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Abstract The Pacific saury (Cololabis saira) is a pelagic fish commonly found in the North Pacific Ocean. Its population diversity and migratory lifestyle have long captured global attention. Despite the inherent complexity of the C. saira genome, characterized by extremely high heterozygosity, we successfully assembled a phased chromosome-level genome. The genome analysis revealed the expansion and natural selection of numerous functional genes, likely contributing to its enduring and extensive migratory lifestyle. Notably, gpr35 and igh genes showed significant expansion in the C. saira genome, potentially associated with regulating the immune response against environmental parasites and pathogens. Moreover, genes involved in DNA repair/replication and peroxisome function, including atm, ercc6, pex14, and pex16, displayed evidence of positive selection. Based on genome-sequencing of 80 individuals from eight sampling sites, we demonstrated that the genomic divergence among C. saira populations is relatively low. However, the sampling sites could be grouped into two distinct clusters, roughly corresponding to the migratory route of C. saira. This suggests a possible genome-wide divergence for C. saira within the open ocean region. Furthermore, the trmu gene, responsible for controlling otolith development and sharpness, exhibited differentiation between the two groups, consistent with previously reported differences in otolith morphology. This study has provided a reference genome and insights into the evolution, ecology, and conservation of Pacific saury and closely-related species.

Abstract Federated Learning (FL) uses local data to perform distributed training on clients and combines resulting models on a public server to mitigate privacy exposure by avoiding data sharing. However, further research indicates that communication overheads continue to be the primary limitation for FL relative to alternative considerations. This is especially true when training models on non-independent and identically distributed data, such as financial default risk data, where FL’s computational costs increase significantly. This study aims to address financial credit risk data by establishing a dynamic receptive field adjustment mechanism for feature extraction, efficiently extracting default features with varying distributions and attributes. Additionally, by constructing a distributed feature fusion architecture, characteristics from both local and overarching models are aggregated to attain higher accuracy with lower transmission costs. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed FL framework can utilize dynamic receptive fields to allocate convolutional kernel weights, thereby improving feature extraction. In the feature fusion stage, the proposed Multi-Fusion strategy efficiently customizes the aggregation of features from local and global models. The final solution reduces the communication rounds in federated learning by approximately 80%.

Abstract This study investigated the role of mitochondrial dynamics in postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) and assessed the therapeutic potential of mitochondrial modulation, particularly through the inhibition of dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1) with Mdivi-1. Our findings indicated that DRP1 inhibition substantially mitigated neuroinflammation mediated by microglial cells, contributing to improved cognitive function in POCD models. The administration of Mdivi-1 led to a notable decrease in mitochondrial fission, reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and stabilization of mitochondrial membrane potential, all of which correlate with diminished neuroinflammation, as evidenced by lower NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3)/ interleukin-1β (IL-1β) expression in microglial cells. Importantly, Mdivi-1 treatment was also found to enhance synaptic plasticity, increasing synaptic spine density in the hippocampal region of POCD mice. This improvement in mitochondrial health and synaptic integrity was paralleled by enhanced cognitive performance, as demonstrated in Y-maze tests. These results underscored the critical role of mitochondrial dynamics in the pathophysiology of POCD and suggested that targeting mitochondrial dysfunction, specifically through DRP1 inhibition, could be an effective approach for POCD treatment.

To investigate the application of lemongrass essential oil in extending the shelf life of pickle. This study used lemongrass essential oil as the core material, sodium carboxymethyl starch and sodium caseinate as wall materials to prepare lemongrass essential oil microcapsules, and examined the effects of the mass ratio of sodium carboxymethyl starch to sodium caseinate on physicochemical properties, microscopic morphology, thermal stability, and others of lemongrass essential oil microcapsules. Furthermore, the effects of microencapsulation on the chemical composition of the essential oil and the antibacterial activity against major pathogenic bacteria in pickle was evaluated. Results showed that when the mass ratio of sodium carboxymethyl starch to sodium caseinate was 1:5 and 1:9, there was no significant difference in the essential oil encapsulation rate (P>0.05), which was 98.29% and 96.90%, respectively. The appearance was spherical and blocky. With the increasing sodium caseinate content, the micropores on the surface of the microcapsules gradually decreased, and the cavities became smaller. The thermogravimetric curves showed that the temperature corresponding to the maximum weight loss rate of microcapsules was increased with the increasing casein content, reaching a maximum of 314.27 ℃, while that of pure essential oil was only 106.27 ℃. Gas chromatgraphy-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) results showed that essential oil microcapsulation treatment retained multiple antibacterial ingredients of essential oils such as nerol (34.69%), geranyl acetate (27.41%), linalool (5.65%) and caryophyllene (6.50%). This conferred lemongrass essential oil microcapsules strong antibacterial properties against the main spoilage bacteria Bacillus subtilis in pickle and Staphylococcus epidermidis, the bacteria that cause packaging bags to bulge, with the minimum inhibitory concentration of 97.66 µg/mL for Bacillus subtilis and 195.31 µg/mL for Staphylococcus epidermidis, and the maximum bactericidal concentration of 1562.5 µg/mL for both bacteria. In summary, it is feasible to use sodium carboxymethyl starch and sodium caseinate as encapsulating agents to prepare lemongrass essential oil microcapsules, with a desirable inhibitory effect on the main spoilage bacteria in pickle. This research would provide a new perspective for further exploring the application of lemongrass essential oil in extending the shelf life of pickle.

Abstract There is no effective and noninvasive solution for thrombolysis because the mechanism by which certain thrombi become tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)-resistant remains obscure. Endovascular thrombectomy is the last option for these tPA-resistant thrombi, thus a new noninvasive strategy is urgently needed. Through an examination of thrombi retrieved from stroke patients, we found that neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), ε-(γ-glutamyl) lysine isopeptide bonds and fibrin scaffolds jointly comprise the key chain in tPA resistance. A theranostic platform is designed to combine sonodynamic and mechanical thrombolysis under the guidance of ultrasonic imaging. Breakdown of the key chain leads to a recanalization rate of more than 90% in male rat tPA-resistant occlusion model. Vascular reconstruction is observed one month after recanalization, during which there was no thrombosis recurrence. The system also demonstrates noninvasive theranostic capabilities in managing pigs’ long thrombi (>8 mm) and in revascularizing thrombosis-susceptible tissue-engineered vascular grafts, indicating its potential for clinical application. Overall, this noninvasive theranostic platform provides a new strategy for treating tPA-resistant thrombi.

Abstract Purpose Low back pain (LBP) is a common and recurring public health problem that affects sufferers both physically and mentally and warrants further research. A succession of studies have suggested a plausible role for inflammatory cytokines in the pathogenesis of LBP. To date, there is no conclusive mechanism explaining how inflammatory cytokines affects LBP. Methods A bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) investigation was undertaken in two stages. The initial phase encompassed 41 inflammatory cytokines as the exposure, with LBP as the outcome, and the subsequent phase adopted the inverse approach. A total of 41 blood inflammatory cytokines were extracted from the genome-wide association study meta-analysis database, encompassing 8,293 individuals. Data pertaining to LBP were acquired from the Finnish biobank. Primary findings were computed using inverse-variance weighting (IVW), while sensitivity analyses accounting for pleiotropy and invalid instruments were conducted utilizing the weighted-median estimator, MR-Egger, and MR Pleiotropy RESidual Sum and Outlier. Results Our results suggest that higher levels of Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) as well as lower levels of C-C motif chemokine ligand 3 (CCL3) are associated with an increased risk of LBP (odds ratio [OR] = 1.134, 95% confidence interval [CI ]= 1.032–1.245, P = 0.009; OR = 0.887, 95% CI = 0.803–0.980, P = 0.018). Moreover, there was no heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy observed in the sensitivity analysis. In contrast, in studies of the effect of LBP on inflammatory cytokines, genetically determined LBP had no causal effect on 41 inflammatory cytokines (IVW P > 0.05). Conclusions Our study confirms that the levels of circulating MIF and CCL3 may be regarded as valuable circulating inflammatory biomarkers for the management of LBP in clinical practice and as potential molecules for future mechanistic investigation and drug target identification.

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to explore the genetic effects of hormones modulated through the pituitary-thyroid/adrenal/gonadal axis on the risk of developing venous thromboembolism (VTE) and to investigate the potentially causal relationships between them. Methods A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) design was used. The single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) used as instrumental variables for various hormones and hormone-mediated diseases were derived from published genome-wide association studies (GWASs). Summary statistics for the risk of developing VTE (including deep venous thrombosis [DVT] and pulmonary embolism [PE]) were obtained from the UK Biobank and the FinnGen consortium. Inverse-variance weighting (IVW) was applied as the primary method to analyse causal associations. Other MR methods were used for supplementary estimates and sensitivity analysis. Results A genetic predisposition to greater free thyroxine (FT4) concentrations was associated with a greater risk of developing DVT (OR = 1.0007, 95%CI [1.0001–1.0013], p = 0.0174) and VTE (OR = 1.0008, 95%CI [1.0002–1.0013], p = 0.0123). Genetically predicted hyperthyroidism was significantly associated with an increased risk of developing DVT (OR = 1.0685, 95%CI [1.0139–1.1261], p = 0.0134) and VTE (OR = 1.0740, 95%CI [1.0165–1.1348], p = 0.0110). According to the initial MR analysis, testosterone concentrations were positively associated with the risk of developing VTE (OR = 1.0038, 95%CI [1.004–1.0072], p = 0.0285). After sex stratification, estradiol concentrations were positively associated with the risk of developing DVT (OR = 1.0143, 95%CI [1.0020–1.0267], p = 0.0226) and VTE (OR = 1.0156, 95%CI [1.0029–1.0285], p = 0.0158) in females, while the significant relationship between testosterone and VTE did not persist. SHBG rs858518 was identified as the only SNP that was associated with an increased risk of developing VTE, mediated by estradiol, in females. Conclusions Genetically predicted hyperthyroidism and increased FT4 concentrations were positively associated with the risk of developing VTE. The effects of genetically predicted sex hormones on the risk of developing VTE differed between males and females. Greater genetically predicted estradiol concentrations were associated with an increased risk of developing VTE in females, while the SHBG rs858518 variant may become a potential prevention and treatment target for female VTE.

Abstract Coherent interconversion between microwave and optical frequencies can serve as both classical and quantum interfaces for computing, communication, and sensing. Here, we present a compact microwave-optical transducer based on monolithic integration of piezoelectric actuators on silicon nitride photonic circuits. Such an actuator couples microwave signals to a high-overtone bulk acoustic resonator defined by the silica cladding of the optical waveguide core, suspended to enhance electromechanical and optomechanical couplings. At room temperature, this triply resonant piezo-optomechanical transducer achieves an off-chip photon number conversion efficiency of 1.6 × 10−5 over a bandwidth of 25 MHz at an input pump power of 21 dBm. The approach is scalable in manufacturing and does not rely on superconducting resonators. As the transduction process is bidirectional, we further demonstrate the synthesis of microwave pulses from a purely optical input. Capable of leveraging multiple acoustic modes for transduction, this platform offers prospects for frequency-multiplexed qubit interconnects and microwave photonics at large.

Abstract Saline-sodic stress restricts the absorption of zinc by rice, consequently impacting the photosynthesis process of rice plants. In this experiment, Landrace 9 was selected as the test material and the potting method was employed to investigate the influence of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on zinc absorption and chlorophyll fluorescence in rice grown in saline-sodic land. The research findings demonstrate that the application of ZnO NPs proves to be more advantageous for the growth of rice in saline-sodic soil. Notably, the application of ZnO NPs significantly decreases the levels of Na+ and MDA in rice leaves in saline-sodic soil, while increasing the levels of K+ and Zn2+. Additionally, ZnO NPs enhances the content of chloroplast pigments, specific energy flux, quantum yield, and the performance of active PSII reaction center (PI ABS) in rice leaves under saline-sodic stress. Furthermore, the relative variable fluorescence (W K and V J) and quantum energy dissipation rate (φ Do) of rice are also reduced. Therefore, the addition of ZnO NPs enhances the transfer of electrons and energy within the rice photosystem when subjected to saline-sodic stress. This promotes photosynthesis in rice plants growing in saline-sodic land, increasing their resistance to saline-sodic stress and ultimately facilitating their growth and development.

Abstract Background Previous studies have shown that the addition of platinum to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) improved outcomes for patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, no studies have assessed the efficacy and safety of the combination of taxane and lobaplatin. In this study, we conducted a randomized controlled phase II clinical study to compare the efficacy and safety of taxane combined with lobaplatin or anthracycline. Methods We randomly allocated patients with stage I–III TNBC into Arm A and Arm B. Arm A received six cycles of taxane combined with lobaplatin (TL). Arm B received six cycles of taxane combined with anthracycline and cyclophosphamide (TEC) or eight cycles of anthracycline combined with cyclophosphamide and sequential use of taxane (EC-T). Both Arms underwent surgery after NAC. The primary endpoint was the pathologic complete response (pCR). Secondary endpoints were event-free survival (EFS), overall survival (OS), and safety. Results A total of 103 patients (51 in Arm A and 52 in Arm B) were assessed. The pCR rate of Arm A was significantly higher than that of Arm B (41.2% vs. 21.2%, P = 0.028). Patients with positive lymph nodes and low neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) benefited significantly more from Arm A than those with negative lymph nodes and high NLR (P interaction = 0.001, P interaction = 0.012, respectively). There was no significant difference in EFS (P = 0.895) or OS (P = 0.633) between the two arms. The prevalence of grade-3/4 anemia was higher in Arm A (P = 0.015), and the prevalence of grade-3/4 neutropenia was higher in Arm B (P = 0.044). Conclusions Neoadjuvant taxane plus lobaplatin has shown better efficacy than taxane plus anthracycline, and both regimens have similar toxicity profiles. This trial may provide a reference for a better combination strategy of immunotherapy in NAC for TNBC in the future.

Abstract Conjunctival melanoma (CoM) is a potentially devastating tumor that can lead to distant metastasis. Despite various therapeutic strategies for distant metastatic CoM, the clinical outcomes remain unfavorable. Herein, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of 47,017 cells obtained from normal conjunctival samples (n = 3) and conjunctival melanomas (n = 7). Notably, we noticed a higher abundance of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in tumor microenvironment (TME), correlated with enhanced angiogenic capacity and increased VEGFR expression in distal metastatic CoM. Additionally, we observed a significant decrease in the proportion of total CD8+ T cells and an increase in the proportion of naive CD8+ T cells, contributing to a relatively quiescent immunological environment in distal metastatic CoM. These findings were confirmed through the analyses of 70,303 single-cell transcriptomes of 7 individual CoM samples, as well as spatially resolved proteomes of an additional 10 samples of CoMs. Due to the increase of VEGFR-mediated angiogenesis and a less active T cell environment in distal metastatic CoMs, a clinical trial (ChiCTR2100045061) has been initiated to evaluate the efficacy of VEGFR blockade in combination with anti-PD1 therapy for patients with distant metastatic CoM, showing promising tumor-inhibitory effects. In conclusion, our study uncovered the landscape and heterogeneity of the TME during CoM tumorigenesis and progression, empowering clinical decisions in the management of distal metastatic CoM. To our knowledge, this is the initial exploration to translate scRNA-seq analysis to a clinical trial dealing with cancer, providing a novel concept by accommodating scRNA-seq data in cancer therapy.

Objectives: This meta-analysis aimed to explore the relationship between the dose of acupuncture sessions, acupuncture frequency, and acupuncture duration and its effects on migraine. Methods: Eight databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy of penetrating manual acupuncture for migraine published in English and Chinese from inception to June 20, 2024. The robust-error meta-regression (REMR) approach and non-linear meta-regression with restricted cubic spline (RCS) were used to investigate the dose-response association between acupuncture sessions, acupuncture frequency, and acupuncture duration and the frequency of migraine attacks. The potential nonlinear relationships was tested by restricting the regression coefficient to zero and a P value＜0.1. The statistical analysis was conducted using Stata 17.0. The risk of bias was independently assessed by two reviewers using the Cochrane tool. The reporting quality for acupuncture procedures was evaluated by STRICTA criteria. Results: Thirty-two RCTs involving 1562 participants were included, and the results showed a J-shaped dose-response association between acupuncture sessions, acupuncture frequency, and acupuncture duration and migraine attack frequency. After 16 acupuncture sessions, the change in the frequency of migraine attacks was 3.95 (95 %CI: 3.13 to 4.77). Three sessions of acupuncture a week resulted in a significant decrease in the frequency of migraine attacks, reaching 4.04 (95 % CI: 2.49 to 5.58). After two months of acupuncture, the frequency of migraine attacks decreased significantly, showing a difference of 4.05 (95 % CI: 3.61 to 4.49). Subsequently, the improvement trend gradually flattened, yielding diminishing benefits to patients. The risk of bias showed that seven studies were rated as “low risk”, two were rated as “high risk”, and the others were rated as “unclear risk”. The reporting quality of RCTs of acupuncture for migraine remain suboptimal. Conclusions: A non-linear dose-response relationship was found between acupuncture sessions, acupuncture frequency, and acupuncture duration and migraine attack frequency. The results of our study recommend 16 sessions of acupuncture with a frequency of 3 sessions/week and a treatment duration of 1.5 to 2 months. Registration number: This meta-analysis has been registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023400493).

BackgroundMineral deficiencies, such as iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and selenium (Se), play crucial roles in inflammation and immune responses and are linked to chronic inflammatory skin diseases. This study used genome-wide association study (GWAS) data and Mendelian randomization (MR) to investigate the genetic causality among serum levels of five minerals (Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, Ca), three iron metabolism indicators (TSAT, TIBC, ferritin), and three chronic inflammatory skin diseases [psoriasis (PS), atopic dermatitis (AD), acne vulgaris (AV)].MethodsTwo-sample MR analyses using the “TwoSample MR” package in R were conducted with aggregate outcome data from the FinnGen database. The inverse-variance-weighted (IVW) method was applied to assess causal relationships between mineral levels and disease outcomes. Robustness was examined via heterogeneity and pleiotropy tests.ResultsIVW analysis showed significant association between blood transferrin saturation (TSAT) and PS (p = 0.004, OR = 1.18). Serum Zn and Se levels showed inverse correlation with AD (p = 0.039, OR = 0.92). However, due to limited SNPs, robustness was reduced.ConclusionTSAT is genetically linked to PS, highlighting iron homeostasis in disease development. Zn and Se intake may reduce AD risk.

This study aimed to identify the key volatile compounds in two types of processed arabica coffee husk tea, elucidate their olfactory characteristics, and investigate their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Sensory evaluation indicated differences between the two groups. A total of 64 and 99 compounds were identified in the C and FC groups, respectively, with 5 identified as key aroma compounds (ROAV≥1). Molecular simulations indicated that four common key aroma compounds were successfully docked with OR1A1 and OR5M3 receptors, forming stable complexes. Furthermore, 14 volatile compounds interacted with 140 targets associated with oxidation and inflammation, linking to 919 gene ontology (GO) terms and 135 kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathways. Molecular simulations revealed that these volatile components showed antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects by interacting with core receptors through several forces, including van der Waals, Pi-alkyl, and Pi-cation interactions and hydrogen bonds.

Conventionally, the spatially structured light beams produced by metasurfaces primarily highlight the polarization modulation of the beams propagating along the optical axis or the beams' spatial transmission trajectory. In particular, along the optical axis, the polarization state is either constant or varies continuously in each output plane. Here, we develop innovative spatially structured light beams with continually changing polarization along any arbitrary spatial transmission trajectories. With tri-layer metallic metasurfaces, the geometric characteristics of each layer structure can be adjusted to modulate the phase and polarization state of the incident terahertz (THz) wave. The beam will converge to the predefined trajectory along several paths to generate a Bessel-like beam with longitudinal polarization changes. We demonstrate the versatility of the approach by designing two THz-band structured light beams with varying polarization states along the spatial helical transmission trajectory. Continuous linear polarization changes and linear polarization to right circular polarization (RCP) and back to linear polarization changes are realized respectively. The experimental results are basically consistent with the simulated results. Our proposal for arbitrary trajectory structured light beams with longitudinally varying polarization offers a practical method for continuously regulating the characteristics of spatial structured light beams with non-axial transmission. This technique has potential uses in optical encryption, particle manipulation, and biomedical imaging.

To overcome challenges in the traditional melt casting process of zine alloys, such as oxidative burnout, compositional segregation, and grain coarsening, this study carried out hot compression deformation tests on Zn-0.5Mg-0.05Fe alloys prepared by powder metallurgy. The results show that increasing deformation temperature and decreasing strain rate reduce rheological stress. The hot compression deformation process exhibits three phases, as rheological stress increases, work hardening, dynamic softening, and steady-state fluidization are observed, respectively. An intrinsic equation for the hot compression process is derived as = 1.334 × 1010 × [sinh(0.0053σ)]7.62947exp(-109.931691/RT). Processing conditions for Zn-0.5Mg-0.05Fe alloy are determined from a processing map, suggesting that a safe zone of 25°C–130 °C deformation temperatures with 0.13s−1-0.36s−1 strain rates, and 120°C–200 °C deformation temperatures with 0.01s−1-0.6s−1 strain rates. Electron Back-scattering Patterns (EBSD) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) results show both discontinuous dynamic recrystallization (DDRX) and continuous dynamic recrystallization (CDRX) during the hot deformation compression process. DRX reduces deformation resistance, refines the grains, and improves the mechanical properties of the alloys. This study provides theoretical insights and process guidance for preparing degradable zinc alloys with excellent mechanical properties.

Abstract Saline-sodic stress can limit the absorption of available zinc in rice, subsequently impacting the normal photosynthesis and carbohydrate metabolism of rice plants. To investigate the impact of exogenous zinc application on photosynthesis and carbohydrate metabolism in rice grown in saline-sodic soil, this study simulated saline-sodic stress conditions using two rice varieties, 'Changbai 9' and 'Tonghe 899', as experimental materials. Rice seedlings at 4 weeks of age underwent various treatments including control (CT), 2 μmol·L−1 zinc treatment alone (Z), 50 mmol·L−1 saline-sodic treatment (S), and 50 mmol·L−1 saline-sodic treatment with 2 μmol·L−1 zinc (Z + S). We utilized JIP-test to analyze the variations in excitation fluorescence and MR820 signal in rice leaves resulting from zinc supplementation under saline-sodic stress, and examined the impact of zinc supplementation on carbohydrate metabolism in both rice leaves and roots under saline-sodic stress. Research shows that zinc increased the chloroplast pigment content, specific energy flow, quantum yield, and performance of active PSII reaction centers (PI ABS), as well as the oxidation (V OX) and reduction rate (V red) of PSI in rice leaves under saline-sodic stress. Additionally, it decreased the relative variable fluorescence (W K and V J) and quantum energy dissipation yield (φ DO) of the rice. Meanwhile, zinc application can reduce the content of soluble sugars and starch in rice leaves and increasing the starch content in the roots. Therefore, the addition of zinc promotes electron and energy transfer in the rice photosystem under saline-sodic stress. It enhances rice carbohydrate metabolism, improving the rice plants’ ability to withstand saline-sodic stress and ultimately promoting rice growth and development.

Abstract Controlling the direction of ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism by an electric field in single-phase multiferroics will open the door to the next generation of devices for spintronics and electronics. The typical magnetoelectric coupling such as the linear magnetoelectric effect is very weak in type-I multiferroics and therefore the magnetoelectric switching is rarely achieved. Here, using first-principles simulations, we propose a magnetoelectric switching mechanism to achieve such highly desired control in orthorhombic multiferroics. One class of two-dimensional proper multiferroics (CrX 2Se3 and MnX 2Te3, X = Sn, Ge) and perovskite multiferroics (EuTiO3 and BiFeO3/LaFeO3 superlattice) are taken as examples to show the mechanism. In the ferroelectric switching process, the proper polarization rotates its direction by 180° and keeps its magnitude almost unchanged, the ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic vector is rotationally switched by 180° following the rotation of ferroelectric polarization. This rotational magnetoelectric switching results from in-plane structural anisotropy and magnetic anisotropy, and the process of switching is governed by c o s i n e functions from the phenomenological Landau-type models. This study addresses the challenge of magnetoelectric switching in type-I multiferroics by proposing a general magnetoelectric switching mechanism.

Human monoamine oxidase B (hMAO-B) has emerged as a pivotal therapeutic target for Parkinson's disease. Due to adverse effects and shortage of commercial drugs, there is a need for novel, highly selective, and reversible hMAO-B inhibitors with good blood-brain barrier permeability. In this study, a high-throughput at-line nanofractionation screening platform was established with extracts from Chuanxiong Rhizoma, which resulted in the discovery of 75 active compounds, including phenolic acids, volatile oils, and phthalides, two of which were highly selective novel natural phthalide hMAO-B inhibitors that were potent, selective, reversible and had good blood‒brain permeability. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations elucidated the inhibition mechanism. Sedanolide (IC50 = 103 nmol/L; SI = 645) and neocnidilide (IC50 = 131 nmol/L; SI = 207) demonstrated their excellent potential as hMAO-B inhibitors. They offset the limitations of deactivating enzymes associated with irreversible hMAO-B inhibitors such as rasagiline. In SH-SY5Y cell assays, sedanolide (EC50 = 0.962 μmol/L) and neocnidilide (EC50 = 1.161 μmol/L) exhibited significant neuroprotective effects, comparable to the positive drugs rasagiline (EC50 = 0.896 μmol/L) and safinamide (EC50 = 1.079 μmol/L). These findings underscore the potential of sedanolide as a novel natural hMAO-B inhibitor that warrants further development as a promising drug candidate.

Abstract Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common respiratory disease and the third leading cause of death worldwide. Previous evidence has shown that acupuncture may be an effective complementary alternative therapy for stable COPD. However, large-sample, rigorously designed long-term follow-up studies still need to be completed. Notably, the relationship between the frequency of acupuncture and clinical efficacy in studies on acupuncture for stable COPD still needs further validation. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for stable COPD and further investigate the dose–effect relationship of acupuncture. Methods/design This is a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial that uses central randomization to randomly allocate 550 participants in a 1:1:1:1:1 ratio to once a week acupuncture group, twice a week acupuncture group, three times a week acupuncture group, sham acupuncture group and waiting-list control group. The sham acupuncture group will receive placebo acupuncture treatments three times per week, and the waiting-list control group will not receive any form of acupuncture intervention. The study consists of a 2-week baseline, 12-week of treatment, and 52-week of follow-up. Patients with COPD between 40 to 80 years old who have received stable Western medication within the previous 3 months and have had at least 1 moderate or severe acute exacerbation within the past 1 year will be included in the study. Basic treatment will remain the same for all participants. The primary outcome is the proportion of responders at week 12. Secondary outcomes include the proportion of responders at week 64, change in the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) Scale, change in the Modified-Medical Research Council (mMRC) Scale, change in the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) Scale, change in the Lung Function Screening Indicators (LFSI), change in the 6-min walk distance (6-MWD), change in Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) Scale, the number of moderate and severe acute exacerbations and adverse event rate during the follow-up period. Discussion This study will provide robust evidence on whether acupuncture is safe and effective for treating stable COPD. Meanwhile, comparing the differences in efficacy between different acupuncture frequencies will further promote the optimization of acupuncture for stable COPD. Trial registration This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2200058757), on April 16, 2022.

Hemp seed cake (HSC) (Cannabis sativa L.) is a high-quality plant-derived protein source rich in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA). To assess the effects of HSC addition in diets on the growth and meat quality in broiler chicken, a total of 240 female three-yellow chickens (50 days of age) were randomly assigned to four groups and fed with varying levels of HSC (0% (HSC0), 5% (HSC5), 10% (HSC10), and 20% (HSC20)) for 9 weeks. As a result, the daily feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion efficiency were significantly increased in the HSC20 group. Moreover, the meat quality traits, including the meat colour, water-holding capacity, intramuscular fat content, and proportion of n-3 PUFA significantly improved, and the expression of lipid synthesis genes, were increased in the HSC20 group. Meanwhile, the development of immune organs and the anti-inflammatory capabilities were enhanced in the HSC20 group. In addition, the blood lipid of chicken was reduced by improving the lipid metabolism in the HSC20 group. Therefore, adding 20% HSC in the feed had a notable effect on the growth, antioxidant and immune capabilities, blood lipid metabolism, and meat performance of the female three-yellow chickens. These findings provide significant information for improving the production performance of broiler chickens through the effective utilization of HSC.

ABSTRACTOffshore small-scale fisheries, constituting 31% of global marine captures, are crucial for the promotion of sustainable fisheries. However, current fishery monitoring, assessments, and management remain incomplete. Nighttime remote sensing provides a critical perspective for monitoring fishery activities. Thus, in this study, a dynamic threshold fishing vessel detection (DTFVD) model was developed to assess and manage the spatiotemporal variations of offshore fisheries. Results demonstrated that the DTFVD model provides superior accuracy in nighttime fishery monitoring and can successfully identify a robust seasonal bimodal distribution of the Yellow-Bohai Sea's fisheries. By analysing the impacts of climate, environmental, and policy factors, this study reveals that ocean dynamics affect the seasonal and geographic distribution of offshore nighttime fisheries by enhancing ocean mixing and ecological processes. The effects of the COVID-19 lockdowns and Chinese summer fishing moratorium on offshore fisheries were also determined by nighttime remote sensing. According to future climate warming predictions, the habitats for the recruited migratory fish population may gradually move northward and disappear under climate risks, leading to the disappearance of suitable fishing areas for nighttime fisheries. Therefore, this study suggests integrating nighttime remote sensing into offshore fishery monitoring and assessment efforts for climate-adapted fishery management strategies.

Abstract Liver fibrosis is a chronic pathological condition lacking specific clinical treatments. Stem cells, with notable potential in regenerative medicine, offer promise in treating liver fibrosis. However, stem cell therapy is hindered by potential immunological rejection, carcinogenesis risk, efficacy variation, and high cost. Stem cell secretome‐based cell‐free therapy offers potential solutions to address these challenges, but it is limited by low delivery efficiency and rapid clearance. Herein, an innovative approach for in situ implantation of smart microneedle (MN) arrays enabling precisely controlled delivery of multiple therapeutic agents directly into fibrotic liver tissues is developed. By integrating cell‐free and platinum‐based nanocatalytic combination therapy, the MN arrays can deactivate hepatic stellate cells. Moreover, they promote excessive extracellular matrix degradation by more than 75%, approaching normal levels. Additionally, the smart MN arrays can provide hepatocyte protection while reducing inflammation levels by ≈70–90%. They can also exhibit remarkable capability in scavenging almost 100% of reactive oxygen species and alleviating hypoxia. Ultimately, this treatment strategy can effectively restrain fibrosis progression. The comprehensive in vitro and in vivo experiments, supplemented by proteome and transcriptome analyses, substantiate the effectiveness of the approach in treating liver fibrosis, holding immense promise for clinical applications.

This paper presents an investigation into the stability and control aspects of delayed partial differential equation (PDE) systems utilizing the Lyapunov method. PDEs serve as powerful mathematical tools for modeling diverse and intricate systems such as heat transfer processes, chemical reactors, flexible arms, and population dynamics. However, the presence of delays within the feedback loop of such systems can introduce significant challenges, as even minor delays can potentially trigger system instability. To address this issue, the Lyapunov method, renowned for its efficacy in stability analysis, is employed to assess the exponential stability of a specific cohort of delayed PDE systems. By adopting Dirichlet boundary conditions and incorporating delay-dependent techniques such as the Galerkin method and Halanay inequality, the inherent stability properties of these systems are rigorously examined. Notably, the utilization of Dirichlet boundary conditions in this study allows for simplified analysis, and it is worth mentioning that the stability analysis outcomes under Neumann conditions and combined boundary conditions align with those of the Dirichlet boundary conditions discussed herein. Furthermore, this research endeavor delves into the implications of the obtained results in terms of control considerations and convergence rates. The integration of the Galerkin method aids in approximating the behavior of dominant modes within the system, thereby enabling a more comprehensive understanding of stability and control. The exploration of convergence rates provides valuable insights into the speed at which stability is achieved in practice, thus enhancing the practical applicability of the findings. The outcomes of this study contribute significantly to the broader comprehension and effective control of delayed PDE systems. The elucidation of stability behaviors not only provides a comprehensive understanding of the impact of delays but also offers practical insights for the design and implementation of control strategies in various domains. Ultimately, this research strives to enhance the stability and reliability of complex systems represented by PDEs, thereby facilitating their effective utilization across numerous scientific and engineering applications.

BackgroundBranched gold and silver nanoparticles coated with polydopamine (Au-Ag-PDA) demonstrate high photothermal conversion efficiency. Utilizing umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell membranes (MSCM) as an effective drug delivery system, our preliminary studies investigated the suppression of sebum secretion in sebaceous glands using MSCM-coated Au-Ag-PDA nano-particles (Au-Ag-PDA@MSCM) combined with 808 nm laser irradiation, showing potential for dermatological applications in acne treatment.MethodsThis study employs proteomic analysis, complemented by subsequent techniques such as Western blotting (WB), small interfering RNA (siRNA), and transmission electron microscopy, to further investigate the differential mechanisms by which Au-Ag-PDA and Au-Ag-PDA@MSCM-mediated photothermal therapy (PTT) suppress sebum secretion.ResultsOur proteomic analysis indicated mitochondrial respiratory chain damage in sebaceous gland tissues post-PTT, with further validation revealing ferroptosis in sebaceous cells and tissues. Acyl-CoA Synthetase Long-Chain Family Member 4 (Acsl4) has been identified as a critical target, with Au-Ag-PDA@MSCM demonstrating enhanced ferroptotic effects.ConclusionThese findings significantly advance our understanding of how PTT mediated by Au-Ag-PDA@MSCM nanoparticles reduces sebum secretion and underscore the pivotal role of MSCM in inducing ferroptosis in sebaceous glands, thus providing a robust theoretical foundation for employing PTT via specific molecular pathways in acne treatment.

Introduction: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a globally common chronic respiratory disease with a high morbidity and mortality rate. Acupuncture has been proven effective for COPD. A dose-response meta-analysis was conducted to assess the correlation between the acupuncture temporal parameters(session, frequency, and duration) and its effectiveness in patients with stable COPD. Methods: Acupuncture randomized controlled trials on COPD were searched in eight databases from their inception to June 2023. The ''doses'' were defined as the acupuncture session, frequency, and duration. The outcomes mainly included Forced Expiratory Volume in one-second rate (FEV1%) and Six-minute Walking Distance (6MWD). The assessment of bias risk and literature quality were conducted independently using the Cochrane risk of bias tool and the Standards for reporting interventions in clinical trials of acupuncture. The dose-response relationship was modeled using robust error element regression, and meta-analysis was operated by R 4.3.1 and Stata 15.0. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO with the registration number CRD42023401406. Result: Out of 1669 records, 17 RCTs with 1165 participants were finally included in the meta-analysis. There was notable heterogeneity among the studies, but sensitivity analysis demonstrated good robustness. The findings revealed a significant improvement in the following outcomes for stable COPD patients in the acupuncture group: FEV1% (MD=3.50, 95%CI: 2.05–4.95), 6MWD (MD=47.39, 95%CI: 29.29–65.50), St. George's respiratory questionnaire (SGRQ; MD=−8.25, 95%CI: −11.38 to −5.12); COPD assessment test (CAT; MD=−2.91, 95%CI: −3.99 to −1.83). The relationship between the acupuncture session, duration, and FEV1%, 6MWD followed a ''Λ'' curve pattern, while the relationship between acupuncture frequency and FEV1%, 6MWD exhibited logarithmic growth. Firstly, After 12 acupuncture sessions, FEV1% and 6MWD increased by 7.06% (95%CI: 4.56–9.55) and 36.28 m (95%CI: 20.37–52.20), respectively. The peak improvement in FEV1% and 6MWD was observed after 18 acupuncture sessions (MD=7.89, 95% CI: 5.33–10.45) and 45 sessions (MD=125.43, 95% CI: 72.80–178.07) each. Additionally, weekly acupuncture resulted in a 4.14% improvement in FEV1% (95% CI: 2.55–5.72) and a 42.49 m increase in 6MWD (95%CI: 17.16–67.81). Notably, the maximum effects on FEV1% and 6MWD improvement were achieved with different acupuncture frequencies, specifically three times a week (MD=6.00, 95% CI: 5.34–6.66) and once a day(MD=112.41, 95% CI: 77.27–147.56), respectively. Furthermore, after a 28-day duration of acupuncture treatment, FEV1% increased by 4.74% (95% CI: 3.73–5.75) and 6MWD increased by 47.34 m (95%CI: 22.01–72.67). During 60 days of acupuncture treatment, the FEV1% and 6MWD improvement reached their highest levels at 8.76% (95% CI: 7.05–10.47) and 88.06 m (95% CI: 45.96–130.16), respectively. Conclusion: Acupuncture was effective in improving FEV1%, 6MWD, SGRQ, and CAT in patients with stable COPD. There was a dose-response relationship between the time parameters of acupuncture (session, frequency, and duration) and the efficacy of COPD treatment (FEV1% and 6MWD). The minimal clinically important difference could be achieved after 12 acupuncture sessions. Acupuncture with a medium-frequency (2–3 times per week) over 60 days may result in the greatest improvement in FEV1%, while higher-frequency acupuncture (5–7 times per week) for 2 months may lead to the maximum improvements in 6MWD. It indicated that the optimal acupuncture duration for different indicators remains consistent, while the optimal frequencies may differ. To confirm these results, it is necessary to conduct multicenter, large-scale randomized controlled trials. Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval is not required for literature-based studies. The results will be published in peer-reviewed journals or conferences.

Experts have shifted from precise numerical representations to more complex linguistic representations in response to the growing complexity of occupational health and safety (OHS) risk assessment problems. However, there are more difficulties in accurately assessing risk when dealing with complex linguistic representations. Furthermore, in uncertain situations including complex linguistic representations, the multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approaches now in use for OHS risk assessment fail to synchronize the assessment of criteria and alternatives. To address these issues, this paper proposes a novel approach for OHS risk assessment that extends the idea of simultaneous evaluation of criteria and alternatives (SECA) to group decision-making (GDM) with complex linguistic representations. Firstly, flexible linguistic expressions (FLEs) are employed to represent experts’ complex linguistic risk assessments. Secondly, to accurately quantify the flexible linguistic assessment information, a numerical scale optimization model is constructed based on maximizing the closeness between individual and collective assessments, with the aim of obtaining the numerical scales of linguistic terms and flexible linguistic term sets. Then, an extended SECA-GDM method considering flexible linguistic scale optimization is proposed to simultaneously determine the risk criteria weights and priority order of occupational hazards. Finally, a case study is conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Abstract During myocardial infarction, microcirculation disturbance in the ischemic area can cause necrosis and formation of fibrotic tissue, potentially leading to malignant arrhythmia and myocardial remodeling. Here, we report a microchanneled hydrogel suture for two-way signal communication, pumping drugs on demand, and cardiac repair. After myocardial infarction, our hydrogel suture monitors abnormal electrocardiogram through the mobile device and triggers nitric oxide on demand via the hydrogel sutures’ microchannels, thereby inhibiting inflammation, promoting microvascular remodeling, and improving the left ventricular ejection fraction in rats and minipigs by more than 60% and 50%, respectively. This work proposes a suture for bidirectional communication that acts as a cardio-patch to repair myocardial infarction, that remotely monitors the heart, and can deliver drugs on demand.

Line commutated converter based high-voltage direct-current (LCC-HVDC) transmissions are prone to harmonic oscillation under weak grids. Impedance modeling is an effective method for assessing interaction stability. Firstly, this paper proposes an improved calculation method for the DC voltage and AC currents of commutation stations to address the complex linearization of the commutation process and constructs an overall harmonic state-space (HSS) model of an LCC-HVDC. Based on the HSS model, the closed-loop AC impedances on the LCC-HVDC sending and receiving ends are then derived and verified. The impedance characteristics of the LCC-HVDC are then analyzed to provide a physical explanation for the harmonic oscillation of the system. The effects of the grid strength and control parameters on system stability are also analyzed. To improve the impedance characteristics and operating stability of the LCC-HVDC system, a virtual impedance based stability enhancement control is proposed, and a parameter design method is considered to ensure satisfactory phase margins at both the sending and receiving ends. Finally, simulation results are presented to verify the validity of the impedance model and virtual impedance based stability enhancement control.

Medical Image Super-Resolution plays a pivotal role in enhancing diagnostic accuracy. Transformer-based methods, such as Image Restoration Using Swin Transformer (SwinIR) and Swin transformer for fast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (SwinMR), have shown prowess in this area but also exhibit limitations. Specifically, LayerNorm channel normalization diminishes high-frequency detail, while the Multilayer Perceptron prioritizes global information over local information. Moreover, low-resolution inputs contain substantial low-frequency information, treated uniformly in self-attention, hampering the effectiveness of shifted window-based self-attention. To address these challenges, this study proposes a novel Asymmetric convolution Swin Transformer Layer that leverages global and local information within adjacent windows or pixels. Furthermore, this study presents an innovative joint attention mechanism that integrates channel attention into the Swin Transformer architecture, allowing for the simultaneous capture of local and global information and enhancing the network's ability to adapt and represent information effectively. Based on these components, this study develops a joint Channel Attention and Swin Transformer Residual Network (CSRNet) for medical image super-resolution. To evaluate its performance, this study conducts comprehensive experiments on established datasets consisting of high-resolution medical images. Compared to the state-of-the-art medical image super-resolution methods, the proposed method outperforms in reconstructing medical images across qualitative and quantitative metrics.

As distributed generations (DG) and electric vehicles (EV) are widely integrated into power systems, the power network has undergone significant changes in structure, function, and operational characteristics. Therefore, effective management and control of distributed energy sources and EV charging power by power system operators becomes necessary. In this paper, the physical characteristics of new power systems are summarized. The influence of DG and EV connected to power systems on system planning is analyzed. Then, based on the review of the existing planning models, the problems and technical difficulties are reviewed from the aspects of control strategy, power flow calculation, uncertainty processing, network planning, and equipment planning. Considering the problems and challenges, key technologies are presented. Finally, future directions are provided in four aspects, including system interdependence, various EV charging response, system resilience, and planning evaluation.

The integration of PbS quantum dots (QDs) with graphene represents a notable advancement in enhancing the optoelectronic properties of quantum-dot-based devices. This study investigated the electrical transport properties of PbS quantum dot (QD)/graphene heterostructures, leveraging the high carrier mobility of graphene. We fabricated QD/graphene/SiO2/Si heterostructures by synthesizing p-type monolayer graphene via chemical vapor deposition and spin-coating PbS QDs on the surface. Then, we used a low-temperature electrical transport measurement system to study the electrical transport properties of the heterostructure under different temperature, gate voltage, and light conditions and compared them with bare graphene samples. The results indicated that the QD/graphene samples exhibited higher resistance than graphene alone, with both resistances slightly increasing with temperature. The QD/graphene samples exhibited significant hole doping, with conductivity increasing from 0.0002 Ω−1 to 0.0007 Ω−1 under gate voltage modulation. As the temperature increased from 5 K to 300 K, hole mobility decreased from 1200 cm2V−1s−1 to 400 cm2V−1s−1 and electron mobility decreased from 800 cm2V−1s−1 to 200 cm2V−1s−1. Infrared illumination reduced resistance, thereby enhancing conductivity, with a resistance change of about 0.4%/mW at a gate voltage of 125 V, demonstrating the potential of these heterostructures for infrared photodetector applications. These findings offer significant insights into the charge transport mechanisms in low-dimensional materials, paving the way for high-performance optoelectronic devices.

In recent years, extreme events have frequently occurred, and the extreme uncertainty of the source-demand side of high-ratio renewable energy systems poses a great challenge to the safe operation of power systems. Accurately generating extreme scenarios related to the source-demand side under a high percentage of new power systems is vital for the safe operation of power systems and the assessment of their reliability. However, at this stage, methods for extreme scenario generation that fully consider the correlation between wind power, solar power, and load are lacking. To address these problems, this paper proposes a method for extreme scenario generation based on information-maximizing generative adversarial networks (InfoGANs) for high-proportion renewable power systems. The example analysis shows that the method for extreme scenario generation proposed in this paper can fully explore the correlation between historical wind–solar–load data, greatly improve the accuracy with which extreme scenarios are generated, and provide effective theories and methodologies for the safe operation of a new type of power system.

In the quest for sustainable urban development, precise quantification of urban green space is paramount. This research delineates the implementation of a Cosine Adaptive Particle Swarm Optimization Long Short-Term Memory (CAPSO-LSTM) model, utilizing a comprehensive dataset from Beijing (1998–2021) to train and test the model. The CAPSO-LSTM model, which integrates a cosine adaptive mechanism into particle swarm optimization, advances the optimization of long short-term memory (LSTM) network hyperparameters. Comparative analyses are conducted against conventional LSTM and Partical Swarm Optimization (PSO)-LSTM frameworks, employing mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE), and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) as evaluative benchmarks. The findings indicate that the CAPSO-LSTM model exhibits a substantial improvement in prediction accuracy over the LSTM model, manifesting as a 66.33% decrease in MAE, a 73.78% decrease in RMSE, and a 57.14% decrease in MAPE. Similarly, when compared to the PSO-LSTM model, the CAPSO-LSTM model demonstrates a 58.36% decrease in MAE, a 65.39% decrease in RMSE, and a 50% decrease in MAPE. These results underscore the efficacy of the CAPSO-LSTM model in enhancing urban green space area prediction, suggesting its significant potential for aiding urban planning and environmental policy formulation.

Summary: Background: Anlotinib is a new type of tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets vascular endothelial growth factor receptors 1/2/3, platelet-derived growth factor receptors α/β, and fibroblast growth factor receptors 1–4 and c-Kit, with a broad spectrum of inhibitory effects on tumor angiogenesis and growth. It has been proven effective in HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer, but its efficacy in early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is unknown. This phase 2 study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adding anlotinib to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with TNBC. Methods: Patients with clinical stage II/III TNBC were treated with 5 cycles of anlotinib (12 mg, d1-14, q3w) plus 6 cycles of taxanes (docetaxel 75 mg/m2 ,d1, q3w or nab-paclitaxel 125 mg/m2, d1 and d8, q3w) and lobaplatin (30 mg/m2, d1, q3w), followed by surgery. The primary endpoint was pathological complete response (pCR; ypT0/is ypN0) and the secondary endpoints include breast pCR (bpCR), axillary pCR (apCR), residual cancer burden (RCB), objective response rate (ORR), survival, and safety. Exploratory endpoints were efficacy biomarkers based on Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center Immunohistochemical (FUSCC IHC) classification for TNBC and next-generation sequencing (NGS) of DNA from tumor tissue and blood samples of patients with 425-gene panel. This trial is registered with www.chictr.org.cn (ChiCTR2100043027). Findings: From Jan 2021 to Aug 2022, 48 patients were assessed and 45 were enrolled. All patients received at least one dose of study treatment and underwent surgery. The median age was 48.5 years (SD: 8.7), 71% were nodal involved, and 20% had stage III. In the intention-to-treat population, 26 out of 45 patients achieved pCR (57.8%; 90% CI, 44.5%–70.3%), and 39 achieved residual cancer burden class 0-I (86.7%; 95% CI, 73.2%–94.9%). The bpCR and apCR rate were 64.4% (29/45) and 71.9% (23/32), respectively. No recurrence or metastasis occurred during the short-term follow-up. Based on the FUSCC IHC-based subtypes, the pCR rates were 68.8% (11/16) for immunomodulatory subtype, 58.3% (7/12) for basal-like immune-suppressed subtype and 33.3% (4/12) for luminal androgen receptor subtype, respectively. NGS revealed that the pCR were 77% (10/13) and 50% (14/28) in MYC-amplified and wild-type patients, respectively, and 78% (7/9) and 53% (17/32) in gBRCA1/2-mutated and wild-type patients, respectively. The median follow-up time of the study was 14.9 months (95% CI: 13.5–16.3 months). There was no disease progression or death during neoadjuvant therapy. No deaths occurred during postoperative follow-up. In the safety population (N = 45), Grade 3 or 4 treatment emergent adverse events occurred in 29 patients (64%), and the most common events were neutropenia (38%), leukopenia (27%), thrombocytopenia (25%), anemia (13%), and hypertension (13%), respectively. Interpretation: The addition of anlotinib to neoadjuvant chemotherapy showed manageable toxicity and encouraging antitumor activity for patients with clinical stage II/III TNBC. Funding: Chongqing Talents Project, Chongqing Key Project of Technology Innovation and Application Development and Chongqing Outstanding Youth Natural Science Foundation.

Background: Given that the circadian rhythm is intricately linked to cardiovascular physiological functions, the objective of this investigation was to employ bibliometric visualization analysis in order to scrutinize the trends, hotspots, and prospects of the circadian rhythm and cardiovascular disease (CVD) over the past two decades. Methods: A thorough exploration of the literature related to the circadian rhythm and CVD was conducted via the Web of Science Core Collection database spanning the years 2002–2022. Advanced software tools, including citespace and VOSviewer, were employed to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the co-occurrence and collaborative relationships among countries, institutions, journals, references, and keywords found in this literature. Furthermore, correlation mapping was executed to provide a visual representation of the data. Results: The present study encompassed a total of 3399 published works, comprising of 2691 articles and 708 reviews. The publications under scrutiny were primarily derived from countries such as the United States, Japan, and China. The most prominent research institutions were found to be the University of Vigo, University of Minnesota, and Harvard University. Notably, the journal Chronobiology International, alongside its co-cited publications, had the most substantial contribution to the research in this field. Following an exhaustive analysis, the most frequently observed keywords were identified as circadian rhythm, blood pressure, hypertension, heart rate, heart rate variability, and melatonin. Furthermore, a nascent analysis indicated that future research might gravitate towards topics such as inflammation, metabolism, oxidative stress, and autophagy, thereby indicating new directions for investigation. Conclusion: This analysis represents the first instance of bibliometric scrutiny pertaining to circadian rhythm and its correlation with cardiovascular disease (CVD) through the use of visualization software. Notably, this study has succeeded in highlighting the recent research frontiers and prominent trajectories in this field, thereby providing a valuable contribution to the literature.

SSR molecular markers were obtained based on abundant transcriptome data under different waterlogging conditions in order to develop appropriate biological tools and explore the molecular mechanism of hot pepper response to waterlogging stress in this experiment. The results were as follows: (1) A total of 128 939 Unigenes were obtained from transcriptome analysis of hot pepper. The total length, average length, and GC content were 55 082 725 bp, 1 101 bp and 40.57%, respectively. Compared with seven major functional databases, 102 123 (NR, 79.20%), 110 157 (NT, 85.43%), 70 203 (SwissProt, 54.45%), 73 539 (KOG, 57.03%), 77 646 (KEGG, 60.22%), 77 442 (GO, 60.06%) and 68 216 (Pfam, 52.91%) Unigenes obtained functional annotations. It was found that lipid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, environmental adaptation, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, signal transduction and translation played important roles in the response to waterlogging stress. (2) A total of 26 574 SSR loci were found in 24 889 Unigenes from hot pepper transcriptome data. The frequency of SSR was 20.61%, of which single nucleotide repeat accounted for the highest ratio (37.26%), followed by tri-nucleotide (31.00%) and di-nucleotide (25.44%) repeat types, accounting for 93.70% of the total EST-SSR. The motifs A/T, AG/CT and TC/GA, followed by AT and TA, were the most abundant in mono-nucleotide and di-nucleotide. The most common types of tri-nucleotides were TTG/CAA and ACA/TGT. (3) 10 002 pairs of EST-SSR primers were designed with Primer 3. A total of 30 pairs of primers were randomly selected for amplification test, and all of them were effective. Seven pairs of primers could amplify the target bands in three hot pepper germplasms. To sum up, the motif structure of the most dominant SSR repeat type in hot pepper is basically similar to that of other varieties, and the molecular mechanism of hot pepper waterlogging stress response is preliminarily explored, and its EST-SSR markers are developed to provide reference for hot pepper waterlogging-tolerant genetic breeding.

Objective To compare the supply data of red blood cells(RBCs) from 18 blood centers in China before and after the outbreak of COVID-19 during 2018 to 2021. Methods Eight indicators related to RBCs supply from 18 blood centers in China during 2018-2021 were collected retrospectively, including the storage of total amount of qualified RBCs (referred to as the total amount of storage), the distribution of total amount of RBCs (referred to as the total amount of distribution), the distribution amount of RBCs per 1 000 population (referred to as the amount of distribution per 1 000 population), the distribution amount of RBCs from 400 mL original blood per 1 000 population [referred to as the amount of distribution per 1 000 population (400 mL)], the average daily distribution amount of RBCs (referred to as the average daily distribution amount), the average daily storage amount of RBCs (referred to as the average daily storage amount), the average storage days of RBCs when distribute (referred to as the RBC storage days), and the expired amount of RBCs (referred to as the expired amount). Based on the outbreak time of COVID-19, the data of 2018 and 2019 were the pre-pandemic group, and the data of 2020 and 2021 were the post-pandemic group. Results Data on RBCs supply in 18 blood centers from 2018 to 2021(comparison of the pre-pandemic group and the post-pandemic group): the amount of distribution per 1 000 population (median 14.68 U>13.92 U) decreased, the amount of distribution per 1 000 population (400 mL) (median 10.16 U>9.21 U) decreased, and the difference was statistically significant (P99 084.08 U) decreased, the amount of distribution per 1 000 population (median 15.04 U>12.19 U) decreased, the amount of distribution per 1000 population (400 mL) (median 10.11 U>8.94 U), the average daily distribution amount(322.66 U>270.73 U) decreased and RBC storage days (median 10.50 d324.46 U), the average daily inventory (median 3 222.00 U0.00 U) decreased, the difference has statistical significance (P

Abstract Boron-based catalysts exhibit high alkene selectivity in oxidative dehydrogenation of propane (ODHP) but the mechanistic understanding remains incomplete. In this work, we show that the hydroxylation of framework boron species via steaming not only enhances the ODHP rate on both B-MFI and B-BEA, but also impacts the kinetics of the reaction. The altered activity, propane reaction order and the activation energy could be attributed to the hydrolysis of framework [B(OSi≡)3] unit to [B(OSi≡)3−x (OH···O(H)Si≡) x ] (x = 1, 2, “···” represents hydrogen bonding). DFT calculations confirm that hydroxylated framework boron sites could stabilize radical species, e.g., hydroperoxyl radical, further facilitating the gas-phase radical mechanism. Variations in the contributions from gas-phase radical mechanisms in ODHP lead to the linear correlation between activation enthalpy and entropy on borosilicate zeolites. Insights gained in this work offer a general mechanistic framework to rationalize the kinetic behavior of the ODHP on boron-based catalysts.

To optimize the micro-water degumming process, this study investigated the effects of different processing techniques including mechanical peeling degumming+sun drying (A), mechanical peeling degumming+heat pump drying (B), manual peeling+heat pump drying (C), mechanical peeling degumming+water soaking degumming+heat pump drying (D), and manual peeling+water soaking degumming+heat pump drying (E) on the content of aroma precursors (protein and crude fat), taste-producing substances (caffeine, chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid), and volatile substances in green coffee beans. The results showed that compared to the manual peeling degumming+heat pump treatment group, the mechanical peeling degumming+heat pump drying group exhibited a significantly increased chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid contents in raw coffee beans, a significantly decreased (PB>A>E>C. The PCA score plot grouped samples B and D into one quadrant, and the samples in other treatment groups were located in different quadrants, which indicated a relatively small difference in the quality of raw coffee beans between the mechanical peeling degumming+heat pump drying group and mechanical peeling degumming+water soaking degumming+heat pump drying treatment group, while the difference in quality of raw coffee beans among the other treatment groups was dramatic. The analysis results of the relative content of volatile substances showed that raw coffee beans in the manual peeling+water soaking degumming+heat pump drying treatment group contained more main flavor compounds such as n-octadecane (4.80 µg/g), damascenone (1.85 µg/g), dibutyl phthalate (20.28 µg/g) than those in the mechanical peeling degumming+water soaking degumming+heat pump drying treatment group (1.63, 0.94, 4.07 µg/g), and compounds in raw coffee beans exhibited an overall decreasing trend with decreasing pectin residues. Taken together, rich flavor could be obtained from green coffee beans by taking advantage of pectin, and the optimal comprehensive quality could be obtained from the micro-water degumming process, namely, mechanical peeling degumming+water soaking degumming+heat pump drying. The findings would provide new perspectives for the processing of the Yunnan fine coffee beans and fermented flavor coffee beans.

Enzyme-driven micro/nanomotors consuming in situ chemical fuels have attracted lots of attention for biomedical applications. However, motor systems composed by organism-derived organics that maximize the therapeutic efficacy of enzymatic products remain challenging. Herein, swimming proteomotors based on biocompatible urease and human serum albumin are constructed for enhanced antitumor therapy via active motion and ammonia amplification. By decomposing urea into carbon dioxide and ammonia, the designed proteomotors are endowed with self-propulsive capability, which leads to improved internalization and enhanced penetration in vitro. As a glutamine synthetase inhibitor, the loaded l-methionine sulfoximine further prevents the conversion of toxic ammonia into non-toxic glutamine in both tumor and stromal cells, resulting in local ammonia amplification. After intravesical instillation, the proteomotors achieve longer bladder retention and thus significantly inhibit the growth of orthotopic bladder tumor in vivo without adverse effects. We envision that the as-developed swimming proteomotors with amplification of the product toxicity may be a potential platform for active cancer treatment.

For industry image data, this paper proposes an image classification method based on stochastic configuration networks and multi-scale feature extraction. The multi-scale features are extracted from images of different scales using deep 2DSCN, and the hidden features of multiple layers are also connected together to obtain more informational features. The integrated features are fed into SCNs to learn a classifier which improves the recognition rate for different categories. In the experiments, a handwritten digit database and an industry hot-rolled steel strip database are used, and the comparison results demonstrate the proposed method can effectively improve the classification accuracy.

In the context of global warming, the acceleration of the water cycle increases the risk of meteorological drought (MD) and hydrological drought (HD) in the arid region of Northwest China. The Manas River Basin is a typical agricultural oasis and the largest oasis farming area in Xinjiang, Northwest China. Droughts in this basin have significant implications for both agricultural production and the livelihoods of inhabitants. To evaluate the MD and HD and provide information for drought relief in the MRB, the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) and standardized runoff index (SRI) were calculated using long-term rainfall and runoff data. Subsequently, combined with ArcGIS 10.3 software and the trend analysis method, the SPEI and SRI characteristics were evaluated at different time scales (1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month). There were three main findings. First, both MD and HD were alleviated, with significantly more HD alleviation. MDs in spring and autumn exhibited a trend of aggravation. The SRIs in summer, autumn, and winter increased significantly at a confidence level of p < 0.01, with an insignificant decline in spring. In the 2010s, the frequency of light drought of MD was stable at 10% to 20%, while severe and extreme droughts increased. The frequency of HDs has decreased since the 1990s. Second, on annual and seasonal scales, MDs occurred mainly as light and moderate droughts. The highest frequency of MD was 24% of moderate droughts in winter. Spatially, the northern region of the MRB was characterized by more frequent light and extreme droughts. Third, runoff in the Manas River Basin increased significantly during the 1990s, which may have been related to the acceleration of glacial retreat in the Tianshan Mountains. This study can effectively reveal the changes in meteorological and hydrological drought in NWC and provide the basis for risk decision-making and management for watershed managers.

In this paper, a theoretical estimation model of TBM thrust, torque, and power in the rock–soil interface (RSI) of mixed ground is developed, including a new force model for the drag cutter that accounts for chamber pressure and soil friction. A distribution model of the disc cutters and drag cutters on the cutterhead adaptable to different excavation surfaces is built in order to visualize the cutting process as the TBM cutterhead rotates, and a program is created and that runs smoothly using the Python version 3.8, which can recognize the numbers and calculate the forces of the disc cutters and drag cutters in the soft and hard strata, respectively. Then, combining with friction forces and chamber pressure calculated by the program, the variation in torque, thrust, and power are produced. Subsequently, a new index (MPPI), which considers both the thrust of the TBM and cutterhead torque, for forecasting TBM tunneling performance in composite strata is presented. The reliability of the index as well as the estimation model are validated using data from an actual project to offer recommendations for future tunneling projects.

Gas injection for enhanced oil and gas reservoir recovery is a crucial method in offshore Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS). The B6 buried hill condensate gas reservoir, characterized by high CO2 content, a deficit in natural energy, developed fractures and low-pressure differentials between formation and saturation pressures, requires supplementary formation energy to mitigate retrograde condensation near the wellbore area through gas injection. However, due to the connected fractures, the B6 gas reservoir exhibits strong horizontal and vertical heterogeneity, resulting in severe gas channeling and a futile cycle, which affects the gas injection efficiency at various levels of fracture development. Based on these findings, we conducted gas injection experiments and numerical simulations on fractured cores. A characterization method for oil and gas relative permeability considering dissolution was established. Additionally, the gas injection development boundary for this type of condensate gas reservoir was quantified according to the degree of fracture development, and the gas injection mode of the B6 reservoir was optimized. Research indicates that the presence of fractures leads to the formation of a dominant gas channel; the greater the permeability difference, the poorer the gas injection effect. The permeability gradation (fracture permeability divided by matrix permeability) in the gas injection area should be no higher than 15; gas injection in wells A1 and A2 is likely to achieve a better development effect under the existing well pattern. Moreover, early gas injection timing and pulse gas injection prove beneficial in enhancing the recovery rate of condensate oil. The study offers significant guidance for the development of similar gas reservoirs and for reservoirs with weakly connected fractures; advancing the timing of gas injection can mitigate the retrograde condensation phenomenon, whereas initiating gas injection after depletion may reduce the impact of gas channeling for reservoirs with strongly connected fractures.

A shallow water equations-based model with an improved local time-stepping (LTS) scheme is developed for modeling coastal hydrodynamics across multiple scales, from large areas to detailed local regions. To enhance the stability of the shallow water model for long-duration simulations and at larger LTS gradings, a prediction-correction method using a single-layer interface that couples coarse and fine time discretizations is adopted. The proposed scheme improves computational efficiency with an acceptable additional computational burden and ensures accurate conservation of time truncation errors in a discrete sense. The model performance is verified with respect to conservation and computational efficiency through two idealized tests: the spreading of a drop of shallow water and a tidal flat/channel system. The results of both tests demonstrate that the improved LTS scheme maintains precision as the LTS grading increases, preserves conservation properties, and significantly improves computational efficiency with a speedup ratio of up to 2.615. Furthermore, we applied the LTS scheme to simulate tides at grid scales of 40,000 m to 200 m for a portion of the Northwest Pacific. The proposed model shows promise for modeling cross-scale hydrodynamics in complex coastal and ocean engineering problems.

For vibration signals, this paper proposes an ensemble classification method based on stochastic configuration networks (SCNs). Firstly, the time–frequency analysis methods are used to obtain the frequency spectrum signal and time–frequency images. The sample data in the frequency domain and the time–frequency domain can characterize fault information from different perspectives. The hybrid data that consist of the sample data from the two domains are used to build a SCN model. Moreover, a SCNs ensemble method is proposed to solve the fault classification problem, and the sub-classifiers are built to extract fault features from different training data. In the experiment, the bearing and gear fault datasets are used for performance comparison. The experimental results show that the proposed SCNs ensemble model obtains good classification results, and compared with the deep learning methods, the SCN modeling process is more simple and effective for industrial data classification.