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Wind-photovoltaic (PV)-hydrogen-storage multi-agent energy systems are expected to play an important role in promoting renewable power utilization and decarbonization. In this study, a coordinated operation method was proposed for a wind-PV- hydrogen-storage multi-agent energy system. First, a coordinated operation model was formulated for each agent considering peer-to-peer power trading. Second, a coordinated operation interactive framework for a multi-agent energy system was proposed based on the theory of the alternating direction method of multipliers. Third, a distributed interactive algorithm was proposed to protect the privacy of each agent and solve coordinated operation strategies. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed coordinated operation method was tested on multi-agent energy systems with different structures, and the operational revenues of the wind power, PV, hydrogen, and energy storage agents of the proposed coordinated operation model were improved by approximately 59.19%, 233.28%, 16.75%, and 145.56%, respectively, compared with the independent operation model.

Abstract High-entropy materials have been proposed for applications in nuclear systems recently due to their outstanding properties in extreme environments. Chemical complexity in these materials plays an important role in irradiation tolerance since it significantly affects energy dissipation and defect behaviors under particle bombardment. Indeed, better resistance to irradiation-induced amorphization was observed in the high-entropy MAX (HE-MAX) phase (Ti, M)2SnC (M = V, Nb, Zr, Hf). However, in this work, we report an opposite trend in another series of HE-MAX phases (Ti, M)2AlC (M = Nb, Ta, V, Zr). It is demonstrated that the amorphization resistance is sequentially reduced as the number of components increases from single-component Ti2AlC to (TiNbTa)2AlC and (TiNbTaVZr)2AlC. These phenomena are verified through AIMD simulations and interpreted by analyzing the underlying properties combining lattice distortion and bonding characteristics through the first-principle calculation. By developing a machine-learning (ML) model, we can directly predict lattice distortion to screen HE-MAX phases with excellent resistance to irradiation-induced amorphization. We highlight that the elemental species plays a more crucial role in the irradiation tolerance of these MAX phases than the number of constituent elements. Knowledge gained from this study will enable an improved understanding of the irradiation tolerance in HE-MAX phases and other multi-elemental ceramics.

A rapid method was developed for the simultaneous determination of flupyradifurone and its metabolites 6-chloronicotinic acid and difluoroacetic acid in milk using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). A simple and efficient dispersive solid phase extraction method was used to purify milk samples, and the purification strategy was evaluated. After improved quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe (QuEChERS) treatment, 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile was used as the mobile phase for chromatographic separation on a Shim-pack-GIST C18 column, and the detection was performed in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The external standard method with matrix standard curves was used for quantification. The results showed that under the optimal conditions, good linearity (determination coefficient greater than 0.996) was observed for flurofuranone, 6-chloronicotinic acid and difluoroacetic acid in the concentration ranges of 0.005–0.5, 0.005–0.5 and 0.025–2.5 mg/L, respectively. The average recoveries of flupyradifurone and its metabolites at three spiked concentrations varied from 70.2% to 97.6%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) between 3.6% and 5.3%, and the limits of detection (LODs) ranged from 0.01 to 0.05 mg/kg, much lower than the national maximum residue limits. This method was characterized by high accuracy, high sensitivity, and good reproducibility. Therefore, it is suitable for large batches of milk samples, and can provide reliable technical support for the management of the pesticide flupyradifurone.

Abstract Understanding the nitrogen isotopic variations of individual amino acids (AAs) is essential for utilizing the nitrogen isotope values of individual amino acids (δ15N-AA) as source indicators to identify proteinaceous matter originating from biomass combustion processes. However, the nitrogen isotope effects (ε) associated with the degradation of individual amino acids during combustion processes have not been previously explored. In this study, we measured the nitrogen isotope values of residual free amino acids -following a series of controlled combustion experiments at temperatures of 160–240 °C and durations of 2 min to 8 h, as described in Part 1. δ15N values of proline, aspartate, alanine, valine, glycine, leucine, and isoleucine are more positive than their initial δ15N values after prolonged combustion. Variations in δ15N values of the most AAs conform to the Rayleigh fractionation during combustion and their nitrogen isotope effects (ε) are greatly impacted by their respective combustion degradation pathways. This is the first time the ε values associated with the degradation pathways of AAs during combustion have been characterized. Only the ε values associated with Pathway 1 (dehydration to form dipeptide) and 2 (simultaneous deamination and decarboxylation) are found to be significant and temperature-dependent, ranging from + 2.9 to 6.4‰ and + 0.9‰ to + 3.8‰, respectively. Conversely, ε values associated with other pathways are minor. This improves the current understanding on the degradation mechanisms of protein nitrogen during biomass burning.

Abstract The rapid expansion of low‐voltage distributed photovoltaic (PV) systems with decentralized layouts poses significant data collection challenges. The scarcity of data amplifies prediction complexities, affecting the operational security and stability of distribution networks. To enhance predictive accuracy for distributed regional PV power generation, including unmonitored low‐voltage systems, this paper proposes a novel prediction approach that combines weight optimization and transfer learning. Firstly, to more accurately extrapolate from neighbouring monitored PV to estimate unmonitored PV outputs, a novel SSA‐MLP‐XGBoost model is proposed for monitored PV power plants, in which the hyperparameters of multilayer perceptron (MLP) and (extreme gradient boosting) XGBoost models are fine‐tuned using the sparrow search algorithm (SSA), and the optimized models are synergistically integrated to heighten prediction precision for monitored plants. Secondly, based on the predicted power curves of monitored PV power plants, a weight optimization model is presented to optimize the combined weights between unmonitored and monitored power stations. Furthermore, the power generation model from monitored facilities is transplanted to unmonitored plants for power generation estimation. Ultimately, the authors combine the weight optimization and transfer learning model to get more accurate and robust model. Validation across three regional distributed photovoltaic clusters demonstrates a noteworthy improvement in prediction accuracy—20%, 7.5%, and 25% for the respective clusters compared to the existing methods.

Previous studies have shown that maternal resveratrol improved growth performance and altered the microbial composition of suckling piglets under hot summer conditions. However, it remains unclear how maternal resveratrol improves growth performance of suckling piglets during high summer temperatures. A total of 20 sows (Landrace × Large White; three parity) were randomly assigned to 2 groups (with or without 300 mg/kg resveratrol) from d 75 of gestation to d 21 of lactation during high ambient temperatures (from 27 to 30 °C). The results showed that maternal resveratrol supplementation increased total daily weight gain of piglets under hot summer conditions, which is consistent with previous studies. Furthermore, we found that maternal resveratrol improved the intestinal morphology and intestinal epithelial proliferation in suckling piglets. Dietary resveratrol supplementation affected the characteristics of exosome-derived microRNAs (miRNAs) in sow colostrum, as well as the genes targeted by differentially produced miRNAs. MiRNAs are concentrated in the tight junction pathway. As a result, the expression of intestinal tight junction proteins was increased in suckling piglets (P

【Objective】The experiment was carried out to study the effects of potassium magnesium sulfate (PMS) on sow performance, plasma biochemical indicators, antioxidant capacity and immune function in late pregnancy.【Method】By using simple factor design of the experiment, sixty sows (Landrace×Yorkshire) with 3-4 parity, good health and similar expected delivery in the third trimester of pregnancy (85th day of pregnancy) were randomly divided into 4 groups (15 replicates in each group and 1 sow in each replicate). The experimental groups during gestation were supplemented with PMS 0 (CK), 5, 10 and 15 g/d for each sow, respectively. After delivery, all sows during lactation were fed the same commercial lactation feed. The experiment ended on the 18th day of lactation.【Result】(1) Supplemental PMS had no significant effects on litter size, healthy litter size, back fat thickness, labor, body weight, feed intake in sows during lactation, and newborn weight of piglets, number of weaned piglets and number of deaths of lactating piglets. Compared with the control group, the fecal score of sows during late pregnancy after PMS supplementation showed a linear increase (Plinear < 0.05) and 10 g/d group had significant effects (PANOVA < 0.05); After supplementation with PMS, it showed a linear increase (Plinear < 0.05) in newborn litter weight, litter weight of weaned piglets, average litter gain of lactating piglets and daily gain of lactating piglets (PANOVA < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the newborn litter weight, litter weight of weaned piglets, average litter gain of lactating piglets and daily gain of lactating piglets in the 10 g/d group were increased by 16.27%, 24.42%, 35.14% and 31.64%. Except for newborn litter weight, all other indicators showed quadratic effect (PQuadratic < 0.05) and significant differences were found between groups (PANOVA < 0.05); (2) It showed a linear increase in the contents of triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (CHO), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and insulin (INS) in plasma of sows supplemented with PMS (Plinear < 0.05). The contents of TG, CHO, LDL and INS in the 10 g/d group increased by 50.00%, 28.35%, 25.00% and 31.98% compared with the control group; TG and LDL had a quadratic effect (PQuadratic < 0.05). (3) Linear changes were found in contents of immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin M (IgM) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) (Plinear < 0.05) in the plasma of sows after supplementation with PMS, and they were increased by 17.10%, 20.34%, 8.00% and 15.04% in the 10 g/d group, compared with the control group. (4) It showed a linear increase (PANOVA < 0.05) in fat content of colostrum of sow with PMS supplementation (Plinear < 0.05), with significant increase. Non-fat milk solids, lactose and protein were linearly increased (Plinear < 0.05) and had an increasing trend (0.05 < PANOVA < 0.1). The fat content of colostrum supplemented with 10 g/d were increased by 51.42% compared with the control group.【Conclusion】PMS supplementation in late preganancy can significantly improve the fecal scores of sows, relieve sow constipation, and improve sow performance and body health, with 10 g/d supplementation as the optimal dose.

Background Para-infectious encephalopathy is an acute inflammatory encephalopathy secondary to a systemic infectious disease, including acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE) and mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion (MERS). This paper reports on 3 cases of SARS-CoV-2 related to para-infectious encephalopathy diagnosed and treated in The Ordos Central Hospital of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from December 2022 to February 2023, and reviews relevant literature to summarize the clinical characteristics of the disease. Methods and Results The 3 patients with SARS-CoV-2 related to para-infectious encephalopathy, including 2 cases of SARS-CoV-2 related to ANE and one case of SARS-CoV-2 related to MERS were reported. Three patients developed consciousness disorder 2-4 d after fever, and still had aphasia, mental abnormality, convulsions, etc.. SARS-CoV-2 throat swab was positive. Head MRI showed one abnormal signal of brain stem and bilateral thalamus, one abnormal signal of bilateral thalamus, and one abnormal pressure of corpus callosum. All received hormone shock therapy and (or) intravenous immunoglobulin. One died, and 2 cases were recovered. Conclusions SARS-CoV-2 related to para-infectious encephalopathy including SARS-CoV-2 related to ANE and MERS and other clinical subtypes, the former has rapid progress, severe disease, high disability rate and fatality rate and poor prognosis, while the latter has relatively mild symptoms and better prognosis.

The integration of distributed generation brings in new challenges for the operation of distribution networks, including out-of-limit voltage and power flow control. Soft open points (SOP) are new power electronic devices that can flexibly control active and reactive power flows. With the exception of active power output, photovoltaic (PV) devices can provide reactive power compensation through an inverter. Thus, a synergetic optimization operation method for SOP and PV in a distribution network is proposed. A synergetic optimization model was developed. The voltage deviation, network loss, and ratio of photovoltaic abandonment were selected as the objective functions. The PV model was improved by considering the three reactive power output modes of the PV inverter. Both the load fluctuation and loss of the SOP were considered. Three multi-objective optimization algorithms were used, and a compromise optimal solution was calculated. Case studies were conducted using an IEEE 33-node system. The simulation results indicated that the SOP and PVs complemented each other in terms of active power transmission and reactive power compensation. Synergetic optimization improves power control capability and flexibility, providing better power quality and PV consumption rate.

Abstract Arginine, which is metabolized into ornithine, proline, and nitric oxide, plays an important role in embryonic development. The present study was conducted to investigate the molecular mechanism of arginine in proliferation, differentiation, and physiological function of porcine trophoblast cells (pTr2) through metabolic pathways. The results showed that arginine significantly increased cell viability (P

Abstract Using machine learning methods to analyze the fatigue status of medical security personnel and the factors influencing fatigue (such as BMI, gender, and wearing protective clothing working hours), with the goal of identifying the key factors contributing to fatigue. By validating the predicted outcomes, actionable and practical recommendations can be offered to enhance fatigue status, such as reducing wearing protective clothing working hours. A questionnaire was designed to assess the fatigue status of medical security personnel during the closed-loop period, aiming to capture information on fatigue experienced during work and disease recovery. The collected data was then preprocessed and used to determine the structural parameters for each machine learning algorithm. To evaluate the prediction performance of different models, the mean relative error (MRE) and goodness of fit (R 2 ) between the true and predicted values were calculated. Furthermore, the importance rankings of various parameters in relation to fatigue status were determined using the RF feature importance analysis method. The fatigue status of medical security personnel during the closed-loop period was analyzed using multiple machine learning methods. The prediction performance of these methods was ranked from highest to lowest as follows: Gradient Boosting Regression (GBM) > Random Forest (RF) > Adaptive Boosting (AdaBoost) > K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) > Support Vector Regression (SVR). Among these algorithms, four out of the five achieved good prediction results, with the GBM method performing the best. The five most critical parameters influencing fatigue status were identified as working hours in protective clothing, a customized symptom and disease score (CSDS), physical exercise, body mass index (BMI), and age, all of which had importance scores exceeding 0.06. Notably, working hours in protective clothing obtained the highest importance score of 0.54, making it the most critical factor impacting fatigue status. Fatigue is a prevalent and pressing issue among medical security personnel operating in closed-loop environments. In our investigation, we observed that the GBM method exhibited superior predictive performance in determining the fatigue status of medical security personnel during the closed-loop period, surpassing other machine learning techniques. Notably, our analysis identified several critical factors influencing the fatigue status of medical security personnel, including the duration of working hours in protective clothing, CSDS, and engagement in physical exercise. These findings shed light on the multifaceted nature of fatigue among healthcare workers and emphasize the importance of considering various contributing factors. To effectively alleviate fatigue, prudent management of working hours for security personnel, along with minimizing the duration of wearing protective clothing, proves to be promising strategies. Furthermore, promoting regular physical exercise among medical security personnel can significantly impact fatigue reduction. Additionally, the exploration of medication interventions and the adoption of innovative protective clothing options present potential avenues for mitigating fatigue. The insights derived from this study offer valuable guidance to management personnel involved in organizing large-scale events, enabling them to make informed decisions and implement targeted interventions to address fatigue among medical security personnel. In our upcoming research, we will further expand the fatigue dataset while considering higher precisionprediction algorithms, such as XGBoost model, ensemble model, etc., and explore their potential contributions to our research.

Abstract In the pursuit of cost reduction and enhanced construction efficiency in the mechanical connection of reinforcing bars within precast assembled concrete structures, a novel-reinforcing bar connection joint is introduced. This innovative solution entails the utilization of 40Cr alloy steel tubing and the implementation of a hot forging high-precision rolling process to fabricate a series of new rebar joint specimens. Through unidirectional tensile testing, the failure modes of the specimens and the variations in load–displacement curves were meticulously analyzed. The investigation delved into the intricacies of the joint connection mechanism, scrutinizing the influence of three pivotal structural design parameters—namely the embedded length of the rebar, the sleeve thickness, and the clamp thickness—on the ultimate bearing capacity of the joint. The findings indicate that an embedded rebar length ranging from 1.5 to 1.75 times the nominal rebar diameter ensures a tensile strength ratio of the joint to the standard rebar tensile strength not less than 1.1. Notably, the sleeve thickness emerged as a significant factor impacting connection performance, while the clamp thickness exhibited negligible effects on specimen performance. Furthermore, an augmented internal thread angle was found to enhance shear resistance. The optimal design parameters encompass an outer sleeve diameter of 78 mm, a large end clamp diameter of 65 mm, and an internal thread angle of 60°. The proposed single taper sleeve locking-type joint, characterized by a rational structural design, aligns with the stipulations of Grade I joints outlined in the industry standard JG/J 107–2016. This novel joint design is well-suited for the mechanical connection of large-diameter rebars, offering a promising avenue for advancing construction practices in precast assembled concrete structures.

Abstract To investigate the frequency of monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (M-MDSCs) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and explore the potential associations between M-MDSCs, glycemic control, and the occurrence of infections and tumor. 102 healthy and 77 T2DM individuals were enrolled. We assessed the M-MDSCs frequency, levels of fasting plasma glucose (FPG), haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and other relevant indicators. Each patient underwent a follow-up of at least 6 months after M-MDSCs detection. The M-MDSCs frequency was significantly higher in patients with poor glycemic control (PGC) compared to the healthy population (P 0.05). There was a positive correlation between the M-MDSCs frequency and FPG, HbA1c (R = 0.517 and 0.315, P

Objective To explore the expression of junctophilin 2(JP2)and fibroblast growth factor 23(FGF23)in a rabbit model of atrial fibrillation mediated-cardiomyopathy(AMC). Methods Rabbit models of atrial fibrillation (AF) were developed through rapid atrial stimulation and then divided into three groups: control group (pacemakers implanted without pacing, n=6), AF group (pacing with ejection fraction decrease ＜10%,n=5), and AMC group (pacing with ejection fraction decrease ≥10%, n=6).Echocardiography was performed to detect left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVEDD),left ventricular end-systolic diameter(LVESD) and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF). JP2 and FGF23 were detected by ELISA method.Western blot and RT-qPCR were conducted to detect protein and mRNA expression of JP2 and FGF23. Results Left atrial diameter, right atrial diameter and right ventricular diameter increased and LVEF decreased in the AMC group as compared with the control group. AMC group had lower LVEF and larger aorta and right ventricle diameter. Compared with the control group, the expression of FGF23(P＜0.001)and JP2(P＜0.01)in left atrial cardiomyocytes was significantly increased in the AF group, while the expression of JP2 was decreased in the AMC group(P＜0.001).AMC group had lower expression of JP2 and FGF23 compared with AF group. Compared to the control group,plasma concentration of JP2 and FGF23 increased in the AF group and FGF23 plasma concentration increased in the AMC group. Plasma concentration of FGF23 and JP2 was lower in AMC group than that in AF group . Conclusions FGF23 expression increased and JP2 expression decreased as found in the rabbit AMC model.

Distinction of weak and strong AC grids for emerging hierarchical-infeed LCC-UHVDC systems is important for planning and operation departments. However, accuracy of earlier distinction methods is limited as they were developed by empirical reasoning without rigorous theoretical analysis. Hence in this letter, hierarchical-infeed interactive effective short-circuit ratio (HIESCR) index is first used for strength evaluation of HIDC systems with complex inter-inverter interactions considered. Boundary HIESCR (BHIESCR) is also introduced in the proposed distinction method of weak and strong AC grids. That is, weak (or strong) AC grids are, respectively, identified when HIESCR is less (or greater) than BHIESCR. Second, it is shown BHIESCR remains almost unchanged as 3.0 versus various system parameters and rated operation variables based on rigorous theoretical analysis. This salient feature makes the proposed method more accurate than earlier methods. Finally, the proposed method is validated by simulations based on the PSCAD/EMTDC program.

Abstract Background Previous research has reported that prenatal exposure to dexamethasone (PDE) results in organ dysplasia and increased disease susceptibility in offspring. This study aimed to investigate the epigenetic mechanism of metabolic syndrome induced by PDE in offspring. Methods Pregnant Wistar rats were administered dexamethasone, and their offspring’s serum and liver tissues were analyzed. The hepatocyte differentiation model was established to unveil the molecular mechanism. Neonatal cord blood samples were collected to validate the phenomenon and mechanism. Results The findings demonstrated that PDE leads to insulin resistance and typical metabolic syndrome traits in adult offspring rats, which originated from fetal liver dysplasia. Additionally, PDE reduced serum corticosterone level and inhibited hepatic insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) signaling in fetal rats. It further revealed that liver dysplasia and functional impairment induced by PDE persist after birth, driven by the continuous downregulation of serum corticosterone and hepatic IGF1 signaling. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments confirmed that low endogenous corticosterone reduces the histone 3 lysine 9 acetylation (H3K27ac) level of IGF1 and its expression by blocking glucocorticoid receptor α, special protein 1, and P300 into the nucleus, resulting in hepatocyte differentiation inhibition and liver dysplasia. Intriguingly, neonatal cord blood samples validated the link between reduced liver function in neonates induced by PDE and decreased serum cortisol and IGF1 levels. Conclusions This study demonstrated that low endogenous glucocorticoid level under PDE lead to liver dysplasia by downregulating the H3K27ac level of IGF1 and its expression, ultimately contributing to metabolic syndrome in adult offspring.

Abstract Oxidative stress has been associated with a number of physiological problems in swine, including reduced production efficiency. Recently, although there has been increased research into regulatory mechanisms and antioxidant strategies in relation to oxidative stress-induced pig production, it remains so far largely unsuccessful to develop accurate models and nutritional strategies for specific oxidative stress factors. Here, we discuss the dose and dose intensity of the causes of oxidative stress involving physiological, environmental and dietary factors, recent research models and the antioxidant strategies to provide theoretical guidance for future oxidative stress research in swine.

In the competitive energy market, energy retailers are facing the uncertainties of both energy price and demand, which requires them to formulate reasonable energy purchasing and selling strategies for improving their competitiveness in this market. Particularly, the attractive multi-energy retail packages are the key for retailers to increase their benefit. Therefore, combined with incentive means and price signals, five types of multi-energy retail packages such as peak-valley time-of-use (TOU) price package and day-night bundled price package are designed in this paper for retailers. The iterative interactions between retailers and end-users are modeled using a bi-level model of stochastic optimization based on multi-leader multi-follower (MLMF) Stackelberg game, in which retailers are leaders and end-users are followers. Retailers make decisions to maximize the profit considering the conditional value at risk (CVaR) while end-users optimize the satisfaction of both energy comfort and economy. Besides, a distributed algorithm is proposed to obtain the Nash equilibrium of above MLMF Stackelberg game model while the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm and CPLEX solver are applied to solve the optimization model for each participant (retailer or end-user). Numeral results show that the designed retail packages can increase the overall profit of retailers, and the overall satisfaction of industrial users is the highest while that of residential users is the lowest after game interaction.

To investigate the expulsion effect of different expulsion modes on Hexagrammos otakii, this study examined various environmental conditions in an indoor tank. Specifically, different lighting conditions (white, blue, and green light at illumination intensities of 5000 lx, 8000 lx, and 10000 lx) were explored, as well as varied sound conditions (sound frequencies of 150 Hz, 300 Hz, and 450 Hz at different sound pressure levels of 130 dB, 140 dB, and 150 dB) and bubble curtain conditions (air volumes of 60 L/min, 120 L/min, and 180 L/min). Additionally, the expulsion effect of different fish densities (1.56 tails/m2, 2.35 tails/m2, 3.13 tails/m2) of Hexagrammos otakii was investigated. The findings revealed that the bubble curtain exhibited the most effective expulsion effect on Hexagrammos otakii, with an expulsion rate of (40.4 ± 12.0) %, the highest period of 53%, and an average expulsion distance of 3.0 expulsion intervals when the air volume was 180 L/min and the fish density was 1.56 tails/m2. Conversely, the expulsion effect of light and sound on Hexagrammos otakii was found to be insignificant, with the expulsion rate of sound not exceeding 20% and that of light being lower than 15%. These results have implications for the selection and design of fish expulsion equipment in offshore areas, such as those surrounding wind farms and nuclear power plants. Therefore, this study provides valuable scientific reference for resource managers and practitioners in the field.

Summary: With the rapid development of quantum computing, a variety of quantum convolutional neural networks (QCNNs) are proposed. However, only 1/2n2 features of an n-qubits input are transferred to the next layer in a quantum pooling layer, which results in the accuracy reduction. To solve this problem, a QCNN with a degressive circuit is proposed. In order to enhance the ability of extracting global features, we remove the parameters sharing strategy in the quantum convolutional layer and design a quantum convolutional kernel with global eyesight. In addition, to prevent a sharp feature reduction, a degressive parameterized quantum circuit is adopted to construct the pooling layer. Then the Z-basis measurement is only performed on the first qubit to control the operations on other qubits. Compared with the state-of-the-art QCNN, i.e., hybrid quantum-classical convolutional neural network, the accuracy of our model increased by 0.9%, 1%, and 3%, respectively, in three tasks: quantum state classification, binary code recognition, and quaternary code recognition.

Purpose: Atrophic nonunion is one of the most difficult complications of fracture. The cellular factors that contribute to atrophic nonunion are poorly understood, and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are recognized as the key contributor to bone formation. This study aimed to characterize the MSCs isolated from the fibrotic tissue of atrophic nonunion (AN-MSCs) from the perspective of proliferation, differentiation potential, senescence, and paracrine function. Methods: Human atrophic fibrotic tissue was obtained from four donors aged 29–37 for isolating AN-MSCs, and donor-matched bone marrow acquired from the iliac crest for isolating MSCs (IC-MSCs) as control. The AN-MSCs or IC-MSCs in passage 3 were applied for the following evaluations. The surface markers expressed on the two cells were evaluated using flow cytometry. The proliferation of the two cells for up to 11 days was comparatively investigated. After osteogenic, chondrogenic, or adipogenic induction, multi-lineage differentiation of AN-MSCs or IC-MSCs was comparatively evaluated using lineage-specific stains and lineage-specific gene expression. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assessment was applied to evaluate the paracrine function of AN-MSCs or IC-MSCs. Cellular senescence of AN-MSCs or IC-MSCs was evaluated using senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) staining. Results: AN-MSCs or IC-MSCs from the four donors showed morphologic and immunophenotypic characteristics of MSCs, with the expression of MSCs markers and negative expression of hematopoietic markers. In general, AN-MSCs showed similar proliferation and adipogenic capacity with IC-MSCs. In contrast, IC-MSCs showed significantly higher osteogenic and chondrogenic capacity compared to AN-MSCs. Moreover, the culture medium of IC-MSCs contains significantly higher levels of VEGF, TGF-β1, PDGF-BB, and IGF-1 than the culture medium of AN-MSCs. Lastly, the AN-MSCs are more prone to cellular senescence than the IC-MSCs. Conclusions: In-vitro, AN-MSCs were similar to IC-MSCs in proliferation and adipogenic capacity, but inferior to IC-MSCs in osteogenic and chondrogenic capacity, paracrine function, and anti-senescence.

T5 is a siphophage that has been extensively studied by structural and biochemical methods. However, the complete in situ structures of T5 before and after DNA ejection remain unknown. In this study, we used cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to determine the structures of mature T5 (a laboratory-adapted, fiberless T5 mutant) and urea-treated empty T5 (lacking the tip complex) at near-atomic resolutions. Atomic models of the head, connector complex, tail tube, and tail tip were built for mature T5, and atomic models of the connector complex, comprising the portal protein pb7, adaptor protein p144, and tail terminator protein p142, were built for urea-treated empty T5. Our findings revealed that the aforementioned proteins did not undergo global conformational changes before and after DNA ejection, indicating that these structural features were conserved among most myophages and siphophages. The present study elucidates the underlying mechanisms of siphophage infection and DNA ejection.