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Abstract Objective The purpose of this study is to analyze the predictive value of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte count to monocyte count ratio (LMR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), platelet count multiplied by neutrophil count to lymphocyte count ratio (SII), red blood cell distribution width (RDW), packed cell volume (PCV), and plateletcrit (PCT) levels in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. Materials and methods From March 2019 to August 2023, we screened 104 of 153 patients with stage III unresectable local advanced NSCLC and IV NSCLC who received PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor therapy at our hospital and met the inclusion and exclusion criteria for analysis. All patients were collected for clinical information, including baseline blood indicator (NLR, PLR, LMR, SII, CRP, RDW, PCV and PCT) levels before PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor therapy and blood indicator levels and imaging evaluation results every two cycles after PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor therapy. We analyzed the predicted impact of baseline blood indicators on PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor treatment response, the discriminatory power of blood indicators on treatment response after efficacy evaluation, and the dynamic changes in blood indicators during PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor treatment. Results In our study data, baseline levels of NLR, PLR, LMR, SII, CRP, RDW, PCV, and PCT did not provide good predictive identification of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor primary resistance and effective treatment response populations. These indicators showed no significant distribution differences in Mann Whitney Wilcoxon analysis, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis between the primary resistance group and the effective treatment response group. We validated the NLR threshold of 5 from multiple previous studies in the data of this study, and patients with NLR > 5 also did not show a significant tendency towards the primary resistance group. The levels of NLR, PLR, LMR, SII, CRP, RDW, PCV, and PCT after efficacy evaluation also cannot effectively distinguish primary drug resistance and effective treatment response populations. However, in the longitudinal data analysis before and after PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor treatment, we found that the NLR, SII, and CRP levels of patients who responded effectively were significantly reduced compared to baseline status. But this phenomenon was not observed in PD patients. Conclusions PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors treatment significantly altered the levels of NLR, SII, and CRP in patients with advanced NSCLC. Dynamic monitoring of NLR, SII, and CRP levels may have potential application value in monitoring the therapeutic efficacy of ICIs. In our study, the baseline status of blood indicator levels did not achieve good primary drug resistant patient identification. The potential value of blood indicators in predicting primary resistance to ICI should be further explored in larger research cohorts.

Abstract We explore the decay of bound neutrons in the JUNO liquid scintillator detector into invisible particles (e.g., $$n\rightarrow 3 \nu $$ n → 3 ν or $$nn \rightarrow 2 \nu $$ n n → 2 ν ), which do not produce an observable signal. The invisible decay includes two decay modes: $$ n \rightarrow { inv} $$ n → inv and $$ nn \rightarrow { inv} $$ n n → inv . The invisible decays of s-shell neutrons in $$^{12}\textrm{C}$$ 12 C will leave a highly excited residual nucleus. Subsequently, some de-excitation modes of the excited residual nuclei can produce a time- and space-correlated triple coincidence signal in the JUNO detector. Based on a full Monte Carlo simulation informed with the latest available data, we estimate all backgrounds, including inverse beta decay events of the reactor antineutrino $${\bar{\nu }}_e$$ ν ¯ e , natural radioactivity, cosmogenic isotopes and neutral current interactions of atmospheric neutrinos. Pulse shape discrimination and multivariate analysis techniques are employed to further suppress backgrounds. With two years of exposure, JUNO is expected to give an order of magnitude improvement compared to the current best limits. After 10 years of data taking, the JUNO expected sensitivities at a 90% confidence level are $$\tau /B( n \rightarrow { inv} ) > 5.0 \times 10^{31} \, \textrm{years}$$ τ / B ( n → inv ) > 5.0 × 10 31 years and $$\tau /B( nn \rightarrow { inv} ) > 1.4 \times 10^{32} \, \textrm{years}$$ τ / B ( n n → inv ) > 1.4 × 10 32 years .

Abstract Background Long-term endurance training is associated with structural, functional, and biochemical markers of cardiac dysfunction in highly trained athletes. Many studies have focused on structural changes in the right ventricle (RV) and few have examined functional adaptation of the right ventricle. This meta-analysis aims to compare the changes in right ventricular systolic function between endurance athletes and controls before and after exercise using speckle tracking echocardiography (STE). Methods A comprehensive search of relevant studies published before March 19, 2024 that examined RV systolic function using speckle tracking technology was conducted. Weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used as pooled statistics. Meta regression was employed to identify sources of heterogeneity and publication bias was evaluated by Egger’s test and funnel plots. Sensitivity analysis was performed by removing sources of significant change from the results of a single publication to evaluate the stability of the results. Results Twenty studies were included with 1186 participants. A fixed effect meta-analysis revealed RV global longitudinal strain (GLS) WMD = 0.40, 95% CI (-0.08 ~ 0.89), p = 0.102 and free wall longitudinal strain (FWLS) WMD = 0.62, 95% CI (0.28 ~ 0.96), p

Silicone rubber composites with anti-ablation and thermal insulation properties were prepared with hot vulcanized silicone rubber as matrix, and polyarylacetylene, short carbon fiber, zirconia and carbon fiber cloth as anti-ablation fillers, and the effect of anti-ablation fillers on linear ablation rate and substrate temperature of the composites was investigated. The results showed that the linear ablation rate and substrate temperature of the composites were decreased with the sequential addition of the anti-ablation fillers. When the addition amount of polyarylacetylene, short carbon fiber, zirconia, and carbon fiber cloth were all 10 phr (mass), the resul-ting composite had the best anti-ablation and thermal insulation properties with a linear ablation rate of 0.043 mm/s and a substrate temperature of 70 ℃. This was mainly attributed to the ceramization-carbonization coupling reaction between the anti-ablation fillers and silicone rubber matrix, which led to the formation of a dense ablation layer that covered the surface of carbon fiber cloth.

Abstract Background Recent research has postulated that the activation of cGAS-STING-interferon signalling pathways could be implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the precise types of interferons and related cytokines, both from the brain and periphery, responsible for cognitive impairment in patients with AD remain unclear. Methods A total of 131 participants (78 [59.5%] female and 53 [40.5%] male; mean [SD] age, 61.5 [7.6] years) with normal cognition and cognitive impairment from the China Aging and Neurodegenerative Initiative cohort were included. CSF and serum IFNα-2a, IFN-β, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, MCP-1and CXCL-10 were tested. The correlation between these interferons and related cytokines with AD core biomarkers in the CSF and plasma, cognition performance, and brain MRI measures were analysed. Results We found that only CSF IFN-β levels were significantly elevated in Alzheimer’s disease compared to normal cognition. Furthermore, CSF IFN-β levels were significantly associated with AD core biomarkers (CSF P-tau and Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio) and cognitive performance (MMSE and CDR score). Additionally, the CSF IFN-β levels were significantly correlated with the typical pattern of brain atrophy in AD (such as hippocampus, amygdala, and precuneus). In contrast, CSF IL-6 levels were significantly elevated in non-AD cognitively impaired patients compared to other groups. Moreover, CSF IL-6 levels were significantly associated with cognitive performance in non-AD individuals and correlated with the vascular cognitive impairment-related MRI markers (such as white matter hyperintensity). Conclusion Our findings demonstrate that distinct inflammatory molecules are associated with different cognitive disorders. Notably, CSF IFN-β levels are significantly linked to the pathology and cognitive performance of AD, identifying this interferon as a potential target for AD therapy.

Abstract Oracle bone inscriptions (OBIs), as the important records of early Chinese characters, possess profound cultural and historical significance. However, These fragments are susceptible to further damage due to corrosion. Consequently, the identification and localization of corroded regions on these fragments to prevent further deterioration has emerged as a critical task. Current object detection algorithms exhibit limitations in identifying corroded regions on oracle bone fragments, which is manifested by suboptimal detection accuracy, F1 scores, and average precision (AP) values. This deficiency hinders their capability to effectively manage the complexity and diversity of corrosion patterns present on oracle bone fragments. To tackle this challenge, this study incorporates advanced attention mechanisms, including Squeeze-and-Excitation Networks (SE), Coordinate attention, and Convolutional Block Attention Module (CBAM), into the YOLOv5 detection architecture. Additionally, we introduce Ghost convolution into the backbone network to effectively retain critical feature map information while optimizing computational efficiency. Our experimental results indicate that the integration of CBAM attention and Ghost convolution within the YOLOv5 backbone markedly improves the detection accuracy of corroded regions on oracle bone fragments. Specifically, compared to the baseline YOLOv5 model, the proposed models incorporating SE, CBAM, and Ghost convolution obtain the improvements of 2.2%, 6.3%, and 8.5% in AP, respectively. This improvement in detection performance not only facilitates the identification of corroded areas but also contributes to the preservation of oracle bone heritage and the continuity of cultural knowledge.

Abstract Brain networks provided powerful tools for the analysis and diagnosis of epilepsy. This paper performed a pairwise comparative analysis on the brain networks of Benign Childhood Epilepsy with Centrotemporal Spikes (BECTS): spike group (spike), non‐spike group (non‐spike), and control group (control). In this study, fragments with and without interictal spikes in electroencephalograms of 13 BECTS children during non‐rapid eye movement sleep stage I (NREMI) were selected to construct dynamic brain function networks to explore the functional connectivity (FC). Graph theory and statistical analysis were exploited to investigate changes in FC across different brain regions in different frequency bands. From this study, we can draw the following conclusions: (1) Both spike and non‐spike have lower energy in each brain region on the γ band. (2) With the increase of the frequency band, the FC strength of spike, non‐spike and control groups are all weakened. (3) Spikes are correlated with brain network efficiency and the small‐world property. (4) Spikes increase the FC of temporal, parietal and occipital regions except in the γ band and the absence of spikes weakens the FC of the entire brain region.

Abstract In hepatic flexure and transverse colon cancer surgeries, mobilizing the right mesocolon and precisely dissecting the gastrocolic trunk of Henle (GTH) are crucial. Previous classifications of GTH tributaries do not guide radical right hemicolectomy due to post-procedural anatomical acquisition. This study analyzed vessel associations, including the middle colic vein (MCV) converging site, right colic artery (RCA) presence, and other GTH tributaries, using ultra-thin CT for reconstruction. GTH anatomy was categorized into medial and lateral types based on colic tributary convergence relative to ASPDV. Results showed the colic tributary joined GTH lateral to ASPDV in 45.81% and medial in 54.19% of cases. RCA presence was strongly linked to the lateral GTH type (56.76% vs. 43.24%, p

Abstract Metal halide perovskites show promise for next-generation light-emitting diodes, particularly in the near-infrared range, where they outperform organic and quantum-dot counterparts. However, they still fall short of costly III-V semiconductor devices, which achieve external quantum efficiencies above 30% with high brightness. Among several factors, controlling grain growth and nanoscale morphology is crucial for further enhancing device performance. This study presents a grain engineering methodology that combines solvent engineering and heterostructure construction to improve light outcoupling efficiency and defect passivation. Solvent engineering enables precise control over grain size and distribution, increasing light outcoupling to ~40%. Constructing 2D/3D heterostructures with a conjugated cation reduces defect densities and accelerates radiative recombination. The resulting near-infrared perovskite light-emitting diodes achieve a peak external quantum efficiency of 31.4% and demonstrate a maximum brightness of 929 W sr−1 m−2. These findings indicate that perovskite light-emitting diodes have potential as cost-effective, high-performance near-infrared light sources for practical applications.

Abstract The pathogenesis of celiac disease (CeD) remains incompletely understood. Traditional diagnostic techniques for CeD include serological testing and endoscopic examination; however, they have limitations. Therefore, there is a need to identify novel noninvasive biomarkers for CeD diagnosis. We analyzed duodenal and plasma samples from CeD patients by four-dimensional data-dependent acquisition (4D-DIA) proteomics. Differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified for functional analysis and to propose blood biomarkers associated with CeD diagnosis. In duodenal and plasma samples, respectively, 897 and 140 DEPs were identified. Combining weighted gene co-expression network analysis(WGCNA) with the DEPs, five key proteins were identified across three machine learning methods. FGL2 and TXNDC5 were significantly elevated in the CeD group, while CHGA expression showed an increasing trend, but without statistical significance. The receiver operating characteristic curve results indicated an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.7711 for FGL2 and 0.6978 for TXNDC5, with a combined AUC of 0.8944. Exploratory analysis using Mfuzz and three machine learning methods identified four plasma proteins potentially associated with CeD pathological grading (Marsh classification): FABP, CPOX, BHMT, and PPP2CB. We conclude that FGL2 and TXNDC5 deserve exploration as potential sensitive, noninvasive diagnostic biomarkers for CeD.

This research aims to investigate the effects of dietary konjac glucomannan and κ-carrageenan (SF) on sow performance and suckling piglet gut barrier. Thirty-four sows in late gestation (parity 2–5) were selected at random and grouped into two treatments. The control group (Con group; n = 17) was fed the basal diet; the SF group was fed the same diet supplemented with 0.25% konjac glucomannan + 0.25% κ-carrageenan (SF group; n = 17). The results showed that sows fed the SF diet had a higher feed intake during lactation than the Con group (P

Abstract Background The stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) potently predicts adverse outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and previous studies reported U-shaped relationships between SHR and adverse prognosis. However, the relationship between SHR and mortality risk in AMI patients with or without atrial fibrillation (AF) remained unknown, and which factors affect the mortality in lower SHR patients were unclear. This study aims to research the relationship between SHR and mortality risk in AMI patients with or without AF, and whether AF affects the mortality in lower SHR patients. Methods We conducted a cohort study using data from 3233 patients with a first diagnosis of AMI from the MIMIC-IV (version 2.2) database. Patients were divided into two groups based on AF. The study outcome was 1-year all-cause mortality. SHR was defined as the index calculated by the formula: SHR = (admission glucose) (mmol/L) / (1.59 * HbA1c [%] – 2.59). Results U-shaped association between SHR and all-cause mortality was found only in AMI patients with AF, not in AMI patients without AF. For AMI patients with AF, the inflection point for the curve was found to be a SHR of 1.09, either lower (OR, 0.30; 95%CI, 0.10, 0.94) or higher (OR, 3.28; 95%CI, 2.01, 5.34) SHR is associated with increased mortality. However, a linear relationship was found in patients without AF, higher (OR, 1.95; 95%CI, 1.52, 2.51) SHR is associated with increased mortality. For patients with SHR ≤ 1.09, AF increased the risk of all-cause mortality(OR, 1.50; 95%CI, 1.10, 2.05), while this effect was not found in patients with SHR > 1.09. Conclusion The association between SHR and mortality in AMI patients with or without AF is different: U-shaped association between SHR and all-cause mortality only in AMI patients with AF, not in AMI patients without AF. AF is a factor that make the difference by increasing the risk of mortality in AMI patients with low SHR. Lower SHR may increase mortality through the onset of AF. This study emphasizes avoiding “relative hypoglycemia”, SHR = 1.09 is the moderately tight glycemic control, which means glucose level is about (1.59 * HbA1c [%] – 2.59) * 1.09 mmol/L. Trial registration Clinical trial number: not applicable.

Abstract Roof breaking is the root cause of rock burst and mine earthquake. However, the classical “thin plate theory” and “thick plate theory” cannot fully reveal the mechanical mechanism of the influence of roof thickness-span ratio on the fracture mode. In this paper, based on the cohesive element technology, the mechanical behavior of cohesive element failure was studied according to the maximum nominal stress criterion and BK fracture criterion, and the fracture mechanical behavior of roofs with different thicknesses fixed on four sides under uniform load was numerically simulated. The fracture pattern and the maximum principal stress evolution laws of roofs with different thicknesses were obtained. The results show that there are three fracture modes of the plates with different thickness: pure tensile fracture mode at the bottom surface, mixed fracture mode around the “X” shape crack, and pure shear fracture mode along the long edge boundary. The crack morphology of thin plate is the transverse “O−X” type, and the crack morphology of thick plate is the “O−❋” type. With the increase of thickness, the tensile-shear mixed failure mode gradually changes from the tensile dominant to the shear dominant.

Abstract Advanced smart polymer materials with the ability of reversible deformation under external stimuli hold great potential in robotics, soft machines, and flexible electronics. However, the complexity and low efficiency for fabricating actuators along with their limited functionality hinder further progress. Here an efficient and mild catalyst-free thiol-yne click polymerization was developed to fabricate photosensitive polyimide (PI) films. Then the fluorescent robust photoactuators with single-layered janus structure were directly obtained via UV assisted photo-crosslinking of the films, exhibiting reversible response driven by a pronounced mismatch in expansion between the front and back sides of the films. Achieving selective, non-uniform spatial distribution within the PI films, rapid and reversible complex morphing of the actuators, along with the capabilities for encrypting, reading, and erasing fluorescent information—all through the use of a single UV light source—becomes straightforward. The robust mechanical property and driving ability of these actuators enable the conversion of light energy into obvious motion even under heavy loads and the leaping through the storage and release of energy, ensuring their potential for practical applications that require durability and reliability.

Abstract The use of combinatorial siRNAs shows great promise for drug discovery, but the identification of safe and effective siRNA combinations remains challenging. Here, we develop a massively multiplexed technology for systematic screening of siRNA-based cocktail therapeutics. We employ composite micro-carriers that are responsive to near infrared light and magnetic field to achieve photoporation-facilitated siRNA transfection to individual cells. Thus, randomized gene silencing by different siRNA formulations can be performed with high-throughput single-cell-based analyses. For screening anti-cancer siRNA cocktails, we test more than 1300 siRNA combinations for knocking down multiple genes related to tumor growth, discovering effective 3-siRNA formulations with an emphasis on the critical role of inhibiting C yclin D1 and survivin, along with their complementary targets for synergic efficacy. This approach enables orders of magnitude reduction in time and cost associated with largescale siRNA screening, and resolves key insights to siRNA pharmacology that are not permissive to existing methods.

Abstract The redox status is intricately linked to the development and progression of cancer, a process that can be modulated by long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). Previous studies have demonstrated that redox regulation can be considered a potential therapeutic approach for cancer. However, the redox-related lncRNA predictive signature specific to bladder cancer (BCa) has yet to be fully elucidated. The purpose of our study is to establish a redox-related lncRNA signature to improve the prognostic prediction for BCa patients. To achieve this, we downloaded transcriptome and clinical data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Prognostic redox-related lncRNAs were identified through univariate Cox regression, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, and multivariate Cox regression analysis, resulting in the establishment of two risk groups. A comprehensive analysis corresponding to clinical features between high-risk and low-risk groups was conducted. Eight redox-related lncRNAs (AC018653.3, AC090229.1, AL357033.4, AL662844.4, AP003352.1, LINC00649, LINC01138, and MAFG-DT) were selected to construct the risk model. The overall survival (OS) in the high-risk group was worse than that in the low-risk group (p

Abstract Background Neoantigen vaccines can induce or enhance highly specific antitumor immune responses with minimal risk of autoimmunity. We have developed a neoantigen DNA vaccine platform capable of efficiently presenting both HLA class I and II epitopes and performed a phase 1 clinical trial in triple-negative breast cancer patients with persistent disease on surgical pathology following neoadjuvant chemotherapy, a patient population at high risk of disease recurrence. Methods Expressed somatic mutations were identified by tumor/normal exome sequencing and tumor RNA sequencing. The pVACtools software suite of neoantigen prediction algorithms was used to identify and prioritize cancer neoantigens and facilitate vaccine design for manufacture in an academic GMP facility. Neoantigen DNA vaccines were administered via electroporation in the adjuvant setting (i.e., following surgical removal of the primary tumor and completion of standard of care therapy). Vaccines were monitored for safety and immune responses via ELISpot, intracellular cytokine production via flow cytometry, and TCR sequencing. Results Eighteen subjects received three doses of a neoantigen DNA vaccine encoding on average 11 neoantigens per patient (range 4–20). The vaccinations were well tolerated with relatively few adverse events. Neoantigen-specific T cell responses were induced in 14/18 patients as measured by ELISpot and flow cytometry. At a median follow-up of 36 months, recurrence-free survival was 87.5% (95% CI: 72.7–100%) in the cohort of vaccinated patients. Conclusion Our study demonstrates neoantigen DNA vaccines are safe, feasible, and capable of inducing neoantigen-specific immune responses. Clinical trial registration number NCT02348320.

Abstract Objective To elucidate the efficacy of Ginsenoside Rg3 on the reproduction and immigration of HCT-116 cells and its molecular mechanism. Methods Analysis of the cell cycle along with the colony formation assay, and MTT test were performed to detect the effect of Ginsenoside Rg3 (GRg3) on proliferation of HCT-116 cells. Transwell assay and Cell scratch wound method were carried out to determine the impact on the immigration. The differential expressed genes obtained by RNA-sequencing were intersected with the predicted target genes of GRg3, and PPI was constructed to analyze hub genes. The key target gene expression and its downstream genes were evaluated by western blot assay. Results The GRg3 can inhibit the reproduction and immigrating ability of colonic carcinoma cells, decrease the ability of colony formation in HCT-116 cells, and arrest the G2 phase. JAK3 was identified as a key target gene. Western blot assay revealed decreased levels of p-STAT5 and JAK3 post-treatment with RG3, while STAT5a and STAT5b did not change significantly. Conclusion The GRg3 inhibits the phosphorylation of STAT5 but not the expression of total protein by inhibiting the expression of JAK3, and then inhibits the proliferation and migration of HCT-116 cells. Graphical Abstract

Abstract The advancement and development of medical surgical robots have provided new technological support for brain surgery and neurosurgical procedures, improving the reliability of highly complex and precise surgeries. In turn, this urges the design and development of novel surgical robots to possess higher precision, stability, and enhanced motion capabilities. In response to this practical demand, this paper introduces a macro-micro integrated medical brain surgery robot system based on the concept of modular PMs (parallel mechanisms), which have a total of 13 active DOFs (degrees of freedom). This system divides the motion process of brain surgery into a large-scale macro-motion space and a small-scale high-precision motion space for design and planning control. The introduction of the design concept that combines multiple modular parallel sub-mechanisms has brought a significant level of decoupling characteristics to the mechanism itself. A comprehensive introduction and analysis of the surgical robot are provided, covering aspects such as design, kinematics, motion planning, and performance indicators. To address the pose allocation and coordination of motion between the macro platform and the micro platform, a pose allocation algorithm based on the decoupling and non-decoupling characteristics in various dimensions of the macro-micro platform is proposed. The designed measurement experiments have demonstrated that the repeatability in positioning accuracy of the macro and micro platform reaches the level of micron and submicron respectively. Practical experiments of motion control and simulated brain electrode implantation validate the excellent performance and stability of the entire surgical robot system. This research contributes innovative insights to the development of medical surgical robot systems, particularly in the domain of mechanism design.

Objective The prognostic nutritional index (PNI) has been reported as a significant predictor in various diseases. However, the prognostic value of the PNI in geriatric hip fracture patients has not been thoroughly evaluated. This study aimed to investigate the association between admission PNI and 3‐year mortality in those patients. Methods In this post hoc analysis, we included patients aged ≥65 years who underwent surgery for hip fracture between 2018 and 2019. The admission PNI was calculated as serum albumin (g/L) +5 × total lymphocyte count (×109/L). Patients were categorized into four groups based on PNI quartiles (≤ 43.55, 43.55–46.55, 46.55–49.20, and >49.20, respectively). The median follow‐up duration was 3.1 years. Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate the hazard ratio (HR). Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was conducted for using PNI to predict mortality. Results Of the 942 eligible patients, 190 (20.2%) patients died during the follow‐up. Compared to patients in the first quartile (Q1), those in the second (Q2), third (Q3), and fourth (Q4) quartiles had significantly lower mortality risks (HRs 0.50, 95% CI 0.35–0.74; 0.41, 95% CI 0.26–0.64; and 0.26, 95% CI 0.15–0.45, respectively). The optimal cutoff of PNI for predicting mortality was set as 45.275 (sensitivity, 0.674; specificity, 0.692; area under the curve (AUC), 0.727). Patients with higher PNI (>45.275) had a significant lower mortality risk (HR 0.39, 95% CI 0.28–0.55) compared to those with lower PNI (≤ 45.275). Conclusion PNI is a reliable and independent predictor of 3‐year mortality after hip fracture surgery in the elderly.

Soil microorganisms play critical roles in ecosystem function. However, the relative impact of the potassium (K) fertilizer gradient on the microbial community in wheat-maize double-cropping systems remains unclear. In this long-term field experiment (2008–2019), we researched bacterial and fungal diversity, composition, and community assemblage in the soil along a K fertilizer gradient in the wheat season (K0, no K fertilizer; K1, 45 kg ha−1 K2O; K2, 90 kg ha−1 K2O; K3, 135 kg ha−1 K2O) and in the maize season (K0, no K fertilizer; K1, 150 kg ha−1 K2O; K2, 300 kg ha−1 K2O; K3, 450 kg ha−1 K2O) using bacterial 16S rRNA and fungal internally transcribed spacer (ITS) data. We observed that environmental variables, such as mean annual soil temperature (MAT) and precipitation, available K, ammonium, nitrate, and organic matter, impacted the soil bacterial and fungal communities, and their impacts varied with fertilizer treatments and crop species. Furthermore, the relative abundance of bacteria involved in soil nutrient transformation (phylum Actinobacteria and class Alphaproteobacteria) in the wheat season was significantly increased compared to the maize season, and the optimal K fertilizer dosage (K2 treatment) boosted the relative bacterial abundance of soil nutrient transformation (genus Lactobacillus) and soil denitrification (phylum Proteobacteria) bacteria in the wheat season. The abundance of the soil bacterial community promoting root growth and nutrient absorption (genus Herbaspirillum) in the maize season was improved compared to the wheat season, and the K2 treatment enhanced the bacterial abundance of soil nutrient transformation (genus MND1) and soil nitrogen cycling (genus Nitrospira) genera in the maize season. The results indicated that the bacterial and fungal communities in the double-cropping system exhibited variable sensitivities and assembly mechanisms along a K fertilizer gradient, and microhabitats explained the largest amount of the variation in crop yields, and improved wheat-maize yields by 11.2–22.6 and 9.2–23.8% with K addition, respectively. These modes are shaped contemporaneously by the different meteorological factors and soil nutrient changes in the K fertilizer gradients.

Abstract Background Chronic heat stress (CHS) is a detrimental environmental stressor with a negative impact on the meat quality of broilers. However, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. This study investigates the effects of CHS on long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) expression and muscle injury in broilers, with a focus on its implications for meat quality. Results The results showed that CHS diminished breast muscle yield, elevated abdominal fat deposition, induced cellular apoptosis (P

Abstract Photothermal therapy (PTT) is a promising non-invasive treatment that has shown great potential in eliminating tumors. It not only induces apoptosis of cancer cells but also triggers immunogenic cell death (ICD) which could activate the immune system against cancer. However, the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TIME) poses a challenge to triggering strong immune responses with a single treatment, thus limiting the therapeutic effect of cancer immunotherapy. In this study, dual-targeted nano delivery system (GOx@FeNPs) combined with αPD-L1 immune checkpoint blocker could inhibit colorectal cancer (CRC) progression by mediating PTT, ferroptosis and anti-tumor immune response. Briefly, specific tumor delivery was achieved by the cyclic arginine glycyl aspartate (cRGD) peptide and anisamide (AA) in GOx@FeNPs which not only had a good photothermal effect to realize PTT and induce ICD, but also could deplete glutathione (GSH) and catalyze the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from endogenous H2O2. All these accelerated the Fenton reaction and augmented the process of PTT-induced ICD. Thus, a large amount of tumor specific antigen was released to stimulate the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) in lymph nodes and enhance the infiltration of CD8+ T cells in tumor. At the same time, the combination with αPD-L1 has favorable synergistic effectiveness against CRC with tumor inhibition rate over 90%. Furthermore, GOx@FeNPs had good magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) capability under T2-weighting owing to the presence of Fe3+, which is favorable for integrated diagnosis and treatment systems of CRC. By constructing a dual-targeted GOx@FeNPs nanoplatform, PTT synergistically combined with ferroptosis was realized to improve the immunotherapeutic effect, providing a new approach for CRC immunotherapy.

Abstract Active faults along railways in the mountainous regions of western China pose significant challenges to bridge safety. To ensure the safe operation of long-span railway bridges under complex geological conditions, this study investigates the synthesis of artificial ground motions for bridges crossing strike-slip faults and analyzes their nonlinear seismic response. First, we develop a theoretical method for simulating high- and low-frequency seismic motions using a finite fault and an equivalent velocity pulse model. Next, using a specific long-span railway cable-stayed bridge as a case study, we construct a nonlinear finite element model with OpenSees software. Finally, we assess the seismic response of key bridge components considering various crossing angles, seismic amplitudes, fault rupture directivity, and fling-step effects. The results show that the crossing angle significantly influences the seismic response, with longitudinal and transverse responses exhibiting opposite patterns. Additionally, the scaling factor of seismic motion significantly affects bridge response. For bridges crossing strike-slip faults, the longitudinal response exhibits a sudden increase in displacement due to instantaneous velocity pulses, while the transverse response shows notable residual displacement influenced by the fling-step effect. However, the critical section curvatures of bridge towers and piers remain within the elastic range across all crossing angles, indicating that controlling large displacement deformations is crucial for the seismic design of bridges crossing strike-slip faults.

Abstract Drug‐drug interaction (DDI) prediction is a crucial issue in molecular biology. Traditional methods of observing drug‐drug interactions through medical experiments require significant resources and labour. The authors present a Medical Knowledge Graph Question Answering (MedKGQA) model, dubbed MedKGQA, that predicts DDI by employing machine reading comprehension (MRC) from closed‐domain literature and constructing a knowledge graph of “drug‐protein” triplets from open‐domain documents. The model vectorises the drug‐protein target attributes in the graph using entity embeddings and establishes directed connections between drug and protein entities based on the metabolic interaction pathways of protein targets in the human body. This aligns multiple external knowledge and applies it to learn the graph neural network. Without bells and whistles, the proposed model achieved a 4.5% improvement in terms of DDI prediction accuracy compared to previous state‐of‐the‐art models on the QAngaroo MedHop dataset. Experimental results demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of the model and verify the feasibility of integrating external knowledge in MRC tasks.

Abstract Over the past three decades, there has been increasing interest in miniaturized percutaneous nephrolithotomy (mPCNL) techniques featuring smaller tracts as they offer potential solutions to mitigate complications associated with standard PCNL (sPCNL). However, despite this growing acceptance and recognition of its benefits, unresolved controversies and acknowledged limitations continue to impede widespread adoption due to a lack of consensus on optimal perioperative management strategies and procedural tips and tricks. In response to these challenges, an international panel comprising experts from the International Alliance of Urolithiasis (IAU) took on the task of compiling an expert consensus document on mPCNL procedures aimed at providing urologists with a comprehensive clinical framework for practice. This endeavor involved conducting a systematic literature review to identify research gaps (RGs), which formed the foundation for developing a structured questionnaire survey. Subsequently, a two-round modified Delphi survey was implemented, culminating in a group meeting to generate final evidence-based comments. All 64 experts completed the second-round survey, resulting in a response rate of 100.0%. Fifty-eight key questions were raised focusing on mPCNLs within 4 main domains, including general information (13 questions), preoperative work-up (13 questions), procedural tips and tricks (19 questions), and postoperative evaluation and follow-up (13 questions). Additionally, 9 questions evaluated the experts’ experience with PCNLs. Consensus was reached on 30 questions after the second-round survey, while professional statements for the remaining 28 key questions were provided after discussion in an online panel meeting. mPCNL, characterized by a tract smaller than 18 Fr and an innovative lithotripsy technique, has firmly established itself as a viable and effective approach for managing upper urinary tract stones in both adults and pediatrics. It offers several advantages over sPCNL including reduced bleeding, fewer requirements for nephrostomy tubes, decreased pain, and shorter hospital stays. The series of detailed techniques presented here serve as a comprehensive guide for urologists, aiming to improve their procedural understanding and optimize patient outcomes.

Abstract Background Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents a particularly aggressive and clinically challenging subtype of breast cancer, characterized by its invasive nature and generally poor prognosis. Treatment options for unresectable TNBC are limited. In recent years, the advent of PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitors has offered a promising new treatment option for unresectable TNBC. The role of PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in unresectable TNBC management remains a subject of debate. This article aims to synthesize evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) through a meta-analysis (MA) to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the efficacy and safety profile of ICIs in the treatment of unresectable TNBC. Method We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov for the eligible RCTs which compared the efficacy and safety of PD-1/PD-L1 ICIs and chemotherapy alone. The outcomes analyzed included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR) and treatment-related adverse effects (AEs). Results This meta-analysis included 11 trials. Therapy with PD-L1 inhibitors was superior to chemotherapy in terms of OS in both the intention-to-treat (ITT) population and the PD-L1-positive population. (ITT: HR: = 0.90 [0.81, 0.99], P = 0.04, I2 = 48%; PD-L1 + : HR = 0.82 [0.70, 0.95], P = 0.01, I2 = 64%); In terms of PFS, treatment with PD-L1 inhibitors prolonged PFS in both the ITT and PD-L1-positive populations compared with chemotherapy (ITT: HR: = 0.85 [0.77, 0.93], P = 0.0006, I2 = 46%; PD-L1 + : HR = 0.72 [0.62, 0.83], P

The industrial sector is the primary source of carbon emissions in China. In pursuit of meeting its carbon reduction targets, China aims to promote resource consumption sustainability, reduce energy consumption, and achieve carbon neutrality within its processing industries. An effective strategy to promote energy savings and carbon reduction throughout the life cycle of materials is by applying life cycle engineering technology. This strategy aims to attain an optimal solution for material performance, resource consumption, and environmental impact. In this study, five types of technologies were considered: raw material replacement, process reengineering, fuel replacement, energy recycling and reutilization, and material recycling and reutilization. The meaning, methodology, and development status of life cycle engineering technology abroad and domestically are discussed in detail. A multidimensional analysis of ecological design was conducted from the perspectives of resource and energy consumption, carbon emissions, product performance, and recycling of secondary resources in a manufacturing process. This coupled with an integrated method to analyze carbon emissions in the entire life cycle of a material process industry was applied to the nonferrous industry, as an example. The results provide effective ideas and solutions for achieving low or zero carbon emission production in the Chinese industry as recycled aluminum and primary aluminum based on advanced technologies had reduced resource consumption and emissions as compared to primary aluminum production.

Abstract Green finance plays a critical role in promoting regional green innovation. However, the precise influence of green finance on diverse facets of green innovation remains underexplored. This study empirically analyses the diverse effects of green finance on heterogeneous green innovation by applying the negative binomial model, the threshold model, andthe spatial error model using China’s regional data from 2010 to 2019. The results indicate that green finance has a positive impact on regional green innovation performance, primarily through significant contributions to fossil energy carbon reduction, energy conservation and recovery, and clean energy technology innovation. The effect of green finance is also influenced by the level of local environmental supervision, exhibiting a significant threshold effect. In addition, the development of green innovation in the region can have a siphoning effect on the resources of surrounding areas, hindering their innovation development. These findings highlight the necessity for strategic government policy-making, which should leverage the diverse impacts of green finance on various forms of green innovation. Customizing green financial instruments to suit regional environmental regulatory conditions and the green innovation levels of neighboring regions could significantly aid in promoting regional green transformation and growth.

Abstract This paper primarily explores the modeling method of n-level complex helical structures with coal mining machine cables as the research object. The paper first elaborately introduces the modeling method of n-level helix curves based on parametric equations and coordinate transformations, and compensates for the n-level helix curves with corrected pitch, which can obtain more accurate n-level helix curves and improve the accuracy of n-level helix curves modeling. Subsequently, based on this high-precision n-level helix curves modeling method, the paper elaborates on the method of solving pitch and twisting radius of multi-layer helical structure. Calculation scripts were written based on the above methods, which can be used to batch calculate the twisting radius and pitch of each layer structure in multi-layer structures when satisfying the conditions of in-layer tangency, inter-layer tangency, and extrusion deformation, and retain the actual results through logical judgment. Then, based on the above two methods, the paper developed a modeling method for braided structures based on piecewise functions containing fifth-order polynomials, which can effectively avoid the problem of insufficiently dense arrangement of braided lines and easy interference in traditional methods. Finally, a set of modeling tools was developed using C# and Python in Grasshopper to implement the modeling algorithm. Taking the MCPT-1.9/3.3 3120 + 170 + 4 * 10 coal mining machine cable as an example. The cable was modeled using both the method proposed in this paper and the traditional method. Comparative data shows that the method proposed in this paper can reduce errors by 3.31E6 times in the second-level and above helical structures. In addition this paper compares the standard line length, measured line length, and the line length established by the proposed model, showing that the relative errors are both less than 0.1941%. This paper provides a new, systematic, high-precision, and full-process cable modeling method, in which all parameters except the process parameters are accurately solved by equations. It lays a theoretical foundation for the high-precision simulation and intelligent sensing cables, which is of great significance for improving the safety, stability, and efficient development of the coal mining industry. The research results of the paper can not only be applied to the modeling of coal mining machine cables but also can be extended to the modeling of other complex multi-layer helical structures.

Abstract Background As a common disabling disease, irreversible neuronal death due to spinal cord injury (SCI) is the root cause of functional impairment; however, the capacity for neuronal regeneration in the developing spinal cord tissue is limited. Therefore, there is an urgent need to investigate how defective neurons can be replenished and functionally integrated by neural regeneration; the reprogramming of intrinsic cells into functional neurons may represent an ideal solution. Methods A mouse model of transection SCI was prepared by forceps clamping, and an adeno-associated virus (AAV) carrying the transcription factors NeuroD1 and Neurogenin-2(Ngn2) was injected in situ into the spinal cord to specifically overexpress these transcription factors in astrocytes close to the injury site. 5-bromo-2´-deoxyuridine (BrdU) was subsequently injected intraperitoneally to continuously track cell regeneration, neuroblasts and immature neurons marker expression, neuronal regeneration, and glial scar regeneration. In addition, immunoprotein blotting was used to measure the levels of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) pathway-related protein expression. We also evaluated motor function, sensory function, and the integrity of the blood-spinal cord barrier(BSCB). Results The in situ overexpression of NeuroD1 and Ngn2 in the spinal cord was achieved by specific AAV vectors. This intervention led to a significant increase in cell regeneration and the proportion of cells with neuroblasts and immature neurons cell properties at the injury site(p 0.05), although the treated mice had more sensory sensitivity and greater voluntary motor ability in open field than the non-intervention mice. We observed significant repair of the BSCB at the center of the injury site (p

Abstract Deep coal‐rock formations are subjected to complex stress environments characterized by high static stresses and dynamic disturbances. To study the damage, fracture, and energy evolution characteristics of coal‐rock under dynamic–static combined loading, a new multiscale constitutive model for coal‐rock under dynamic–static combined loading is proposed based on micromechanics, and it is implemented into the LS‐DYNA solver. A numerical model of coal‐rock Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar under dynamic–static combined loading is established using LS‐DYNA, and research on the mechanical and energy evolution characteristics of coal‐rock under one‐dimensional and three‐dimensional dynamic–static combined loading is conducted. The results show that under one‐dimensional dynamic–static combined loading, with the increase of precompression, the dynamic peak stress linearly decreases while the combined peak stress linearly increases, and the dissipated energy of the specimen shows a decreasing trend. The fracture patterns of the coal‐rock specimen include internal shear fracture and external tensile fracture, and eventually, these two modes of fracture intersect to form macroscopic mesh cracks. As the axial pressure increases, the degree of specimen fragmentation gradually increases. Under three‐dimensional dynamic–static combined loading, with the increase of preconfining pressure, the stress–strain curve of the specimen will transition from “stress drop” to “stress rebound” after the peak. The peak stress increases with the increase of confining pressure, and the energy dissipation density of the specimen increases first and then decreases with the increase of confining pressure. With the increase of confining pressure, the hoop deformation of the specimen plays a constraining role, and the degree of specimen fracture gradually weakens, and the time of fracture occurrence gradually delays. The research results contribute to revealing the mechanical and energy mechanisms of rockburst disasters in deep coal mines.

ObjectiveThis paper analyzes and models the core logic of a strike chain in terms of time sensitivity, reconfiguration and coverage, thereby providing model and method support for improving the dynamic management ability of naval combat resources under confrontation conditions. MethodsFirst, the typical combat platforms and elements related to the cross-domain cooperative combat of naval battlefields, such as escort ships, UAVs and unmanned boats, are abstracted into four types of resource nodes, namely detection, processing, decision-making and strike. Next, taking the shortest delay as the goal and considering constraints such as wide battlespace, low transmission rate between nodes and limited communication distance, the dynamic integration optimization mathematical model of the strike chain is established. A typical air defense scenario is then designed to demonstrate the shortest delay analysis of the strike chain and the destruction reconstruction analysis under the absence or attack of nodes, and quantitatively describe the changes of the shortest delay and sector coverage index of the reorganized strike chain under countermeasure conditions. Finally, based on a typical combat example of a Ukrainian unmanned cluster attack on the Black Sea Fleet, the ability of the fleet to resist the attack is analyzed on basis of the strike chain model. ResultsThe simulation results show that the model can be used to generate multiple strike chains with the shortest delays, and the responsibility division of each strike chain can be optimized, forming a multi-target killing network at sea. The destruction reconstruction of the strike chain often needs to pay such costs as increased delay and decreased sector coverage. The model can also be used to test anti-saturation attack ability under different formations.ConclusionsThis paper studies and validates the feasibility of analyzing the naval warfare system based on the strike chain model, and can provide theoretical model support for the subsequent design of future naval joint combat systems oriented to the killing network.

Abstract Background Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive motor neuron disease that leads to multiple organ dysfunction. The advent of disease-modifying treatments makes the early diagnosis of SMA critical. Health information literacy is vital for obtaining, understanding, screening, and using health information. Considering the importance of early diagnosis and the challenges in obtaining accurate information on patients with SMA, this cross-sectional study assessed health information literacy among children with SMA and their caregivers in China. Methods Interviews with the caregivers of 10 patients with SMA were conducted by neurologists specializing in SMA. A questionnaire for evaluating the level of health information literacy was further developed among 145 children with SMA aged 10.0–120.0 months, with the average age of 81.9 months, and their caregivers. Parameters, such as the age at the onset of the first symptom and time from recognition of the first symptom to diagnosis, were examined. Health information literacy was measured using four dimensions: cognition, search, evaluation, and application. Results The average time from the first symptom to first medical consultation was 4.8 months, and that from the first symptom to diagnosis was 10.8 months. There is a significant delay from the onset of the initial symptoms to a definitive diagnosis. Thirty-five (24%) patients had poor while 26 (18%) had high health information literacy. The overall score for health information literacy was 69; the scores for health information cognition and application were 90 and 84, respectively. The scores for evaluation (61) and search (57) were low. Medical personnel were considered the most professional and credible sources of information. Additionally, search engines and patient organizations were the other two most important sources of health literacy. Conclusion Patients with SMA and their caregivers had low levels of health information literacy. SMA information visibility and standardization need to be improved. Medical personnel with experience in the diagnosis and treatment of SMA and media should aim to share knowledge and increase the quality of life of those with SMA.

Abstract Background Grafting with dwarf rootstock is an efficient method to control plant height in fruit production. However, the molecular mechanism remains unclear. Our previous study showed that plants with Prunus mume (mume) rootstock exhibited a considerable reduction in plant height, internode length, and number of nodes compared with Prunus persica (peach) rootstock. The present study aimed to investigate the mechanism behind the regulation of plant height by mume rootstocks through transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses with two grafting combinations, ‘Longyan/Mume’ and ‘Longyan/Peach’. Results There was a significant decrease in brassinolide levels in plants that were grafted onto mume rootstocks. Plant hormone signal transduction and brassinolide production metabolism gene expression also changed significantly. Flavonoid levels, amino acid and fatty acid metabolites, and energy metabolism in dwarf plants decreased. There was a notable upregulation of PmLBD3 gene expression in plant specimens that were subjected to grafting onto mume rootstocks. Auxin signalling cues promoted PmARF3 transcription, which directly controlled this upregulation. Through its binding to PmBAS1 and PmSAUR36a gene promoters, PmLBD3 promoted endogenous brassinolide inactivation and inhibited cell proliferation. Conclusions Auxin signalling and brassinolide levels are linked by PmLBD3. Our findings showed that PmLBD3 is a key transcription factor that regulates the balance of hormones through the auxin and brassinolide signalling pathways and causes dwarf plants in stone fruits.

BackgroundAnticoagulants are the primary means for the treatment and prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE), but their clinical standardized application still remains controversial. The present study intends to comprehensively compare the efficacy and safety of various anticoagulants in VTE.MethodsMedline, Embase, and Cochrane Library from their inception up to August 2023 were searched to compare the efficacy and safety of various anticoagulants in VTE. We extracted data on study settings, baseline characteristics, interventions, and outcomes, applying the intention-to-treat principle. Two researchers assessed study bias using the Cochrane tool, resolving disagreements through discussion or third-party adjudication. Network meta-analyses were performed based on Bayesian generalized linear models, and a frequentist framework with multivariate random effects was used to fit the model.ResultsIn terms of treatment, 58 trials with 119,417 patients proved eligible, while 125 trials with 225,414 patients were included in terms of prevention. All anticoagulants were found to reduce the recurrence or incidence of VTE compared with Placebo, of which high-level evidence indicated that direct thrombin inhibitors (TIs) and novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) were the two most effective drugs. For treatment, low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), unfractionated heparin (UFH), and vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) significantly increased the risk of major bleeding in comparison to Placebo. For prevention, only UFH (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.2–3.3) and NOACs (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.2–2.6) showed significant increased risks in major bleeding. Additionally, after an exhaustive analysis of NOACs, analysis showed that apixaban (RR 0.5, 95%CI 0.17–1.46) had a superior performance in major bleeding compared to rivaroxaban (RR 3.87, 95%CI 1.48–10.09).ConclusionTIs and NOACs were superior in efficacy with minimal side effects, making them pivotal choices for both prevention and treatment of VTE. Clinical practitioners must carefully weigh drug characteristics, indications, and contraindications to optimize treatment outcomes.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=466775.

Corrosion, a complex and gradual process, is best studied by directly exposing the materials to natural environments that closely mirror real-world conditions. However, this approach has limitations due to its lengthy testing periods and excessive costs. As an efficient alternative, laboratory-based accelerated corrosion tests provide a means to predict the corrosion behavior and service life of materials under long-term outdoor exposure. Current simulation tests often focus on correlating weight loss data between indoor and outdoor environments. However, they may overlook the need for a thorough examination of corrosion behavior across various conditions. This study systematically investigates the corrosion behavior of hull steel in a tropical marine atmospheric environment through a combination of indoor simulation and outdoor exposure tests. The research comprehensively analyzes the correlation between indoor and outdoor corrosion, conducting detailed examinations of the corroded materials with a focus on the properties of the rust layer. The results demonstrated a strong correlation between indoor and outdoor corrosion. However, the outdoor specimens exhibited superior protective properties, characterized by a denser rust layer, higher α/γ* ratio, lower icorr, and higher Rp. Furthermore, models capable of accurately forecasting samples’ behavior in indoor and outdoor environments were developed by using the GM (1, 1) method. The significance of this study lies in its comprehensive revelation of the differences between indoor and outdoor corrosion tests. It provides valuable insights for developing more accurate and dependable corrosion prediction models, which can optimize corrosion protection strategies for materials in marine environments.

Energy disaggregation is a technology that disassembles the energy consumption from the entire house into load-level contributions. One of the foundational tasks for this technology is to accurately ascertain the truth electrical energy consumption of the target load. However, current energy disaggregation methods find it difficult to accurately predict the actual operating power of appliances when there are significant differences in the data distribution of appliances across various scenarios due to the diversity in manufacturers, usage times, and operating conditions. In this study, we propose a power extraction approach with load state modification to capture accurate load operating power with minimal influence from usage scenarios. To be specific, the on/off state sequence of appliances is first predicted leveraging existing energy disaggregation methods, and two state modification methods based on non-operating time and operating time of appliances are respectively proposed to modify the erroneous states in sequence. Subsequently, the power extraction approach calculates the operational power of target appliance based on the amplitude of fluctuations within the aggregated energy consumption caused by its state changes. Furthermore, a removing signal spikes method is proposed to improve the accuracy of the extracted power value. We conducted extensive experiments on a public dataset, demonstrating that the proposed method can significantly improve the accuracy of state-of-the-art solution. The average of mean absolute error across commonly used appliances during on state were reduced by 44.75 % and 32.07 % respectively in the UK-DALE and REFIT datasets.

Abstract Heart failure is a leading cause of mortality worldwide, necessitating the development of novel therapeutic and lifestyle interventions. Recent studies highlight a potential role of time‐restricted feeding (TRF) in the prevention and treatment of cardiac diseases. Here, it is found that TRF protected against heart failure at different stages in mice. Metabolomic profiling revealed that TRF upregulated most circulating amino acids, and amino acid supplementation protected against heart failure. In contrast, TRF showed a mild effect on cardiac amino acid profile, but increased cardiac amino acid utilization and activated the cardiac urea cycle through upregulating argininosuccinate lyase (ASL) expression. Cardiac‐specific ASL knockout abolished the cardioprotective effects afforded by TRF. Circulating amino acids also protected against heart failure through activation of the urea cycle. Additionally, TRF upregulated cardiac ASL expression through transcription factor Yin Yang 1, and urea cycle‐derived NO contributes to TRF‐afforded cardioprotection. Furthermore, arteriovenous gradients of circulating metabolites across the human hearts were measured, and found that amino acid utilization and urea cycle activity were impaired in patients with decreased cardiac function. These results suggest that TRF is a promising intervention for heart failure, and highlight the importance of urea cycle in regulation of cardiac function.

Objective To investigate the current status of knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of healthcare professionals in stroke-related departments of primary-level tertiary hospitals regarding the prevention and treatment of hemiplegic shoulder pain, and to analyze influencing factors. This aims to provide a reference for further training, guidance, and management of hemiplegic shoulder pain. Methods A total of 123 healthcare professionals from stroke-related departments of two tertiary hospitals in a county-level city in Zhejiang province were selected as the research subjects from March 6, 2023, to March 14, 2023. Written informed consent was obtained from all study participants prior to their inclusion in the study. A questionnaire survey was conducted to assess their KAP status on the prevention and treatment of hemiplegic shoulder pain, and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 23. Results The scores for knowledge (29.97 ± 9.94), attitude (27.7 ± 2.81), and behavior (29.86 ± 7.86) among the 123 healthcare professionals indicated that department and position were influencing factors for KAP (P < 0.05). Conclusion The overall KAP of healthcare professionals in stroke-related departments of primary hospitals regarding the prevention and treatment of hemiplegic shoulder pain needs improvement. Strengthening relevant knowledge and skills training is necessary to reduce the incidence of hemiplegic shoulder pain and improve patients’ quality of life.

Background β‐secretase 1 (BACE1) plays a key role in amyloidogenic pathway and is considered a new mechanism for cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). We explore the potential role of plasma BACE1 in CSVD and the pathological process it may be involved in. Methods and Results We enrolled 163 participants with CSVD (114 cerebral amyloid angiopathy and 49 hypertensive hemorrhage), and 96 cognitively unimpaired elders and 40 participants with Alzheimer's disease as controls. We measured BACE1 activity using a synthetic fluorescence substrate enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. We used regression models to investigate associations between BACE1 and imaging and blood markers as well as clinical outcomes in CSVD. Plasma BACE1 activity was significantly higher in CSVD (median 862.0 relative fluorescence units [RFU], interquartile range 700.6–1032.9) compared with elder controls (522.5 RFU, 438.3–662.1, P

This study aimed to explore the effects of substituting soybean meal with a mixture of solid-state fermented rapeseed meal, apple pomace, and wheat bran on the growth performance, slaughter performance, meat quality, blood biochemical indices and intestinal barrier function of Langshan chickens. A total of 144 30-day-old Langshan chickens with similar body weights were randomly divided into three treatment groups, with six replicates per group and eight chickens per replicate: the control group (CON) was fed a corn-soybean meal basal diet, while the rapeseed meal mixture group (RSM) and the fermented rapeseed meal mixture group (FRSM) were fed diets substituting 5 % of soybean meal with rapeseed meal mixture and fermented rapeseed meal mixture, respectively. The trial lasted from 30 to 58 days of age. The results showed that compared to the CON group, the RSM group exhibited no significant changes in average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG) and feed to gain ratio (F/G) (P > 0.05); the dressing percentage, half-eviscerated yield and eviscerated yield decreased (P < 0.05); the pH24h and yellowness of breast muscle increased (P < 0.05); the crypt depth of the jejunum decreased, and the villus height/crypt depth ratio increased (P < 0.05); the serum D-lactic acid content decreased (P < 0.05). Compared to the CON group, the FRSM group exhibited no significant changes in ADFI, ADG and F/G (P > 0.05); the eviscerated yield increased (P < 0.05); the serum glucose and uric acid levels decreased (P < 0.05); the crypt depth of the jejunum decreased, and the villus height/crypt depth ratio increased (P < 0.05); the serum D-lactic acid content decreased (P < 0.05). Furthermore, compared to the RSM group, the FRSM group exhibited no significant changes in ADFI, ADG and F/G (P > 0.05); the dressing percentage, half-eviscerated yield and eviscerated yield increased (P < 0.05); the pH24h of breast muscle decreased; the serum glucose and uric acid levels decreased (P < 0.05).In conclusion, RSM reduced the slaughter performance of Langshan chickens, while FRSM improved their slaughter performance. Both RSM and FRSM improved the jejunal morphology and intestinal permeability in Langshan chickens. In conclusion, fermentation improved the feed value of the rapeseed meal mixture; replacing part of the soybean meal diet with fermented rapeseed meal mixture helped improve the slaughter performance and intestinal barrier of Langshan chickens.

Accurate soil moisture monitoring is crucial for understanding the role of hydrological processes in the climate system within the ecological region in the Eastern Margin Ecotone of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (EMETP). This study proposed a data fusion method to acquire soil moisture with high resolution (1 km) and more accuracy. This study combines the fine-scale (1 km) spatial details of soil moisture obtained from active microwave data with the broader-scale (5 km) soil moisture information derived from passive microwave data in both V-polarization and H-polarization modes. The results showed that the fusion results based on V-polarization data were better than that of H-polarization data. The root mean square error (RMSE) is 0.0410, and the correlation coefficient is 0.8809 With the Geodetector, we found that the spatial pattern of soil moisture in the EMETP was influenced by multiple interacting factors. Among these, the interactions between the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and elevation, as well as NDVI and soil type, showed the strongest influence on the spatial distribution of soil moisture. In addition, the brightness temperature and root mean square height of the surface were the most influential parameters for the retrieval model based on SMAP data and sentinel-1 data, respectively. The conclusions provide a valuable reference for the water resources estimation and management in the region of the Tibetan Plateau.

A shaking table model test of the tunnel was carried out to compare the damping effects of polyurethane foam aluminum(AF/PU) and sponge rubber. The test shows that the damping effect of polyurethane foam aluminum is better, and the dynamic earth pressure and strain values of each measuring point of the tunnel lining are relatively smaller. The ANSYS software was used for the ground motion simulation. The first principal stress and first principal strain of the lining were compared and analysed between the two types of damping layers. It was found that the damping effect of AF/PU was better, which is consistent with the test results. The damping effects of AF/PU with thicknesses of 10, 20, and 30 cm were 22.3%, 29.03%, and 31.41%, respectively. The damping effect increases with an increase in thickness, but the growth rate slows.

Background Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), are respiratory diseases with high morbidity and mortality. Clinical trials investigating the efficacy of corticosteroids in the treatment of ARDS often yield contradictory results. We hereby conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the efficacy of corticosteroids in ARDS management.Materials and Methods We conducted a search for randomized clinical trials (RCT) and observational studies that utilized corticosteroids for patients with ARDS in Web of Science, PubMed, and Embase. The primary outcome was mortality. Risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane or NOS scales. Statistical effect size was analyzed using the Mantel-Haenszel method.Results A total of 20 studies, comprising 11 observational studies and 9 RCTs, were eligible for analysis. In RCTs, corticosteroids were associated with a reduction of mortality in ARDS patients (relative risk [RR] = 0.80, 95%CI: 0.71-0.91, p = 0.001). Further subgroup analysis indicated that specific variables, such as low-dose (RR = 0.81; 95%CI: 0.67-0.98; p = 0.034), methylprednisolone (RR = 0.70; 95%CI: 0.49-0.98; p = 0.035), and dexamethasone (RR = 0.82; 95%CI: 0.69-0.98; p = 0.029) were associated with mortality among patients receiving corticosteroids. However, in observational studies, corticosteroids increased the risk of death (RR = 1.16, 95%CI: 1.04-1.29; p = 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that the use of high-dose corticosteroids was associated with higher patient mortality (RR = 1.20; 95%CI: 1.04-1.38; p = 0.001).Conclusions The efficacy of corticosteroids on the mortality of ARDS differed by the type and dosage of corticosteroids used, as well as the etiologies. Current data do not support routine use of corticosteroids in ARDS since protective effects were observed in RCTs but increased mortality was found in observational studies. More well designed and large clinical trials are needed to specify the favorable subgroups for corticosteroid therapy.