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Abstract Golden jackal optimization (GJO) is inspired by mundane characteristics and collaborative hunting behaviour, which mimics foraging, trespassing and encompassing, and capturing prey to refresh a jackal’s position. However, the GJO has several limitations, such as a slow convergence rate, low computational accuracy, premature convergence, poor solution efficiency, and weak exploration and exploitation. To enhance the global detection ability and solution accuracy, this paper proposes a novel complex-valued encoding golden jackal optimization (CGJO) to achieve function optimization and engineering design. The complex-valued encoding strategy deploys a dual-diploid organization to encode the real and imaginary portions of the golden jackal and converts the dual-dimensional encoding region to the single-dimensional manifestation region, which increases population diversity, restricts search stagnation, expands the exploration area, promotes information exchange, fosters collaboration efficiency and improves convergence accuracy. CGJO not only exhibits strong adaptability and robustness to achieve supplementary advantages and enhance optimization efficiency but also balances global exploration and local exploitation to promote computational precision and determine the best solution. The CEC 2022 test suite and six real-world engineering designs are utilized to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of CGJO. CGJO is compared with three categories of existing optimization algorithms: (1) WO, HO, NRBO and BKA are recently published algorithms; (2) SCSO, GJO, RGJO and SGJO are highly cited algorithms; and (3) L-SHADE, LSHADE-EpsSin and CMA-ES are highly performing algorithms. The experimental results reveal that the effectiveness and feasibility of CGJO are superior to those of other algorithms. The CGJO has strong superiority and reliability to achieve a quicker convergence rate, greater computation precision, and greater stability and robustness.

Abstract Background An mHealth-based school health education platform (EduSaltS) was promoted in real-world China to reduce salt intake among children and their families. This progress evaluation explores its implementation process and influencing factors using mixed methods. Methods The mixed-methods process evaluation employed the RE-AIM framework. Quantitative data were collected from a management website monitoring 54,435 third-grade students across two cities. Questionnaire surveys (n = 27,542) assessed pre- and post-education effectiveness. Mixed-effects models were used to control cluster effects. Qualitative interviews (23 individuals and 8 focus groups) identified program performance, facilitators, and barriers. Findings were triangulated using the RE-AIM framework. Results The program achieved 100% participation among all the third-grade classes of the 208 invited primary schools, with a 97.7% registration rate among all the 54,435 families, indicating high "Reach." Qualitative interviews revealed positive engagement from children and parents through the "small hands leading big hands" strategy. The high completion rate of 84.9% for each health cloud lesson and the significant improvement in salt reduction knowledge and behaviors scores from 75.0 (95%CI: 74.7–75.3) to 80.9 (95%CI: 80.6–81.2) out of 100 demonstrated the "Effect" of EduSaltS. The program's "Adoption" and "Implementation" were supported by attractive materials, reduced workload via auto-delivered lessons/activities and performance evaluation, and high fidelity to recommended activities, with medians 3.0 (IQR: 2.0–8.0)/class and 9.0 (IQR: 5.0–14.0)/school. Stable course completion rates (79.4%-93.4%) over one year indicated promising "Maintenance." Apart from the facilitating features praised by the interviewees, government support was the basis for the scaling up of EduSaltS. Barriers included the lack of smartphone skills among some parents and competing priorities for schools. Unhealthy off-campus environments, such as excessive use of salt in pre-packaged and restaurant foods, also hindered salt reduction efforts. The program's scalability was evident through its integration into existing health education, engagement of local governments and adaptation across various mobile devices. Conclusions The mHealth-based school health education program is scalable and effective for public salt reduction in China. Identified barriers and facilitators can inform future health program scale-ups. The program's successful implementation demonstrates its potential for broader application in public health initiatives aimed at reducing dietary salt intake.

Abstract Steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (SONFH) is the predominant cause of non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). Impaired blood supply and reduced osteogenic activity of the femoral head are the key pathogenic mechanisms of SONFH. Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) levels are not only a biomarker for early vascular lesions caused by abnormal mineral metabolism, but can also act directly on the peripheral vascular system, leading to vascular pathology. The aim of this study was to observe the role of FGF23 on bone microarchitecture and vascular endothelium, and to investigate activation of pyroptosis in SONFH. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) combined with methylprednisolone (MPS) was applied for SONFH mouse models, and adenovirus was used to increase or decrease the level of FGF23. Micro-CT and histopathological staining were used to observe the structure of the femoral head, and immunohistochemical staining was used to observe the vascular density. The cells were further cultured in vitro and placed in a hypoxic environment for 12 h to simulate the microenvironment of vascular injury during SONFH. The effect of FGF23 on osteogenic differentiation was evaluated using alkaline phosphatase staining, alizarin red S staining and expression of bone formation-related proteins. Matrigel tube formation assay in vitro and immunofluorescence were used to detect the ability of FGF23 to affect endothelial cell angiogenesis. Steroids activated the pyroptosis signaling pathway, promoted the secretion of inflammatory factors in SONFH models, led to vascular endothelial dysfunction and damaged the femoral head structure. In addition, FGF23 inhibited the HUVECs angiogenesis and BMSCs osteogenic differentiation. FGF23 silencing attenuated steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head by inhibiting the pyroptosis signaling pathway, and promoting osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs and angiogenesis of HUVECs in vitro.

Abstract A wideband end‐fire stepped slot antenna with gain enhancement and filtering capability is proposed. On one hand, a parasitic dipole serving as a director is introduced in the stepped slot to improve the radiation gain of the slot antenna without increasing its physical size. It is found that a gain enhancement of about 2 dB can be achieved after adopting such approach. On the other hand, an absorptive branch possessing a nearly complementary frequency response with regard to the one of the slot antenna is in‐parallel loaded at the microstrip feedline. It allows the partial dissipation of the out‐of‐band/non‐radiated RF‐signal power of the antenna to attain both an RF‐quasi‐absorptive behaviour and filtering capability. It is found that after loading the dissipative branch, the out‐of‐band radiation efficiency of the slot antenna is reduced to less than 20%. The measured results of a fabricated proof‐of‐concept antenna prototype show a reasonable agreement with the simulated ones and verify the RF performance merits of the proposed stepped slot antenna, such as wide RF operating band covering the 3.39−4.73‐GHz range, end‐fire radiation with a front‐to‐back ratio (FBR) above 10 dB, flat radiation gain, and co‐integrated filtering functionality with RF‐quasi‐absorptive capability.

Objective The main objective of this study was to determine available energy and nutritional digestibility of extruded cereals and the effect of extrusion on the nutritional value of feed ingredients, aiming to provide scientific basis for efficient application of extrusion in the diets of growing pigs. Methods In Exp. 1, 48 crossbred growing pigs (Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshire) with an initial body weight (BW) of 34.6±2.2 kg were selected and fed with eight diets (non-extrusion or extrusion) to determine the digestible energy (DE), metabolizable energy (ME), and nutrients digestibility. Eight diets included extruded grains (barley, wheat, sorghum, or broken rice), while four had unprocessed grains. In Exp. 2, 9 diets were formulated including 4 cereals with extrusion or non-extrusion and a N-free diet. In addition, 9 growing pigs (BW = 22.3±2.8 kg) were fitted with T-cannula in the distal ileum and arranged in a 9×6 Youden square design. Results Results show that apparent total tract digestibility of gross energy, dry matter, organic meal, ether extract, neutral and acid detergent fiber was not affected by the extrusion process and there was no interaction between cereal type and extrusion treatment on DE, ME. However, the apparent total tract digestibility for crude protein (CP) increased markedly (p

Abstract Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is considered to be the most common agent of severe diarrhea in cattle worldwide, causing fever, diarrhea, ulcers, and abortion. Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) is also a major bovine respiratory disease agent that spreads worldwide and causes extensive damage to the livestock industry. Recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) is a novel nucleic acid amplification method with the advantages of high efficiency, rapidity and sensitivity, which has been widely used in the diagnosis of infectious diseases. A dual RPA assay was developed for the simultaneous detection of BVDV and BoHV-1. The assay was completed at a constant temperature of 37 °C for 30 min. It was highly sensitive and had no cross-reactivity with other common bovine viruses. The detection rate of BVDV RPA in clinical samples (36.67%) was higher than that of PCR (33.33%), the detection rate of BoHV-1 RPA and PCR were equal. Therefore, the established dual RPA assay for BVDV and BoHV-1 could be a potential candidate for use as an immediate diagnostic.

Abstract Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and associated Cas protein (CRISPR–Cas), a powerful genome editing tool, has revolutionized gene function investigation and exhibits huge potential for clinical applications. CRISPR–Cas-mediated gene knockout has already become a routine method in research laboratories. However, in the last few years, accumulating evidences have demonstrated that genes knocked out by CRISPR–Cas may not be truly silenced. Functional residual proteins could be generated in such knockout organisms to compensate the putative loss of function, termed herein knockout escaping. In line with this, several CRISPR–Cas-mediated knockout screenings have discovered much less abnormal phenotypes than expected. How does knockout escaping happen and how often does it happen have not been systematically reviewed yet. Without knowing this, knockout results could easily be misinterpreted. In this review, we summarize these evidences and propose two main mechanisms allowing knockout escaping. To avoid the confusion caused by knockout escaping, several strategies are discussed as well as their advantages and disadvantages. On the other hand, knockout escaping also provides convenient tools for studying essential genes and treating monogenic disorders such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy, which are discussed in the end.

The genus Polygala (Polygalaceae), comprising about 670 species worldwide, has more than 40 species in China. The roots of Polygala tenuifolia Willd., Polygala sibirica L., and Polygala japonica Houtt. are recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopeia. Other closely related plants of the Polygala genus are also widely used in the folk medicine of southern China, such as Polygala fallax Hemsl., Polygala arvensis Willd., and Polygala glomerata Lour. To systematically compare the chemical compositional and elucidate characteristic compounds among the Polygala genus, six Polygala species, namely P. tenuifolia, P. sibirica, P. japonica, P. fallax, P. arvensis and P. glomerata, underwent comprehensive phytochemical studies using the ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass Spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) technique, resulting in the identification of 154 compounds, consisting of 62 oligosaccharide esters (40.26 %), 58 saponins (37.66 %), 29 xanthones (18.83 %), and 5 other chemicals (3.25 %). Based on the Masslynx computational tool, a comprehensive comparative phytochemical profiling was achieved and revealed differences in composition among the six Polygala species. P. sibirica exhibited higher levels of specific compounds and was more closely related to P. tenuifolia. Meanwhile, P. japonica showed greater similarity to P. fallax, P. arvensis, and P. glomerata. Oligosaccharide esters and triterpene saponins were more abundant in P. sibirica and P. tenuifolia than in other species. Furthermore, the antioxidant activities (1,1-diphenyl-2-acrylohydrazide [DPPH], 2,2′-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt [ABTS], copper ion reducing antioxidant capacity [CUPRAC], and ferric ion-reducing antioxidant power [FRAP]) of the six species were evaluated. Among them, P. tenuifolia demonstrated superior antioxidant potential, with a lower half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value for scavenging DPPH radicals and excellence in CUPRAC (119.85 ± 16.28 μM/0.01 g) compared to other plants. P. japonica showed higher ABTS (98.94 ± 0.03 μM/0.01 g) and FRAP (42.58 ± 0.08 μM/0.01 g). Total flavonoids showed remarkable antioxidant capabilities among the six medicinal plants. Total saponins and phenolics also contributed to the antioxidant potential of these plants. The systematic data and results obtained may provide methodological support for further evaluating the potential use of folk Polygala plants as new effective materials in various commercial sectors, including food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries.

Traditionally, virtual inertia is used as the control strategy for wind turbines when participating in frequency regulation. However, it has inherent defects in measurement error amplification due to the frequency differential. Also, when control delay of wind turbines is taken into consideration, virtual inertia is essentially a fast power response, just the same as droop control. Hence, considering the adaptability of droop control, it is valuable to explore a novel droop control method without virtual inertia, as the frequency response model of wind turbines. For this reason, a multi-segment droop control strategy is proposed to provide a reliable frequency regulation model for wind turbines that can be broadly applied to other inverter-based power sources. Firstly, based on the extended system frequency response model, a differential equation including piecewise time-varying coefficients is established, and the analytical expression of the frequency response is obtained using the impulse function balancing principle and the integration by parts algorithm. Subsequently, based on analytical expression, the performance of the presented strategy is theoretically analyzed via comparison with virtual inertia control, and the conclusion that the presented multi-segment droop control has better frequency regulation performance can be got. Furthermore, to achieve optimal frequency regulation performance, a Lagrangian function is established to determine the optimal parameters of the proposed control strategy. Finally, the performance of the proposed strategy was verified in a two-area system model constructed on MATLAB/Simulink. Results show that the proposed multi-segment droop control has better frequency regulation performance.

“Green-covering and red-heart” Guanyin Tuqu (GRTQ), as a type of special fermentation starter, is characterized by the “green-covering” formed on the surface of Guanyin Tuqu (SQ) and the “red-heart” in the center of Guanyin Tuqu (CQ). However, the mechanisms that promote temporal succession in the GRTQ microbial ecology and the formation of “green-covering and red-heart” characteristics remain unclear. Herein, we correlated the temporal profiles of microbial community succession with the main environmental variables (temperature, moisture, and acidity) and spatial position (center and surface) in GRTQ throughout fermentation. According to the results of high-throughput sequencing and culture-dependent methods, the microbial communities in the CQ and SQ demonstrated functional complementarity. For instance, the bacterial richness index of the CQ was greater than that of SQ, and the fungal richness index of the SQ was greater than that of CQ at the later stage of fermentation. Furthermore, Saccharomycopsis, Saccharomyces, Aspergillus, Monascus, Lactobacillus, Bacillus, Rhodanobacter, and Chitinophaga were identified as the dominant microorganisms in the center, while the surface was represented by Saccharomycopsis, Aspergillus, Monascus, Lactobacillus, Acetobacter, and Weissella. By revealing the physiological characteristics of core microorganisms at different spatial positions of GRTQ, such as Aspergillus clavatus and Monascus purpureus, as well as their interactions with environmental factors, we elucidated the color formation mechanism behind the phenomenon of “green” outside and “red” inside. This study provides fundamental information support for optimizing the production process of GRTQ.

Metal-based nanoparticles have garnered significant usage across industries, spanning catalysis, optoelectronics, and drug delivery, owing to their diverse applications. However, their potential ecological toxicity remains a crucial area of research interest. This paper offers a comprehensive review of recent advancements in studying the ecotoxicity of these nanoparticles, encompassing exposure pathways, toxic effects, and toxicity mechanisms. Furthermore, it delves into the challenges and future prospects in this research domain. While some progress has been made in addressing this issue, there is still a need for more comprehensive assessments to fully understand the implications of metal-based nanoparticles on the environment and human well-being.

Krill oil (KO), extracted from the Antarctic marine crustacean Euphausia superba, is a nutrient-dense substance that includes rich profiles of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs), phospholipids (PLs), astaxanthin (ASX), as well as vitamins A and E, minerals, and flavonoids. As a high-quality lipid resource, KO has been widely used as a dietary supplement for its health-protective properties in recent years. KO has various benefits, including antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, metabolic regulatory, neuroprotective, and gut microbiome modulatory effects. Especially, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects make KO have potential in skin care applications. With increasing demands for natural skin anti-aging solutions, KO has emerged as a valuable nutraceutical in dermatology, showing potential for mitigating the effects of skin aging and enhancing overall skin health and vitality. This review provides an overview of existing studies on the beneficial impact of KO on the skin, exploring its functional roles and underlying mechanisms through which it contributes to dermatological health and disease management.

Abstract Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) continues to pose a significant mortality risk with a lack of dependable biomarkers for early noninvasive cancer detection. Here, we find that aberrant lipid metabolism is significantly enriched in lung cancer cells. Further, we identified four signature lipids highly associated with LUAD and developed a lipid signature-based scoring model (LSRscore). Evaluation of LSRscore in a discovery cohort reveals a robust predictive capability for LUAD (AUC: 0.972), a result further validated in an independent cohort (AUC: 0.92). We highlight one lipid signature biomarker, PE(18:0/18:1), consistently exhibiting altered levels both in cancer tissue and in plasma of LUAD patients, demonstrating significant predictive power for early-stage LUAD. Transcriptome analysis reveals an association between increased PE(18:0/18:1) levels and dysregulated glycerophospholipid metabolism, which consistently displays strong prognostic value across two LUAD cohorts. The combined utility of LSRscore and PE(18:0/18:1) holds promise for early-stage diagnosis and prognosis of LUAD.

Abstract Insertion sequences (ISs) promote the transmission of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) across bacterial populations. However, their contributions and dynamics during the transmission of resistance remain unclear. In this study, we selected IS26 as a representative transposable element to decipher the relationship between ISs and ARGs and to investigate their transfer features and transmission trends. We retrieved 2656 translocatable IS26 ‐bounded units with ARGs (tIS26‐bUs‐ARGs) in complete bacterial genomes from the NCBI RefSeq database. In total, 124 ARGs spanning 12 classes of antibiotics were detected, and the average contribution rate of IS26 to these genes was 41.2%. We found that IS26 ‐bounded units (IS26‐bUs) mediated extensive ARG dissemination within the bacteria of the Gammaproteobacteria class, showing strong transfer potential between strains, species, and even phyla. The IS26‐bUs expanded in bacterial populations over time, and their temporal expansion trend was significantly correlated with antibiotic usage. This wide dissemination could be due to the nonspecific target site preference of IS26. Finally, we experimentally confirmed that the introduction of a single copy of IS26 could lead to the formation of a composite transposon mediating the transmission of “passenger” genes. These observations extend our knowledge of the IS26 and provide new insights into the mediating role of ISs in the dissemination of antibiotic resistance.

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the variation in gene expression in the complete transcripts of Congenitalpulmonary airwaymalformation (CPAM) of the lung using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology. There were 20 cases involving children with CPAM were used for selection of study sample. NGS was used to establish RNA-Seq libraries for the two groups of samples separately, and both groups were conducted to differential expression analysis and Gene Ontology (GO) functional enrichment analysis. The pathways of the differential genes were analyzed to find the enriched target pathways. A total of 592 genes were expressed with significant differences (CPAM vs. normal tissue, P

Abstract Type 2 diabetic kidney disease (T2DKD) is a common microvascular complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and its incidence is significantly increasing. Microinflammation plays an important role in the development of T2DKD. Based on this, this study investigated the value of inflammatory markers including neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in the prediction of T2DKD. This was a cross-sectional survey study. A total of 90 patients with T2DM, who were hospitalized in the nephrology and endocrinology departments of the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from June 2021 to January 2022, were included and divided into three groups (A1, A2, A3) according to the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR). Observe and compare the basic information, clinical and laboratory data, and the inflammatory markers NLR, hs-CRP, MCP-1. Results revealed that high levels of NLR (OR = 6.562, 95% CI 2.060–20.902, P = 0.001) and MCP-1 (OR = 1.060, 95% CI 1.026–1.095, P

Abstract Accurate mitosis is coordinated by the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) through the mitotic checkpoint complex (MCC), which inhibits the anaphase-promoting complex or cyclosome (APC/C). As an essential regulator, Cdc20 promotes mitotic exit through activating APC/C and monitors kinetochore-microtubule attachment through activating SAC. Cdc20 requires multiple interactions with APC/C and MCC subunits to elicit these functions. Functionally assessing these interactions within cells requires efficient depletion of endogenous Cdc20, which is highly difficult to achieve by RNA interference (RNAi). Here we generated Cdc20 RNAi-sensitive cell lines which display a penetrant metaphase arrest by a single RNAi treatment. In this null background, we accurately measured the contribution of each known motif of Cdc20 on APC/C and SAC activation. The CRY box, a previously identified degron, was found critical for SAC by promoting MCC formation and its interaction with APC/C. These data reveal additional regulation within the SAC and establish a novel method to interrogate Cdc20.

Abstract Background Rheum palmatum L. has important medicinal value because it contains biologically active anthraquinones. However, the key genes and TFs involved in anthraquinone biosynthesis and regulation in R. palmatum remain unclear. Methods Based on full length transcriptome data, in this study, we screened the differentially expressed genes in the anthraquinone biosynthesis pathway. The R2R3-MYB family genes of R. palmatum were systematically identified based on full-length transcriptome sequencing followed by bioinformatics analyses. The correlation analysis was carried out by using co-expression analysis, protein interaction analysis, and real-time fluorescence quantitative analysis after MeJA treatment. The RpMYB81 and RpMYB98 genes were amplified by RT-PCR, and their subcellular localization and self-activation characteristics were analyzed. Results Comparative transcriptome analysis results revealed a total of 3525 upregulated and 6043 downregulated DEGs in the CK versus MeJA group; 28 DEGs were involved in the anthraquinone pathway. Eleven CHS genes that belonged to the PKS family were differentially expressed and involved in anthraquinone biosynthesis. Twelve differentially expressed MYBs genes were found to be co-expressed and interact with CHS genes. Furthermore, 52 MYB genes were identified as positive regulators of anthraquinone biosynthesis and were further characterized. Three MYB genes including RpMYB81, RpMYB98, and RpMYB100 responded to MeJA treatment in R. palmatum, and the levels of these genes were verified by qRT-PCR. RpMYB81 was related to anthraquinone biosynthesis. RpMYB98 had an interaction with genes in the anthraquinone biosynthesis pathway. RpMYB81 and RpMYB98 were mainly localized in the nucleus. RpMYB81 had self-activation activity, while RpMYB98 had no self-activation activity. Conclusion RpMYB81, RpMYB98, and RpMYB100 were significantly induced by MeJA treatment. RpMYB81 and RpMYB98 are located in the nucleus, and RpMYB81 has transcriptional activity, suggesting that it might be involved in the transcriptional regulation of anthraquinone biosynthesis in R. palmatum.

Abstract Background Mediation analysis aims to determine how intermediate variables affect exposure to disease. In this study, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) was evaluated to assess its role in mediating heavy metal exposure and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methods A total of 9,377 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for the years 2011-2018 were included. Firstly, restricted cubic spline (RCS), and multivariable logistic regression model were performed to estimate the association between heavy metal exposure (Cadmium, Lead, Mercury, Manganese, and Selenium), as well as serum 25(OH)D and CVD. Secondly, using generalized linear regression model and generalized additive models with smooth functions, we investigated the correlation between heavy metal exposure and serum 25(OH)D. Finally, the mediation effect of serum 25(OH)D in the associations between heavy metal exposure and CVD was explored. Results The RCS plots revealed that Cadmium, and Lead were positively and linearly associated with CVD, while Mercury, and Manganese were inversely and linearly associated with CVD. Additionally, a roughly L- and U-shaped relationship existed between Selenium, as well as 25(OH)D and CVD. When potential confounding factors were adjusted for, serum 25(OH)D had negative associations with Cadmium, Lead, and Manganese, while serum 25(OH)D had positive relationship with Selenium. There was a mediation effect between Manganese exposure and CVD, which was mediated by 25(OH)D. Conclusion According to the mediation analysis, the negative association between Manganese exposure and incident CVD was increased by 25(OH)D. The increasing dietary intake of Vitamin D could increase the protective effect of manganese intake on CVD.

Abstract Aims Veno‐arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA‐ECMO) is an important technique for the treatment of refractory cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest; however, the early management of ventricular fibrillation/ventricular tachycardia (VF/VT), within 72 h of VA‐ECMO, and its effects on patient prognosis remain unclear. Methods and results We retrospectively analysed patients at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University who underwent VA‐ECMO between January 2017 and March 2022. The patients were divided into two groups, VF/VT and nVF/VT, based on whether or not VF/VT occurred within 72 h after the initiation of VA‐ECMO. We utilized logistic regression analysis to evaluate the independent risk factors for VF/VT in patients undergoing VA‐ECMO and to ascertain whether the onset of VF/VT affected 28 day survival rate, length of intensive care unit stay, and/or other clinical prognostic factors. Subgroup analysis was performed for the VF/VT group to determine whether defibrillation affected prognosis. In the present study, 126 patients were included, 65.87% of whom were males (83/126), with a mean age of 46.89 ± 16.23, a 28 day survival rate of 57.14% (72/126), an incidence rate of VF/VT within 72 h of VA‐ECMO initiation of 27.78% (35/126), and 80% of whom (28/35) received extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The incidence of VF/VT resulting from cardiac arrest at an early stage was significantly higher than that of refractory cardiogenic shock (80% vs. 20%; P = 0.022). The restricted cubic spline model revealed a U‐shaped relationship between VF/VT incidence and initial heart rate (iHR), and multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that an iHR > 120 b.p.m. [odds ratio (OR) 6.117; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.672–22.376; P = 0.006] and hyperlactataemia (OR 1.125; 95% CI 1.016–1.246; P = 0.023) within 1 h of VA‐ECMO initiation were independent risk factors for the occurrence of VF/VT. VF/VT was not found to be associated with the 28 day survival of patients undergoing VA‐ECMO support, nor did it affect other secondary endpoints. Defibrillation did not alter the overall prognosis in patients with VF/VT during VA‐ECMO. Conclusions An iHR > 120 b.p.m. and hyperlactataemia were independent risk factors for the occurrence of VF/VT within 72 h of VA‐ECMO initiation. The occurrence of VF/VT does not affect, nor does defibrillation in these patients improve the overall patient prognosis. Trial registration ChiCTR1900026105.

Plastic lunch box is a topic that food safety has been neglected, and there are few studies on the defects of plastic lunch box production. A multi-scale attention mechanism based on dynamic convolution is designed in this paper to solve the problems of large differences in surface defects of plastic lunch boxes and insensitive perception of multi-scale features. This attention mechanism enables the network to capture complex features adaptively, and enhances the perception of feature channel information and spatial information at various scales. Firstly, this paper integrates the attention mechanism into Slim-neck, and enhances the model’s ability to perceive multi-scale feature information. Secondly, a small target detection layer is added to Slim-neck to solve the semantic information loss problem of various defect features. Then dynamic convolution is integrated into YOLOv8n backbone network to capture complex features adaptively. Finally, MPDIoU is used as the boundary frame loss function, and geometric characteristics are used to improve the model’s perception ability of various defects. Experimental results show that the improved model YOLOv8n-D2SM in this paper achieves 82.8% mAP@0.5 index on the plastic lunch box dataset, which is 10% higher than that of the original model. The detection speed is 26 frames/s, and the number of model parameters is basically consistent with that of the original model. This improvement makes the model more adaptable and reliable in the task of surface defect detection of plastic lunch boxes, which is convenient for deployment and application in actual production scenarios.

A class of dielectric filtering inverted-L antenna with reflective- and quasi-reflectionless-type radiation nulls is proposed to achieve wideband or dual-band operation. To this aim, a dual-function dissipative branch is exploited, which is in-parallel loaded at the feedline of the microstrip-fed dielectric inverted-L antenna. This absorptive branch, which is terminated in a grounded resistor, exhibits a quasi-complementary frequency response with regard to the one of the antenna. In this manner, it can mostly absorb the out-of-band RF-signal power not radiated by the antenna, hence creating quasi-reflectionless-type radiation nulls. Furthermore, the loaded branch can also generate a notch band giving rise to a reflective-type radiation null, which comes determined by the length of the branch and it is independent of the quasi-reflectionless radiation nulls. Thus, by controlling the spectral location of the notch band out of or within the operational frequency band of the dielectric inverted-L antenna, wideband or dual-band operational capabilities can be functionalized into it. For experimental-validation purposes, proof-of-concept prototypes for the two devised wideband and dual-band antenna approaches are designed, manufactured, and characterized. The measured results are in reasonably-close agreement with the simulated ones. The measured fractional impedance bandwidths of the two antenna prototypes are 28.3% (wideband one), 3.1% and 4.2% (dual-band one), respectively.

Abstract Colorectal cancer is a grievous health concern, we have proved long non-coding RNA LINC00689 is considered as a potential diagnosis biomarker for colorectal cancer, and it is necessary to further investigate its upstream and downstream mechanisms. Here, we show that KLF15, a transcription factor, exhibits the reduced expression in colorectal cancer. KLF15 suppresses the proliferative and metastatic capacities of colorectal cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo by transcriptionally activating LINC00689. Subsequently, LINC00689 recruits PTBP1 protein to enhance the stability of LATS2 mRNA in the cytoplasm. This stabilization causes the suppression of the YAP1/β-catenin pathway and its target downstream genes. Our findings highlight a regulatory network involving KLF15, LINC00689, PTBP1, LATS2, and the YAP1/β-catenin pathway in colorectal cancer, shedding light on potential therapeutic targets for colorectal cancer therapy.

Abstract Background Periodontitis is a chronic oral inflammatory disease that seriously affects people's quality of life. The purpose of our study was to investigate the correlation between the systemic immune inflammation index (SII) and periodontitis by utilizing a large national survey. This will establish a reference for the early identification and management of periodontitis. Methods This study comprised the adult US population who participated in a national periodontitis surveillance project during the six years from 2009 to 2014. Through the utilization of univariate and multivariate weighted logistic regression, we investigated the correlation between the systemic immune inflammation index and periodontitis. Additionally, we employed sensitivity analyses to evaluate the robustness of our findings. Results The study involved 10,366 participants with an average age of 51.00 years, of whom 49.45% were male (N = 5126) and 50.55% were female (N = 5240). The prevalence of periodontitis is estimated to be about 38.43% in the US adults aged 30 or older population. Our logistic regression models indicated a positive association between a SII higher than 978 × 109/L and periodontitis. The elder group (aged 50 or older) with SII higher than 978 × 109/L demonstrated a significant correlation with periodontitis in the fully adjusted model (Odds Ratio [OR] = 1.409, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.037, 1.915, P = 0.022). However, there is no statistical difference among adults aged 30 to 50. The robustness of our findings was confirmed through sensitivity analyses. Conclusions Our study highlights that SII is associated with periodontitis in a nationally representative sample of US adults. And the SII is significantly associated with a high risk of periodontitis in individuals aged 50 or older.

In this paper, a kind of half-loop Yagi-Uda antenna made of high-permittivity dielectric is proposed to realize end-fire radiation. As two typical materials with high permittivity, low-loss zirconia ceramic and liquid pure water are here employed for the proposed antenna to attain high radiation efficiency and support the characteristic of pattern reconfigurability, respectively. The thin dielectric waveguide with high permittivity is here used as the metal wire of conventional wire antennas, due to its traveling-wave radiation under TM01 mode. The different radiation characteristics of the electrically small loop and full-wave loop antennas are discussed. And the dielectric large half-loop antenna with ground plane and bi-directional radiation is utilized to form a Yagi-Uda array for desired end-fire radiation. Moreover, circular loop elements are subsequently transformed into rectangular shape to reduce the profile of antenna and a comparison between the conventional metal Yagi-Uda antenna and the proposed dielectric one is provided. It is found that the dielectric parasitic element could play a more flexible role. Both ceramic and pure-water antenna prototypes are fabricated and tested. Measured results match the simulated ones well, which validates the predicted antenna performance.

Abstract Background Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is treated with transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) followed by intravesical instillation of chemotherapy or Bacillus Calmette–Guérin therapy. However, these treatments have a high recurrence rate and side effects, emphasizing the need for alternative instillations. Previously, we revealed that expanded allogeneic human natural killer (NK) cells from peripheral blood are a promising cellular therapy for prostate cancer. However, whether NK cells exhibit a similar killing effect in bladder cancer (BCa) remains unknown. Methods Expansion, activation, and cryopreservation of allogeneic human NK cells obtained from peripheral blood were performed as we previously described. In vitro cytotoxicity was evaluated using the cell counting kit-8. The levels of perforin, granzyme B, interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, and chemokines (C-C-motif ligand [CCL]1, CCL2, CCL20, CCL3L1, and CCL4; C-X-C-motif ligand [CXCL]1, CXCL16, CXCL2, CXCL3, and CXCL8; and X-motif ligand 1 and 2) were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression of CD107a, major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I), MHC-I polypeptide-related sequences A and B (MICA/B), cytomegalovirus UL16-binding protein-2/5/6 (ULBP-2/5/6), B7-H6, CD56, CD69, CD25, killer cell Ig-like receptors (KIR)2DL1, KIRD3DL1, NKG2D, NKp30, NKp46, and CD16 of NK cells or BCa and normal urothelial cells were detected using flow cytometry. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using lactate dehydrogenase assay in patient-derived organoid models. BCa growth was monitored in vivo using calipers in male NOD-scid IL2rg−/− mice subcutaneously injected with 5637 and NK cells. Differential gene expressions were investigated using RNA sequence analysis. The chemotaxis of T cells was evaluated using transwell migration assays. Results We revealed that the NK cells possess higher cytotoxicity against BCa lines with more production of cytokines than normal urothelial cells counterparts in vitro, demonstrated by upregulation of degranulation marker CD107a and increased interferon-γ secretion, by MICA/B/NKG2D and B7H6/NKp30-mediated activation. Furthermore, NK cells demonstrated antitumor effects against BCa in patient-derived organoids and BCa xenograft mouse models. NK cells secreted chemokines, including CCL1/2/20, to induce T-cell chemotaxis when encountering BCa cells. Conclusions The expanded NK cells exhibit potent cytotoxicity against BCa cells, with few toxic side effects on normal urothelial cells. In addition, NK cells recruit T cells by secreting a panel of chemokines, which supports the translational application of NK cell intravesical instillation after TURBT from bench to bedside for NMIBC treatment.

Emerging evidence suggested that zinc finger protein 831 (ZNF831) was associated with immune activity and stem cell regulation in breast cancer. Whereas, the roles and molecular mechanisms of ZNF831 in oncogenesis remain unclear. ZNF831 expression was significantly diminished in breast cancer which was associated with promoter CpG methylation but not mutation. Ectopic over-expression of ZNF831 suppressed breast cancer cell proliferation and colony formation and promoted apoptosis in vitro, while knockdown of ZNF831 resulted in an opposite phenotype. Anti-proliferation effect of ZNF831 was verified in vivo. Bioinformatic analysis of public databases and transcriptome sequencing both showed that ZNF831 could enhance apoptosis through transcriptional regulation of the JAK/STAT pathway. ChIP and luciferase report assays demonstrated that ZNF831 could directly bind to one specific region of STAT3 promoter and induce the transcriptional inhibition of STAT3. As a result, the attenuation of STAT3 led to a restraint of the transcription of Bcl2 and thus accelerated the apoptotic progression. Augmentation of STAT3 diminished the apoptosis-promoting effect of ZNF831 in breast cancer cell lines. Furthermore, ZNF831 could ameliorate the anti-proliferation effect of capecitabine and gemcitabine in breast cancer cell lines. Our findings demonstrate for the first time that ZNF831 is a novel transcriptional suppressor through inhibiting the expression of STAT3/Bcl2 and promoting the apoptosis process in breast cancer, suggesting ZNF831 as a novel biomarker and potential therapeutic target for breast cancer patients.

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between sleep duration and risk of sarcopenia in in general U.S. population. Methods: Utilizing publicly available data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey spanning from 2011 to 2014, we explored the association between sleep duration and prevalence of sarcopenia. To investigate their relationship, we conducted weighted multivariate logistic regression analysis, restricted cubic splines (RCS) curve, and subgroup analysis. Results: The study included 8,200 individuals, among whom 99 (0.9 %) had sarcopenia. The RCS curve revealed a U-shaped association of sarcopenia with sleep duration (P for nonlinearity = 0.020), showing that the risk of sarcopenia decreases with increasing sleep duration, reaching the lowest risk around 6.67 h. After controlling for underlying cofounders, compared to individuals with sleep duration 9 h group. The U-shaped association between sleep time and prevalence of sarcopenia also was observed in the subjects who aged

Background Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease requiring additional research. This study compared gene expression and immune infiltration between lesioned and preserved subchondral bone. The results were validated using multiple tissue datasets and experiments. Methods Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the lesioned and preserved tibial plateaus of OA patients were identified in the GSE51588 dataset. Moreover, functional annotation and protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analyses were performed on the lesioned and preserved sides to explore potential therapeutic targets in OA subchondral bones. In addition, multiple tissues were used to screen coexpressed genes, and the expression levels of identified candidate DEGs in OA were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Finally, an immune infiltration analysis was conducted. Results A total of 1,010 DEGs were identified, 423 upregulated and 587 downregulated. The biological process (BP) terms enriched in the upregulated genes included “skeletal system development”, “sister chromatid cohesion”, and “ossification”. Pathways were enriched in “Wnt signaling pathway” and “proteoglycans in cancer”. The BP terms enriched in the downregulated genes included “inflammatory response”, “xenobiotic metabolic process”, and “positive regulation of inflammatory response”. The enriched pathways included “neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction” and “AMP-activated protein kinase signaling”. JUN, tumor necrosis factor α, and interleukin-1β were the hub genes in the PPI network. Collagen XI A1 and leucine-rich repeat-containing 15 were screened from multiple datasets and experimentally validated. Immune infiltration analyses showed fewer infiltrating adipocytes and endothelial cells in the lesioned versus preserved samples. Conclusion Our findings provide valuable information for future studies on the pathogenic mechanism of OA and potential therapeutic and diagnostic targets.

Background There is a paucity of knowledge concerning the psychological variables that serve to facilitate the connection between physical activity and self-efficacy, and the factors capable of moderating these pathways. This study aimed to examine the relationship between physical activity and self-efficacy among college students, with a focus on the mediating effect of grit and the moderating effect of gender. Methods This study recruited 3,228 undergraduate students from a university in Shanghai, China. They completed the General Self-Efficacy Scale, the Short Grit Scale, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 26.0 and the Process v4.0 plugin. Results Physical activity had both a direct effect on self-efficacy (β = 0.07, 95% CI [0.04–0.11]) and an indirect effect through the two dimensions of grit: perseverance of effort (β = 0.06, 95% CI [0.04–0.07]) and consistency of interest (β = 0.03, 95% CI [0.02–0.04]). The mediating effect explained 53.27% of the total effect. Furthermore, gender moderated the relationship between perseverance of effort and self-efficacy, with a stronger effect observed in males (β = 0.08, t = 3.27, p

In the current context of the scarcity of fossil energy and the large-scale development and utilization of new energy sources, the power system is developing in the direction of multi-source synergy and interconnection. Demand response technology and energy storage technology have become important adjustment means of integrated energy system because of their efficient coordination ability and flexible adjustment ability. However, in the system where multiple energy systems operate cooperatively, there are still some limitations in time and capacity scales. Therefore, in order to enhance the demand-side response capability in multi-energy systems and give full play to the function of energy storage power stations, this paper proposes an optimal scheduling model for multi-area energy systems that considers joint demand response and shared energy storage. First, the system energy coupling matrix is constructed based on energy hubs, and the modeling framework for joint demand-side response and shared energy storage is established. Second, the multi-objective optimization problem is solved using NSGA-II algorithm solution with the optimization objectives of minimizing the total operating cost of the system and maximizing the net environmental impact. Finally, the simulation analysis is carried out. The simulation results show that the addition of joint demand response and shared energy storage can guide the scheduling optimization of multiple energy sources in each region in time and space, and realize the energy complementarity and mutual assistance of multi-regional energy systems. Compared with the traditional multi-regional energy system optimization scheduling scheme, the operation cost of the scheme is reduced by 4.2 %, and the environmental protection is improved by 41.9 %, which proves the feasibility of the optimal scheduling model proposed in this paper.

Mercury (Hg), as a global pollutant, is persistent, migratory, insidious, highly biotoxic and highly enriched, and is widely distributed in the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and lithosphere. Wetland ecosystems, as active mercury reservoirs, have become the most important sources and sinks of heavy metal mercury. Distinguished from natural wetlands, artificial wetlands located in urban sections of rivers face problems such as diverse urban pollution sources and complex spatial and temporal changes. Therefore, in this study, five intermittently distributed artificial wetlands were selected from the upstream to the downstream of the Changchun section of the Yitong River, a tributary of the Songhua River basin in the old industrial base of Northeast China. The mercury levels in the water bodies, sediments and plants of the artificial wetlands were collected and tested in four quarters from April 2023 to analyse the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of total mercury. The results showed that the mercury levels in the water bodies, sediments and plants of the five wetlands showed a fluctuating trend with the river flow direction and had certain spatial and temporal distribution characteristics. This phenomenon was attributed to the sinking of external mercury pollution sources. In general, the wetland ecosystems showed a decreasing trend in the total Hg output of the downstream watershed. This may be due to the retention of particulate matter by aquatic plants in artificial wetlands to regular salvage of dead aquatic plants. At the same time urbanization and industrialization affect mercury levels in aquatic environments, so the risk of residential exposure needs to be looked at.

Current studies of integrated demand response (IDR) across multiple campuses often use centralized, unified scheduling with individual campuses as the object of analysis, which ignores the independent autonomy of users within the park. To this end, this paper proposes a multi-level distributed demand response model for a multi-park integrated energy system, which is solved using a combination of the particle swarm optimization algorithm and mixed integer linear programming software. First, based on the existing two-part tariff, an energy management system is introduced to construct a park integrated demand response market based on a noncooperative game. Second, load aggregators are used as a link to form an optimized alliance of multiple parks, and the overall economy of the coalition is optimized through a cooperative game of multiple parks. The model allows for coordination and complementarity based on zonal autonomy, maximizing economic efficiency and exploring the demand response capability of users. Finally, an arithmetic simulation is carried out with a scenario of a day-ahead electricity peaking auxiliary service market, and the results verify the feasibility and economics of the designed model in a scenario where multiple parks participate in integrated demand response.

Abstract Background Venetoclax is clinically active in treating relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of venetoclax or venetoclax with other agents in treating RRMM. Methods PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library were comprehensively searched. We included studies investigating the efficacy and safety of venetoclax or venetoclax with other agents in treating RRMM. Overall response rates (ORR), stringent complete response rates (sCR), complete response rates (CR), very good partial response rates (VGPR), partial response rates (PR), stable disease (SD), progressive disease (PD) and adverse events were synthesized using either a random-effects model or a fixed-effects model. Results A total of 7 clinical trials with 482 patients with RRMM were included. Concerning venetoclax with other agents, the pooled ORR, sCR, CR, VGPR, PR, SD, and PD were 0.76 (95% CIs: 0.62, 0.87), 0.11 (95% CIs: 0.04, 0.21), 0.18 (95% CIs: 0.11, 0.26), 0.16 (95% CIs: 0.12, 0.25), 0.29 (95% CIs: 0.25, 0.34), 0.07 (95% CIs: 0.05, 0.10), and 0.11 (95% CIs: 0.04, 0.23). The overall rate of adverse events ≥ Grade 3 was 0.84 (95% CIs: 0.77, 0.91). The most common non-hematologic adverse events were nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, back pain, and vomiting; hematologic adverse events included thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, anemia, leukopenia, and lymphopenia. Conclusions This study indicates that venetoclax alone or in combination with other agents reveals favorable treatment responses and acceptable adverse events in treating RRMM.

Abstract Quantum resources construct new avenues to explore the cosmos. Considering bipartite-qubit detectors subjected to scalar fields in an expanding spacetime, quantum resources (including quantum coherence, quantum discord, Bell-nonlocality, and nonlocal advantage of quantum coherence) of the system are characterized. The influences of various cosmic parameters on these quantum resources are investigated. Besides, we use the filtering operation to propose a strategy that can be used to control these quantum resources. The results reveal that quantum coherence and quantum discord can not disappear at different expansion rapidity, expansion volumes, and particle masses of scalar field. Conversely, one can not capture Bell-nonlocality and nonlocal advantage of quantum coherence at higher expansion rapidity, larger expansion volume, and smaller particle mass. The dissipation of quantum resources can be resisted via the filtering operation. One can use the filtering operation to remarkably strengthen these quantum resources of the system.

This paper proposes an active learning accelerated Monte-Carlo simulation method based on the modified K-nearest neighbors algorithm. The core idea of the proposed method is to judge whether or not the output of a random input point can be postulated through a classifier implemented through the modified K-nearest neighbors algorithm. Compared to other active learning methods resorting to experimental designs, the proposed method is characterized by employing Monte-Carlo simulation for sampling inputs and saving a large portion of the actual evaluations of outputs through an accurate classification, which is applicable for most structural reliability estimation problems. Moreover, the validity, efficiency, and accuracy of the proposed method are demonstrated numerically. In addition, the optimal value of K that maximizes the computational efficiency is studied. Finally, the proposed method is applied to the reliability estimation of the carbon fiber reinforced silicon carbide composite specimens subjected to random displacements, which further validates its practicability.

Polygalae radix (PR) is a famous herbal medicine obtained by drying the root of Polygala tenuifolia Willd., one of the traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) that can be used for healthy food. There are three main processed methods of PR, including removing the xylem of roots (Polygalae Cortex, PC), frying PC with licorice (LP), and frying PC with honey (HP). While processing is believed to enhance efficacy and reduce toxicity, it is crucial to understand the differences in chemical composition and biological activities between crude and processed PR. This study used ultra-performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) combined with multivariate statistical analysis to analyze the chemical profiles and differences between the crude and processed products. Total polyphenol contents (TPC), total flavonoid contents (TFC), total saponin contents (TSC) and antioxidant activity of the processed and crude PR were also investigated. A total of 131 chemical compounds, including 42 saponins, 44 oligosaccharide esters, 25 xanthones, 2 organic acids, 3 Carbohydrates, and 15 components detected in auxiliary materials, were detected in all samples. Notably, PC exhibited significant changes among the three processed products, with the content of 62 compounds being higher. Processing of licorice (LP) and honey (HP) decreased the content of several compounds due to temperature and moisture influences. Comprehensive comparison of the antioxidant capacity of crude and processed PR showed that the antioxidant capacity of PC was higher than that of PR, HP, and LP. Our results can provide a scientific basis for further developing and applying P. tenuifolia resources.

Licorice is widespread in arid and semi-arid areas, but high soil salinity has always been a limiting factor for vegetation growth in these areas. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a signaling molecule that can regulate tolerance in plant. However, the mechanism by which exogenous GABA regulates the response of licorice to saline-alkali stress is not yet clear. In this study, we investigated the effects of exogenous GABA on growth parameters, oxidative damage, hormone levels and photosynthetic indices of licorice seedlings under different combinations of saline and alkali stress conditions. The experiment involved eight treatments: CK, distilled water (control); CK + GABA, 0.1 mM GABA; salt stress (SS), 150 mM NaCl; SS + GABA, 150 mM NaCl + 0.1 mM GABA; alkali stress (AS), 10 mM Na2CO3; AS + GABA, 10 mM Na2CO3 + 0.1 mM GABA; mixed saline-alkali stress (MAS), 150 mM NaCl + 10 mM Na2CO3; MAS + GABA, 150 mM NaCl + 10 mM Na2CO3 + 0.1 mM GABA. Our results showed that the inhibitory effects of SS and MAS on the seedling height, root length and root-shoot ratio were significantly alleviated by exogenous GABA. Although soluble sugars, chlorophyll a, total chlorophyll, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were lower in the leaves of the seedlings in the SS treatment compared with the control, these physiological parameters increased significantly after GABA application. Exogenous GABA improved glutathione (GSH) activity in both the leaves and roots of the seedlings during the AS treatment. Additionally, take advantage of GABA led to an increase in ABA, GA and IAA contents in leaves under SS, AS and MAS treatments. Furthermore, the photosynthetic parameters, including Pn, gs, Tr, ETR and qP, significantly increased following the utilization of GABA in both the SS and MAS treatments. Therefore, the application of exogenous GABA can reduce the accumulation of harmful substances, preserve cell morphology, and enhance cell function under saline, alkali, and saline-alkali stress. This enhances the resistance of licorice seedlings to stress conditions and reduces physiological damage.

With the rise of electric vehicles and fast charging technology, electric vehicle load forecasting has become a concern for electric vehicle charging station planners and operators. Due to the non-stationary nature of traffic flow and the instability of the charging process, it is difficult to accurately predict the charging load of electric vehicles, especially in sudden major events. In this article, We proposes a high-precision EV charging load forecasting model based on mRMR and IPSO-LSTM, which can quickly respond to the epidemic (or similar emergencies). Firstly, the missing data in the original EV charging load data are supplemented, and the abnormal data are corrected. Based on this, a factor set is established, which included five epidemic factors, including new confirmed cases, the number of moderate risk areas, the number of high risk areas, epidemic situation and epidemic prevention policies of the city, and other factors such as temperature. Secondly, the processed load data and other data in the influencing factor set are normalized, and the typical characteristic curve is established for personalized processing of the relevant data of epidemic factors, so as to improve the sensitivity of load response to epidemic changes and the ability to capture special data (peak and valley values and turning points of load). Then the maximum relevant minimum redundancy (mRMR) is used to select the optimal feature set from the set of influencing factors. Then, the processed load data and its corresponding optimal selection are input into the IPSO-LSTM model to obtain the final prediction result. Finally, taking the relevant data of EV charging load in a city in China from November 2021 to April 2022 (the city experienced two local epidemics in December 2021 and March 2022 respectively) as an example, the model is evaluated and compared with other models under the forecast period of 1 h. Meanwhile, the performance of the model under different foresight periods (2 h, 4 h, 6 h) is compared and analyzed. The results show that the model has good stability and representativeness, and can be used for EV charging load prediction under the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract When spin‐orbit coupling (SOC) is absent, all proposed half‐metals with twofold degenerate nodal points at the K (or K′) point in 2D materials are classified as “Dirac half‐metals” owing to the way graphene is utilized in the earliest studies. Actually, each band crossing point at the K or K′ point is described by a 2D Weyl Hamiltonian with definite chirality; hence, it should be a Weyl point. To the best of its knowledge, there have not yet been any reports of a genuine (i.e., fourfold degenerate) 2D Dirac point half‐metal. In this work, using first‐principles calculations, it proposes for the first time that the 2D d0‐type ferromagnet Mg4N4 is a genuine 2D Dirac half‐metal candidate with a fourfold degenerate Dirac point at the S high‐symmetry point, intrinsic magnetism, a high Curie temperature, 100% spin polarization, topology robust under the SOC and uniaxial and biaxial strains, and spin‐polarized edge states. This work can serve as a starting point for future predictions of intrinsically magnetic materials with genuine 2D Dirac points, which will aid the frontier of topo‐spintronics research in 2D systems.

The increase in wind penetration and the stochastic nature of wind can cause some wind power to be curtailed, leading to a loss of revenue. Wind farm owners can invest in power to gas (P2G)—compressed natural gas (CNG) truck systems to utilize the curtailed wind power that would otherwise have been wasted. This paper proposes a coordinated operation and optimal sizing strategy of P2G and CNG trucks. P2G derives its power from curtailed wind power and also purchases electricity at low prices to facilitate methane (natural gas) production. The methane is directly stored in CNG trucks, which are used as temporary storage and as a means of transporting the gas, thereby reducing costs by eliminating storage tank. Firstly, a coordinated operation strategy for P2G and CNG trucks considering curtailed wind power and electricity purchased from the grid is presented. Secondly, an optimal sizing optimization model to determine the capacity of P2G and the number of CNG trucks using particle swarm optimization is presented, considering the coordinated operation strategy and operation constraints to maximize profit when the proposed system participates in the retail gas market. Finally, case studies were conducted to verify the viability of the proposed strategy using curtailed wind power data, electricity price data, and gas price data. Result show that optimal capacity of the P2G plant is 9.9 MW, and the optimal number of CNG trucks is 2. There is a 19.8% cost reduction with a payback period of 5.728 years compared to the conventional strategy with a payback period of 8.52 years. 89.74% of curtailed wind power is utilized, while only 10.26% of curtailed wind power is unutilized. Higher utilization of curtailed wind power that would otherwise have been wasted is achieved. The system earns a profit by selling the produced natural gas to a retail gas market.

A novel controller using fixed-time sliding mode (FTSM) and fixed-time disturbance observer (FTDO) is proposed to achieve trajectory tracking control of robotic manipulators. First, the mathematical model is established for robots with dynamic model uncertainties and external disturbances. An FTSM control strategy is presented where the integral terms of position errors are introduced into the existing sliding mode surface (SMS) to reduce the steady-state error of the system. The exponential form in the integral terms can provide an appropriate control force for tracking systems when the position errors are far from the sliding surface for a long time. Then, an FTDO is designed to obtain a precise estimation of lumped disturbances which can be used to weaken the impact of disturbances on the control accuracy. Finally, the fixed-time convergence properties of the tracking control system are demonstrated using Lyapunov stability theory. Simulation research is carried out to illustrate that the proposed control strategy has strong robustness and fast-tracking speed.

The traditional equation of impact echo (IE) thickness resonant frequency upon P-wave reflections is developed based on P-wave velocity and thickness of the plate and a geometric correction factor. The thickness resonant frequency of the IE testing is traditionally considered owing to multiple reflections of P waves among the plate surfaces. However, recent studies have proved that the thickness resonance is because of standing waves caused by the first symmetric mode of Lamb waves at zero group velocity (S1ZGV). This study derives the equation for resonant frequency computation based on the Rayleigh–Lamb equation. Factors affecting the frequency are systematically examined using a range of Poisson’s ratios, thicknesses, densities, and moduli for concrete plates. Numerical simulations of one Portland cement concrete plate and one asphalt concrete plate are employed to validate the new equation. Results indicate that the resonant frequency can be expressed based on the P-wave velocity when the Poisson’s ratio is less than 1/3. It can be expressed based on the S-wave velocity when the Poisson’s ratio is greater than 1/3. A solid physical and theoretical explanation is provided to the correction factor, that is, the ratio of the resonant frequency of S1ZGV waves to that of body waves. Results of case studies indicate that the new equations can significantly improve the accuracy of the estimated frequencies with their errors one order of magnitude less than those from the traditional equation.

Lutein (Lut) and zeaxanthin (Zx) are promising healthy food ingredients; however, the low solubilities, stabilities, and bioavailabilities limit their applications in the food and beverage industries. A protein-based complex represents an efficient protective carrier for hydrophobic ligands, and its ligand-binding properties are influenced by the formulation conditions, particularly the pH level. This study explored the effects of various pH values (2.5–9.5) on the characteristics of whey protein isolate (WPI)–Lut/Zx complexes using multiple spectroscopic techniques, including ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis), fluorescence, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopies and dynamic light scattering (DLS). UV–Vis and DLS spectra revealed that Lut/Zx were present as H-aggregates in aqueous solutions, whereas WPI occurred as nanoparticles. The produced WPI–Lut/Zx complexes exhibited binding constants of 104–105 M−1, which gradually increased with increasing pH from 2.5 to 9.5. FTIR spectra demonstrated that pH variations and Lut/Zx addition caused detectable changes in the secondary WPI structure. Moreover, the WPI–Lut/Zx complexes effectively improved the physicochemical stabilities and antioxidant activities of Lut/Zx aggregates during long-term storage and achieved bioaccessibilities above 70% in a simulated gastrointestinal digestion process. The comprehensive data obtained in this study offer a basis for formulating strategies that can be potentially used in developing commercially available WPI complex-based xanthophyll-rich foods.

ObjectiveTo systematically review and quantitively evaluate the efficacy and safety of mirabegron as a medical expulsive therapy for ureteral stones.MethodsWe performed an extensive search of the EMBASE and PubMed databases for studies examining the use of mirabegron as a medical expulsive therapy for ureteral stones. The primary outcome measure assessed was the stone expulsion rate (SER), while the secondary outcomes evaluated were the stone expulsion interval (SEI) and the occurrence of pain episodes during follow-up. Risk ratios (RRs) and mean differences (MDs) with their respective 95% CIs were calculated.ResultsWe included a total of seven studies involving 728 participants. Our analysis revealed a significant increase in the stone expulsion rate (SER) with mirabegron (RR = 1.40; 95% CI = 1.17–1.67; p

Abstract mRNA vaccines have emerged as highly effective strategies in the prophylaxis and treatment of diseases, thanks largely although not totally to their extraordinary performance in recent years against the worldwide plague COVID-19. The huge superiority of mRNA vaccines regarding their efficacy, safety, and large-scale manufacture encourages pharmaceutical industries and biotechnology companies to expand their application to a diverse array of diseases, despite the nonnegligible problems in design, fabrication, and mode of administration. This review delves into the technical underpinnings of mRNA vaccines, covering mRNA design, synthesis, delivery, and adjuvant technologies. Moreover, this review presents a systematic retrospective analysis in a logical and well-organized manner, shedding light on representative mRNA vaccines employed in various diseases. The scope extends across infectious diseases, cancers, immunological diseases, tissue damages, and rare diseases, showcasing the versatility and potential of mRNA vaccines in diverse therapeutic areas. Furthermore, this review engages in a prospective discussion regarding the current challenge and potential direction for the advancement and utilization of mRNA vaccines. Overall, this comprehensive review serves as a valuable resource for researchers, clinicians, and industry professionals, providing a comprehensive understanding of the technical aspects, historical context, and future prospects of mRNA vaccines in the fight against various diseases.

Aurora kinase A (Aurora-A), a serine/threonine kinase, plays a pivotal role in various cellular processes, including mitotic entry, centrosome maturation and spindle formation. Overexpression or gene-amplification/mutation of Aurora-A kinase occurs in different types of cancer, including lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and breast cancer. Alteration of Aurora-A impacts multiple cancer hallmarks, especially, immortalization, energy metabolism, immune escape and cell death resistance which are involved in cancer progression and resistance. This review highlights the most recent advances in the oncogenic roles and related multiple cancer hallmarks of Aurora-A kinase-driving cancer therapy resistance, including chemoresistance (taxanes, cisplatin, cyclophosphamide), targeted therapy resistance (osimertinib, imatinib, sorafenib, etc.), endocrine therapy resistance (tamoxifen, fulvestrant) and radioresistance. Specifically, the mechanisms of Aurora-A kinase promote acquired resistance through modulating DNA damage repair, feedback activation bypass pathways, resistance to apoptosis, necroptosis and autophagy, metastasis, and stemness. Noticeably, our review also summarizes the promising synthetic lethality strategy for Aurora-A inhibitors in RB1, ARID1A and MYC gene mutation tumors, and potential synergistic strategy for mTOR, PAK1, MDM2, MEK inhibitors or PD-L1 antibodies combined with targeting Aurora-A kinase. In addition, we discuss the design and development of the novel class of Aurora-A inhibitors in precision medicine for cancer treatment.

Abstract Background Streptococcus pneumoniae is a gram-positive opportunistic pathogen, and infection risks of S. pneumoniae can be profoundly augmented by its acquired multidrug-resistance (MDR). The rapid development of MDR in S. pneumoniae was attributed to the international dissemination of a small number of multidrug-resistant “clones.” Clonal complex (CC) 271 is a prevalent MDR CC in the world and the most prevalent CC in China. However, the evolutionary trajectories of multidrug-resistant S. pneumoniae CC271 in China still are largely unknown. Methods We investigated a collection of 1312 S. pneumoniae isolates collected from 28 tertiary hospitals in China from 2007 to 2020. Recombination prediction and recombination-masked phylogenetic analysis were combined to determine the population structure and mode of evolution of CC271. Data from the Global Pneumococcal Sequencing program (GPS) were combined to understand the global distribution of clones identified in this study. Bayesian analysis were recruited to analysis the evolutionary dynamics of dominant clones within CC271 in China. Results The phylogenomic analysis resulted in the discovery of two globally distributed clones, ST271-A and ST271-B. ST271-A was a derivative of ST236 and an ancestor of ST271-B and ST320, refining the internal phylogenetic relationship of CC271. ST271-B was the most dominant clone in China, with higher β-lactam resistance especially for cephalosporins comparing to other MDR clones. Bayesian skyline plot showed a rapid expansion of 19F ST271-B from 1995 to 2000, which correlates with the widespread use of cephalosporins in the 1990s in China. 19A ST320, a vaccine-escape clone, is the second largest population in China. The Bayesian skyline plot showed that the 19A ST320 began to expand rapidly around 2001, which appeared to coincide with the prevalence of 19A after application of PCV7 in 2000 in the USA. We also observed frequent transmission of 19A ST320 between countries. It suggests that mass vaccination in some countries could affect the prevalence of clones in unvaccinated countries in the context of high-frequency international transmission. Conclusions Our results refined the internal phylogenetic relationship of CC271, showing that the 19F ST271-B and 19A ST320 evolved independently from ST271-A, with different histories and driving forces for their evolution and dissemination in China.

Highlights Construction of a viscoelastic composite nacre with a ripple-like layered architecture through supramolecular interactions. Outstanding self-adhesion, self-healing and scrape-resistant mechanical and thermal properties. Utility as an integrated heat spreader and TIMs for “chameleon-like” thermal management of planar soft electronics.