying kinetics of the powders were examined with their initial mass, moisture content, and microwave power. As microwave power, beginning moisture content, and initial mass rose, the average drying rate also increased, according to the experimental data. To better characterize the microwave drying process, the drying data were fitted and analyzed using four thin-layer drying kinetic models, namely Quadratic Model, Modified Page, Wang and Singh, and Two-term exponential. The outcomes demonstrate the good fitting effect of the Modified Page model and the compliance of the fitting parameters with the law. The samples before and after drying were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Calculating the diffusion coefficient by Fick's second law shows that the effective diffusion coefficient of Y2O3–Al2O3–ZrO2 composite ceramic powder is 5.6 × 10−11 m2/s when the initial moisture content is 5%, the microwave heating power is 560 W, and the initial mass is 25 g. The activation energy for microwave drying of Y2O3–Al2O3–ZrO2 ceramic powders was calculated to be 22.83 W/g according to the Arrhenius formula. This paper aims to provide a theoretical basis and rich experimental data for the study of microwave drying of Y2O3–Al2O3–ZrO2 composite ceramic powder.

Owing to their exceptional properties, hard materials such as advanced ceramics, metals and composites have enormous economic and societal value, with applications across numerous industries. Understanding their microstructural characteristics is crucial for enhancing their performance, materials development and unleashing their potential for future innovative applications. However, their microstructures are unambiguously hierarchical and typically span several length scales, from sub-ångstrom to micrometres, posing demanding challenges for their characterization, especially for in situ characterization which is critical to understanding the kinetic processes controlling microstructure formation. This review provides a comprehensive description of the rapidly developing technique of ultra-small angle X-ray scattering (USAXS), a nondestructive method for probing the nano-to-micrometre scale features of hard materials. USAXS and its complementary techniques, when developed for and applied to hard materials, offer valuable insights into their porosity, grain size, phase composition and inhomogeneities. We discuss the fundamental principles, instrumentation, advantages, challenges and global status of USAXS for hard materials. Using selected examples, we demonstrate the potential of this technique for unveiling the microstructural characteristics of hard materials and its relevance to advanced materials development and manufacturing process optimization. We also provide our perspective on the opportunities and challenges for the continued development of USAXS, including multimodal characterization, coherent scattering, time-resolved studies, machine learning and autonomous experiments. Our goal is to stimulate further implementation and exploration of USAXS techniques and inspire their broader adoption across various domains of hard materials science, thereby driving the field toward discoveries and further developments.

A significant proportion of the world's population is currently experiencing heat stress. This results from the effects of global warming, urban heat islands (UHIs), and the growth of urban populations. Researchers have investigated multiple strategies to address this problem. It has been found that the outdoor thermal environment (OTE) can be modified by means of vegetation, water surfaces, and urban geometry. Several studies have indicated that certain geometric factors have demonstrated a higher degree of effectiveness in cooling the surrounding environment. OTE studies often employ two commonly utilised factors, known as urban geometry indicating parameters (UGPs)—the sky view factor (SVF) and height-to-width ratio (H/W). This article compares OTE studies focusing on these two factors. The comparison encompasses characteristics such as study methods, places and times of conducting, and thermal indices. The findings indicate that geometric studies have primarily relied on simulation and field measurement methods. These studies were predominantly conducted in tropical or subtropical cities during warm seasons, with a preference for daytime investigations. Complex thermal indices, including the physiologically equivalent temperature and mean radiant temperature, were commonly employed. In addition to UGPs, other physical factors, such as orientation, were also taken into consideration. Studies on H/W and SVF differed slightly although they are both geometrically indicative. This review can provide guidance for future studies in the field of urban geometry, in that researchers may choose to prioritise the examination of practical indicators, such as the energy load, to conduct a more comprehensive analysis while also taking into account other physical aspects, such as the presence of trees.

TiO2–Y2O3–ZrO2 composite ceramics exhibit excellent abrasion resistance, corrosion resistance, and high-temperature resistance, making them vital structural-functional materials in ceramics and refractories. The key to preparing high-quality TiO2–Y2O3–ZrO2 ceramic powders lies in controlling the agglomeration rate, which can be optimized by choosing an appropriate drying method. This study utilized microwave drying techniques to dehydrate TiO2–Y2O3–ZrO2 ceramic powders. It was found that the average drying rate is proportional to initial masses, initial moisture contents and microwave heating powers. To describe the drying process, four models—the Quadratic, Wang and Singh, Modified Page, and Page—were employed. The best model for the drying process was the Modified Page model. The specimens were analyzed to assess the alterations in the samples pre and post-drying by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The findings revealed that microwaves can hasten the drying process of TiO2–Y2O3–ZrO2 and enhance its spread. Utilizing Fick's second law, the effective diffusion coefficient was ascertained, showing an inverse proportionality to the sample mass, and a proportionality to the microwave heating power and initial moisture content. Using the Arrhenius exponential model, it was ascertained that the microwave drying process's activation energy stands at 13.81834 W/g. This paper demonstrates that microwave drying effectively achieves efficient drying and lays the theoretical and experimental groundwork for the microwave heating and drying of other powdered materials.

As the Industrial Internet of Things rapidly evolves, enterprises are increasingly using a wide variety of web containers. However, this growing usage also magnifies the complexities associated with managing these assets, leading to a rise in network security risks and vulnerabilities. This trend not only highlights a shift in industrial practices but also underscores the urgent need for proactive measures to strengthen network security. In response to this complex challenge, this paper presents a cutting-edge approach for detecting and identifying web containers through proactive probing. During the detection phase, we meticulously construct web container probes, laying the groundwork for their central role in the identification process. During this stage, the probe leverages a payload-based identification method for web containers, achieving an exceptional level of accuracy by implementing advanced protocol decoding techniques. The integration of these innovative techniques not only enhances the precision of web container identification but also demonstrates our commitment to providing a comprehensive solution to the challenges posed by web container management. This pioneering methodology reflects the ongoing evolution of detection strategies and our dedication to pushing technological boundaries for an improved understanding of web containers. By seamlessly integrating these two advanced identification methods, we have successfully identified four different types of web containers. Importantly, we have made significant progress in precision and accurately differentiating between various versions of these web containers, with a total of ten versions correctly identified. This groundbreaking method is not only crucial for addressing the current complexities in web container asset management but also provides enterprises with a more effective means of network security defense. Through the use of this advanced proactive probing method, enterprises can better understand and manage their web container assets, reducing network security risks and ensuring system stability and security. Our contribution plays a pivotal role in the ongoing development of the Industrial Internet of Things and lays a strong foundation for future research and applications in network security. The innovative approach presented here serves as a catalyst for the positive advancement of the current Industrial Internet of Things landscape and lays a solid groundwork for future exploration and application in network security.

The effect of long chain content (XL) on the static crystallization and tensile deformation mechanisms of bimodal HDPE/UHMWPE was investigated by molecular dynamics simulations. The crystallization of HDPE/ UHMWPE undergoes three stages: nucleation, rapid growth of lamellar crystals, and stabilization. The increase of XL leads to the formation of more nucleation sites, which promotes nucleation, but at the same time leads to an increase of entanglement sites, which is not conducive to the movement of the long chains to the growth front to fold and form lamellar crystals. Tensile deformation is performed on the crystallized models and the systems exhibit three stages: elastic deformation, plastic deformation and stress hardening. During deformation, the increase of XL improves the orientation nucleation and crystallinity (Xc), but when XL exceeds 4 wt.%, the entanglement effect becomes more pronounced, leading to a decrease in Xc. The effect of temperature is also taken into account: at low temperatures, a suitable range (2-4 wt.%) exists to optimize the mechanical properties of the material. At high temperatures, there is almost no stress-hardening phenomenon, but the addition of long chains has an impeding effect on the melting of the lamellar crystals, and when XL is greater than 8 wt.%, stress-induced melting is more likely to occur, accelerating the melting of the crystals.

Expressway weaving areas meet dissipative structure characteristics. When traffic states reach a certain range, they exhibit self-organising criticality, and slight changes may trigger unpredictable congestion. This paper examines the correlation between the dissipative structure of the weaving area and key traffic parameters. The range of dissipative structure states in the weaving area is defined through the dissipative structure concept with three-phase traffic flow theory and real traffic data. Based on the fundamental diagram and measured traffic data, the weaving area dissipative structure model characterising the relationship between critical state changes in traffic volume is constructed and validated. Finally, the Cell Transmission Model simulation was used to examine the characteristic relationship between the weaving area dissipative structure state duration, the weaving area length and the weaving flow ratio. The results show that the length of the dissipative structure state is maintained when the traffic flow is self-organised into a free-flow or a congested state positively correlates with the length of the weaving area. Higher weaving flow ratios lead to shorter dissipative structure state durations during congestion formation, and the exact opposite during congestion evacuation. This paper is important for analysing the congestion mechanism and managing congestion.

Abstract Understanding the mechanical characteristics of rocks when subjected to direct tension is crucial for assessing the stability of rock formations. Within the scope of this research, a series of tests was conducted using Tage tuff to assess the deformation behavior and crack extension of rock under direct tension. The axial, lateral, and shear strain fields as well as crack propagation, localized deformation behavior, and failure mode of the rocks were analyzed using three-dimensional digital image correlation method. The results showed that the axial strain fields on the specimen surface were heterogeneous, with different locations and localization occurring in the pre-peak stage, which was similar to the evolution of shear strain, whereas the lateral strain only showed slight changes. The crack extension direction was inferred, indicating that both tensile and shear stress occurred in the tests. Furthermore, different stress–strain responses were observed for the inside and outside of the localized bands. Then, the surface patterns of specimen failure were scanned and analyzed to assess the failure mode and residual strength of the specimen under direct tensile stress. Finally, the results of direct tension, uniaxial compression, and Brazilian split tests for Tage tuff were compared, and the complete stress–strain curve of uniaxial tension (UT) was simulated using a nonlinear-variable-compliance constitutive equation. This study provides a deeper understanding into the damage behavior of rocks under direct tension.

Abstract Background The goal of the research was to examine the value of peripheral blood indicators in forecasting survival and recurrence among people suffering central‐type non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) undergoing sleeve lobectomy (SL). Methods Clinical information was gathered from 146 individuals suffering from NSCLC who had SL at our facility between January 2014 and May 2023. Peripheral blood neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and platelet lymphocyte ratio (PLR) levels were determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to establish the threshold points. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was employed to evaluate the prognostic value of different groupings, and both univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards model (referred to as COX) were performed. Results The disease‐free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) cutoff values were carried out via ROC analysis. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis revealed notable differences in OS for NLR (≥2.196 vs.

Abstract Background Lung cancer has always a cancer that threatens human health. Quality of life also has been an important research topic. psychological state in patients can influence their quality of life, and perceived social support and coping styles are relevant facilitators of Quality of life, but this specific relationship has not been adequately studied. The purpose of this study is focus on discussing the correlation of these four and understanding their potential mediating pathways. Materials and methods This is a cross-sectional study. A total of 300 Lung Cancer patients from a cancer hospital in Suzhou were surveyed. The Data was collected using the scales. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS and AMOS software. Results The study revealed a significant serial mediation model between perceived social support and coping style: Psychological state regulates patients’ coping styles by influencing their perceived social support which ultimately has comprehensive impacts on their quality of life. Conclusion Based on the empirical results discussed, this study proposes the following suggestion: Provide good online support to form a related social media intervention matrix. meanwhile, expand the patients’ social network offline, provide channels for patients to express their troubles outwardly, and regularly assess the patients’ psychological status to improve their level of psychosocial adaptation. This will in turn enhance their negative coping strategies towards the disease and strengthen their ability to buffer against it, ultimately promoting a better quality of life for the patients.

Abstract Mutations in fibrillin 1 (FBN1) is the main cause of Marfan syndrome (MFS) with thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) as the main complication. Activation of the complement system plays a key role in the formation of thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms. However, the role of the complement system in MFS-associated aortic aneurysms remains unclear. In this study, we observed increased levels of complement C3a and C5a in the plasma of MFS patients and mouse, and the increased deposition of the activated complement system product C3b/iC3b was also observed in the elastic fiber rupture zone of 3-month-old MFS mice. The expression of C3a receptor (C3aR) was increased in MFS aortas, and recombinant C3a promoted the expression of cytokines in macrophages. The administration of a C3aR antagonist (C3aRA) attenuated the development of thoracic aortic aneurysms in MFS mice. The increased inflammation response and matrix metalloproteinases activities were also attenuated by C3aRA treatment in MFS mice. Therefore, these findings indicate that the complement C3a/C3aR inhibition alleviates the formation of aortic aneurysm in Marfan syndrome mice.

Abstract PARP inhibitor (PARPi) therapy has transformed outcomes for patients with homologous recombination DNA repair (HRR) deficient ovarian cancers, for example those with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene defects. Unfortunately, PARPi resistance is common. Multiple resistance mechanisms have been described, including secondary mutations that restore the HR gene reading frame. BRCA1 splice isoforms △11 and △11q can contribute to PARPi resistance by splicing out the mutation-containing exon, producing truncated, partially functional proteins. However, the clinical impacts and underlying drivers of BRCA1 exon skipping are not fully understood. We analyzed nine ovarian and breast cancer patient derived xenografts (PDX) with BRCA1 exon 11 frameshift mutations for exon skipping and therapy response, including a matched PDX pair derived from a patient pre- and post-chemotherapy/PARPi. BRCA1 exon 11 skipping was elevated in PARPi resistant PDX tumors. Two independent PDX models acquired secondary BRCA1 splice site mutations (SSMs) that drive exon skipping, confirmed using qRT-PCR, RNA sequencing, immunoblotting and minigene modelling. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated disruption of splicing functionally validated exon skipping as a mechanism of PARPi resistance. SSMs were also enriched in post-PARPi ovarian cancer patient cohorts from the ARIEL2 and ARIEL4 clinical trials. Few PARPi resistance mechanisms have been confirmed in the clinical setting. While secondary/reversion mutations typically restore a gene’s reading frame, we have identified secondary mutations in patient cohorts that hijack splice sites to enhance mutation-containing exon skipping, resulting in the overexpression of BRCA1 hypomorphs, which in turn promote PARPi resistance. Thus, BRCA1 SSMs can and should be clinically monitored, along with frame-restoring secondary mutations.

Abstract As a crucial nonlinear phenomenon, stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) plays multifaceted roles involved in forward and inverse problems. In fibre-optic systems, these roles range from detrimental interference that impairs optical performance to beneficial effects that enables various devices such as Raman amplifier. To obtain solutions of SRS, various numerical methods customized for different scenarios have been proposed. However, these methods are time-consuming, low-efficiency, and experience-orientated, particularly in combined scenarios consisting of both forward and inverse problems. Inspired by physics-informed neural networks, we propose SRS-Net, which combines the efficient automatic differentiation and powerful representation ability of neural networks with the regularization of SRS physical laws, to obtain universal solutions for SRS of forward, inverse, and combined problems. We showcase the intuitive solving procedure and high-speed performance of SRS-Net through extensive simulations covering different scenarios. Additionally, we validate its capabilities in experiments involving the high-fidelity modelling of a wavelength division multiplexing system spanning the C + L-band with approximately 10 THz. The versatility of the SRS-Net framework extends beyond SRS, indicating its potential as a promising universal solution in other engineering problems with nonlinear dynamics governed by partial differential equations.

Abstract Although nanocatalytic medicine has demonstrated its advantages in tumor therapy, the outcomes heavily relie on substrate concentration and the metabolic pathways are still indistinct. We discover that violet phosphorus quantum dots (VPQDs) can catalyze the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) without requiring external stimuli and the catalytic substrates are confirmed to be oxygen (O2) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) through the computational simulation and experiments. Considering the short of O2 and H2O2 at the tumor site, we utilize calcium peroxide (CaO2) to supply catalytic substrates for VPQDs and construct nanoparticles together with them, named VPCaNPs. VPCaNPs can induce oxidative stress in tumor cells, particularly characterized by a significant increase in hydroxyl radicals and superoxide radicals, which cause substantial damage to the structure and function of cells, ultimately leading to cell apoptosis. Intriguingly, O2 provided by CaO2 can degrade VPQDs slowly, and the degradation product, phosphate, as well as CaO2-generated calcium ions, can promote tumor calcification. Antitumor immune activation and less metastasis are also observed in VPCaNPs administrated animals. In conclusion, our study unveils the anti-tumor activity of VPQDs as catalysts for generating cytotoxic ROS and the degradation products can promote tumor calcification, providing a promising strategy for treating tumors.

Abstract Documenting tangible cultural heritage using 3D modeling techniques is gradually becoming an indispensable component of archaeological practice. The 3D modeling techniques based on photogrammetry and LiDAR scanning enable high-accuracy and high-realistic reconstruction of archaeological sites, and have been proven a powerful tool for documenting archaeological excavations. However, dynamically documenting an ongoing excavation using these techniques is still considered tedious, time-consuming, expensive, and dependent on expertise. Moreover, the application of 3D modeling techniques in archaeological excavations still faces some technical challenges, such as modeling with multi-source and multi-scale data, fusing local models at different times into a whole, achieving fast modeling while GPU workstations are not available in the field, and evaluating the quality of 3D models. As a result, there are still very few archaeological teams deeply engaged in dynamic documentation with 3D modeling techniques, and traditional drawing sketches and taking photographs still dominate. In these senses, documenting the archaeological excavation at the Yunxian Man site (located in Hubei, China) is an invaluable opportunity for exploration and practice. Archaeologists determined to conduct dynamically documenting at the beginning of the 6th excavation project for the site, and established a rotation system to reconcile physical excavation with digital preservation. Through repeated practice and communication, we proposed a workflow and pursued several new methods to enhance the feasibility of dynamically documenting, and obtained 4D models of the ongoing archaeological excavations. In 2022, the Yunxian Man site unearthed the most intact fossil of hominin cranium from about one million years ago in the Eurasian continent, preserving important and scarce anatomical features of early humans in Asia. As the original taphonomic context of the fossil corroded away during physical excavations, the digital documentation consisting of 4D models serves as permanent original data source in subsequent archaeological research. Moreover, we obtained cross-scale 3D models from geographical environment to archaeological site, excavation area, and cultural remains, and all of these 3D models are in an actual, unified coordinate framework. Thus, we can contribute to multidisciplinary cross-collaborative research through data sharing. Considering that digital documentations serve a great value in archaeological research, this paper focuses on sharing the workflow and methods to facilitate digital preservation for more archaeological projects.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of the original oblique conformal anastomosis presented in this research in reducing the incidence of cervical anastomotic leak after performing totally minimally invasive esophagectomy (TMIE). Methods: The esophagus and stomach of 27 fresh pigs, termed the esophagogastric model, were used to simulate human esophagogastric organs for this study's in vitro experimental objectives. Nine esophagogastric models of similar weight were divided into three groups. Esophagogastrostomy with circular-stapled end-to-side anastomosis was performed. A tension gauge was used to pull the anastomosis, and the tension at which anastomotic leakage occurred was recorded. Furthermore, a retrospective assessment of 539 patients who underwent TMIE was conducted to analyze the influencing factors of cervical anastomotic leakage. Results: Experiments on the esophagogastric models showed a higher fracture strength of oblique conformal anastomosis than that of conventional anastomosis (F2,18 = 40.86, P

Permafrost plays an important role in hydrological processes of alpine regions. The frost table in the active layer on the permafrost acts as an impermeable boundary and regulates water generation from hillslopes and its routing to streams. Past studies focused on modes or critical conditions of flow generation, rather than on the capacity of the active layer on the permafrost to recharge flow. This study aimed to characterize the role of supra-permafrost groundwater in the generation of runoff on hillslopes during the active layer thawing processes. The study focused on an alpine meadow permafrost hillslope located in the northeastern Tibet Plateau during the months of July and August in both 2021 and 2022. Hydrometeorological variables, including precipitation, air temperature, soil temperature, soil moisture, thaw depths, supra-permafrost groundwater level, and runoff generation were monitored in field. Partial Least Squares Path Modeling was selected to analyze the relations between the above variables. The results showed that infiltrated rainwater tended to move into deep thawed soil, following which the frozen layer forced horizontal transport along the hillslope. This indicated that thaw depths along the soil profile regulated the dominant runoff path. The accumulated precipitation of the previous days had a significant impact on runoff generation. There was minimal lateral subsurface flow when the saturated zone was absent, whereas lateral subsurface flow increased with increasing thickness of the saturated zone. Runoff generation on the hillslope was regulated by both thaw depths and the thickness of the saturated zone along the soil profile. This study can act as a reference for runoff generation processes of permafrost hillslopes.

ABSTRACTIntroduction Technological innovations have been instrumental in advancing vaccine design and protective benefit. Improvements in the safety, tolerability, and efficacy/effectiveness profiles have profoundly reduced vaccine-preventable global disease morbidity and mortality. Here we present an original vaccine platform, the Multiple Antigen Presenting System (MAPS), that relies on high-affinity interactions between a biotinylated polysaccharide (PS) and rhizavidin-fused pathogen-specific proteins. MAPS allows for flexible combinations of various PS and protein components.Areas covered This narrative review summarizes the underlying principles of MAPS and describes its applications for vaccine design against bacterial and viral pathogens in non-clinical and clinical settings.Expert opinion The utilization of high-affinity non-covalent biotin–rhizavidin interactions in MAPS allows for combining multiple PS and disease-specific protein antigens in a single vaccine. The modular design enables a simplified exchange of vaccine components. Published studies indicate that MAPS technology may support enhanced immunogenic breadth (covering more serotypes, inducing B- and T-cell responses) beyond that which may be elicited via PS- or protein-based conjugate vaccines. Importantly, a more detailed characterization of MAPS-based candidate vaccines is warranted, especially in clinical studies. It is anticipated that MAPS-based vaccines could be adapted and leveraged across numerous diseases of global public health importance.

Most recently, high-entropy alloys (HEAs) with 5 or more elements open a new area for materials exploration with substantial mechanical properties. The large composition space and numerous structures of HEAs bring significant difficulties for phase design and determination of mechanical property. Machine learning, one of most rapidly growing scientific and technical field, meets at the intersection of computer science and materials science, and at the center of artificial intelligence. Machine learning provides the opportunity to build up the relationship between multiple physical properties and mechanical properties. The fast changes of this field call for significant practice for materials community to utilize it as a more efficient, accurate and interpretable tool. In this review, we summarize the most promising machine learning models, combined with high-throughput simulation and experimental screening, to predict and fabricate HEAs with desired superb mechanical properties.

Abstract Background Chronic pain was associated with a higher risk of mental disorders (e.g., depression and anxiety). However, the role of 24-h movement behaviors in the association remains unclear. Methods A total of 72,800 participants with accelerometer data and free of mental disorders from the UK Biobank were analyzed. The compositional mediation model and isotemporal substitution model were used to explore the associations between chronic pain, 24-h movement behaviors, and the incidence of overall mental disorders, depression, and anxiety. Results With a median follow-up of 13.36 years, participants with chronic pain had a higher rate of incident overall mental disorders (hazard ratio (HR): 1.281, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.219 to 1.344), anxiety (HR: 1.391, 95% CI: 1.280 to 1.536), and depression (HR: 1.703, 95% CI: 1.551 to 1.871). Increased sedentary behavior (SB) and reduced moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) caused by chronic pain both increased the risk of mental disorders. Twenty-four-hour movement behaviors explained the relationship between chronic pain and overall mental disorders, depression, and anxiety by 10.77%, 5.70%, and 6.86%, respectively. Interaction effects were found between MVPA and chronic pain when predicting the incidence of depression and between MVPA, sleep (SLP), and chronic pain when predicting the incidence of mental disorders. People with chronic pain would recommend at least 0.5 h per day of MVPA and 7 h per day of SLP and restricting SB below 11.5 h per day. Conclusions Twenty-four-hour movement behaviors played a significant mediating role in the association between chronic pain and mental disorders. Individuals with chronic pain should engage in more MVPA, less sedentary behavior, and have 7-h sleep per day.

Abstract Under subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) conditions, astrocytes undergo a marked intensification of glycolytic activity, resulting in the generation of substantial amounts of lactate to maintain the energy demand for neurons and other brain cells. Lactate has garnered increasing attention in recent years because of its emerging role in critical biological processes such as inflammation regulation and neuroprotection, particularly through its histone lactylation. Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) plays a crucial role in maintaining neural development and promoting memory formation in the central nervous system. Nonetheless, the function and regulatory mechanism of BRD4 and histone lactylation in astrocytes following SAH remain elusive. Our findings indicate that BRD4, a crucial epigenetic regulator, plays a definitive role in histone lactylation. Both in vitro and in vivo, these results demonstrated that targeted silencing of BRD4 in astrocytes can significantly reduce H4K8la lactylation, thereby aggravating the A1 polarization of astrocytes and ultimately affecting the recovery of neural function and prognosis in mice after SAH. In summary, BRD4 plays a pivotal role in modulating astrocyte polarization following SAH via histone lactylation. Targeting this mechanism might offer an efficient therapeutic strategy for SAH.

Abstract Artificial-intelligence-generated content has driven explosive data traffic growth in data-center interconnects. Traditional direct detection solutions struggle with limited spectral efficiency and distance, prompting the shift to coherent optics for cost-sensitive short-reach links. One specific challenge is integrating low-cost lasers while overcoming severe phase noise on high-order modulation formats. Here, we propose a residual carrier modulation scheme for precise and efficient carrier frequency and phase recovery. The residual optical carrier can continuously track phase fluctuations without redundancy compared with discrete time-domain pilots, and address the digital-to-analog convertor resolution reduction issue of frequency-domain digital pilots. In proof-of-concept experiments, we transmit a net 1-Tb/s probabilistic-shaped 256-ary quadrature amplitude modulated (PS-256-QAM) signal using a 3 MHz distributed feedback (DFB) laser. Our scheme improves bitrate by 41% compared to conventional time-domain pilots, achieving a record laser linewidth sum and symbol duration product of 6.89 × 10−5. This approach supports MHz linewidth DFB lasers in low-cost coherent optical communications.

Highlights The development history and working mechanism of dual-ion batteries are reviewed, with an emphasis on the latest advancement in anode materials. A comprehensive and detailed summary of the synthesis strategies, structural optimization, performance characterization, and reaction principles of four types of anode materials for dual-ion batteries is presented. The current challenges of anode materials are highlighted, and the optimization strategies of advanced anode materials and battery systems are discussed, providing future research directions for the design of commercial dual-ion batteries.

Abstract Background Depressive symptoms often occur in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and exacerbate the pathogenesis of AD. However, the neural circuit mechanisms underlying the AD-associated depression remain unclear. The serotonergic system plays crucial roles in both AD and depression. Methods We used a combination of in vivo trans-synaptic circuit-dissecting anatomical approaches, chemogenetic manipulations, optogenetic manipulations, pharmacological methods, behavioral testing, and electrophysiological recording to investigate dorsal raphe nucleus serotonergic circuit in AD-associated depression in AD mouse model. Results We found that the activity of dorsal raphe nucleus serotonin neurons (DRN5-HT) and their projections to the dorsal hippocampal CA1 (dCA1) terminals (DRN5-HT-dCA1CaMKII) both decreased in brains of early 5×FAD mice. Chemogenetic or optogenetic activation of the DRN5-HT-dCA1CaMKII neural circuit attenuated the depressive symptoms and cognitive impairments in 5×FAD mice through serotonin receptor 1B (5-HT1BR) and 4 (5-HT4R). Pharmacological activation of 5-HT1BR or 5-HT4R attenuated the depressive symptoms and cognitive impairments in 5×FAD mice by regulating the DRN5-HT-dCA1CaMKII neural circuit to improve synaptic plasticity. Conclusions These findings provide a new mechanistic connection between depression and AD and provide potential pharmaceutical prevention targets for AD.

Objective To analyze the predictive value of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) myocardial perfusion imaging combined with CT fractional flow reserve(CT-FFR) parameters in predicting cardiovascular adverse events in obstructive coronary heart disease. Methods A prospective study was conducted in 180 patients with obstructive coronary heart disease (coronary artery stenosis ≥ 50%) who were treated in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University from June 2018 to June 2022. All patients underwent CT angiography and CMR myocardial perfusion imaging, and the occurrence of cardiovascular adverse events within 1 year was collected by on-site follow-up or telephone follow-up. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze the influencing factors of cardiovascular adverse events; ROC curves were used to assess the predictive efficacy of different prediction models for the occurrence of cardiovascular adverse events. Results A total of 45 patients developed cardiovascular adverse events (observation group), and the remaining 135 patients were controls. Compared with the control group, the age, male ratio, smoking patient ratio, total cholesterol level, diabetes mellitus ratio, hyperlipidemia ratio, first-pass perfusion time and myocardial delayed enhancement signal value of the observation group increased, while the CT-FFR and maximum slope(Slopemax) index decreased, and the differences were statistically significant (P

Abstract Rabies is a lethal disease caused by the rabies virus (RABV), which causes acute neurological infections in mammals, including human beings. We previously reported that an mRNA vaccine (LVRNA001) encoding the rabies virus’s glycoprotein induced strong protective immune responses to rabies in mice and dogs. Here, we further evaluate the safety of LVRNA001. First, we performed a confirmative efficacy study in dogs, which showed that LVRNA001 fully protected the animals from the virus, both pre- and post-infection. Moreover, using pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis murine models, we showed that LVRNA001, built from the CTN-1 strain, was able to protect against various representative RABV strains from the China I–VII clades. To evaluate the safety of the vaccine, chronic and reproductive toxicity studies were performed with cynomolgus macaques and rats, respectively. In a repeated-dose chronic toxicity study, vaccinated monkeys displayed no significant alterations in body weight, temperature, or hematological and biochemical markers. Lymphocyte subset measurement and histopathological examination showed that no toxicity was associated with the vaccine. The immunogenicity study in cynomolgus macaques demonstrated that LVRNA001 promoted the generation of neutralizing antibodies and Th1-biased immune response. Evaluation of reproductive toxicity in rats revealed that administration of LVRNA001 had no significant effects on fertility, maternal performance, reproductive processes, and postnatal outcomes. In conclusion, LVRNA001 can provide efficient protection against rabies virus infection in dogs and mice, and toxicity studies showed no significant vaccine-related adverse effects, suggesting that LVRNA001 is a promising and safe vaccine candidate for rabies prophylaxis and therapy.

Abstract The study of brain differences across Eastern and Western populations provides vital insights for understanding potential cultural and genetic influences on cognition and mental health. Diffusion MRI (dMRI) tractography is an important tool in assessing white matter (WM) connectivity and brain tissue microstructure across different populations. However, a comprehensive investigation into WM fiber tracts between Eastern and Western populations is challenged due to the lack of a cross-population WM atlas and the large site-specific variability of dMRI data. This study presents a dMRI tractography atlas, namely the East-West WM Atlas, for concurrent WM mapping between Eastern and Western populations and creates a large, harmonized dMRI dataset (n=306) based on the Human Connectome Project and the Chinese Human Connectome Project. The curated WM atlas, as well as subject-specific data including the harmonized dMRI data, the whole brain tractography data, and parcellated WM fiber tracts and their diffusion measures, are publicly released. This resource is a valuable addition to facilitating the exploration of brain commonalities and differences across diverse cultural backgrounds.

Abstract Objective By meticulously tracking the evolving growth, development, and nutritional status of primary and secondary school students in Qiongzhong County from 2014 to 2021 post-implementation of the “Nutrition Improvement Program for Rural Compulsory Education Students”(NIPRCES, This project provides a supplementary food allowance of at least ￥4 per person per day for primary and secondary school students. The project area undergoes annual routine monitoring.), this study aims to offer a scientific basis for enhancing and promoting the project. Through thorough monitoring of students’ nutritional status changes influenced by this program, we strive to establish a comprehensive and evidence-based framework for its future advancement. Methods From 2014 to 2021, this study employed a multi-stage sampling method utilizing cluster sampling to select six primary and six secondary schools in Qiongzhong County, Hainan Province. Data on the growth and development of respondents were collected. This cohort was a dynamic cohort with a total of 18,762 final data recovered. The prevalence of malnutrition was evaluated using the Cochran Armitage Trend Test (CATT) to assess year-to-year changes. Furthermore, height/weight and the prevalence of malnutrition between groups were compared using the t-test, χ2 test, and Bonferroni’s corrected analysis. Results The average height of both boys and girls has increased. In 2021, boys and girls of all ages showed an average height increase of 2.31 cm and 1.98 cm, respectively, compared to 2014. Nevertheless, the growth and development levels, and rate of improvement of these students remain comparatively lower than their rural counterparts across China, who are of the same age. From 2014 to 2021, the prevalence of undernutrition (mainly wasting) showed a significant downward trend (P

This paper aims to study the impact of CEOs' cultural background on corporate innovation. The paper constructs a measure of CEOs' cultural individualism based on their birthplaces and investigates its relationship with firms' patents and citations. The study aims to shed light on the interaction of culture and corporate decisions and focuses on the role of top managers. The paper also investigates the mechanism of how top management can affect corporate innovation output. The paper constructs the measure of individualism using the westward expansion in US history. To do so, the paper uses the US county-level duration of exposure of the frontier territory in the 19th century and links the counties to CEOs' birthplaces. The paper argues the cultural characteristics of birthplaces can affect a person's later management styles and decisions, hence affecting corporate innovation policies. Using regression and difference-in-differences estimations, the paper explores the relation and causality between cultural individualism and innovation output. The paper finds that CEO cultural individualism is positively related with the number of patents produced by the firm and the citations received by the firm. Difference-in-differences tests using CEO turnovers support that the relation is causal. The paper also investigates the economic mechanism of how individualistic CEOs achieve such results. It finds that individualistic CEOs tend to hire more talented employees and improve the workplace environment to attract top inventors. This paper provides firm-level evidence of culture and innovation. Prior studies in this area focus on cross-country evidence and suffer the limitation of confounding factors. Using a county-level measure of individualism and a sample of firms in USA, the paper alleviates the concern and provides evidence with better granularity. This paper also provides a novel mechanism for attracting top inventors, while existing literature tend to focus on risk-taking activities.

Abstract Background Computed tomography (CT) is the usual modality for diagnosing stroke, but conventional CT angiography reconstructions have limitations. Methods A phantom with tubes of known diameters and wall thickness was scanned for wall detectability, wall thickness, and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) on conventional and spectral black-blood (SBB) images. The clinical study included 34 stroke patients. Diagnostic certainty and conspicuity of normal/abnormal intracranial vessels using SBB were compared to conventional. Sensitivity/specificity/accuracy of SBB and conventional were compared for plaque detectability. CNR of the wall/lumen and quantitative comparison of remodeling index, plaque burden, and eccentricity were obtained for SBB imaging and high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (hrMRI). Results The phantom study showed improved detectability of tube walls using SBB (108/108, 100% versus conventional 81/108, 75%, p

Abstract Sirenians of the superorder Afrotheria were the first mammals to transition from land to water and are the only herbivorous marine mammals. Here, we generated a chromosome-level dugong (Dugong dugon) genome. A comparison of our assembly with other afrotherian genomes reveals possible molecular adaptations to aquatic life by sirenians, including a shift in daily activity patterns (circadian clock) and tolerance to a high-iodine plant diet mediated through changes in the iodide transporter NIS (SLC5A5) and its co-transporters. Functional in vitro assays confirm that sirenian amino acid substitutions alter the properties of the circadian clock protein PER2 and NIS. Sirenians show evidence of convergent regression of integumentary system (skin and its appendages) genes with cetaceans. Our analysis also uncovers gene losses that may be maladaptive in a modern environment, including a candidate gene (KCNK18) for sirenian cold stress syndrome likely lost during their evolutionary shift in daily activity patterns. Genomes from nine Australian locations and the functionally extinct Okinawan population confirm and date a genetic break ~10.7 thousand years ago on the Australian east coast and provide evidence of an associated ecotype, and highlight the need for whole-genome resequencing data from dugong populations worldwide for conservation and genetic management.

Abstract Microengineering the dielectric layers with three-dimensional microstructures has proven effective in enhancing the sensitivity of flexible pressure sensors. However, the widely employed geometrical designs of solid microstructures exhibit limited sensitivity over a wide range of pressures due to their inherent but undesired structural compressibility. Here, a Marangoni-driven deterministic formation approach is proposed for fabricating hollow microstructures, allowing for greater deformation while retarding structural stiffening during compression. Fluid convective deposition enables solute particles to reassemble in template microstructures, controlling the interior cavity with a void ratio exceeding 90%. The hollow micro-pyramid sensor exhibits a 10-fold sensitivity improvement across wider pressure ranges over the pressure sensor utilizing solid micro-pyramids, and an ultra-low detect limit of 0.21 Pa. With the advantages of facilitation, scalability, and large-area compatibility, such an approach for hollow microstructures can be expanded to other sensor types for superior performance and has considerable potential in robotic tactile and epidermal devices.

To evaluate the risk of acquiring syphilis from a donated kidney, we evaluated kidney transplantation pairs from West China Hospital, Sichuan, China, during 2007–2022. Donor-derived syphilis was rare. Risk may be higher if donors have active syphilis and may be reduced if recipients receive ceftriaxone.

Abstract As a carrier of multi-industrial technology integration and the key to industrial competition, the intelligent connected vehicle (ICV) has been taken seriously around the world. However, as a fast-growing emerging industry, its development process varies greatly from place to place. Hence, the merits and demerits are analyzed for the development of the ICV industry in different cities scientifically and to clarify the development of different links in each city, this paper suggests an extensive assessment framework integrating rough set theory and projection pursuit-based computation to systematically assess and thoroughly evaluate the level of competitiveness of the ICV industry. First, through big data text analysis technology, we constructed a "5 + 24" two-tier evaluation index system composed of 24 level-II evaluation indexes as well as five level-I evaluation indexes and selected 19 typical cities as input data for the comprehensive evaluation system. Further, the Adaptive Random Forest based Crossover Tactical Unit (ARF-CTU) algorithm is proposed for evaluating the performance of the industrial vehicle industry. However, the ARF algorithm is employed to estimate the lowering of overfitting issues and handling of high dimensional data. Moreover, the continuously varying conditions are analyzed by CTU. Then, we constructed a comprehensive evaluation system in the rough set theory and projection pursuit: (I) Quoting the rough set non-decision-making algorithm for attribute reduction, that is, under the premise of unchanged classification ability, derive a new evaluation system, and calculate the index weight and score based on the new system. (II) Based on the projection pursuit technology, the index score is mapped by a genetic algorithm to a linear structure, and a one-dimensional projection vector is an output.