Search

In the construction of foundation pits with shallow groundwater levels, improper control of pumping strength often leads to soil penetration failure, resulting in engineering accidents, casualties, and property losses. Currently, existing research mainly focuses on soil conditions, settlement deformation prediction, construction pumping measures, etc., and rarely involves the critical pumping quantity. However, the critical pumping quantity is a key parameter for pumping safety in foundation pit construction and there is no effective method to calculate or test this parameter. Based on Darcy’s law and the equivalent infinitesimal formula, and the formula for calculating the permeability coefficient of pumping tests recommended by the specification for borehole pumping test of hydropower projects （NB/T 35103—2017）, this study deduced the expressions of critical pumping quantity of the seepage failure under four conditions, including submersible incomplete hole, submersible integral hole, confined water incomplete hole and confined water integral hole. To ensure that the calculated result is more effective, the calculated expression was modified by introducing correction coefficient. The results indicate that the relationship between the critical drawdown volume for inducing soil permeability failure in the four cases and the critical permeability velocity is linear, suggesting that measuring the critical permeability velocity of the soil at the site can determine the critical drawdown volume. In a case study of basement excavation in Hohhot, it is found that the cobble layer has the highest potential for water permeability failure. Laboratory measurements revealed a critical permeability velocity for its failure of 7.1×10−4 m/s. To prevent damage to this layer during pumping, an artesian well SJ1 with a designed critical drawdown volume of 174.45 m3/d was used, and actual pumping volumes were controlled within 150 m3/d without observing any permeability failures, demonstrating applicability of the proposed method. Therefore, compared to existing qualitative experience-based methods for predicting critical drawdown volumes in basement excavation, the quantitative calculation method holds greater practical application value.

In the face of massive remote sensing image data, this is a challenging missions to retrieve images containing specific content quickly and accurately. With the characteristics of low storage and high efficiency, deep hashing algorithms have been widely used in image retrieval. However, with the crazy growth of the number of remote sensing images, effective retrieval and management of these massive data has become an urgent issue to be addressed. At present, many retrieval methods mainly extract the global features of images, which cannot distinguish images with different visual representations but similar semantic information effectively. To solve this problem, we propose a deep orthogonal fusion method based on global and local feature fusion called DOFSH. First, by designing an effective local feature extraction module, the remote sensing image retrieval system can better adapt to complex ground objects and background scenarios, thereby improving the accuracy and robustness of retrieval. Second, by designing a satisfactory local and global fusion scheme, these two features are integrated into a compact descriptor to achieve single-stage remote sensing image retrieval. Finally, to solve the problem that the uncontrollable distribution of remote sensing image dataset is incompatible with contrast loss, a loss function is designed to adapt to the characteristics of remote sensing image dataset. Comparative experiments demonstrate that our method outperforms existing approaches in terms of retrieval performance on the NWPU-RESISC45, AID, and AISION remote sensing image datasets.

Abstract Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) pose a significant health burden in China, where the large population and vast geography limit access to care. Telehealth (tHealth) services provide a virtual model of care that can enhance CVD management. This study aims to describe the trajectory of tHealth services for cardiovascular care between 2016 and 2020 in China, assess their utilization, and discuss their implications for improving access to care in resource-scarce regions. Data were collected on patient-facing, operational tHealth apps in Mainland China. In 2016, 45.8% of tertiary hospitals were accessible via tHealth apps, with a 10.7% annual growth rate. Wealthier regions had better tHealth coverage, irrespective of CVD burden. In 2016 and 2020, 34% and 67% of patients, respectively, consulted doctors located outside of their provinces, primarily in wealthier areas. The most common CVDs managed were hypertension, coronary artery disease, and arrhythmia. These findings suggest that tHealth services improve care access, especially in underdeveloped regions, but widespread technology adoption remains crucial.

Abstract Passive temperature sensing systems based on the Internet of Things (IoT) present an efficient, reliable, and convenient solution for temperature monitoring with extensive application prospects and market value. This paper introduces a passive, battery-free, chipless, metasurface temperature sensing tag. The key insight is that the sensing tag uses vanadium dioxide ( $$\hbox{VO}_{2}$$ ) to solve the problems of measuring distance, large size, and high cost related to active devices. The sensing tag fabricated with tungsten-doped $$\hbox{VO}_{2}$$ powder demonstrated a significant variation in the reflection magnitude within the temperature range of 34–42 °C. It was achieved through coating, sintering, metasurface design, and ion beam etching. Experimental results showed that the square resistance of the prepared coating decreased from 1003 to 90 $${\Omega }/{\square }$$ as the temperature increased from 34 to 42 °C. Additionally, the reflection magnitude of the tag significantly increased with the temperature decrease in the 3.5–5.27 GHz frequency band. These results indicate that the passive temperature sensing tags can achieve rapid and accurate temperature sensing within the 34–42 °C range.

This study investigates the impact of warm-rolling and subsequent annealing on the microstructure and tensile properties of a dual-phase Al0.45CoCrFeNiTi0.25 high-entropy alloy (HEA) containing both face-centered cubic and body-centered cubic phases. The HEA underwent warm-rolling at temperatures of 450, 600, and 750 °C with a 50% reduction in thickness, followed by annealing at various temperatures. Higher warm-rolling temperatures facilitated the precipitation of B2 particles, significantly influencing the alloy's phase distribution. Throughout the experiments, no new phases emerged, and annealing maintained the alloy's original phase composition.Warm-rolling at 450 °C, followed by annealing at 1200 °C, led to substantial microstructural changes, including the formation of distinctive annealed twins. These microstructural changes enhanced ductility significantly, increasing elongation to 13.4% (a 538% improvement over the as-cast state) while maintaining a fracture strength of 983 MPa. Overall, this comprehensive analysis demonstrates that optimizing the warm-rolling and annealing parameters can significantly enhance the properties of dual-phase HEA.

This study investigated the microstructure and mechanical properties of GdxCoCrFeNiV0.4 alloys. Various techniques such as XRD, SEM, EBSD, and TEM were utilized, alongside hardness and compression tests at room temperature. The findings revealed that the high-entropy alloy without Gd element exhibited a single face-centered cubic (FCC) phase. Upon the introduction of Gd element, the phase composition shifted to FCC + hexagonal structure (HS) phases, and further addition of Gd resulted in the presence of FCC + HS + body-centered cubic (BCC) phases. Additionally, the inclusion of Gd element led to the precipitation of Gd-rich particles within the alloy. The Vickers hardness test results revealed a significant increase in alloy hardness as the Gd content rose, from 177.5 HV for Gd0 to 848.4 HV for Gd0.4. This suggests that the presence of the HS phase and BCC phase notably influences alloy hardness. Furthermore, compressive test outcomes demonstrated that the alloy's yield strength rose from 173.74 MPa for Gd0 to 1356.17 MPa for Gd0.3 with increasing Gd content. However, the excessive addition of Gd elements results in significant precipitation of V and Cr elements, leading to grain coarsening, adversely affecting its mechanical properties. The high strength of Gd-containing high-entropy alloys can be attributed to various strengthening mechanisms, such as solid solution strengthening, the presence of the HS phase, the precipitation of a small number of Gd-rich particles, and the grain refinement caused by the addition of Gd.

Knowledge graphs are essential tools for representing real-world facts and finding wide applications in various domains. However, the process of constructing knowledge graphs often introduces noises and errors, which can negatively impact the performance of downstream applications. Current methods for knowledge graph error detection primarily focus on graph structure and overlook the importance of textual information in error detection. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel error detection framework that combines both structural and textual information. The framework utilizes a confidence module for error detection while generating knowledge embeddings. The performance of this approach outperforms baseline methods in error detection and link prediction experiments, particularly achieving state-of-the-art performance in the error detection task.

Abstract Background Arginase is abundantly expressed in colorectal cancer and disrupts arginine metabolism, promoting the formation of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. This significant factor contributes to the insensitivity of colorectal cancer to immunotherapy. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are major immune cells in this environment, and aberrant arginine metabolism in tumor tissues induces TAM polarization toward M2-like macrophages. The natural compound piceatannol 3ʹ-O-glucoside inhibits arginase activity and activates nitric oxide synthase, thereby reducing M2-like macrophages while promoting M1-like macrophage polarization. Methods The natural compounds piceatannol 3ʹ-O-glucoside and indocyanine green were encapsulated within microparticles derived from tumor cells, termed PG/ICG@MPs. The enhanced cancer therapeutic effect of PG/ICG@MP was assessed both in vitro and in vivo. Results PG/ICG@MP precisely targets the tumor site, with piceatannol 3ʹ-O-glucoside concurrently inhibiting arginase activity and activating nitric oxide synthase. This process promotes increased endogenous nitric oxide production through arginine metabolism. The combined actions of nitric oxide and piceatannol 3ʹ-O-glucoside facilitate the repolarization of tumor-associated macrophages toward the M1 phenotype. Furthermore, the increase in endogenous nitric oxide levels, in conjunction with the photodynamic effect induced by indocyanine green, increases the quantity of reactive oxygen species. This dual effect not only enhances tumor immunity but also exerts remarkable inhibitory effects on tumors. Conclusion Our research results demonstrate the excellent tumor-targeting effect of PG/ICG@MPs. By modulating arginine metabolism to improve the tumor immune microenvironment, we provide an effective approach with clinical translational significance for combined cancer therapy.

Abstract Regulating interfacial electronic structure of oxide-metal composite catalyst for the selective transformation of biomass or plastic waste into high-value chemicals through specific C–O bond scission is still challenging due to the presence of multiple reducible bonds and low catalytic activity. Herein, we find that the inverse catalyst of 4CeOx/Ni can efficiently transform various lignocellulose derivatives and polyether into the corresponding value-added hydroxyl-containing chemicals with activity enhancement (up to 36.5-fold increase in rate) compared to the conventional metal/oxide supported catalyst. In situ experiments and theoretical calculations reveal the electron-rich interfacial Ce and Ni species are responsible for the selective adsorption of C–O bond and efficient generation of Hδ− species, respectively, which synergistic facilitate cleavage of C–O bond and subsequent hydrogenation. This work advances the fundamental understanding of interfacial electronic interaction over inverse catalyst and provides a promising catalyst design strategy for efficient transformation of C–O bond.

Abstract Objective This study aims to quantitatively assess the relationship between the patella alignment and morphology and knee osteoarthritis (KOA), as well as the kinematics and kinetics of the knee, using gait analysis. Methods Eighty age-matched patients with KOA and control subjects were evaluated. Incident radiographic osteoarthritis (iROA) was identified using a Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grade of ≥ 2. The modified Insall-Salvati ratio (Mod-ISR), patellar tilt angle (PTA), and patella index (PI) were utilized to evaluate the sagittal and transverse alignment of the patella and its morphology, respectively. Regression analyses were conducted to explore associations between patellar measurements and KOA, iROA, kinematics, and kinetics. Results Significant differences were observed between the control and KOA groups in terms of KL grade, patella alta, abduction angle, and reaction force to the ground (P 0.05, respectively). Conclusion This study provides further evidence that proper alignment and morphology of the patella might be associated with maintaining normal biomechanical function. In addition, intervention measures targeting relevant patellar parameters, such as Mod-ISR, PTA, and PI, may positively impact KOA treatment outcomes.

Climate warming, precipitation changes, and reactive nitrogen (N) input are important environmental changes that can critically affect litter decomposition and soil carbon (C) dynamics. However, it remains unclear whether and how their effects and/or relative contribution vary across different decomposition stages. We assessed the effects of warming, precipitation changes and N addition, alone and in combination, on litter loss at various stages of the decomposition process in a semi-arid grassland. We found that warming inhibited litter decomposition in the early stage (1–2 years) and promoted it in the later stage (3–4 years). The temperature sensitivity of decomposition was affected by both soil moisture and N addition. Increased precipitation significantly accelerated litter decomposition initially, but not in the later stages. In the litter-soil incubation experiment, we observed that high-quality litter, characterized by low carbohydrate C:methoxyl C (CC:MC) ratio and/or CN ratios, displayed greater sensitivity to changes in moisture. In comparison, low-quality litter exhibits high temperature sensitivity of microbial respiration. Overall, our findings show that the climate sensitivity of litter decomposition exhibited distinct temporal dynamics, with increasing warming sensitivity of decomposition and decreasing moisture sensitivity of decomposition over time. Given that many current decomposition models use a constant sensitivity parameter (e.g., Q10 value = 2.0) throughout the decay process, our results suggest that incorporation of such temporal dynamics into decomposition models may enhance their predictive power.

The efficiency of molecular breeding largely depends on the cost of genotyping, which plays an important role in breeding and population genetic studies. Compared to pig, cattle, and sheep, poultry has a small size genome, and lower individual value. Developing a relatively low-density genotyping panel is needed to decrease the genotyping cost for poultries. In the present study, we developed a chicken 11 K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping panel for breeding and genetic analysis using genotyping by targeted sequencing (GBTS). The panel design was based on whole genome sequencing data from 7 local breeds and a commercial breed. In total 11,200 SNPs were included in the final chip. Population analyses of the eight breeds showed high SNP call rates and minor allele frequencies (MAF), enabling clear differentiation between populations. The families within population can also be identified. Additionally, the 11K panel was applied to a genomic prediction of Wenshang Barred chickens, the predictive ability and prediction accuracy between the WGS and chip dataset non-significantly differed. Therefore, the newly developed chicken low-density SNP is efficient, cost-effective, and well-suited for application in local Chinese chickens, which can accelerate chicken breeding improvements and enhance conservation efforts.

Salt plays a crucial role in food processing and consumption, and the rapid detection of chloride ions in food and feed has great significance for practical applications. In this work, Ag−based nanomaterials were deposited on the surface of a flexible integrated electrochemical sensor for the detection of Cl− in food. In order to enhance the detection performance, a unique needle−tip structure was formed by manipulating the electro−engraving process during the electrodeposition growth. Theoretical calculations and electrochemical investigations have demonstrated that the dendrimer’s rich tip structure significantly enhanced its electrochemical performance. A sensitive and flexible integrated electrochemical sensor was creatively developed for the detection of Cl− using needle−tip effect−promoted Ag micro dendrimers. The sensor achieved quantitative detection of Cl− over a dynamic range of 10.0 μM–100.0 mM, with a low limit of detection of 0.148 μM. The flexible electrochemical sensor proposed in this work exhibited good repeatability, selectivity and recoveries in real food samples.

RCC is a malignant tumor arising from the urothelium of renal parenchyma that remains challenging to be treated. In this study, we assessed the anti-tumor effects of Resveratrol liposomes (RES-lips) combined with sorafenib on renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and explored the potential mechanisms underlying the improvement of sorafenib resistance models. Tumor growth and survival following treatment with sorafenib alone or in combination with RES-lips was evaluated in a RCC xenograft mouse model. Flow cytometry results demonstrated that the combination of RES-lips and sorafenib significantly enhanced the G1/S phase arrest of sorafenib-resistant cells. When compared with the PBS or monotherapy groups, treatment with RES-lips combined with sorafenib exhibited significant inhibition of tumor growth in the RCC xenograft mouse model with tumor growth inhibition (TGI) rates and complete remission (CR) rates of 90.1 % and 50 %, respectively. Concersely, the maximum TGI rate was 53.6 % in the RES-lips monoherapy group and 29.2 % and in the sorafenib monotherapy group, and no animals achieved CR. Additionally, the current combination therapy promoted the proliferation of unactivated splenic lymphocytes and the proliferation of soybean protein A- and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated lymphocytes compared with PBS or monotherapy treatments. Further western blotting analysis suggested that RES-lips may enhance the resistance of RCC to sorafenib by inhibiting PI3K-AKT-mTOR and VHL-HIF signaling pathways, ultimately augmenting the tumor growth inhibition effect of the combination therapy. RES-lips may improve the sorafenib resistance in RCC, and the underlying mechanism may be related to the regulation of PI3K-AKT-mTOR and VHL-HIF signaling pathways.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of itaconate’s potential effect in diabetic kidney disease.Methods: Renal immune responsive gene 1 (IRG1) levels were measured in db/db mice and streptozotocin (STZ) + high-fat diet (HFD)-induced diabetic mice. Irg1 knockout mice were generated. db/db mice were treated with 4-octyl itaconate (4-OI, 50 mg/kg), a derivative of itaconate, for 4 weeks. Renal function and morphological changes were investigated. Ultrastructural alterations were determined by transmission electron microscopy.Results: Renal IRG1 levels were reduced in two diabetic models. STZ+HFD-treated Irg1 knockout mice exhibited aggravated renal tubular injury and worsened renal function. Treatment with 4-OI lowered urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio and blood urea nitrogen levels, and restored renal histological changes in db/db mice. It improved mitochondrial damage, increased expressions of peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) and mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) in the renal cortex of db/db mice. These were confirmed in vitro; 4-OI improved high glucose-induced abnormal mitochondrial morphology and TFAM expression in HK-2 cells, effects that were inhibited by PGC-1α silencing. Moreover, 4-OI reduced the number of apoptotic cells in the renal cortex of db/db mice. Further study showed that 4-OI increased renal Nrf2 expression and decreased oxidative stress levels in db/db mice. In HK-2 cells, 4-OI decreased high glucose-induced mitochondrial ROS production, which was reversed by Nrf2 silencing. Nrf2 depletion also inhibited 4-OI-mediated regulation of PGC-1α, TFAM, and mitochondrial apoptotic protein expressions.Conclusions: 4-OI attenuates renal tubular injury in db/db mice by activating Nrf2 and promoting PGC-1α-mediated mitochondrial biogenesis.

Follicle selection, a crucial step in maintaining continuous egg production in chickens, is a process that relies on granulosa cells (GCs). In this study, we aimed to identify the key genes that are involved in follicle selection from our previous single-cell transcriptomic data. We used a combination of techniques and assays, including quantitative real-time PCR, immunofluorescence, Oil Red O staining, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), monodansylcadaverine (MDC) assay, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay, cell counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, and 5-ethynyl-2-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay. Multiple indices, such as cell proliferation, cell differentiation, progesterone synthesis, lipid droplet production, total and free cholesterol content, apoptosis, and autophagy, were measured to determine the states of GCs in vitro. The results demonstrated that overexpression of genes related to insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) or IGF-binding protein 4 (IGFBP4) increases intracellular free cholesterol (progesterone precursors) and lipid droplet production, inhibits apoptosis through increased autophagy, and inhibits cell proliferation. This indicates that IGF2 or IGFBP4 can maintain the survival state and improve differentiation tendency of chicken granulosa cells in vitro. Therefore, this study provides new evidence on the functions of IGFs and IGFBPs in chickens, establishing a crucial experimental foundation for understanding the regulatory mechanisms of follicle selection. In addition, our study contributes to understanding follicular development and improves the egg-laying performance of chickens.

As a potent naturally carotenoid, Astaxanthin (AST) is commonly used as a natural coloring agent and antioxidant in food products, and it's stability is of great interest. The stability of AST solution stored in glass bottle under different temperatures and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation durations was analyzed in situ using confocal Raman spectroscopy, and the acceptable depth of focus was optimized. Raman spectra of AST geometrical isomers were determined by density functional theory (DFT) simulation, and characteristic peaks were selected for studying AST degradation and isomerization. Raman spectra and peak-fitting spectra based on gaussian multi-peak fitting analysis combined with Pearson's correlation analysis were conducted to study the effect of temperatures and UV irradiation on AST degradation and isomerization. The peak intensity ratio of I1518/I880 had been selected as the optimal Raman spectral variable for AST degradation based on Pearson's correlation analysis. Finally, degradation kinetic curves and degradation rate prediction equation were established. The results indicated that the isomerization of 9,13-di-cis isomer occurred at a UV irradiation of 288 h. Moreover, high temperatures above 60 °C and prolonged UV exposure exceeds 48 h can cause significant degradation of AST, with a degradation rate above 20 %. This study provided an in-situ, nondestructive potential method for the calculation of AST degradation under different temperatures and UV irradiation durations, which contribute guiding insights into the development and utilization of AST in food industry.

With the development of micro-spacecraft technology, micro-nano satellites have the advantages of small size, low power consumption, short development cycle, formation networking, etc., and can complete many complex space tasks at a lower cost. Micro-nano satellites require a micropropulsion system with the capability of performing precise total impulse and thrust to execute maneuvers, such as attitude control, orbital transfer, and gravitation compensation. In contrast to other micropropulsion systems, solid propellant microthrusters (SPM) arrays based on micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) technology possess a simple structure and quick response, which is a potential micropropulsion system. In recent years, many research groups have done a lot of research on SPM arrays. In this paper, the latest progress of SPM arrays is summarized from the aspects of structure design, propellant selection, bonding technology, ignition unit type and micro-thrust test, and some suggestions for the future development direction are given.

Abstract Background Early detection of colorectal neoplasms can reduce the colorectal cancer (CRC) burden by timely intervention for high-risk individuals. However, effective risk prediction models are lacking for personalized CRC early screening in East Asian (EAS) population. We aimed to develop, validate, and optimize a comprehensive risk prediction model across all stages of the dynamic adenoma-carcinoma sequence in EAS population. Methods To develop precision risk-stratification and intervention strategies, we developed three trans-ancestry PRSs targeting colorectal neoplasms: (1) using 148 previously identified CRC risk loci (PRS148); (2) SNPs selection from large-scale meta-analysis data by clumping and thresholding (PRS183); (3) PRS-CSx, a Bayesian approach for genome-wide risk prediction (PRSGenomewide). Then, the performance of each PRS was assessed and validated in two independent cross-sectional screening sets, including 4600 patients with advanced colorectal neoplasm, 4495 patients with non-advanced adenoma, and 21,199 normal individuals from the ZJCRC (Zhejiang colorectal cancer set; EAS) and PLCO (the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial; European, EUR) studies. The optimal PRS was further incorporated with lifestyle factors to stratify individual risk and ultimately tested in the PLCO and UK Biobank prospective cohorts, totaling 350,013 participants. Results Three trans-ancestry PRSs achieved moderately improved predictive performance in EAS compared to EUR populations. Remarkably, the PRSs effectively facilitated a thorough risk assessment across all stages of the dynamic adenoma-carcinoma sequence. Among these models, PRS183 demonstrated the optimal discriminatory ability in both EAS and EUR validation datasets, particularly for individuals at risk of colorectal neoplasms. Using two large-scale and independent prospective cohorts, we further confirmed a significant dose–response effect of PRS183 on incident colorectal neoplasms. Incorporating PRS183 with lifestyle factors into a comprehensive strategy improves risk stratification and discriminatory accuracy compared to using PRS or lifestyle factors separately. This comprehensive risk-stratified model shows potential in addressing missed diagnoses in screening tests (best NPV = 0.93), while moderately reducing unnecessary screening (best PPV = 0.32). Conclusions Our comprehensive risk-stratified model in population-based CRC screening trials represents a promising advancement in personalized risk assessment, facilitating tailored CRC screening in the EAS population. This approach enhances the transferability of PRSs across ancestries and thereby helps address health disparity. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Gypsification is a common problem in weathered calcareous relics. In previous studies, the solutions of barium hydroxide in water and methanol were used as protectants for gypsification calcareous relics and showed significant differences in permeability. In this study, the underlying reasons for permeability differences between these two solutions were investigated using optical microscopy, ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry, X-ray diffractometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, the phenolphthalein test and physical property characterizations. The results indicated that the permeability differences were primarily caused by the solutions’ reactivity. Specifically, owing to the high reactivity of barium hydroxide in water, it reacted rapidly with atmospheric CO2 and gypsum (the weathering product) to generate barium carbonate, barium sulfate and calcium hydroxide precipitates. These precipitates hindered the penetration of solution into weathered relics. In contrast, barium hydroxide in methanol did not react with atmospheric CO2 or weathered relics, which also kept the solution in a liquid state during the infiltration process. Therefore, the solution of barium hydroxide in methanol exhibited high permeability. Based on the above findings, this study is meaningful for applying barium protectants in the conservation of gypsification calcareous relics.

Abstract Mitochondria play a crucial role in the progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). YME1L, a member of the AAA ATPase family, is a key regulator of mitochondrial function and has been implicated in various cellular processes and diseases. This study investigates the expression and functional significance of YME1L in NPC. YME1L exhibits significant upregulation in NPC tissues from patients and across various primary human NPC cells, while its expression remains relatively low in adjacent normal tissues and primary nasal epithelial cells. Employing genetic silencing through the shRNA strategy or knockout (KO) via the CRISPR-sgRNA method, we demonstrated that YME1L depletion disrupted mitochondrial function, leading to mitochondrial depolarization, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, lipid peroxidation, and ATP reduction within primary NPC cells. Additionally, YME1L silencing or KO substantially impeded cell viability, proliferation, cell cycle progression, and migratory capabilities, concomitant with an augmentation of Caspase-apoptosis activation in primary NPC cells. Conversely, ectopic YME1L expression conferred pro-tumorigenic attributes, enhancing ATP production and bolstering NPC cell proliferation and migration. Moreover, our findings illuminate the pivotal role of YME1L in Akt-mTOR activation within NPC cells, with Akt-S6K phosphorylation exhibiting a significant decline upon YME1L depletion but enhancement upon YME1L overexpression. In YME1L-silenced primary NPC cells, the introduction of a constitutively-active Akt1 mutant (caAkt1, at S473D) restored Akt-S6K phosphorylation, effectively ameliorating the inhibitory effects imposed by YME1L shRNA. In vivo studies revealed that intratumoral administration of YME1L-shRNA-expressing adeno-associated virus (AAV) curtailed subcutaneous NPC xenograft growth in nude mice. Furthermore, YME1L downregulation, concurrent with mitochondrial dysfunction and ATP reduction, oxidative injury, Akt-mTOR inactivation, and apoptosis induction were evident within YME1L-silenced NPC xenograft tissues. Collectively, these findings shed light on the notable pro-tumorigenic role by overexpressed YME1L in NPC, with a plausible mechanism involving the promotion of Akt-mTOR activation.

Abstract Porous frameworks constructed via noncovalent interactions show wide potential in molecular separation and gas adsorption. However, it remains a major challenge to prepare these materials from low-symmetry molecular building blocks. Herein, we report a facile strategy to fabricate noncovalent porous crystals through modular self-assembly of a low-symmetry helicene racemate. The P and M enantiomers in the racemate first stack into right- and left-handed triangular prisms, respectively, and subsequently the two types of prisms alternatively stack together into a hexagonal network with one-dimensional channels with a diameter of 14.5 Å. Remarkably, the framework reveals high stability upon heating to 275 °C, majorly due to the abundant π-interactions between the complementarily engaged helicene building blocks. Such porous framework can be readily prepared by fast rotary evaporation, and is easy to recycle and repeatedly reform. The refined porous structure and enriched π-conjugation also favor the selective adsorption of a series of small molecules.

This study investigated the effects of different dilution concentrations of azoxystrobin and thiophanate-methyl on the preservation of postharvest litchi fruit at ambient temperature. By analyzing the physiological indicators of litchi fruit during storage, the optimal fungicide formulation was selected, verified, and dietary exposure assessed thus the preservation method of extending shelf life for litchi at ambient temperature was obtained. The results showed that the litchi fruit treated with a 1600-fold dilution of 25% azoxystrobin (M1600), or a 1600-fold dilution of 25% azoxystrobin mixed with a 700-fold dilution of 70% thiophanate-methyl (M1600+J700) significantly inhibited the respiratory rate of litchi fruit, decreased the relative conductivity of pericarp and decay rate of litchi fruit (P

The growth curve is a vital instrument for assessing and forecasting weight and developmental shifts in livestock and poultry, which reflects the changes of bodyweight traits with time and plays a key role in guiding breeding and production approaches. This study performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for growth curve parameters generated by nonlinear models which fit original weight-age records, to discover the SNPs and candidate genes correlated with growth traits. Data from 362 Chinese Wenshang Barred Chickens weighed at the age of 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18 weeks were used to fit the Gompertz, Logistic, and von Bertalanffy growth models. The Gompertz model showed the highest coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.974). The mature body weight (A), time scale (b), and maturity rate (k) were treated as phenotypes for single-trait GWAS. The GWAS identified 44, 103, and 5 significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with A, b, and K, respectively. Among them, several candidate genes, including LDB2, TOB2, RCBTB1, KPNA3, SLIT2, LCORL, LAP3, and TPRA1, were previously reported to be associated with growth and development. Two lead SNPs (4:76022389, 4:76070237) on the LDB2 gene were significantly associated with the growth curve. Further research of these candidate genes could help explore the full genetic architecture underlying growth and development traits in poultry.

Maternal exposure to nanoparticles during gestation poses potential risks to fetal development. The placenta, serving as a vital interface for maternal-fetal interaction, plays a pivotal role in shielding the fetus from direct nanoparticle exposure. However, the impact of nanoparticles on placental function is still poorly understood, primarily due to the absence of proper human placental models. In this study, we established a placenta-on-a-chip model capable of recapitulating nanoparticle exposure to assess potential nanotoxicity. The model was assembled by coculturing human trophoblast stem cells (hTSCs) and endothelial cells within a dynamic microsystem. hTSCs exhibited progressive differentiation into syncytiotrophoblasts under continuous fluid flow, forming a bilayered trophoblastic epithelium that mimicking both structural and functional aspects of human placental villi. Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) were introduced into the trophoblastic side to simulate maternal blood exposure. Our findings revealed that CuO NPs hindered hTSCs differentiation, leading to diminished hormone secretion and impaired glucose transport. Subsequent analysis indicated that CuO NPs disrupted the autophagic flux in trophoblasts and induced apoptosis. Furthermore, the placenta-on-a-chip model exhibited inflammatory responses to CuO NP exposure, including maternal macrophage activation, inflammatory cytokine secretion, and endothelial barrier disruption. Dysfunction of the placental barrier and the ensuing inflammatory cascades may contribute to aberrant fetal development. Overall, our placenta-on-a-chip model offers a promising platform for assessing nanoparticle exposure-related risks and conducting toxicology studies.

Abstract Local phase transition in transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) by lithium intercalation enables the fabrication of high‐quality contact interfaces in two‐dimensional (2D) electronic devices. However, controlling the intercalation of lithium is hitherto challenging in vertically stacked van der Waals heterostructures (vdWHs) due to the random diffusion of lithium ions in the hetero‐interface, which hinders their application for contact engineering of 2D vdWHs devices. Herein, a strategy to restrict the lithium intercalation pathway in vdWHs is developed by using surface‐permeation assisted intercalation while sealing all edges, based on which a high‐performance edge‐contact MoS2 vdWHs floating‐gate transistor is demonstrated. Our method avoids intercalation from edges that are prone to be random but intentionally promotes lithium intercalation from the top surface. The derived MoS2 floating‐gate transistor exhibits improved interface quality and significantly reduced subthreshold swing (SS) from >600 to 100 mV dec–1. In addition, ultrafast program/erase performance together with well‐distinguished 32 memory states are demonstrated, making it a promising candidate for low‐power artificial synapses. The study on controlling the lithium intercalation pathways in 2D vdWHs offers a viable route toward high‐performance 2D electronics for memory and neuromorphic computing purposes.

BackgroundInflammation is associated with the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. The blood markers for systemic inflammation include neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR), system inflammation response index (SIRI), and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR). However, these inflammation markers and their relationships with clinical phenotypes among Han Chinese patients with first-episode adolescent-onset schizophrenia (AOS) is unclear. This investigation aimed to elucidate the impact of inflammation on Han Chinese AOS patients as well as the association of blood-based inflammation markers with clinical symptoms.MethodsAltogether, 203 Han Chinese individuals participated in this study, 102 first-episode AOS patients and 101 healthy controls. The assessment of inflammatory indices was based on complete blood cell count. Furthermore, schizophrenia-related clinical symptoms were evaluated using the five-factor model of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).ResultsIn Han Chinese first-episode AOS patients, levels of SIRI, PLR, SII, and NLR were significantly increased (p < 0.001), while LMR decreased (p < 0.001) compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, multivariate logistic regression showed that LMR, NLR, SII, and SIRI (all p < 0.05) were independently associated with AOS. Moreover, Receiver operating characteristics assessment indicated that NLR, SIRI, LMR, and SII could effectively distinguish AOS patients from healthy controls. Their areas under the curves were 0.734, 0.701, 0.715, and 0.730 (all p < 0.001). In addition, Correlation analysis revealed that LMR was negatively correlated with the PANSS total, negative, and cognitive factor scores (all p < 0.05); NLR was positively correlated with the cognitive factor score (p < 0.01); SII was negatively correlated with the positive factor score and positively with the negative and cognitive factor scores (all p < 0.05); SIRI was positively correlated with the PANSS total and cognitive factor scores (all p < 0.01).ConclusionsThis research established the involvement of peripheral blood inflammatory markers (LMR, NLR, SII, and SIRI) with the clinical manifestations and pathophysiology of schizophrenia, and these can serve as screening tools or potential indices of the inflammatory state and AOS symptoms severity.

Suicidal ideation is a desire, thought, or conception that is closely associated with suicide, which is an important risk factor for suicidal behavior. Negative life events may impact college students’ suicidal ideation. According to the suicide susceptibility-stress model, the interaction between susceptibility factors and stressors may influence college students’ suicidal ideation. The present study investigated the role of entity theory and meaning in life in the influence of negative life events on suicidal ideation among college students. A nationwide questionnaire survey was conducted among 938 college students. The Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation, the Implicit Personality Theory Questionnaire, the Adolescent Life Events Scale, and the Meaning in Life Questionnaire were used. The results showed that negative life events were positively correlated with suicidal ideation, entity theory played a mediating role, and meaning in life moderated the mediation of entity theory. Finally, meaning in life and entity theory may bring some benefits to college students; that is, when faced with negative life events, meaning in life and entity theory may attenuate students’ suicidal ideation.

Abstract Tissue‐engineered extraction products, such as apoptotic extracellular vesicles (ApoEVs), significantly promote tissue regeneration, endowing them with the potential to improve osseointegration. However, there is an urgent need to determine how to effectively load these materials onto a material surface to maximize their function. Considering that all such products have a phospholipid bilayer, a phospholipid‐modified implant coating is designed that can effectively load tissue‐engineered products with a phospholipid bilayer structure. ApoEVs are effectively loaded onto the surface and the osteogenic effect improved, achieving good osseointegration. In vitro experiments show that this material improves angiogenesis by promoting macrophage M1 polarization and NO secretion in the early stages. In vivo experiments show that after implantation, it effectively improve the peri‐implant vascularization of the implant, thereby improving the new bone formation ability and osseointegration. This study provides a universal solution for loading vesicular tissue‐engineered products onto an implant surface and validates its ability to improve bone fusion using ApoEVs as an example while exploring its mechanism.

Abstract Icosahedral carboranes, C2B10H12, have long been considered to be aromatic but the extent of conjugation between these clusters and their substituents is still being debated. m- and p-Carboranes are compared with m- and p-phenylenes as conjugated bridges in optical functional chromophores with a donor and an acceptor as substituents here. The absorption and fluorescence data for both carboranes from experimental techniques (including femtosecond transient absorption, time-resolved fluorescence and broadband fluorescence upconversion) show that the absorption and emission processes involve strong intramolecular charge transfer between the donor and acceptor substituents via the carborane cluster. From quantum chemical calculations on these carborane systems, the charge transfer process depends on the relative torsional angles of the donor and acceptor groups where an overlap between the two frontier orbitals exists in the bridging carborane cluster.

Musculoskeletal injuries and bone defects represent a significant clinical challenge, necessitating innovative approaches for effective bone tissue regeneration. In this study, we investigated the potential of harnessing periosteal stem cells (PSCs) and glycosaminoglycan (GAG)-mimicking materials for in situ bone regeneration. Our findings demonstrated that the introduction of 2-N, 6-O sulfated chitosan (26SCS), a GAG-like polysaccharide, enriched PSCs and promoted robust osteogenesis at the defect area. Mechanistically, 26SCS amplifies the biological effect of endogenous platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) through enhancing the interaction between PDGF-BB and its receptor PDGFRβ abundantly expressed on PSCs, resulting in strengthened PSC proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. As a result, 26SCS effectively improved bone defect repair, even in an osteoporotic mouse model with lowered PDGF-BB level and diminished regenerative potential. Our findings suggested the significant potential of GAG-like biomaterials in regulating PSC behavior, which holds great promise for addressing osteoporotic bone defect repair in future applications.

Abstract In this paper, a double-layer patterned graphene-based frequency-selective absorber (DGFSA) is proposed as a means of reducing an antenna’s radar cross-section (RCS) while simultaneously increasing its gain. The antenna consists of a patch antenna with Multi-Graphene Frequency Selective Absorber (MGFSA) mounted on top. The DGFSA consists of double-layer patterned graphene and a band-pass frequency selective surface (FSS). Two patterned graphene lossy layers with different square resistances are used, which broaden the electromagnetic (EM) wave absorption bandwidth of the DGFSA, thus greatly reducing the out-band monostatic RCSs of the patch antenna. Meanwhile, due to the quasi-Fabry-Perot (F-P) effect, the gain of the proposed antenna is enhanced by 2.4 dB. Additionally, the low-RCS antenna reduces the monostatic RCS from 1.32 to 17 GHz under y-polarization and from 1.4 to 16.8 GHz under x-polarization, respectively. Furthermore, a decrease in the bistatic RCS is accomplished. Results from simulations and measurements match up nicely, which means the antenna we proposed has a good application on the stealth platform.

Abstract The electric power industry is a key industry for the country to achieve the double carbon target. Its low carbon development has a double effect on this industry and helps other industries to achieve the carbon peak target. This paper firstly uses the IPCC inventory method to calculate carbon emissions in the production phase of the power industry in Gansu Province from 2000 to 2019, followed by the ridge regression method and the STIRPAT model to analyse the quantitative impact of six major drivers on carbon emissions, and finally, the scenario analysis method is used to forecast carbon emissions in this phase. The results show that the carbon emissions of Gansu Province show a trend of rising and then falling, and reached a peak of 65.66 million tons in 2013. For every 1% increase in population effect, urbanisation level, affluence, clean energy generation share, technology level and industrial structure, carbon emissions will grow by 4.939%, 0.625%, 0.224%, − 0.259%, 0.063% and 0.022% respectively. Because of the clean energy advantage in Gansu Province, the low-carbon development scenario will continue to have low carbon emissions during the scenario cycle, which can be reduced to 53.454 million tons in 2030; the baseline scenario will achieve a carbon peak in 2025, with a peak of 62.627 million tons; the economic development scenario has not achieved carbon peak during the scenario cycle, and carbon emissions will increase to 73.223 million tons in 2030.

Abstract Background Body weight and size are important economic traits in chickens. While many growth-related quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and candidate genes have been identified, further research is needed to confirm and characterize these findings. In this study, we investigate genetic and genomic markers associated with chicken body weight and size. This study provides new insights into potential markers for genomic selection and breeding strategies to improve meat production in chickens. Methods We performed whole-genome resequencing of and Wenshang Barred (WB) chickens (n = 596) and three additional breeds with varying body sizes (Recessive White (RW), WB, and Luxi Mini (LM) chickens; (n = 50)). We then used selective sweeps of mutations coupled with genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify genomic markers associated with body weight and size. Results We identified over 9.4 million high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) among three chicken breeds/lines. Among these breeds, 287 protein-coding genes exhibited positive selection in the RW and WB populations, while 241 protein-coding genes showed positive selection in the LM and WB populations. Genomic heritability estimates were calculated for 26 body weight and size traits, including body weight, chest breadth, chest depth, thoracic horn, body oblique length, keel length, pelvic width, shank length, and shank circumference in the WB breed. The estimates ranged from 0.04 to 0.67. Our analysis also identified a total of 2,522 genome-wide significant SNPs, with 2,474 SNPs clustered around two genomic regions. The first region, located on chromosome 4 (7.41-7.64 Mb), was linked to body weight after ten weeks and body size traits. LCORL, LDB2, and PPARGC1A were identified as candidate genes in this region. The other region, located on chromosome 1 (170.46-171.53 Mb), was associated with body weight from four to eighteen weeks and body size traits. This region contained CAB39L and WDFY2 as candidate genes. Notably, LCORL, LDB2, and PPARGC1A showed highly selective signatures among the three breeds of chicken with varying body sizes. Conclusion Overall this study provides a comprehensive map of genomic variants associated with body weight and size in chickens. We propose two genomic regions, one on chromosome 1 and the other on chromosome 4, that could helpful for developing genome selection breeding strategies to enhance meat yield in chickens.

The abundance of petroleum resource is influenced by various factors and involves complex parameters and extensive data. Consequently, traditional geostatistical methods often lack precision in quantitative prediction. To address this issue, this study focuses on the third member of Paleogene Shahejie Formation (member Es3) in the Wenliu area of the Dongpu Sag and utilizes a multi-layer perceptron neural network (MLP) for predicting petroleum resource abundance and employed the Boosting ensemble learning algorithm to optimize the prediction model. The MLP and MLP-Boosting algorithm models were test on 66 sample groups, yielding correlation coefficients of 0.789 and 0.989 for the training set, 0.618 and 0.825 for the validation set and 0.689 and 0.845 for the test set. The analysis identified effective thickness, average permeability and effective porosity are the most significant geological factors influencing petroleum resource abundance, with importance coefficients of 33.93%, 20.12% and 19.53%, respectively. Other factors such as trap area, surface crude oil density and sedimentary facies assignment were found to be less influential. Overall, the Boosting ensemble learning algorithm significantly enhanced the prediction accuracy of the multi-layer perceptron model, offering valuable insights for target optimization, exploration planning and petroleum resource evaluation in other blocks in the sag.

Studying the factors affecting machining accuracy, surface quality, and machining efficiency in the powerful honing machining process system, analyzing the basic law between various errors and machining quality, exploring the method of evaluating the quality of honing, and improving the machining quality and transmission performance of hardened gears has important engineering application value. Firstly, this paper establishes an effective abrasive grains micro-edge honing quality evaluation model, proposes a method based on the Trapezoidal Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (Tra-FAHP) and Set Pair Analysis (SPA) to comprehensively evaluate the quality of the honing process, and obtains the influence weights of each factor on the quality of honing. Secondly, the paper analyzes the influence rules of three types of abrasive grain sizes on helix error, tooth pitch error, tooth profile error, surface roughness, and honing efficiency. Finally, the correctness of the established comprehensive evaluation model of honing quality was verified with the threshold method and weights. The research results show that the model can correctly evaluate the quality of hardened gear honing and can be applied to studying the influence of abrasive grain micro-edge honing on machining characteristics.

ABSTRACT: Compared to high-yield commercial laying hens, Chinese indigenous chicken breeds have poor egg laying capacity due to the lack of intensive selection. However, as these breeds have not undergone systematic selection, it is possible that there is a greater abundance of genetic variations related to egg laying traits. In this study, we assessed 5 egg number (EN) traits at different stages of the egg-laying period: EN1 (from the first egg to 23 wk), EN2 (from 23 to 35 wk), EN3 (from 35 to 48 wk), EN4 (from the first egg to 35 wk), and EN5 (from the first egg to 48 wk). To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying egg number traits in a Chinese local chicken breed, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using data from whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of 399 Laiwu Black chickens. We obtained a total of 3.01 Tb of raw data with an average depth of 7.07 × per individual. A total of 86 genome-wide suggestive or significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) contained within a set of 45 corresponding candidate genes were identified and found to be associated with stages EN1-EN5. The genes vitellogenin 2 (VTG2), lipase maturation factor 1 (LMF1), calcium voltage-gated channel auxiliary subunit alpha2delta 3 (CACNA2D3), poly(A) binding protein cytoplasmic 1 (PABPC1), programmed cell death 11 (PDCD11) and family with sequence similarity 213 member A (FAM213A) can be considered as the candidate genes associated with egg number traits, due to their reported association with animal reproduction traits. Noteworthy, results suggests that VTG2 and PDCD11 are not only involved in the regulation of EN3, but also in the regulation of EN5, implies that VTG2 and PDCD11 have a significant influence on egg production traits. Our study offers valuable genomic insights into the molecular genetic mechanisms that govern egg number traits in a Chinese indigenous egg-laying chicken breed. These findings have the potential to enhance the egg-laying performance of chickens.

In this study, ω-3 medium- and long-chain triacylglycerols (MLCTs) microcapsules with excellent performance were obtained using soy protein as the wall component to address the oxidation-related problems of MLCTs. Additionally, the effect of soy, whey, or pea proteins on microcapsules in terms of the changes in their structure and physicochemical properties was investigated. The results showed that the small particle size, low PDI (polydispersity index) and zeta potential, fast adsorption rate, and low interfacial tension of these protein-based samples fabricated through the O/W template method were conducive to maintaining the integrity of microcapsules during spray-drying. The microcapsules, characterized by a spherical shape, exhibited superior encapsulation efficiency of 94.56%, surpassing the findings of previous investigations. Overall, these microcapsules exhibited long-term storage stability and low controllable release rates, which could be utilized as carriers for liposoluble actives.

Background: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) experience a decline in cardiac function, resulting in poor prognosis. Therefore, restoration of cardiac function and improvement of myocardial fibrosis is an important treatment goal for patients with T2DM. Material and methods: The chemical structure of oleanolic acid(OA) was downloaded from PubChem and uploaded to PharmMapper. GeneCards and OMIM databases were searched for genes related to OA and disease and plotted into a Venn diagram. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed using R software. Then, a mouse model of diabetes mellitus was established, and ELISA, echocardiographic analysis of cardiac function, TUNEL assay, and reactive oxygen species assay were performed. Results: Network pharmacology analysis identified the related targets and potential molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of OA in T2DM. ELISA, echocardiographic analysis of cardiac function, and TUNEL assay results showed that OA inhibits apoptosis and improves apoptotic indexes in mice with T2DM-induced myocardial injury. Conclusion: The results demonstrate the myocardial protective effect of OA in this mouse model.

ABSTRACT: Chicken ovarian follicle development is regulated by complex and dynamic gene expression. Nuclear receptor 5A1 and 5A2 (NR5A1 and NR5A2, respectively) are key genes that regulate steroid hormone production and gonadal development in mammals; however, studies on follicular development in the chicken ovary are scarce. In this study, we investigated the functions of NR5A1 and NR5A2 on follicle development in chickens. The results showed that the expression of NR5A1 and NR5A2 was significantly higher in small yellow follicles and F5. Furthermore, the expression of NR5A1 and NR5A2 was significantly higher in follicular tissues of peak-laying hens (30 wk) than in follicular tissues of late-laying hens (60 wk), with high expression abundance in granulosa cells (GC). The overexpression of NR5A1 and NR5A2 significantly promoted proliferation and inhibited apoptosis of cultured GC; upregulated STAR, CYP11A1, and CYP19A1 expression and estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) synthesis in GC from preovulatory follicles (po-GC); and increased STAR, CYP11A1, and CYP19A1 promoter activities. In addition, follicle-stimulating hormone treatment significantly upregulated NR5A1 and NR5A2 expression in po-GC and significantly promoted FSHR, CYP11A1, and HSD3B1 expression in GC from pre-hierarchical follicles and po-GC. The core promoter region of NR5A1 was identified at the −1,095- to −483-bp and −2,054- to −1,536-bp regions from the translation start site (+1), and the core promoter region of NR5A2 was at −998 to −489 bp. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were identified in the core promoter region of the NR5A1 gene, which differed between high- and low-yielding chicken groups. Our study suggested that NR5A1 and NR5A2 promoted chicken follicle development by promoting GC proliferation and E2 and P4 hormone synthesis and inhibiting apoptosis. Moreover, we identified the promoter core region or functional site that regulates NR5A1 and NR5A2 expression.

In this study, the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al0.45CoCrFeNiTix (x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0) high-entropy alloys were investigated. Various techniques including XRD, SEM, EBSD, and TEM were employed, along with hardness tests, compressive tests, and tensile tests conducted at room temperature. Our findings reveal that the alloy's microstructure changes from FCC + BCC to FCC + BCC + L21 phase as the Ti content increases. Specifically, the BCC content increases from 0.9 % to 62.3 %. This alteration in microstructure leads to a significant enhancement in the compressive yield strength of the alloy, from 305.96 MPa to 1492.53 MPa. The observed strengthening effect can be attributed to the increased BCC content and the formation of the L21 phase within the alloy. The results of the tensile experiments demonstrate that the Ti0.25 alloy exhibits the most favorable overall properties, possessing a yield strength of 619 MPa. This represents a significant increase of 64.6 % when compared to Ti0. The strengthening mechanism of the Al0.45CoCrFeNiTix high-entropy alloy is thoroughly discussed. The main strengthening mechanisms of the alloy system are fine grain strengthening, solid solution strengthening and second phase strengthening. This study achieves a balance between strength and ductility by modulating the phase composition of the alloy, laying the foundation for further development and research into the properties of the high-entropy alloys.

Fire has consistently posed a significant disaster risk worldwide. Current fire detection methods primarily rely on traditional physical sensors such as light, smoke, and temperature detectors, which often struggle in complex environments. The susceptibility of existing fire detection technologies to background interference frequently results in false alarms, missed detections, and low detection accuracy. To address these issues, this paper proposes a fire detection algorithm based on an improved YOLOv8 model. First, to enhance the detection capabilities for large-scale fire and smoke targets, a large target detection head is added to the backbone of the YOLOv8 model. This modification enhances the network’s receptive field, allowing it to capture a broader range of contextual information and identify fires over extensive areas. Secondly, an efficient multi-scale attention mechanism, EMA (Efficient Multi-Scale Attention Module), based on cross-space learning is integrated into the FPN (Feature Pyramid Network) part of the model. This mechanism highlights target features while suppressing background interference. Additionally, a PAN-Bag (Path Aggregation Network Bag) structure is proposed to help the model more accurately detect objects such as fire and smoke, which have uneven feature distributions and variable morphologies. With these improvements, we introduce the YOLOv8-FEP algorithm, which offers higher detection accuracy. Experimental results demonstrate that the YOLOv8-FEP algorithm improves the mAP by 3.1% and the accuracy by 5.8% compared to the original YOLOv8 algorithm, proving the effectiveness of the enhanced algorithm.

Abstract Background In this study, we explored the characteristics and causes of freckle formation. We collected 15 normal and freckled eggs each for eggshell index testing and hypothesized that the structure and function of the uterus would have a direct effect on freckled egg production given that eggshells are formed in the uterus. To test this hypothesis, we collected uterine tissue from laying hens (418 days of age) that laid normal (Group C, n = 13) and freckled (Group T, n = 16) eggs for 7 consecutive days. Results When we examined the eggshell quality, we found that the L value was significantly lower (P 0.05). There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between the transverse and longitudinal diameters of the eggs in each group.We then performed histopathology and transcriptome analyses on the collected tissue. When compared with group C, uterine junctional epithelial cells in group T showed significant defects and cilia loss, and epithelial tissue was poorly intact. From transcriptomics, genes that met (|log2FC|) ≥ 1 and P

Abstract Background This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of patients with chronic pharyngitis in Suzhou, China toward laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in patients with chronic pharyngitis in Suzhou, China at the otolaryngology outpatient clinic of the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University between November, 2022, and May, 2023. Data was collected through a self-designed online questionnaire encompassing the sociodemographic characteristics and three dimensions of KAP. The questionnaire was administered using SoJump, and data were exported from this platform. Subsequently, statistical analysis, including Structural Equation Modeling, was performed using SPSS 22 software to evaluate the KAP scores. Results A total of 487 valid questionnaires were collected, with 275 (56.35%) female patients. The mean score of KAP were 4.76 ± 2.93 (possible range: 0–11), 33.10 ± 4.46 (possible range: 8–40), 31.29 ± 6.04 (possible range: 8–40), respectively. Pearson’s correlation analysis showed significant positive correlations between knowledge and attitude dimensions (r = 0.413, P

Abstract Background The tumor microenvironment (TME) is an important factor that regulates the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the main mesenchymal cells in the TME and play a vital role in tumor progression; however, the specific underlying mechanisms require further study. Methods Multiple single-cell and transcriptome data were analyzed and validated. Primary CAFs isolation, CCK8 assay, co-culture assay, western blotting, multiple immunofluorescence, qRT-PCR, ELISA, immunoprecipitation, ChIP, double luciferase, and animal experiments were used to explore the potential mechanism of MYL9 regulation in CRC. Results Our findings revealed that MYL9 was predominantly localized and expressed in CAFs rather than in CRC cells, and bioinformatics analysis revealed that high MYL9 expression was strongly associated with poor overall and disease-free survival in various tumors. In addition, high MYL9 expression is closely associated with M2 macrophage infiltration, which can lead to an immunosuppressive microenvironment in CRC, making it insensitive to immunotherapy. Mechanically, MYL9 can regulate the secretion of CAFs on CCL2 and TGF-β1, thus affecting the immune microenvironment and progression of CRC. In addition, MYL9 bounded with IQGAP1 to regulate CCL2 and TGF-β1 secretion through the ERK 1/2 pathway, and CCL2 and TGF-β1 synergistically promoted CRC cells progression through the PI3K-AKT pathway. Furthermore, MYL9 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in CRC. During the upstream regulation of MYL9 in CAFs, we found that the EMT transcription factor ZEB1 could bind to the MYL9 promoter in CAFs, enhancing the activity and function of MYL9. Therefore, MYL9 is predominantly expressed in CAFs and can indirectly influence tumor biology and EMT by affecting CAFs protein expression in CRC. Conclusions MYL9 regulates the secretion of cytokines and chemokines in CAFs, which can affect the immune microenvironment of CRC and promote CRC progression. The relationship between MYL9 expression and CRC clinical staging and immunotherapy is closer in CAFs than in tumor cells; therefore, studies using CAFs as a model deserve more attention when exploring tumor molecular targets in clinical research.

Abstract Background Egg laying rate (LR) is associated with a clutch, which is defined as consecutive days of oviposition. The clutch trait can be used as a selection indicator to improve egg production in poultry breeding. However, little is known about the genetic basis of clutch traits. In this study, our aim was to estimate genetic parameters and identify quantitative trait single nucleotide polymorphisms for clutch traits in 399 purebred Laiwu Black chickens (a native Chinese breed) using a genome-wide association study (GWAS). Methods In this work, after estimating the genetic parameters of age at first egg, body weight at first egg, LR, longest clutch until 52 week of age, first week when the longest clutch starts, last week when the longest clutch ends, number of clutches, and longest number of days without egg-laying until 52 week of age, we identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and potential candidate genes associated with clutch traits in Laiwu Black chickens. The restricted maximum likelihood method was used to estimate genetic parameters of clutch pattern in 399 Laiwu Black hens, using the GCTA software. Results The results showed that SNP-based heritability estimates of clutch traits ranged from 0.06 to 0.59. Genotyping data were obtained from whole genome re-sequencing data. After quality control, a total of 10,810,544 SNPs remained to be analyzed. The GWAS revealed that 421 significant SNPs responsible for clutch traits were scattered on chicken chromosomes 1–14, 17–19, 21–25, 28 and Z. Among the annotated genes, NELL2, SMYD9 , SPTLC2, SMYD3 and PLCL1 were the most promising candidates for clutch traits in Laiwu Black chickens. Conclusion The findings of this research provide critical insight into the genetic basis of clutch traits. These results contribute to the identification of candidate genes and variants. Genes and SNPs potentially provide new avenues for further research and would help to establish a framework for new methods of genomic prediction, and increase the accuracy of estimated genetic merit for egg production and clutch traits.

Abstract Left ventricular regional wall thickness (LVRWT) is an independent predictor of morbidity and mortality in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). To identify specific genetic influences on individual LVRWT, we established a novel deep learning algorithm to calculate 12 LVRWTs accurately in 42,194 individuals from the UK Biobank with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging. Genome-wide association studies of CMR-derived 12 LVRWTs identified 72 significant genetic loci associated with at least one LVRWT phenotype (P

Ti/Al laminated composites embedded with Al0.5CoCrFeNi high entropy alloy particles were prepared by vacuum hot press sintering process at temperatures of 660 °C and 730 °C. The microstructure of the material was initially examined using XRD, SEM, EDS, EBSD, and TEM techniques. The results of microstructural characterisation show that Al3Ti is the only newly generated phase in the materials prepared at two temperatures. The Al3Ti generated at the temperature of 660 °C is concentrated at the Ti/Al interface position. The Al3Ti generated at a temperature of 730 °C is dispersed in the Al matrix, leading to the formation of numerous Al3Ti/Al interfaces. The residual HEA particles were observed at the sites of oxide aggregation, potentially enhancing the connectivity of the weak interfaces. Following that, the flexural strength and fracture toughness of the composites were evaluated. The results indicate that the materials prepared at a temperature of 730 °C exhibit superior properties. The flexural strength perpendicular to the layer direction reaches 515.89 MPa, while the flexural strength parallel to the layer direction reaches 487.1 MPa. These findings demonstrate clear anisotropy in the flexural performance. Additionally, the material exhibits excellent resistance to crack extension, with a fracture toughness of 32.67 MPa√m.