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Abstract Background Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) is an important vegetable crop that often suffers from low-temperature stress during growth. However, the molecular mechanism involved in its response to chilling stress remains unknown. In this study, we comprehensively investigated the effect of chilling stress in pumpkin seedlings by conducting physiological, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analyses. Results Under chilling stress, there was an overall increase in relative electrical conductivity, along with malondialdehyde, soluble sugar, and soluble protein contents, but decreased superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activities and chlorophyll contents in seedling leaves compared with controls. Overall, 5,780 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 178 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) were identified under chilling stress. Most DEGs were involved in plant hormone signal transduction and the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway, and ERF, bHLH, WRKY, MYB, and HSF transcription factors were induced. Metabolomic analysis revealed that the contents of salicylic acid (SA), phenylalanine, and tyrosine increased in response to chilling stress. The findings indicated that the SA signaling and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways are key to regulating the responses to chilling stress in pumpkins. Conclusion Overall, our study provides valuable insights into the comprehensive response of C. moschata to chilling stress, enriching the theoretical basis of this mechanism and facilitating the development of molecular breeding strategies for pumpkin tolerance to chilling stress.

Abstract Background and aims Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and diabetic nephropathy (DN) both have microcirculation dysfunction. Urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) is a biomarker for DN. We aimed to explore the links between DPN and UACR in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods A total of 195 T2DM patients were defined as Control or DPN group. Clinical parameters were compared, and the association between HbA1c (or UACR) and DPN was analyzed. Risk factors for DPN were observed, and the diagnostic values of HbA1c and UACR were assessed. Results Compared with 104 participants without DPN, 91 individuals with DPN exhibited higher HbA1c and UACR levels. In all patients, increased HbA1c and UACR were identified as risk factors for DPN in individuals with T2DM. Moreover, increased HbA1c was a risk factor for DPN in volunteers without DN, whereas elevated UACR was determined as a risk factor for DPN in participants with DN. The cut-off point for HbA1c (7.65%) in patients without DN had a sensitivity of 86.0% and specificity of 44.6%, while the cut-off point for UACR (196.081 mg/g) in patients with DN had a sensitivity of 52.9% and specificity of 76.2%. Conclusion Elevated HbA1c and UACR levels are risk factors for DPN and may serve as potential biomarkers for DPN in T2DM patients.

Abstract This study compares the optical quality of zonal refractive multifocal and diffractive bifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) and visual outcomes after implantation in 93 patients(93 eyes) with cataracts and high myopia. A retrospective analysis was conducted to measure visual acuity at far, intermediate, and near distances, defocus curves, wavefront aberrations, modulation transfer function (MTF), a Quality of Vision questionnaire (QoV) and visual quality self-evaluation were examined at 3 months. The results demonstrated the ZMB group showed better uncorrected near visual acuity (P

Abstract Background This study explored the correlation between peripheral blood lipid levels and clinicopathological parameters in patients with advanced gastric cancer (GC), focusing on changes in lipid levels during disease progression. Methods Pathological features and serum lipid profiles of 179 patients with stage III-IV gastric adenocarcinoma were analyzed. Lipid parameters examined included total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), apolipoprotein AI (Apo AI), apolipoprotein B (Apo B), lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), among others. The total cholesterol-lymphocyte score (TL score) and BMI were also calculated. The association between lipid parameters and clinicopathological characteristics such as age, gender, family history, and metastasis sites was assessed. Results In GC patients, females had higher TG levels than males. Patients with peritoneal metastasis had significantly lower levels of TC, LDL-C, Apo B, and B/A ratio. Those with lung metastasis exhibited higher LDL-C levels and lower levels of VLDL-C. No significant associations were found between lipid levels and metastasis to distant lymph nodes, liver, or bone. Female patients with ovarian metastasis had significantly lower VLDL-C levels. Multivariate analysis revealed low TC as an independent risk factor for peritoneal metastasis, high LDL-C and low VLDL-C levels for lung metastasis, and younger age and low VLDL-C for ovarian metastasis. Conclusion Specific blood lipid levels are significantly associated with metastatic sites in advanced gastric cancer. Lipid profiles could serve as potential biomarkers for predicting metastatic sites in GC patients.

Abstract Background Postoperative sore throat (POST) is a common complaint after general anaesthesia. The prevalence of POST caused by a neural integrity monitor electromyography endotracheal tube (NIM-EMG-ETT) is high. This study aimed to determine whether ultrasound-guided internal branch of superior laryngeal nerve block (iSLNB) could alleviate POST associated with a NIM-EMG-ETT. Methods This randomized controlled trial plans to enroll 182 patients scheduled to undergo general anaesthesia with a NIM-EMG-ETT. Patients will be randomly allocated into the iSLNB group or the control group according to randomized numbers generated by Excel. After induction, patients in the iSLNB group will undergo ultrasound-guided iSLNB with ropivacaine, and patients in the control group will undergo the same procedure with normal saline. The prevalence, severity, visual analogue scale score of POST, and postoperative acoustic analysis will be recorded. Discussion To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the effect of ultrasound-guided iSLNB with ropivacaine on the mitigation of POST induced by NIM-EMG-ETT. Our study will provide clinical answers to alleviate POST induced by NIM-EMG-ETT. The results of this study may provide a safe method to prevent POST caused by NIM-EMG-ETT. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2300076393. Registered on October 24, 2023, http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx .

Abstract Asthenoteratozoospermia is a major cause of male infertility. Thus far, the identified related genes can explain only a small share of asthenoteratozoospermia cases, suggesting the involvement of other genes. The transmembrane protein TMEM232 is highly expressed in mouse testes. In the present study, to determine its function of TMEM232 in testes, we constructed a Tmem232-null mouse model using CRISPR–Cas9 technology. Tmem232 knockout (KO) male mice was completely infertile, and their sperm were immotile, with morphological defects of the flagellum. Electron microscopy revealed an aberrant midpiece-principal junction and the loss of the fourth outer microtubule doublet in the sperm of Tmem232 −/− mice. Sperm cells presented an 8 + 2 conformation and an irregular arrangement of the mitochondrial sheath. Proteomic analysis revealed altered expression of proteins related to flagellar motility, sperm capacitation, the integrity and stability of sperm structure, especially an upregulated expression of multiple ribosome components in TMEM232-deficient spermatids. Additionally, TMEM232 was observed to be involved in autophagy by interacting with autophagy-related proteins, such as ATG14, to regulate ribosome homeostasis during spermiogenesis. These results suggest that TMEM232, as a potential scaffold protein involving in the correct assembly, distribution, and stability maintenance of certain functional complexes by recruiting key intracellular proteins, is essential for the formation of a highly structured flagellum and plays an important role in the autophagic elimination of cytosolic ribosomes to provide energy for sperm motility.

Background: RNA binding proteins (RBPs) play a role in sorting non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) into exosomes. These ncRNAs, carried by exosomes, are involved in regulating various aspects of tumor progression, including metastasis, angiogenesis, control of the tumor microenvironment, and drug resistance. Recent studies have emphasized the importance of the RBP-ncRNA-exosome mechanism in tumor regulation. Aim of review: This comprehensive review aims to explore the RBP-ncRNA-exosome mechanism and its influence on tumor development. By understanding this intricate mechanism provides novel insights into tumor regulation and may lead to innovative treatment strategies in the future. Key scientific concepts of review: The review discusses the formation of exosomes and the complex relationships among RBPs, ncRNAs, and exosomes. The RBP-ncRNA-exosome mechanism is shown to affect various aspects of tumor biology, including metastasis, multidrug resistance, angiogenesis, the immunosuppressive microenvironment, and tumor progression. Tumor development relies on the transmission of information between cells, with RBPs selectively mediating sorting of ncRNAs into exosomes through various mechanisms, which in turn carry ncRNAs to regulate RBPs. The review also provides an overview of potential therapeutic strategies, such as targeted drug discovery and genetic engineering for modifying therapeutic exosomes, which hold great promise for improving cancer treatment.

Abstract Chickens are the most abundant agricultural animals globally, with controlling abdominal fat deposition being a key objective in poultry breeding. While GWAS can identify genetic variants associated with abdominal fat deposition, the precise roles and mechanisms of these variants remain largely unclear. Here, we use male chickens from two lines divergently selected for abdominal fat deposition as experimental models. Through the integration of genomic, epigenomic, 3D genomic, and transcriptomic data, we build a comprehensive chromatin 3D regulatory network map to identify the genetic regulatory mechanisms that influence abdominal fat deposition in chickens. Notably, we find that the rs734209466 variant functions as an allele-specific enhancer, remotely enhancing the transcription of IGFBP2 and IGFBP5 by the binding transcription factor IRF4. This interaction influences the differentiation and proliferation of preadipocytes, which ultimately affects phenotype. This work presents a detailed genetic regulatory map for chicken abdominal fat deposition, offering molecular targets for selective breeding.

Abstract Epidermal growth factor receptor wild type lung adenocarcinoma (EGFRWT LUAD) still has limited treatment options and unsatisfactory clinical outcomes. Ferroptosis, as a form of cell death, has been reported to play a dual role in regulating tumor cell survival. In this study, we constructed a 3-ferroptosis-gene signature, FeSig, and verified its accuracy and efficacy in predicting EGFRWT LUAD prognosis at both the RNA and protein levels. Patients with higher FeSig scores were found to have worse clinical outcomes. Additionally, we explored the relationship between FeSig and tumor microenvironment, revealing that enhanced interactions between fibroblasts and tumor cells in FeSighigh patients causing tumor resistance to ferroptosis. To address this challenge, we screened potential drugs from NCI-60 (The US National Cancer Institute 60 human tumour cell line anticancer drug screen) and Connectivity map database, ultimately identifying 6-mercatopurine (6-MP) as a promising candidate. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated its efficacy in treating FeSighigh EGFRWT LUAD tumor models. In summary, we develop a novel FeSig for predicting prognosis and guiding drug application.

Abstract Acute lung injury (ALI) is a serious acute respiratory disease that can cause alveolar-capillary barrier disruption and pulmonary edema, respiratory failure and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. However, there is no effective drugs in clinic until now. GSK3179106 has been reported can alleviate intestinal stress syndrome, but the protective effect of GSK3179106 on ALI has not been elucidated. The present study will evaluate the pharmacological activity of GSK3179106 on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation and lung injury and clarify its underlying mechanism. We found that GSK3179106 significantly attenuated LPS-induced lung injury in vivo, accompanied by inhibited infiltration of inflammatory cells and reduced expression of inflammatory cytokines. Meanwhile, GSK3179106 dose-dependently reduced the LPS-induced IL-6 expression both in protein and gene levels in macrophages. Mechanistically, GSK3179106 could inhibited the phosphorylation of P38 MAPK induced by LPS. Importantly, results showed that there is a direct combination between GSK3179106 and P38 MAPK. Together, our findings not only clarified the anti-inflammatory activity of GSK3179106 but also discovered its new clinical indications. Therefore, compound GSK3179106 may be a potential candidate for the treatment of acute inflammatory diseases.

Abstract Background Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common and serious joint disease and patients mainly suffer from knee pain and dysfunction, significantly impacting their quality of life and daily activities. Non-pharmacological treatments and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are the two major treatments for knee OA. TKA is the primary treatment for severe knee OA patients, however, the postoperative rehabilitation results are not entirely satisfactory. To enhance postoperative rehabilitation outcomes, preoperative lower-limb muscle strengthening has aroused attention and demonstrated significant results on functional recovery after TKA. Specifically, isokinetic muscle strengthening (IMS) has been highly anticipated as an efficient training method. Nevertheless, its effects in perioperative and long-term periods of TKA require further investigation. This study aims to evaluate the impact of preoperative lower-limb IMS during the 4 weeks before TKA on the perioperative and postoperative outcomes, with particular attention on knee function, pain, and inflammatory response. Methods In this study, 104 patients awaiting TKA will be randomized to 2 groups: the IMS and health education groups. All patients will be evaluated at baseline, post-intervention, discharge day, and postoperative day 14, with follow-up assessments at 6 weeks, 3, 6, and 12 months after discharge. The primary outcome will be the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score 3 months after TKA and the medial-to-lateral knee contact force ratio. The secondary outcomes will be changes in lower-limb muscle strength, knee pain, inflammation response, active range of motion, performance-based function (5-times Sit-to-Stand Test, Time Up-and-Go Test, 3 m walking speed), Berg Balance Scale, and surgical need. Discussion Lower-limb IMS can improve muscle strength, pain, and function for early knee OA patients. However, the effects of different doses of IMS on perioperative and postoperative knee pain, inflammation response, and function after TKA are inconclusive. This study will provide high-quality evidence to assess the efficacy of IMS in end-stage patients who will undergo TKA. Understanding IMS in end-stage knee OA patients will help guide future surgical management for this population. Trial Registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2400088136.

Abstract Previous studies have indicated a potential association between the alanine aminotransferase to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (ALT/HDL-C) ratio and the risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, but its relation with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remains uncertain. This study aims to investigate the correlation between the ALT/HDL-C ratio in early pregnancy and the risk of GDM. This study is a secondary analysis based on an open-source cohort study. A total of 590 single pregnant women attending two hospitals in Korea up to 14 weeks gestation were included between November 2014 and July 2016. Logistic regression analysis, subgroup analysis, and smooth curve fitting were employed to explore the association between the ALT/HDL-C ratio and GDM risk. The predictive capability of the ALT/HDL-C ratio for GDM was assessed using ROC curve analysis. The average age of participants was 32.06 ± 3.80 years, with a GDM incidence rate of 6.27%. Multifactorial logistic regression analysis revealed that the serum ALT/HDL-C ratio is an independent influencing factor for GDM (OR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.02–1.16). Furthermore, a non-linear relationship between the ALT/HDL-C ratio and GDM risk was observed, with a turning point at 5.51. The effect size (OR) on the left and right sides of the turning point were 0.75 (95% CI: 0.37–1.59) and 1.55 (95% CI: 1.18-2.00), respectively. Additionally, when combined with age, pre-pregnancy body mass index, parity, and insulin resistance index in a prediction model for GDM, the ALT/HDL-C ratio demonstrated improved sensitivity of prediction by reaching up to 67.6%, specificity of prediction by reaching up to 87.3%, and an area under curve value of 0.819 (95%CI: 0.743–0.894). In early pregnancy, the serum ALT/HDL-C ratio shows a positive correlation with maternal risk in a nonlinear manner. The combination of ALT/HDL-C ratio with maternal characteristics and metabolic indicators provides good predictive value for GDM. This study may facilitate optimization of GDM prevention in pregnant women and enable timely and effective intervention to enhance their prognosis.

New types of aerial robots (NTARs) have found extensive applications in the military, civilian contexts, scientific research, disaster management, and various other domains. Compared with traditional aerial robots, NTARs exhibit a broader range of morphological diversity, locomotion capabilities, and enhanced operational capacities. Therefore, this study defines aerial robots with the four characteristics of morphability, biomimicry, multi-modal locomotion, and manipulator attachment as NTARs. Subsequently, this paper discusses the latest research progress in the materials and manufacturing technology, actuation technology, and perception and control technology of NTARs. Thereafter, the research status of NTAR systems is summarized, focusing on the frontier development and application cases of flapping-wing micro-air vehicles, perching aerial robots, amphibious robots, and operational aerial robots. Finally, the main challenges presented by NTARs in terms of energy, materials, and perception are analyzed, and the future development trends of NTARs are summarized in terms of size and endurance, mechatronics, and complex scenarios, providing a reference direction for the follow-up exploration of NTARs.

To reveal the enrichment conditions and resource potential of coal-rock gas in the Ordos Basin, this paper presents a systematic research on the sedimentary environment, distribution, physical properties, reservoir characteristics, gas-bearing characteristics and gas accumulation play of deep coals. The results show that thick coals are widely distributed in the Carboniferous–Permian of the Ordos Basin. The main coal seams Carboniferous 5# and Permian 8# in the Carboniferous–Permian have strong hydrocarbon generation capacity and high thermal evolution degree, which provide abundant materials for the formation of coal-rock gas. Deep coal reservoirs have good physical properties, especially porosity and permeability. Coal seams Carboniferous 5# and Permian 8# exhibit the average porosity of 4.1% and 6.4%, and the average permeability of 8.7×10−3 μm2 and 15.7×10−3 μm2, respectively. Cleats and fissures are developed in the coals, and together with the micropores, constitute the main storage space. With the increase of evolution degree, the micropore volume tends to increase. The development degree of cleats and fissures has a great impact on permeability. The coal reservoirs and their industrial compositions exhibit significantly heterogeneous distribution in the vertical direction. The bright coal seam, which is in the middle and upper section, less affected by ash filling compared with the lower section, and contains well-developed pores and fissures, is a high-quality reservoir interval. The deep coals present good gas-bearing characteristics in Ordos Basin, with the gas content of 7.5–20.0 m3/t, and the proportion of free gas (greater than 10%, mostly 11.0%–55.1%) in coal-rock gas significantly higher than that in shallow coals. The enrichment degree of free gas in deep coals is controlled by the number of macropores and microfractures. The coal rock pressure testing shows that the coal-limestone and coal-mudstone combinations for gas accumulation have good sealing capacity, and the mudstone/limestone (roof)-coal-mudstone (floor) combination generally indicates high coal-rock gas values. The coal-rock gas resources in the Ordos Basin were preliminarily estimated by the volume method to be 22.38×1012 m3, and the main coal-rock gas prospects in the Ordos Basin were defined. In the central-east of the Ordos Basin, Wushenqi, Hengshan–Suide, Yan'an, Zichang, and Yichuan are coal-rock gas prospects for the coal seam #8 of the Benxi Formation, and Linxian West, Mizhi, Yichuan–Huangling, Yulin, and Wushenqi–Hengshan are coal-rock gas prospects for the coal seam #5 of the Shanxi Formation, which are expected to become new areas for increased gas reserves and production.

Abstract As oil production increasingly transitions from shallow to deep formation, the need for efficient PDC cutters to drill through deep hard rock becomes paramount. Currently, there is a lack of effective methods for optimizing cutter shapes and their cutting parameters. This study addresses this gap by developing a rock-breaking mechanism model for PDC cutters and proposing a Stability Index (SI) based on cutting force variations during the cutting process. Using the FDEM method, we simulated the rock-breaking processes of planar, stinger, and machete cutters under various cutting depths and angles. SI and Mechanical Specific Energy (MSE) were employed as evaluation metrics to analyze the rock-breaking characteristics and determine the optimal cutting parameters for each cutter type. The results indicate that at shallow cutting depths, cutting force changes are minimal, predominantly causing plastic damage to the rock, resulting in lower stress and reduced wear on the PDC cutters. Conversely, at greater cutting depths, significant fluctuations in cutting force occur, leading to brittle failure and the generation of large cuttings. This sudden increase in cutting force can accelerate rock breaking but also increases the risk of cutter wear. Our findings suggest that the planar cutter offers stable performance with high cutting force requirements, optimal at a cutting depth of 1.5 mm and an angle of less than 20°. The stinger cutter, requiring lower cutting forces, performs best at a cutting depth of 2 mm and an angle of 20°. The machete cutter exhibits characteristics similar to the stinger cutter at shallow depths and the planar cutter at deeper depths, making it suitable for drilling at a depth of 2 mm and an angle of less than 10°. By balancing SI and MSE, this study provides a comprehensive approach to optimizing PDC cutter performance, enhancing drilling efficiency while minimizing cutter wear.

Abstract Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a diffuse brain tissue injury caused by acute ischemia and hypoxia, and it is most commonly found in newborn infants but can also occur in adults. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapies have showed improved outcomes for treating HIE-induced neuronal defects. However, many key issues associated with poor cell viability and tolerance of grafted MSCs after HIE remain to be resolved. Genetic engineering could endow MSCs with more robust regenerative capacities. Our research, along with that of other scientists, has found that the expression of intracellular erythropoietin (EPO) in human umbilical cord MSCs (hUC-MSCs) increases proportionally with the duration of hypoxia exposure. Furthermore, we observed that EPO, when introduced into the EPO gene-modified hUC-MSCs, can be secreted into the extracellular space. However, the underlying mechanisms that support the neuroprotective effects of EPO-MSCs remain unclear. EPO-MSCs, hUC-MSCs, and NC-MSCs were identified by flow cytometry, osteogenic, and adipogenic differentiation assays. The oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)-induced SH-SY5Y cell-line was established, and five groups were set up: control, 24-h ischemia-hypoxia, co-cultured with hUC-MSCs, NC-MSCs, and EPO-MSCs after hypoxia. LEGENDplex™ multi-factor flow cytometry was used to detect the secretion of inflammatory factors in cell supernatants and cerebrospinal fluid. Chromosome-targeted excision and tagging (CUT&Tag) sequencing was applied to detect genomic H3K4me2 modifications, and conjoint analysis with transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed. Lentiviral vector infection was used to construct SH-SY5Y cells with stable knockdown of RE1-silencing transcription factor (REST), and flow cytometry was used to detect alterations in apoptosis. Finally, the molecular mechanism underlying the neuroprotective and anti-apoptotic effects of EPO-MSCs was investigated using RNA sequencing, qRT-PCR, and western blot assays. Our results suggest that EPO-MSCs are genetically engineered to secrete significantly more EPO. EPO-MSCs treatment has anti-apoptotic properties and offers neuronal protection during ischemic-hypoxic injury. Furthermore, RNA-seq results suggest that multiple inflammation-related genes were down-regulated after EPO-MSCs treatment. Application of RNA-seq and CUT&Tag combined analysis found that the expressions of REST were significantly up-regulated. Lentiviral vector infection to construct REST knockdown SH-SY5Y failed to rescue apoptosis after hypoxia and co-culture with EPO-MSCs, and SETD2-mediated H3K36me3 protein level expression was reduced. EPO-MSCs may promote neuronal survival by affecting H3K4me2 and thus activating the expression of REST and TET3. EPO-MSCs also upregulated the modification level of SETD2-mediated H3K36me3 and regulated the expression of inflammation-related genes such as PLCG2, as well as apoptosis genes BCL2A1. To investigate the neuroprotective effects of EPO-modified hUC-MSCs and the underlying epigenetic regulatory mechanisms, this study aims to provide a theoretical foundation for the potential application of EPO gene-modified hUC-MSCs in the treatment of HIE.

Abstract Materials capable of dynamic persistent luminescence (PersL) within the visible spectrum are highly sought after for applications in display, biosensing, and information security. However, PersL materials with eye-detectable and excitation-wavelength-dependent characteristics are rarely achieved. Herein, a nonstoichiometric compound CaGaxO4:Bi (x

Abstract Background Whey, which has high biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand, is mass-produced as a major by-product of the dairying industry. Microbial fermentation using whey as the carbon source may convert this potential pollutant into value-added products. This study investigated the potential of using whey powder to produce α-ketoisovalerate, an important platform chemical. Results Klebsiella oxytoca VKO-9, an efficient L-valine producing strain belonging to Risk Group 1 organism, was selected for the production of α-ketoisovalerate. The leucine dehydrogenase and branched-chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase, which catalyzed the reductive amination and oxidative decarboxylation of α-ketoisovalerate, respectively, were inactivated to enhance the accumulation of α-ketoisovalerate. The production of α-ketoisovalerate was also improved through overexpressing α-acetolactate synthase responsible for pyruvate polymerization and mutant acetohydroxyacid isomeroreductase related to α-acetolactate reduction. The obtained strain K. oxytoca KIV-7 produced 37.3 g/L of α-ketoisovalerate from lactose, the major utilizable carbohydrate in whey. In addition, K. oxytoca KIV-7 also produced α-ketoisovalerate from whey powder with a concentration of 40.7 g/L and a yield of 0.418 g/g. Conclusion The process introduced in this study enabled efficient α-ketoisovalerate production from low-cost substrate whey powder. Since the key genes for α-ketoisovalerate generation were integrated in genome of K. oxytoca KIV-7 and constitutively expressed, this strain is promising in stable α-ketoisovalerate fermentation and can be used as a chassis strain for α-ketoisovalerate derivatives production.

Abstract. Background:. The causal relationship between visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and gout is still unclear. We aimed to examine the potential association between them using observational and Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses. Methods:. In the observational analyses, a total of 11,967 participants (aged 39.5 ± 11.5 years) were included from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Logistic regression models were used to investigate the association between VAT mass and the risk of gout. In two-sample MR analyses, 211 VAT mass-related independent genetic variants (derived from genome-wide association studies in 325,153 UK biobank participants) were used as instrumental variables. The random-effects inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method was used as the primary analysis. Additional sensitivity analyses were also performed to validate our results. Results:. Observational analyses found that an increase in VAT mass (per standard deviation) was associated with a higher risk of gout after controlling for confounding factors (odds ratio [OR] = 1.27, 95% confidence intervals [CI] = 1.11–1.45). The two-sample MR analyses demonstrated a causal relationship between increased VAT mass and the risk of gout in primary analyses (OR = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.57–2.03). Sensitivity analyses also showed similar findings, including MR-Egger, weighted median, simple mode, weighted mode, and leave-one-out analyses. Conclusions:. Observational analyses showed a robust association of VAT mass with the risk of gout. Meanwhile, MR analyses also provided evidence of a causal relationship between them. In summary, our findings suggested that targeted interventions for VAT mass may be beneficial to prevent gout.

In order to assessing the heterogeneity of Bacillus sp. isolates spoilage potential, six Bacillus sp. isolates isolated from spoiled low-temperature sausages were used to investigate the heterogeneity of their spoilage properties at 20 ℃ (room temperature) and 37 ℃ (optimum growth temperature). The growth curve, acid production capacity, gas production capacity, protease activity, lipase activity, and amylase activity of six strains of Bacillus sp. were measured in the experiment. The results revealed that Bacillus cereus (C) had the greatest capacity for producing acid and that after 48 hours at 37 ℃, the pH in the culture medium dropped by 0.71 relative to the blank control group. Following a 5-day culture at 37 ℃, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (G) displayed the greatest protease and amylase activities, with a maximum protease activity of 7.17 U/mL and a decomposition circle area of starch agar of 16.53 cm2. Bacillus cereus (C) exhibited the least comprehensive spoiling ability, as evidenced by its protease activity of 2.63 U/mL and the decomposition circle area of starch agar of 7.55 cm2 after 5 days of culture at 37 ℃. Furthermore, it was discovered that the growth temperature significantly impacted the spoilage potential of the strains. In summary, there was great heterogeneity in the spoilage characteristics of Bacillus sp.. When examining its spoilage traits, it is important to consider this heterogeneity.

Abstract Radioactive safety in nuclear facilities is of utmost importance. Prior to workers entering these areas, a 3D radiation field is needed for accurately estimating their exposure. Due to the complex relationship between radiation measurements and radiation fields, implementing neural networks is a promising approach for reconstruction. However, research on direct 3D radiation field reconstruction using neural networks is limited, and there is no standardized open-source dataset for training and evaluation. To address these issues, we created a simplified model of a nuclear facility and utilized the Monte Carlo program MCShield to simulate 3D radiation parameters. MCShield, which is mainly used for shielding calculations, has been verified for accuracy through benchmark tests. In addition, this paper proves the correctness of the MCShield program and the effectiveness of the AIS variance reduction method through calculations on the WinFrith Iron benchmark experiment and the NUREG/CR-6115 benchmark. The results show that the MCShield program as well as the AIS method can be used for dataset calculations.

Abstract Visual working memory depends on both material-specific brain areas in the ventral visual stream (VVS) that support the maintenance of stimulus representations and on regions in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) that control these representations. How executive control prioritizes working memory contents and whether this affects their representational formats remains an open question, however. Here, we analyzed intracranial EEG (iEEG) recordings in epilepsy patients with electrodes in VVS and PFC who performed a multi-item working memory task involving a retro-cue. We employed Representational Similarity Analysis (RSA) with various Deep Neural Network (DNN) architectures to investigate the representational format of prioritized VWM content. While recurrent DNN representations matched PFC representations in the beta band (15–29 Hz) following the retro-cue, they corresponded to VVS representations in a lower frequency range (3–14 Hz) towards the end of the maintenance period. Our findings highlight the distinct coding schemes and representational formats of prioritized content in VVS and PFC.

Abstract Background While the significant association between leisure activities and frailty risk among older adults is well-established, the impact of integrated leisure activity scores and different categories of them on frailty trajectories over time remains unclear. Methods This study utilized longitudinal data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), which enrolled participants aged 65 years and older between 2002 and 2018. Frailty trajectories were derived using group-based trajectory modelling, and based on these trajectories, subjects were classified into various categories. Leisure activity was measured by integrated scores as well as three distinct categories: physically, cognitively, and socially stimulating activity. The effect of leisure activity on frailty trajectories was examined using multinomial logistic regression. Results By analysing data from 2,299 older adults, three frailty trajectories were identified: non-frail, moderate progressive, and high progressive. The results indicated that an increase in the score of integrated leisure activity was associated with 11% (odds ratio [OR] 0.89; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.85–0.93) and 14% (OR 0.86; 95% CI 0.80–0.91) decrease in the likelihood of being in the moderate and high progressive frailty trajectories, respectively. Engaging in physically stimulating activity lowered the odds of belonging to the moderate and high progressive trajectory by 43% (OR 0.57; 95% CI 0.40–0.81; OR 0.57; 95% CI 0.36–0.92, respectively). Participation in socially stimulating activity showed a lower odd of being in the moderate progressive trajectory (OR 0.68; 95% CI 0.49–0.93) and the high progressive trajectory (OR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.39–0.95). The effects of leisure activities on frailty trajectories were observed not to vary by age, education level and retirement status. Conclusions This study suggests that older adults should be encouraged to increase both the amount and variety of their leisure activities. Physically stimulating activities should be considered the primary choice, followed by socially and cognitively stimulating activities.

Abstract T helper cells, particularly T follicular helper (TFH) cells, are essential for the neutralizing antibody production elicited by pathogens or vaccines. However, in immunocompromised individuals, the inefficient support from TFH cells could lead to limited protection after vaccine inoculation. Here we showed that the conjugation of inducible T cell costimulatory (ICOS) onto the nanoparticle, together with immunogen, significantly enhanced the immune response of the vaccines specific for SARS-CoV-2 or human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) in TFH-deficient mice. Further studies indicated that ICOSL on B cells was triggered by ICOS binding, subsequently activated the PKCβ signaling pathway, and enhanced the survival and proliferation of B cells. Our findings revealed that the stimulation of ICOS-ICOSL interaction by adding ICOS on the nanoparticle vaccine significantly substitutes the function of TFH cells to support B cell response, which is significant for the immunocompromised people, such as the elderly or HIV-1-infected individuals.

Abstract Background Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection significantly contributes to the global cancer burden. Understanding the factors influencing male clinical interns’ willingness to promote HPV vaccination is crucial for developing effective public health strategies in China. Methods This study employed a stratified random sampling method to select 1,980 male clinical interns from five provinces in China between January and March 2024. Data were collected on participants’ demographic characteristics, HPV-related clinical experience, and knowledge. The Theory of Planned Behavior framework, encompassing attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control, was used to examine factors influencing the willingness to promote the HPV vaccine. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with the willingness to promote the HPV vaccine. Results Among the respondents, 72.29% were willing to encourage others to receive the HPV vaccine. Significant factors influencing this willingness included older age (OR = 3.065, P ≤ 0.001), higher monthly household income (OR = 1.449, P = 0.025), participation in the diagnosis and treatment of HPV-related diseases (OR = 3.458, P ≤ 0.001), positive attitude towards the vaccine (OR = 13.503, P = 0.004), and strong perceived behavioral control (OR = 2.364, P = 0.006). Conclusion This study highlights the critical role of practical experience and targeted education in promoting HPV vaccination among male clinical interns in China. Enhancing the training and education of this group is essential for improving HPV vaccine advocacy and supporting public health efforts to reduce HPV-related diseases.

Abstract In this study, we successfully established a novel gallbladder cancer cell line, designated as GBC-X1, derived from a primary tumor of a gallbladder cancer patient. By comprehensively analyzing the cell line’s phenotype, molecular characteristics, biomarkers, and histological characteristics, we confirmed that GBC-X1 serves as a valuable model for investigating the pathogenesis of gallbladder cancer and developing therapeutic agents. GBC-X1 has been continuously cultured for one year, with over 60 stable passages. Morphologically, GBC-X1 exhibits typical features of epithelial tumors. The population doubling time of GBC-X1 is 32 h. STR analysis validated a high consistency between GBC-X1 and the patient’s primary tumor. Karyotype analysis revealed an abnormal hypertetraploid karyotype for GBC-X1, characterized by representative karyotypes of 98, XXXX del (4) p (12) del (5) p (21) der (10). Under suspension culture conditions, GBC-X1 efficiently forms tumor balls, while subcutaneous inoculation of GBC-X1 cells into NXG mice leads to xenograft formation with a rate of 80%. Drug sensitivity testing demonstrated that GBC-X1 is resistant to oxaliplatin and sensitive to 5-FU, gemcitabine, and paclitaxel. Immunohistochemistry revealed positive expression of CK7, CK19, E-cadherin, MMP-2, CD44, SOX2, and TP53 in GBC-X1 cells, weak positive expression of Vimentin, and a Ki67 positive rate of 35%. Our research highlights GBC-X1 as a novel gallbladder cancer cell line and emphasizes its potential as an effective experimental model for investigating the pathogenesis of gallbladder cancer and drug development.

Walnut kernels, selected as the raw material, underwent hydrolysis with protein-glutaminase (PG) following pulping. This process laid the foundation for producing set-type walnut yogurt, involving steps such as blending, homogenization, sterilization, and fermentation. The study investigated the impact of protein-glutaminase and five distinct starter cultures labeled I~V on the quality of walnut yogurt. This was evaluated by examining the yogurt's fermentation characteristics, physicochemical indicators, and microstructure. Furthermore, walnut yogurt developed under these optimal conditions was compared to traditional milk yogurt to assess its quality and characteristics. The findings revealed a significant improvement in the fermentation characteristics and textural parameters of yogurt fermented by walnut milk following enzymatic hydrolysis compared to non-enzymatic walnut milk. The optimal conditions were identified as 0.2% enzyme concentration and a 40-minute reaction time, with the pH, acidity, hardness, and consistency of walnut yogurt being 4.3, 55°T, 85.30 g, and 583.96 g·s, respectively. Walnut yogurt developed using starter culture I exhibited the highest acidity level, maintaining minimal fluctuation over a 21-day storage period. In contrast, yogurts prepared with alternative starter cultures demonstrated varying degrees of stratification and sedimentation. The yogurt fermented with culture I showed superior viscoelastic properties, presenting a denser gel network. Conversely, yogurts fermented with cultures IV and V displayed reduced apparent viscosity, lower values of G' (storage modulus), and G'' (loss modulus), along with a looser gel structure. Additionally, walnut yogurt produced with starter culture I maintained bacterial counts exceeding 106 CFU/mL throughout the storage duration. Despite walnut yogurt requiring further refinement in aspects such as consistency, water-holding capacity, and whey release rate compared to milk yogurt, the overall impact of PG was positive, enhancing the gelation quality of walnut yogurt. The yogurt prepared with starter culture I (Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus) was notably improved, receiving favorable overall assessments.

Abstract Mandarin Chinese is typologically unusual among the world’s languages in having flexible word order despite a near absence of inflectional morphology. These features of Mandarin challenge conventional linguistic notions such as subject and object and the divide between syntax and semantics. In the present study, we tested monolingual processing of argument structure in Mandarin verb-final sentences, where word order alone is not a reliable cue. We collected participants’ responses to a forced agent-assignment task while measuring their electroencephalography data to capture real-time processing throughout each sentence. We found that sentence interpretation was not informed by word order in the absence of other cues, and while the coverbs BA and BEI were strong signals for agent selection, comprehension was a result of multiple cues. These results challenge previous reports of a linear ranking of cue strength. Event-related potentials showed that BA and BEI impacted participants’ processing even before the verb was read and that role reversal anomalies elicited an N400 effect without a subsequent semantic P600. This study demonstrates that Mandarin sentence comprehension requires online interaction among cues in a language-specific manner, consistent with models that predict crosslinguistic differences in core sentence processing mechanisms.

Abstract Effectively controlling the selective conversion of CO2 photoreduction to C2 products presents a significant challenge. Here, we develop a heterojunction photocatalyst by controllably implanting Au nanoparticles and single atoms into unsaturated Mo atoms of edge-rich MoS2, denoted as Aun/Au1-CMS. Photoreduction of CO2 results in the production of CH3COOH with a selectivity of 86.4%, which represents a 6.4-fold increase compared to samples lacking single atoms, and the overall selectivity for C2 products is 95.1%. Furthermore, the yield of CH3COOH is 22.4 times higher compared to samples containing single atoms and without nanoparticles. Optical experiments demonstrate that the single atoms domains can effectively capture photoexcited electrons by the Au nanoparticles, or the local electric field generated by the nanoparticles promotes the transfer of photogenerated electrons in MoS2 to Au single atoms, prolonging the relaxation time of photogenerated electrons. Mechanistic investigations reveal that the orbital coupling of Au5d and Mo4d strengthens the oxygen affinity of Mo and carbon affinity of Au. The hybridized orbitals reduce energy splitting levels of CO molecular orbitals, aiding C–C coupling. Moreover, the Mo−Au dual-site stabilize the crucial oxygen-associated intermediate *CH2CO, thereby enhancing the selectivity towards CH3COOH. The cross-scale heterojunctions provide an effective strategy to simultaneously address the kinetical and thermodynamical limitations of CO2-to-CH3COOH conversion.

Abstract Lattice oxygen in metal oxides plays an important role in the reaction of diesel oxidation catalysts, but the atomic-level understanding of structural evolution during the catalytic process remains elusive. Here, we develop a Mn2O3/SmMn2O5 catalyst using a non-stoichiometric exsolution method to explore the roles of lattice oxygen in NO oxidation. The enhanced covalency of Mn–O bond and increased electron density at Mn3+ sites, induced by the interface between exsolved Mn2O3 and mullite, lead to the formation of highly active lattice oxygen adjacent to Mn3+ sites. Near-ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron and absorption spectroscopies show that the activated lattice oxygen enables reversible changes in Mn valence states and Mn-O bond covalency during redox cycles, reducing energy barriers for NO oxidation and promoting NO2 desorption via the cooperative Mars-van Krevelen mechanism. Therefore, the Mn2O3/SmMn2O5 exhibits higher NO oxidation activity and better resistance to hydrothermal aging compared to a commercial Pt/Al2O3 catalyst.

Background: In the recent decade, there has been substantial progress in the technologies and philosophies associated with diagnosing and treating anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in China. The therapeutic efficacy of ACL reconstruction in re-establishing the stability of the knee joint has garnered widespread acknowledgment. However, the path toward standardizing diagnostic and treatment protocols remains to be further developed and refined. Objective: In this context, the Chinese Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (CAOS) and the Chinese Society of Sports Medicine (CSSM) collaboratively developed an expert consensus on diagnosing and treating ACL injury, aiming to enhance medical quality through refining professional standards. Methods: The consensus drafting team invited experts across the Greater China region, including the mainland, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, to formulate and review the consensus using a modified Delphi method as a standardization approach. As members of the CSSM Lower Limb Study Group and the CAOS Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine Study Group, invited experts concentrated on two pivotal issues: “Graft Selection” and “Clinical Outcome Evaluation” during the second part of the consensus development. Results: This focused discussion ultimately led to a strong consensus on nine specific consensus terms. Conclusion: The consensus clearly states that ACL reconstruction has no definitive “gold standard” graft choice. Autografts have advantages in healing capability but are limited in availability and have potential donor site morbidities; allografts reduce surgical trauma but incur additional costs, and there are concerns about slow healing, quality control issues, and a higher failure rate in young athletes; synthetic ligaments allow for early rehabilitation and fast return to sport, but the surgery is technically demanding and incurs additional costs. When choosing a graft, one should comprehensively consider the graft's characteristics, the doctor's technical ability, and the patient's needs. When evaluating clinical outcomes, it is essential to ensure an adequate sample size and follow-up rate, and the research should include patient subjective scoring, joint function and stability, complications, surgical failure, and the return to sport results. Medium and long-term follow-ups should not overlook the assessment of knee osteoarthritis.

Background and aim: A surplus of glucocorticoids (GC) is a main cause of non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH), and Jintiange (JTG), as one of the traditional Chinese medicines (TCM), also plays an instrumental role in the alleviation of bone loss simultaneously. Therefore, JTG was thought to be able to reverse GC-induced ONFH (GC-ONFH) to a certain extent. Experimental procedure: In vivo, the effect of JTG on trabeculae in the subchondral bone of the femoral head was investigated using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and histological staining; in vitro, proliferation, viability, apoptosis, and senescence of purified bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were examined to demonstrate the direct impact of JTG on these cells. Meanwhile after using a series of interventions, the function of JTG on BMSC differentiation could be assessed by measuring of osteogenic and adipogenic markers at levels of protein and mRNA. Results: Our final results demonstrated that with the involvement of Wnt/β-catenin pathway, JTG was able to significantly promote osteogenesis, restrain adipogenesis, delay senescence in BMSCs, reduce osteoclast number, weaken apoptosis, and enhance proliferation of osteocytes, all of which could mitigate the progression of subchondral osteonecrosis. Conclusion: According to the results of experiments in vitro and vivo, JTG was deemed to relieve the early GC-ONFH using the prevention of destruction of subchondral bone, which was contributed to regulating the differentiation of BMSCs and the number of osteoclasts.

Earthquakes are major catastrophes that cause great life and economic losses to human society and environment. This paper reviews and synthesizes relevant studies, drawing from a systematic examination of 4229 articles from the Web of Science core collection (1982–2023). Employing the CiteSpace visualization and analysis tool, current research and emerging trends in seismic risk assessment are discussed and analyzed. This paper provides a holistic overview of principal contributions, knowledge sources, interdisciplinary characteristics, and principal research topics in this field. Additionally, we propose key technologies that are in urgent need of enhancement, including data availability, quantity and quality of data, interpretability of machine learning models, performance improvement of machine learning methods and application of foundation models, as well as real-time risk assessment techniques. These insights support both theoretical understanding and practical applications of seismic risk assessment and damage analysis.

MgAl2O4 ceramics possess outstanding mechanical properties, making them promising for use as reinforcing or interfacial modulating phase in Al-based metal composites. The challenge lies in the insufficient interatomic potential parameters to accurately characterize the MgAl2O4/Al interfacial interactions, which hampers a detailed understanding of the interfacial strengthening mechanisms at the atomic level. Since the pair potential satisfies the requirements for computational efficiency and accuracy, it has been widely used for investigating the interfacial properties of composite materials. In this study, the interatomic potential parameters for Al–Mg and Al–Al bonds were derived from Buckingham potential, while those for Al–O bonds were obtained from Morse potential via first principles calculations. The uniaxial tensile mechanical properties and interface-dislocation strengthening mechanisms of MgAl2O4/Al interface configuration were explored through molecular dynamics simulations. The analyses reveal that the strength enhancement of the MgAl2O4/Al interface is due to the generation of a large number of immovable 1/6 stair-rod dislocations therein. The thickness of MgAl2O4 layer significantly influences the mechanical properties. Below a thickness of 20 Å, the presence of movable dislocations reduces the strengthening effect. Conversely, increasing the thickness of MgAl2O4 encourages the emergence of immovable dislocations and increases the flow stress, while the corresponding yield strain decreases. These insights open up new prospects in the development of aluminum metal matrix composites with enhanced performance.

The Yangtze River is the mother river of China. To promote the aquatic ecosystem protection of the great river, the Project of Yangtze Fisheries Resources and Environment Investigation (2017–2021) supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, P. R. China carried out by 24 institutes and universities that located in the Yangtze River basin surveys the status of (1) fish species composition and spatial distribution, (2) current fish abundance, (3) endangered fishes, (4) Yangtze finless porpoise, (5) aquatic eco-environments, (6) water-level fluctuation areas, (7) capture fisheries and recreational fisheries of the Yangtze River mainstream and 10 of its main tributaries, including Yalong River, Heng River, Min River (including Dadu River), Chishui River, Tuo River, Jialing River, Wu River, Han River, Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake. The results showed that there were 443 fish species (belonging to 163 genus, 37 families, and 18 orders) before 2017, but only 323 fish species (including 15 new recorded exotic species) were recorded in the project of 2017–2021. Among them, Cyprinus carpio, Carassius auratus, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Pelteobagrus fulvidraco, Coilia brachygnathus, Silurus asotus, Saurogobio dabryi, Ctenopharyngodon idellus, Pelteobagrus nitidus, Hemiculter leucisculus, Siniperca chuatsi, Coreius heterodon, Culter alburnus, Parabramis pekinensis, and Aristichthys nobilis were the dominant species across the whole Yangtze River system. It is estimated that there were 886 million individuals weighing 124.8 million kg, merely equivalent to 27.3% of the resources in 1950s, 30.9% of the resources in 1960s, or 58.7% of the resources in 1980s. In the new list of protected fishes that recorded in the Yangtze River system, only 15 of 29 were collected in this project of 2017–2021. Psephurus gladius has been affirmed to be Extinct by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The wild individuals of Tenualosa reevesii and Luciobrama macrocephalus have disappeared for many years and maybe have been extinct already. Acipenser dabryanus has been affirmed to be Extinct in the Wild by IUCN. The natural propagations of A. sinensis, Myxocyprinus asiaticus and Trachidermus fasciatus have been interrupted for many years. The populations of Yangtze finless porpoise in the Yangtze River mainstream, Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake have steadily rising sizes and expanding distributions in 2017–2021. Parts of them migrate from one region to another with the seasons, which would result in the fluctuation of Yangtze finless porpoise population within some regions. The conventional indicators of water quality in the Yangtze River system were good and conformed to the water quality criteria of fishery in 2017–2021. In the last 40 years, the maximum surface water area in the Yangtze River basin extended to approximately 63,360 km2, the minimum surface water area covered approximately 26,396 km2, and the seasonal water-level fluctuation areas occupied approximately 36,964 km2. Compared with 1984–2000 period, the 2001–2020 period witnessed an overall decreasing trend in the frequency of surface water occurrence within about 25,869 km2 of aquatic areas. From 1984 to 2000 period to 2001–2020 period, permanent surface water has decreased by nearly 8,750 km2. In 2017, the fishermen were mainly 40–60 years old and their educational levels were mainly lower than junior high school. In 2017, most anglers were older than 40 and used hand rod and/or sea rod. Their average catch of each time was mainly less than 1 kg. Results suggested that the fishing ban in key waters of the Yangtze River basin is not only an ecological project of aquatic ecosystem conservation, but also a livelihood project for the fisherman to embrace industrial transformation and improve their living conditions. After the implementation of the fishing ban, the fisheries resources would gradually recover, and the Yangtze finless porpoise population size would also see a steady increase. However, the endangered species would remain threatened for a long time. The degraded waterbodies and water-level fluctuation areas would be the key restrictive factors for future aquatic ecosystem recovery in the Yangtze River basin. Since this survey was carried out before the fishing ban, the current results could provide a baseline for future evaluation of the effect of the Yangtze River fishing ban.

To avoid carbonate precipitation for CO2 electrolysis, developing CO2 conversion in an acid electrolyte is viewed as an ultimately challenging technology. In Nature, Xia et al. recently explored a proton-exchange membrane system for reducing CO2 to formic acid with a Pb–PbSO4 composite catalyst derived from waste lead-acid batteries based on the lattice carbon activation mechanism. Up to 93% Faradaic efficiency was realized when formic acid was produced by this technology.

Picture fuzzy sets with four-dimensional features are widely used in decision-making as a mathematical tool because they can capture the uncertainty of data. However, the methods and techniques based on matrix theory are difficult to solve the decision problem involving high-dimensional data in a picture fuzzy setting. Therefore, operators that can identify high-dimensional data in a picture fuzzy environment are proposed to address this challenge. In this paper, firstly, by integrating the Frank operators into the picture fuzzy tensor, the generalized picture fuzzy Frank weighted arithmetic (GPFFWA) and generalized picture fuzzy Frank weighted geometric (GPFFWG) operators are defined. Their specific expressions are discussed, and the idempotency, order-preservation, boundedness, and commutativity of the proposed operators are also given. Then, combining the GPFFWA and GPFFWG operators, an algorithm is designed to solve the multi-criteria decision-making problem with high-dimensional data features in the picture fuzzy environment. Finally, a numerical example and related analysis demonstrate the effectiveness, superiority, and flexibility of the suggested technique. This work provides new theoretical and methodological support for developing and practicing the decision-making discipline.

Background: Recently, the arterial velocity pulse index (AVI) and arterial pressure volume index (API) have been used to evaluate arterial stiffness and endothelial function. As arterial stiffness and endothelial injury are risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD), these two indexes are therefore expected to predict and evaluate the future risk of CAD and cardiovascular events before clinical manifestations. Methods: A total of 90 consecutive patients with coronary angiography (CAG) were enrolled. After excluding normal patients and acute coronary syndrome patients, forty-seven patients with CAD and thirty-two patients with coronary atherosclerosis, and baseline characteristics data were collected. A multifunctional blood pressure monitoring device, AVE-1500 (Shisei Datum, Tokyo, Japan), was used to measure the AVI and API before CAG, and immediately and 2 h, 24 h, and 48 h after CAG and (or) PCI in all the selected participants. Results: After adjusting for various variables using stepwise multiple linear regression analyses, we found that the AVI in the CAD subjects was significantly higher than that in the coronary atherosclerosis subjects before CAG (p = 0.02), immediately after CAG/PCI (p = 0.01), and 48 h after CAG/PCI (p = 0.01), whereas the AVI decreased 24–48 h rather than immediately after CAG/PCI in the CAD group. Moreover, we also found that the API clearly changed in both groups during the periprocedural period of CAG (p = 0.01). Conclusions: In accordance with the results, we propose that the API and AVI may be useful for predicting the early stage of CAD and may be promising as indicators to assess the effect of early revascularization.

Abstract For enhancing the accuracy of cargo box position and angle recognition on the conveyor platform, this paper proposes a cargo box attitude detection and adjustment method based on instance segmentation and image processing. This approach involves generating Mask data through target detection of the cargo box using Mask R-CNN. Using image processing algorithms to generate a minimum rectangle according to the Mask data, and the minimum rectangle data is aligned with the Bbox data of Maks R-CNN. The position and angle of the cargo box are detected based on the minimum rectangular data, and the conveyor platform is adjusted to control the cargo box attitude using the Bbox data. Nine attitude acquisition and comparison experiments were conducted on the cargo box using an angle sensor, and the deviation of the method was consistently $$

Abstract Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has revolutionized structural biology, enabling efficient determination of structures at near-atomic resolutions. However, a common challenge arises from the severe imbalance among various conformations of vitrified particles, leading to low-resolution reconstructions in rare conformations due to a lack of particle images in these quasi-stable states. We introduce CryoTRANS, a method that predicts high-resolution maps of rare conformations by constructing a self-supervised pseudo-trajectory between density maps of varying resolutions. This trajectory is represented by an ordinary differential equation parameterized by a deep neural network, ensuring retention of detailed structures from high-resolution density maps. By leveraging a single high-resolution density map, CryoTRANS significantly improves the reconstruction of rare conformations and has been validated on four real-world datasets: alpha-2-macroglobulin, actin-binding protein complexes, SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein, and the 70S ribosome. CryoTRANS can also predict high-resolution structures in cryogenic electron tomography maps using a high-resolution cryo-EM map.

Abstract Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major health concern for middle-aged and older adults, with lifestyle and metabolic risk factors well-studied. However, the role of psychosocial factors in CVD remains underexplored. Objective This study aims to delve into the connection between psychosocial factors and the occurrence of CVD. Methods We utilized data from the UK Biobank, a large-scale study covering adults aged 38 to 73 recruited from various centers across the UK between 2006 and 2010. We employed Cox proportional hazards models to analyze the relationship between social isolation, loneliness, and incident CVD. CVD diagnoses were confirmed through hospital records and death-register data. Additionally, we conducted mediation analyses to assess the impact of low-grade inflammation. Results The study encompassed 427,942 participants free from CVD, 55.8% of whom are women. High levels of social isolation and loneliness were linked to a higher risk of CVD (HRs 1.11, 95% CI 1.06–1.16; HRs 1.17, 95% CI 1.11–1.23). Depression also emerged as a predictor of CVD onset (HRs 1.25, 95% CI 1.19–1.31), with each psychosocial factor independently contributing to increased CVD risk. Mediation analyses pinpointed inflammation as a crucial mediator, especially for loneliness (indirect effect proportion: 4.7%). Conclusions This study underscores the significance of psychosocial factors in relation to CVD. Integrating assessments for social isolation, loneliness, and depression into routine healthcare could potentially aid in CVD prevention among middle-aged and elderly individuals. Lay summary This study underscores the significance of psychosocial factors in relation to CVD, emphasizing the association between social isolation or loneliness and the heightened risk of CVD. Graphical abstract

Abstract Aim This study aimed to discover risk factors for death in patients with critical COVID-19 infection in order to identify patients with a higher risk of death at an early stage. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients with critical COVID-19 infection from April 2022 to June 2022. Data were collected from the electronic medical records. Propensity matching scores were used to reduce the effect of confounding factors, such as patient baseline variables. Independent risk factors affecting patient prognosis were assessed using univariate logistic regression and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Restricted cubic spline curves were used to assess the relationship between independent and dependent variables. Results The data of 132 patients with critical COVID-19 infection were included in the study. Of the 132 patients, 79 survived and 53 died. Among laboratory indicators, patients who died had higher proportions of abnormalities in procalcitonin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatinine, cardiac troponin I, and myoglobin. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses suggested that abnormal AST (OR = 4.98, P = 0.02), creatinine (OR = 7.93, P = 0.021), and myoglobin (OR = 103.08, P = 0.002) were independent risk factors for death. After correction for AST and creatinine, a linear relationship between myoglobin and risk of death in patients was found using restricted cubic splines. Conclusion High myoglobin level is an independent risk factor for death and is therefore a prognostic marker in elderly patients with severe COVID-19 infection.

Abstract The free-field switching of the perpendicular magnetization by the out-of-plane polarized spin current induced spin-orbit torque makes it a promising technology for developing high-density memory and logic devices. The materials intrinsically with low symmetry are generally utilized to generate the spin current with out-of-plane spin polarization. However, the generation of the out-of-plane polarized spin current by engineering the symmetry of materials has not yet been reported. Here, we demonstrate that paramagnetic CaRuO3 films are able to generate out-of-plane polarized spin current by engineering the crystal symmetry. The non-uniform oxygen octahedral tilt/rotation along film’s normal direction induced by oxygen octahedral coupling near interface breaks the screw-axis and glide-plane symmetries, which gives rise to a significant out-of-plane polarized spin current. This spin current can drive field-free spin-orbit torque switching of perpendicular magnetization with high efficiency. Our results offer a promising strategy based on crystal symmetry design to manipulate spin current and could have potential applications in advanced spintronic devices.

Abstract Background Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) has been proved to be a successful treatment for osteoarthritis patients. However, the stress shielding caused by mismatch in mechanical properties between human bones and artificial implants remains as a challenging issue. This study aimed to properly design a bionic porous tibial implant and evaluate its biomechanical effect in reconstructing stress transfer pathway after UKA surgery. Methods Voronoi structures with different strut sizes and porosities were designed and manufactured with Ti6Al4V through additive manufacturing and subjected to quasi-static compression tests. The Gibson-Ashby model was used to relate mechanical properties with design parameters. Subsequently, finite element models were developed for porous UKA, conventional UKA, and native knee to evaluate the biomechanical effect of tibial implant with designed structures during the stance phase. Results The internal stress distribution on the tibia plateau in the medial compartment of the porous UKA knee was found to closely resemble that of the native knee. Furthermore, the mean stress values in the medial regions of the tibial plateau of the porous UKA knee were at least 44.7% higher than that of the conventional UKA knee for all subjects during the most loading conditions. The strain shielding reduction effect of the porous UKA knee model was significant under the implant and near the load contact sites. For subject 1 to 3, the average percentages of nodes in bone preserving and building region (strain values range from 400 to 3000 μm/m) of the porous UKA knee model, ranging from 68.7 to 80.5%, were higher than that of the conventional UKA knee model, ranging from 61.6 to 68.6%. Conclusions The comparison results indicated that the tibial implant with designed Voronoi structure offered better biomechanical functionality on the tibial plateau after UKA. Additionally, the model and associated analysis provide a well-defined design process and dependable selection criteria for design parameters of UKA implants with Voronoi structures.

Abstract With the area of perovskite films and devices increases, the performance tends to deteriorate, which can be attributed to the accumulation of defects at the bottom surface without proper passivation. Here, we introduce the 1-(4-Fluorophenyl)−2-pyrrolidone molecule (FPP) as additive in large-area blade-coating perovskite films. During the top-down crystallization process, the FPP molecule form an intermediate phase with the perovskite components and subsequently self-deposit at the bottom surface. Consequently, the crystallization kinetics of the large-area thin films are regulated, and the bottom surface is effectively and uniformly passivated in one single-step processing. By employing this self-deposited passivation method (SDP), the efficiency decrease caused by the expansion of the device area has been significantly suppressed and the devices yield power conversion efficiency of 23.41% (0.09 cm2), 22.43% (1 cm2), and 20.75% (24 cm2). The method is compatible for commercial manufacturing with scaling up solar cell area and holding high efficiency.

Abstract The high‐voltage pulse discharge technology, which is based on the electrohydraulic effect, can generate powerful, controllable, and repetitive electrohydraulic shock waves (EHSWs) in underground confined space, so it has been applied in the petroleum industry to improve the permeable of the reservoir. In this paper, a numerical model based on LS‐DYNA is built to study the damage analysis of the cement sheath and rock subjected to EHSWs during perforation completion. The results show that the stress state of the cement sheath and rock surrounding the perforation hole is determined by the shock pressure from both the perforation hole and the wellbore; the damage of the cement sheath and rock is mainly caused by tensile stress; the damage zone of the cement sheath is mainly distributed on the inner surface and near the perforation hole, while the damage zone of rock is distributed near the perforation hole; after multiple discharges, the damage of cement sheath and rock gradually accumulates, and the damage zone eventually forms a vertical plane along perforation holes. Overall, these results provide guidance for the safe application of the high‐voltage pulse discharge technology in the oil field.

Abstract Objective High‐risk types of diffuse gliomas in adults include isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) wild‐type glioblastomas and grade 4 astrocytomas. Achieving noninvasive prediction of high‐risk molecular subtypes of gliomas is important for personalized and precise diagnosis and treatment. Methods We retrospectively collected data from 116 patients diagnosed with adult diffuse gliomas. Multiple high‐risk molecular markers were tested, and various habitat models and whole‐tumor models were constructed based on preoperative routine and diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) sequences to predict high‐risk molecular subtypes of gliomas. Feature selection and model construction utilized Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and support vector machine (SVM). Finally, the Wilcoxon rank‐sum test was employed to explore the correlation between habitat quantitative features (intra‐tumor heterogeneity score，ITH score) and heterogeneity, as well as high‐risk molecular subtypes. Results The results showed that the habitat analysis model based on DKI performed remarkably well (with AUC values reaching 0.977 and 0.902 in the training and test sets, respectively). The model's performance was further enhanced when combined with clinical variables. (The AUC values were 0.994 and 0.920, respectively.) Additionally, we found a close correlation between ITH score and heterogeneity, with statistically significant differences observed between high‐risk and non‐high‐risk molecular subtypes. Interpretation The habitat model based on DKI is an ideal means for preoperatively predicting high‐risk molecular subtypes of gliomas, holding significant value for noninvasively alerting malignant gliomas and those with malignant transformation potential.