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Abstract The direct laser writing (DLW) of photoluminescent metal clusters is inspiring intensive research in functional glasses. However, understanding the influence of the host structure on cluster formation and visualizing DLW-induced clusters at the atomic scale remains challenging. In this work, we develop a highly photosensitive fluorophosphate glass through fluorine incorporation. The addition of fluorine establishes a conducive environment for Ag+ ions before DLW and enhances the availability of reducing agents and diffusion pathways during DLW. These advantages facilitate the formation of Ag clusters under low-energy single-pulsed DLW. Increasing laser energy results in a combination of Ag clusters and glasses defect, forming a dot + ring photoluminescent pattern. Atom probe tomography (APT), a technique capable of mapping the elemental spatial distribution and identifying clustering, is employed to gain more information on laser-induced clusters. Comparison of APT results between samples without and with DLW reveals the formation of Ag clusters after laser writing. The design concept and characterization enrich the understanding of Ag cluster behavior in glasses. This knowledge opens the possibility of rational design of clusters confined in glasses and inspires their synthesis for various applications.

Abstract In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the prevalence of electronic wearables, among which flexible magnetoelectronic skin has emerged as a key component. This technology is part of the rapidly progressing field of flexible wearable electronics, which has facilitated a new human perceptual development known as the magnetic sense. However, the magnetoelectronic skin is limited due to its low sensitivity and substantial field limitations as a wearable electronic device for sensing minor magnetic fields. Additionally, achieving efficient and non-destructive delamination in flexible magnetic sensors remains a significant challenge, hindering their development. In this study, we demonstrate a novel magnetoelectronic touchless interactive device that utilizes a flexible giant magnetoresistive sensor array. The flexible magnetic sensor array was developed through an electrochemical delamination process, and the resultant ultra-thin flexible electronic system possessed both ultra-thin and non-destructive characteristics. The flexible magnetic sensor is capable of achieving a bending angle of up to 90 degrees, maintaining its performance integrity even after multiple repetitive bending cycles. Our study also provides demonstrations of non-contact interaction and pressure sensing. This research is anticipated to significantly contribute to the advancement of high-performance flexible magnetic sensors and catalyze the development of more sophisticated magnetic electronic skins.

Abstract Quantitatively predicting the impacts of climate change on water demands of various crops is essential for developing measures to ensure food security, sustainable agriculture, and water resources management, especially in arid regions. This study explored the water footprints (WFs) of nine major crops in the middle and downstream areas of Shule River Basin, Northwest China, from 1989 to 2020 using the WF theory and CROPWAT model and predicted the future WFs of these crops under four emission and socio-economic pathway (SSPs-RCPs) scenarios, which provides scientific support for actively responding to the negative impacts of climate change in arid regions. Results indicated: (1) an increasing trend of the overall crop WF, with blue WF accounting for 80.31–99.33% of the total WF in the last 30 years. Owing to differences of planting structure, water-conservation technologies, and other factors, the multi-year average WF per unit area of crops was 0.75 × 104 m3 hm−2 in downstream area, which was higher than that in midstream area (0.57 × 104 m3 hm−2) in the last 30 years; therefore agricultural water use efficiency in the downstream area was lower than that in the midstream area, implying that the midstream area has more efficient agricultural water utilization. (2) an initial increase and then decrease of crop WFs in the study area under SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5 scenarios by the end of the century, reaching their peak in 2030s which was higher than that from 1989 to 2020; with the maximum growth rates in the midstream area ranging from −0.85% in SSP5-8.5 to 5.33% in SSP2-4.5 and 29.74% in SSP5-8.5 to 34.71% in SSP2-4.5 in the downstream area. The local agricultural water demand would continue to increase and water scarcity issues would be more severe in the next 10–20 years, affecting downstream areas more. Under the SSP3-7.0 scenario, crop WF values of the midstream and downstream regions will be 2.63 × 108 m3 and 4.22 × 108 m3 in 2030, respectively, which is significantly higher than those of other scenarios and show a long-term growth trend. The growth rate of the midstream and downstream regions will reach 44.71% and 81.12%, respectively, by the end of this century, so the local agricultural water use would be facing more strain if this scenario materializes in the future. Therefore, the Shule River Basin should encourage development of water-saving irrigation technologies, adjust the planting ratio of high water consuming crops, and identify other measures to improve water resource utilization efficiency to cope with future water resource pressures.

While laser-assisted milling machining is promising for promoting the machinability of Inconel 718, the geometrical parameters of laser beam relative to milling tool significantly influence its machining performance. In this work, we investigate the effects of various parameters of laser incidence geometry on the laser-assisted milling process of Inconel 718 by comprehensively employing analytical investigations, finite element simulations and experiments. Firstly, a laser-assisted milling experimental platform is constructed, and a fully coupled thermal-mechanical 3D finite element model of laser-assisted milling of Inconel 718 is established. Secondly, experiments and finite element simulations of laser-assisted milling of Inconel 718 are conducted to investigate the impact of laser assistance on cutting force and machined surface morphology. Results indicate that laser-assisted milling can moderately reduce cutting force and enhance surface quality compared to conventional milling. Thirdly, a single-factor experiment is carried out to explore the impact of laser incidence geometry parameters (laser power, laser incidence angle, and laser spot-tool edge distance) on the cutting force in laser-assisted milling of Inconel 718. Furthermore, the parametric investigation based on the response surface methodology is carried out to assess the coupled effects of the three parameters for deriving their optimal values. The experimental results show that the optimized parameters of laser-assisted milling can lead to a 47.4% reduction in surface roughness and a 25% reduction in cutting force, accompanied by significantly reduced tool wear, as compared to conventional milling. The findings demonstrate that the rational selection of laser incidence geometrical parameters is crucial for enhancing the laser-assisted milling capability for Inconel 718.

To reveal the specific reason for the bubble release and expansion of municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (MSWI FA) during polymerisation, the chemical composition and source of the emitted gas were studied at length in this paper. To further explore the advantage of an alkali washing pre-treatment for MSWI FA, the influence and mechanism of the alkali washing pre-treatment on the macroscopic mechanical properties, microscopic pore structure and heavy metal leaching of geopolymers have been investigated. The results show that the emerging bubbles are mainly H₂ and NH₃ released by the reaction of elemental aluminium and ammonium salts from MSWI FA with alkali, respectively. The alkaline washing pre-treatment can ensure the volume stability of the geopolymers by releasing bubbles in advance, which is conducive to improving the strength of hardened paste and hindering the leaching of heavy metals. Although the alkaline washing process cannot significantly remove heavy metal ions directly, it can remove almost all the soluble chlorine salts and has a certain significance for the development of the overall compressive strength.

Abstract Background Extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness is closely related to the progress of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) and the response of treatment of DCM to anti-diabetic drugs. Dapagliflozin (Dapa) has been proven to have cardio-protective efficacy for diabetes and listed as the first-line drug to treat heart failure. But the regulatory relationship between ECM stiffness and treatment efficacy of Dapa remains elusive. Materials and methods This work investigated the effect of ECM stiffness on DCM progression and Dapa efficacy using both in vivo DCM rat model and in vitro myocardial cell model with high glucose injury. First, through DCM rat models with various levels of myocardial injury and administration with Dapa treatment for four weeks, the levels of myocardial injury, myocardial oxidative stress, expressions of AT1R (a mechanical signal protein) and the stiffness of myocardial tissues were obtained. Then for mimicking the stiffness of myocardial tissues at early and late stages of DCM, we constructed cell models through culturing H9c2 myocardial cells on the polyacrylamide gels with two stiffness and exposed to a high glucose level and without/with Dapa intervention. The cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and expressions of mechanical signal sensitive proteins were obtained. Results The DCM progression is accompanied by the increased myocardial tissue stiffness, which can synergistically exacerbate myocardial cell injury with high glucose. Dapa can improve the ECM stiffness-induced DCM progression and its efficacy on DCM is more pronounced on the soft ECM, which is related to the regulation pathway of AT1R-FAK-NOX2. Besides, Dapa can inhibit the expression of the ECM-induced integrin β1, but without significant impact on piezo 1. Conclusions Our study found the regulation and effect of biomechanics in the DCM progression and on the Dapa efficacy on DCM, providing the new insights for the DCM treatment. Additionally, our work showed the better clinical prognosis of DCM under early Dapa intervention.

Many rock engineering projects show that the growth of tensile cracks is often an important cause of engineering disasters, and the mechanical behavior of rocks is essentially the transmission, storage, dissipation and release of energy. To investigate the tensile behavior of rock from the perspective of energy, uniaxial tension tests (UTTs) and uniaxial compression tests (UCTs) were carried out on three typical rocks (granite, sandstone and marble). Different unloading points were set before the peak stress to separate elastic energy and dissipated energy. The input energy density ut, elastic energy density ue, and dissipated energy density ud at each unloading point were calculated by integrating stress-strain curves. The results show that there is a strong linear relationship between the three energy parameters and the square of the unloading stress in UCT, but this linear relationship is weaker in UTT. The ue and ud increase linearly with the increase in ut in UCT and UTT. Based on the phenomenon that ue and ud increase linearly with ut, the applicability of Wetp index in UTT was proved and the relative energy storage capacity and absolute energy distribution characteristics of three rocks in UCT and UTT were evaluated. The tensile behavior of marble and sandstone in UTT can be divided into two stages vaguely according to the energy distribution, but granite is not the case. In addition, based on dissipated energy, the damage evolution of three types of rocks in UCT and UTT was discussed. This study provides some new insights for understanding the tensile behavior of rock.

Objectives:. The aim of this multicenter, prospective, single-arm pilot study (ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT05040074) was to observe the procedural and 30-day results of the novel transcatheter mitral valve repair system, SQ-Kyrin®-M Clip (Shenqi Medical, Shanghai, China), in patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR). Methods:. The heart team considered patients from 5 centers in China with clinically significant functional mitral regurgitation ≥3+ despite optimal medical therapy or degenerative mitral regurgitation ≥3+ with high surgical risk as candidates for transcatheter repair. All patients received transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair under general anesthesia. The primary outcome was technical success, which included all of the following measured at the exit from the catheterization laboratory: (1) absence of procedural mortality; (2) successful access, delivery, and retrieval of the device delivery system; (3) successful deployment and correct positioning of the first intended device; and (4) no emergency surgery or reintervention related to the device or access procedure. The secondary outcomes included all-cause mortality, serious adverse events, device success, and procedural success 30 d after the intervention. Results:. From June 2021 to December 2021, 18 patients were enrolled in this study with age (75.7 ± 7.4) years. Fifteen patients had MR 4+, while 3 had MR 3+. Technical success was achieved in all patients, including 6 degenerative mitral regurgitation and 12 functional mitral regurgitation patients. There was no all-cause mortality at 30 d. One patient had single leaflet device attachment within 30 d, which was regarded as a serious adverse event, and the patient was successfully treated with reintervention by implanting another clip. Another patient’s transmitral gradient was 6 mmHg (>5 mmHg), with an effective orifice area of 2.57 cm2 after the procedure. Sixteen patients had device success and procedural success at 30 d postoperation. Fourteen patients had MR 1+, 3 had MR 2+, and only 1 patient had MR 3 + 30 d after the procedure. Conclusions:. The results of this feasibility study showed the efficacy and safety of the SQ-Kyrin®-M device in the Chinese population with severe MR, laying a solid foundation for a subsequent large-scale confirmatory study.

Objective:. Patients with untreated severe aortic regurgitation (AR) have a high risk of mortality. Transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TF-TAVR) is a treatment option for AR; however, the safety and efficacy of this technique have not been sufficiently established. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and anatomical variables correlating with device success of TF-TAVR using a self-expanding valve system for pure AR. Methods:. Patients with pure native severe AR who underwent TF-TAVR using a self-expanding valve system were registered at 5 Chinese centers. The primary endpoint was device success at 1 month after TAVR. The secondary endpoint was the composite of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) at 6 months, including all-cause death, ischemic stroke, emergency conversion to cardiac surgery, and permanent pacemaker implantation. Echocardiography was used to analyze the left ventricular function before the TAVR procedure and during follow-up. Multivariable logistic regression and Cox regression analyses were performed to find relevant independent risk factors. Results:. Between September 2019 and February 2022, 79 patients with AR were enrolled in the study. At 1 month, device success was achieved in 60 (75.9%) patients. By 6 months, 29 (36.7%) patients had MACE. Echocardiography revealed improved left ventricular function after TAVR. Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that the Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk score (odds ratio 0.760, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.584–0.989; P = 0.041) and annulus perimeter (odds ratio 0.888, 95% CI: 0.796–0.992; P = 0.035) were 2 predictors of device success. Moreover, annulus perimeter (

This study examines the impact of the recycled brick powder (RBP) replacement rate, especially at elevated temperatures on RBP-ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) properties such as the stress–strain curve, Poisson’s ratio, elastic modulus, and axial compressive strength through uniaxial compression experiments. The results show that with the increase of heating temperature, the axial compressive strength of the specimen increases first and then decreases under natural cooling (NC). In contrast, Poisson’s ratio shows opposite values. The peak strain continues to increase, and the initial elastic modulus and peak secant modulus continue to decrease. Compared with NC, the axial compressive strength of the specimens under water cooling has been reduced, the peak strain is generally larger, the initial elastic modulus and the peak secant modulus are smaller, and the incorporation of RBP also has a certain effect on the mechanical properties. Through regression analysis, an equation is established to calculate the axial compressive strength of RBP-UHPC with temperature, accounting for variables such as temperature, RBP replacement rate, and cooling method. Furthermore, based on the results of axial compression experiments, a constitutive equation for axial compression in RBP-UHPC after exposure to high temperatures is proposed. Overall, the theoretical curve closely aligns with the experimental curve, verifying its accuracy.

Nuclear energy plays a crucial role in energy supply in the 21st century, and more and more Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) will be in operation to contribute to the development of human society. However, as a typical complex system engineering, the operation and development of NPPs require efficient and stable control methods to ensure the safety and efficiency of nuclear power generation. Reinforcement learning (RL) aims at learning optimal control policies via maximizing discounted long-term rewards. The reward-oriented learning paradigm has witnessed remarkable success in many complex systems, such as wind power systems, electric power systems, coal fire power plants, robotics, etc. In this work, we try to present a systematic review of the applications of RL on these complex systems, from which we believe NPPs can borrow experience and insights. We then conduct a block-by-block investigation on the application scenarios of specific tasks in NPPs and carried out algorithmic research for different situations such as power startup, collaborative control, and emergency handling. Moreover, we discuss the possibilities of further application of RL methods on NPPs and detail the challenges when applying RL methods on NPPs. We hope this work can boost the realization of intelligent NPPs, and contribute to more and more research on how to better integrate RL algorithms into NPPs.

The emotional variation can reflect shifts in mental and emotional states. It plays an important role in the field of intelligent education. Emotion recognition can be used as cues for teachers to evaluate the learning state, analyze learning motivation, interest, and efficiency. Although research on emotion recognition has been ongoing for a long time, there has been a restricted emphasis on analyzing the credibility of the recognized emotions. In this paper, the origin, development, and application of emotion recognition were introduced. Then, multiple signals captured from video that could reflect emotion changes were described in detail and their advantages and disadvantages were discussed. Moreover, a comprehensive summary of the pertinent applications and research endeavors of emotion recognition technology in the field of education was provided. Last, the trend of emotion recognition in the field of education was given.

Abstract N 1-methyladenosine (m1A) RNA methylation is critical for regulating mRNA translation; however, its role in the development, progression, and immunotherapy response of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains largely unknown. Using Tgfbr1 and Pten conditional knockout (2cKO) mice, we found the neoplastic transformation of oral mucosa was accompanied by increased m1A modification levels. Analysis of m1A-associated genes identified TRMT61A as a key m1A writer linked to cancer progression and poor prognosis. Mechanistically, TRMT61A-mediated tRNA-m1A modification promotes MYC protein synthesis, upregulating programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression. Moreover, m1A modification levels were also elevated in tumors treated with oncolytic herpes simplex virus (oHSV), contributing to reactive PD-L1 upregulation. Therapeutic m1A inhibition sustained oHSV-induced antitumor immunity and reduced tumor growth, representing a promising strategy to alleviate resistance. These findings indicate that m1A inhibition can prevent immune escape after oHSV therapy by reducing PD-L1 expression, providing a mutually reinforcing combination immunotherapy approach.

Abstract Wound infection is a worldwide health issue that not only brings large detrimental effects to people’s physical and mental health, but also causes substantial economic burdens to society. By using traditional surgical debridement and antibiotic therapy, patients generally suffer more pain and are at risk of recurring infections. Thus, the development of non-antibiotic treatment methods is desperately needed. Currently, the emerging of flexible wound dressings with physiological signal detection, inactivated infectious pathogen, and wound-healing promoting properties has exhibited immense potential for the treatment of infected wound. Among various dressings, MXene‐based flexible electronic materials as wound dressings with special electroactive, mechanical, photophysical, and biological performances possess a broad application prospect in healthcare. In this review, the challenges of infected wound management are introduced. Next, the types of MXene-based flexible materials and wound infection features are outlined. Then the recent advance of MXene-based flexible materials for infected wound detection and treatment is summarized. Lastly, the predicaments, prospects, and future directions of MXene-based flexible materials for infected wound management are discussed.

BackgroundThe growth of secondary hair follicles (SHFs) in cashmere goats has periodic changes, including telogen, anagen, and catagen, during which proteins play important roles as the executor of life activities.ResultsIn this study, the skin tissues of cashmere goats at three different growth stages of SHFs were collected for proteome sequencing and validation experiments. Through protein differential expression analysis and time series analysis, FKBP prolyl isomerase 10 (FKBP10) and fibrillin 2 (FBN2) were screened as the key proteins for SHF cycle growth of cashmere goats, and albumin (ALB), collagen type I alpha 1 chain (COL1A1) and elastin (ELN) were predicted to be their interacting proteins. The results of quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), western blot, and immunohistochemistry experiments showed that the mRNA and protein expression levels of FKBP10, FBN2, COL1A1, ELN and ALB were higher in anagen and lower in telogen. They were all highly expressed in the outer root sheath of SHFs in anagen.ConclusionFKBP10, FBN2, COL1A1, ELN, and ALB can promote the growth of SHFs in cashmere goats. This study lays the foundation for analyzing the growth cycle regulatory mechanism of SHFs in cashmere goats, and provides new ideas for further improving cashmere yield and quality.

BackgroundPsoriasis is closely associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the current evidence on the correlation between Life’s Essential 8 and Psoriasis is insufficient. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between Life’s Essential 8 (LE8), a measure of cardiovascular health (CVH), and psoriasis.ObjectiveThis study aimed to clarify the impact of Life’s Essential 8 on Psoriasis and explore its implications.MethodsThis population-based cross-sectional study included 9,876 US adults aged 20 to 59 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003–2006 and 2009–2014 cycles. The LE8 score comprises 8 metrics and was categorized into low, moderate, and high CVH. Logistic regression and restricted cubic splines (RCS) were used to assess the association between LE8 score and psoriasis.ResultsAmong the 9,876 participants, those with moderate and high CVH had higher risks of psoriasis compared to low CVH. Additionally, every 10-point increase in the LE8 score was associated with a 10% reduced risk of psoriasis. Interaction was observed between gender, age, education level, race/ethnicity, marital status, and PIR.ConclusionLE8 and its subscale scores were strongly negatively related to the risk of psoriasis. Encouraging optimal CVH levels may be advantageous in reducing the incidence of psoriasis.

ABSTRACT Aspergillus fumigatus is the predominant pathogen responsible for aspergillosis infections, with emerging drug-resistant strains complicating treatment strategies. The role of mitochondrial functionality in fungal resistance to antifungal agents is well-documented yet not fully understood. In this study, the mitochondrial protein Bcs1A, a homolog of yeast Bcs1, was found to regulate colony growth, ion homeostasis, and the response to antifungal drugs in A. fumigatus. Microscopic observations revealed substantial colocalization of Bcs1A-GFP fusion protein fluorescence with mitochondria. Bcs1A deletion compromised colony growth and the utilization of non-fermentable carbon sources, alongside causing abnormal mitochondrial membrane potential and reduced reactive oxygen species production. These findings underscore Bcs1A’s vital role in maintaining mitochondrial integrity. Phenotypic analysis and determinations of minimum inhibitory concentrations indicated that the Δbcs1A mutant was more resistant to various antifungal agents, such as azoles, terbinafine, and simvastatin, compared to wild-type strain. RNA sequencing and RT-qPCR analysis highlighted an upregulation of multiple efflux pumps in the Δbcs1A mutant. Furthermore, loss of the principal drug efflux pump, mdr1, decreased azole tolerance in the Δbcs1A mutant, suggesting that Bcs1A’s modulated of azoles response via efflux pump expression. Collectively, these results establish Bcs1A as essential for growth and antifungal drug responsiveness in A. fumigatus mediated through mitochondrial regulation.IMPORTANCEDrug resistance presents a formidable obstacle in the clinical management of aspergillosis. Mitochondria are integral to various biochemical pathways, including those involved in fungi drug response, making mitochondrial proteins promising therapeutic targets for drug therapy. This study confirms that Bcs1A, a mitochondrial respiratory chain protein, is indispensable for mitochondrial functionality and multidrug tolerance in Aspergillus fumigatus. Mutation of Bcs1A not only leads to a series of drug efflux pumps upregulated but also shows that loss of the primary efflux pump, mdr1, partial reduction in drug tolerance in the Bcs1A mutant, highlighting that Bcs1A’s significant influence on mitochondria-mediated drug resistance.

Abstract A hybrid flow shop is pivotal in modern manufacturing systems, where various emergencies and disturbances occur within the smart manufacturing context. Efficiently solving the dynamic hybrid flow shop scheduling problem (HFSP), characterised by dynamic release times, uncertain job processing times, and flexible machine maintenance has become a significant research focus. A NeuroEvolution of Augmenting Topologies (NEAT) algorithm is proposed to minimise the maximum completion time. To improve the NEAT algorithm's efficiency and effectiveness, several features were integrated: a multi‐agent system with autonomous interaction and centralised training to develop the parallel machine scheduling policy, a maintenance‐related scheduling action for optimal maintenance decision learning, and a proactive scheduling action to avoid waiting for jobs at decision moments, thereby exploring a broader solution space. The performance of the trained NEAT model was experimentally compared with the Deep Q‐Network (DQN) and five classical priority dispatching rules (PDRs) across various problem scales. The results show that the NEAT algorithm achieves better solutions and responds more quickly to dynamic changes than DQN and PDRs. Furthermore, generalisation test results demonstrate NEAT's rapid problem‐solving ability on test instances different from the training set.

IntroductionThe aim of this study is to investigate the diversity and geographic distribution of pea-nodulating rhizobia in the subtropical region of Yunnan Province from Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau.Methods and resultsA total of 615 rhizobial isolates were obtained from root nodules of the trapping plants and characterized genetically and symbiotically. The isolates discriminated into 43 genotypes by PCR-RFLP of IGS DNA. Multiple locus sequence analysis based on 16S rRNA, recA, atpD, dnaK, and rpoB genes placed them into eight clusters corresponding to species R. acaciae, R. anhuiense, R. binae, R. bangladeshense, R. hidalgonense, and three suspected novel populations of Rhizobium genosp. I–III. R. acaciae was the dominant group (52.5%) followed by R. anhuiense (30.7%). The other species were minor groups. Based on nodC phylogeny, all of them were the symbiovar viciae. All the tested strains showed efficient symbiotic N2 fixation on pea plants, in which WLB27, WCB18, and WNY29 presented the best PGP effects. Some of the tested strains had better IAA production, with WCB18 as the best producer (64.556 mg/L). Their distribution was mainly affected by soil available phosphorus, available potassium, and effective nitrogen. According to the results of symbiotic effect and resistance tests, strains of WLB27, WCB18, and WNY29 were selected as candidates for creating inoculants.DiscussionThis suggests that the pea-nodulating rhizobia in Yunnan Province form a unique community. The results gave some novel information about the diversity, diversification, and biogeography of pea-nodulating rhizobia.

This study aimed to explore the role of lncRNA MALAT1 (Long non-coding RNAs metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript), and its underlying mechanisms in Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HSCC). Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was employed to measure lncRNA MALAT1 expression in HSCC and adjacent non-cancerous tissues, along with the expression of the downstream target mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1 (MAP2K1). The independent prognostic significance of lncRNA MALAT1 was assessed using Cox regression analysis. Potential downstream targets of MALAT1 were identified through PRM analysis and validated using the TCGA-HNSC database, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. CCK-8, flow cytometry, and Transwell assays were conducted to assess the effects of the lncRNA MALAT1/MAP2K1 axis on FaDu cells. Additionally, a nude mouse xenograft model was used to confirm the role of lncRNA MALAT1/MAP2K1 in tumor growth. LncRNA MALAT1 was significantly upregulated in HSCC tissues and closely associated with poor prognosis. Bioinformatics analysis, including parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) screening and TCGA-HNSC data, identified FERMT2, CSNK2A2, and MAP2K1 as potential downstream targets of MALAT1. Validation through qPCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry confirmed MAP2K1 as a downstream target. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that inhibiting lncRNA MALAT1 suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by downregulating MAP2K1 expression. Additionally, it induced apoptosis, affected the cell cycle, and inhibited tumor growth. Our study uniquely demonstrates that targeting MALAT1 significantly impedes HSCC progression by downregulating its novel downstream target, MAP2K1, offering new insights into potential therapeutic strategies.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic joint disease characterized by degeneration of the articular cartilage or inflamed joints. Britanin is a guaiacyl-type sesquiterpene lactone possessing anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Methods: In this study, western blotting, Reverse-transcription PCR (RT-PCR), and immunofluorescent staining method were used to clarifying the molecular mechanisms of britanin in alleviating chondrocyte ferroptosis. The effect of britanin on reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation levels in chondrocytes was examined by Dihydroethidium (DHE) stain and fluorescent dye BODIPY581 / 591 C11. The destabilized medial meniscus (DMM) model was used to mimic OA, then britanin was injected into the knee articular cavity. The morphological analysis was performed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, Safranin O-Fast green staining and Micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT) analysis. Immunohistochemical analysis and Immunofluorescence assay was conducted to verify the effect of britanin in vivo. Results: The results revealed that britanin treatment regulates the expression of chondrocyte extracellular matrix–related factors, such as ADAMTS5, MMP13, SOX9, aggrecan, and COL2A1. Britanin also significantly reversed the influence of interleukin (IL)-1β on the levels of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation and upregulated glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) expression in IL-1β-induced chondrocytes. Erastin could alleviate the effects of britanin on chondrocytes. Moreover, britanin could prevent IL-1β-induced oxidative stress and ferroptosis in chondrocytes. Britanin also upregulated the expression of nuclear factor E2–related factor 2 (Nrf2) in IL-1β-induced chondrocytes, and Nrf2 activator played a similar role as that of britanin in IL-1β-induced chondrocytes. Furthermore, injecting britanin into the knee joints of OA rats alleviated cartilage destruction caused by surgical resection. Conclusions: These findings confirmed that britanin can inhibit ferroptosis in OA chondrocytes through the Nrf2-GPX4 pathway. Thus, britanin has the potential to be developed as a drug for OA therapy.

In this paper we present a scalable approach based on the latency-based linear multistep compound method to use graphic processing unit (GPU) to accelerate the power system simulations with electromagnetic transients.To balance between the computational load and accuracy, we modeled the power system using shifted frequency analysis. Then, to efficiently exploit the hardware, our computational approach is designed to utilize both data-parallel and task-parallel execution. In addition, a graph-based thread safety design is introduced to achieve high scalability in the paralleled component computations. Furthermore, our implementation introduces a translation layer for different heterogeneous computing frameworks during compile time, so that a wide range of GPU devices can be supported without losing performance. Finally, benchmark results show that our approach achieves faster-than-real-time capability for systems with hundreds to thousands of nodes.

In China, the major water user is agriculture. Under the background of climate change and with the pressure of scarce water resources, the study of crop water footprints serves as a theoretical basis for regional optimization of water resource management, fine-tuning crop planting structures and actively addressing the negative impacts of climate change on agricultural production, among other critical issues. Leveraging meteorological and agricultural data, we employed Taiyuan which is situated in Fen River Basin as our focal research subject and calculated and analyzed the water footprint variations concerning six major food crops—wheat, corn, grain, sorghum, soybean, and potato—from 2000 to 2020. Through meticulous examination, we identified the predominant contribution of blue water (45 %) to the total water footprint, followed by green water (39 %), with grey water playing the smallest role (16 %), indicating that the use of water for crops in the Fen River Basin mainly consumes surface water and groundwater. Our investigation reveals a complementary association between blue water and green water, while both blue water and grey water exhibit an overall declining tendency from 2000 to 2020. Moreover, our predictive modeling of food crop water footprints, considering various SSPs-RCPs scenarios refered from IPCC, points towards a peak within the coming 10–20 years, with a growth rate of 16.2 % to 33.0 %, followed by a subsequent decline. Particularly, in SSP3-7.0 scenario, the water footprint of food crops presents the highest, with a growth rate of up to 33.0 % because of the continuous growth of population and the increase of crop sowing area, while in SSP1-2.6 scenario, the water footprint of food crops shows the lowest, with a growth rate of 16.2 % because of the decrease in population and crop sowing area, before the middle of the current century.

Facial expression recognition plays a crucial role in human-computer intelligent interaction. Due to the problem of missing facial information caused by face masks, the average accuracy of facial expression recognition algorithms in mask-obscured scenes is relatively low. At present, most deep learning-based facial expression recognition methods primarily focus on global facial features, thus they are less suitable for scenarios where facial expressions are obscured by masks. Therefore, this paper proposes a facial expression recognition method, TransformerKNN (TKNN), which integrates eyebrow and eye state information in mask-obscured scenes. The proposed method utilizes facial feature points in the eyebrow and eye regions to calculate various relative distances and angles, capturing the state information of eyebrows and eyes. Subsequently, the original face images with masks are used to train a Swin-transformer model, and the eyebrow and eye state information is used to train a k-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) model. These models are then fused at the decision layer to achieve automated emotion computation in situations when facial expressions are obscured by masks. The TKNN method offers a novel approach by leveraging both local and global facial features, thereby enhancing the performance of facial expression recognition in mask-obscured scenes. Experimental results demonstrate that the average accuracy of the TKNN method is 85.8% and 70.3%, respectively. This provides better support for facial expression recognition in scenarios when facial information is partially obscured.

Abstract Oncolytic viruses (OVs) show promise as a cancer treatment by selectively replicating in tumor cells and promoting antitumor immunity. However, the current immunogenicity induced by OVs for tumor treatment is relatively weak, necessitating a thorough investigation of the mechanisms underlying its induction of antitumor immunity. Here, we show that HSV-1-based OVs (oHSVs) trigger ZBP1-mediated PANoptosis (a unique innate immune inflammatory cell death modality), resulting in augmented antitumor immune effects. Mechanistically, oHSV enhances the expression of interferon-stimulated genes, leading to the accumulation of endogenous Z-RNA and subsequent activation of ZBP1. To further enhance the antitumor potential of oHSV, we conduct a screening and identify Fusobacterium nucleatum outer membrane vesicle (Fn-OMV) that can increase the expression of PANoptosis execution proteins. The combination of Fn-OMV and oHSV demonstrates potent antitumor immunogenicity. Taken together, our study provides a deeper understanding of oHSV-induced antitumor immunity, and demonstrates a promising strategy that combines oHSV with Fn-OMV.

Abstract The unearthed Han Dynasty portrait stones are an important part of China’s ancient artistic heritage, and detecting human images in these stones is a critical prerequisite for studying their artistic value. However, high-precision target detection techniques often result in a large number of parameters, making them unsuitable for portable devices. In this work, we propose a new human image target detection model based on an enhanced YOLO-v5. We discovered that the complex backgrounds, dense group targets, and significant scale variations of targets within large scenes in portrait stones present significant challenges for human target image detection. Therefore, we first incorporated the SPD-Conv convolution and Coordinate Attention self-attention mechanism modules into the YOLO-v5 architecture, aiming to enhance the model’s recognition precision for small target images within Han portrait stones and strengthen its resistance to background disturbances. Moreover, we introduce DIoU NMS and Alpha-IoU Loss to improve the detector’s performance in dense target scenarios, reducing the omission of densely packed objects. Finally, the experimental results from our collected dataset of Han Dynasty stone figure images demonstrate that our method achieves fast convergence and high recognition accuracy. This approach can be better applied to the target detection tasks of special character images in complex backgrounds.

Abstract This case report details a rare thymic basaloid carcinoma initially misinterpreted as a mediastinal teratoma, underscoring the diagnostic challenges posed by such tumors. A 71-year-old female presented with an asymptomatic anterior mediastinal tumor discovered incidentally during a routine health examination. Surgical intervention, followed by pathological and immunohistochemical analysis including CK-pan, p63, p40, and CD117 molecules, led to a definitive diagnosis of basaloid carcinoma of the thymus. This case highlights the critical importance of differential diagnosis in mediastinal lesions, especially those presenting with multilocular thymic cysts on chest CT. The subxiphoid video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery enabled complete tumor resection with minimal trauma and favorable postoperative outcomes. The patient opted against further radiotherapy or chemotherapy and she has survived for over eight months without recurrence. This case report contributes to the growing understanding of thymic basaloid carcinoma, a rare and potentially aggressive thymic carcinoma subtype. It emphasizes the necessity for precise surgical techniques and enhanced diagnostic acumen among cardiothoracic surgeons and oncologists.

Abstract Acinetobacters pose a significant threat to human health, especially those with weakened immune systems. Type IV pili of acinetobacters play crucial roles in virulence and antibiotic resistance. Single-stranded RNA bacteriophages target the bacterial retractile pili, including type IV. Our study delves into the interaction between Acinetobacter phage AP205 and type IV pili. Using cryo-electron microscopy, we solve structures of the AP205 virion with an asymmetric dimer of maturation proteins, the native Acinetobacter type IV pili bearing a distinct post-translational pilin cleavage, and the pili-bound AP205 showing its maturation proteins adapted to pilin modifications, allowing each phage to bind to one or two pili. Leveraging these results, we develop a 20-kilodalton AP205-derived protein scaffold targeting type IV pili in situ, with potential for research and diagnostics.

The powder metallurgy forming of ultra-high-strength steel (UHSS) G33 and its combination with high toughness titanium alloy Ti–7Al–1Mo-0.5V-0.1C were achieved through the application of Ta/Ni dual-interlayer in a hot-press sintering diffusion bonding (HPSDB) process, conducted at 970 °C, 50 MPa, and a duration of 3 h. The resulting bonding strength proved excellent, with a high shear strength of 485.5 MPa. The interface structure, precipitated phases, and element diffusion behavior were investigated through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Notably, no intermetallic compounds (IMCs) precipitated in the Ti–Ta diffusion zone or the Ni-G33 diffusion zone, underscoring the effectiveness of the metallurgical bond. Selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and phase diagram calculation were employed to elucidate the mechanisms contributing to the robust bonding strength of the joint with Ta/Ni dual-interlayer. The results revealed that the diffusion zone primarily comprised NiTa2, Ni2Ta, and Ni3Ta with high shear modulus and excellent ductility. Near the bonding interface, Ni3Ta grains exhibited approximate low-angle torsional grain boundaries, effectively impeding dislocation movement. Moreover, the bonding strength was further enhanced by the precipitation of nanoscale tetragonal-Ta dispersed within the Ni2Ta matrix.

Abstract Lanthanide-doped fluoride nanoparticles (NPs) showcase adjustable X-ray-excited persistent luminescence (XEPL), holding significant promise for applications in three-dimensional (3D) imaging through the creation of flexible X-ray detectors. However, a dangerous high X-ray irradiation dose rate and complicated heating procedure are required to generate efficient XEPL for high-resolution 3D imaging, which is attributed to a lack of strategies to significantly enhance the XEPL intensity. Here we report that the XEPL intensity of a series of lanthanide activators (Dy, Pr, Er, Tm, Gd, Tb) is greatly improved by constructing dual heterogeneous interfaces in a double-shell nanostructure. Mechanistic studies indicate that the employed core@shell@shell structure could not only passivate the surface quenchers to lower the non-radiative relaxation possibility, but also reduce the interfacial Frenkel defect formation energy leading to increase the trap concentration. By employing a NPs containing flexible film as the scintillation screen, the inside 3D electrical structure of a watch was clearly achieved based on the delayed XEPL imaging and 3D reconstruction procedure. We foresee that these findings will promote the development of advanced X-ray activated persistent fluoride NPs and offer opportunities for safer and more efficient X-ray imaging techniques in a number of scientific and practical areas.

In saline-alkali and coastal areas, cement soil faces various threats from salt erosion, and these environmental conditions can significantly impact the mechanical properties of cement soil. To counter external erosion, the addition of graphene oxide (GO) nanomaterials to cement soil is considered an effective solution. This study systematically investigates the strength variations of GO cement soil after erosion in different concentrations of NaCl solution (0 g/L, 4.5 g/L, 18 g/L, 30 g/L), Na2SO4 (0 g/L, 4.5 g/L, 18 g/L, 30 g/L), and a composite salt solution of both (0 g/L, 4.5 g/L, 18 g/L, 30 g/L) at different times (7d, 14d, 30d, 60d) through salt immersion tests, unconfined compressive strength tests, and SEM scanning electron microscope tests. Simultaneously, the study analyzes the mass change rate, stress-strain curves, peak stress of unconfined compressive strength, and modulus of elasticity changes in cement soil samples after erosion. The internal erosion mechanism of cement soil samples is explored at the microscopic level. When the GO cement soil was eroded in different concentrations of NaCl solution for 14 days, a consistent trend of mass decrease was observed. However, after 7, 30, and 60 days of erosion in various concentrations of NaCl solution, the mass showed an increasing trend. When immersed in pure water for 7d, 14d, 30d, and 60d, as well as in a 4.5 g/L NaCl solution for 7d and 14d erosion, the peak stress of GO cement soil samples shows an increasing trend, while it decreases under other conditions, especially significantly in Na2SO4 solution. Simultaneously, Na2SO4 has the greatest impact on the modulus of elasticity of cement soil. SEM test results reveal that due to nucleation effects, GO promotes the generation of hydration product C-S-H, enhancing the resistance of cement soil samples to external erosion. Furthermore, it is observed that under the influence of SO42-, C-S-H undergoes decalcification to generate AFt, while the impact of Cl- on C-S-H is relatively small.

Abstract Colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) are promising optoelectronic materials for solution‐processed thin film optoelectronic devices. However, the large surface area with abundant surface defects of CQDs and trap‐assisted non‐radiative recombination losses at the interface between CQDs and charge‐transport layer limit their optoelectronic performance. To address this issue, an interface heterojunction strategy is proposed to protect the CQDs interface by incorporating a thin layer of polyethyleneimine (PEIE) to suppress trap‐assisted non‐radiative recombination losses. This thin layer not only acts as a protective barrier but also modulates carrier recombination and extraction dynamics by forming heterojunctions at the buried interface between CQDs and charge‐transport layer, thereby enhancing the interface charge extraction efficiency. This enhancement is demonstrated by the shortened lifetime of carrier extraction from 0.72 to 0.46 ps. As a result, the resultant PbS CQD solar cells achieve a power‐conversion‐efficiency (PCE) of 13.4% compared to 12.2% without the heterojunction.

Abstract The incidence rate of cancer is increasing year by year due to the aging of the population, unhealthy living, and eating habits. At present, surgery and medication are still the main treatments for cancer, without paying attention to the impact of individual differences in health management on cancer. However, increasing evidence suggests that individual psychological status, dietary habits, and exercise frequency are closely related to the risk and prognosis of cancer. The reminder to humanity is that the medical concept of the unified treatment plan is insufficient in cancer treatment, and a personalized treatment plan may become a breakthrough point. On this basis, the concept of “Humanistic Health Management” (HHM) is proposed. This concept is a healthcare plan that focuses on self‐health management, providing an accurate and comprehensive evaluation of individual lifestyle habits, psychology, and health status, and developing personalized and targeted comprehensive cancer prevention and treatment plans. This review will provide a detailed explanation of the relationship between psychological status, dietary, and exercise habits, and the regulatory mechanisms of cancer. Intended to emphasize the importance of HHM concept in cancer prevention and better prognostic efficacy, providing new ideas for the new generation of cancer treatment.

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to investigate the immediate effects of two doses (Dose1 and Dose2,D1 and D2) of inertial Flywheel Eccentric Overload (FEOL), Eccentric Hook (EH), and High-intensity Half Squat (HHS) on muscle explosiveness in male sprinters. Methods: Twenty-one sub-elite male sprinters were randomly assigned to three groups: the FEOL group (n=7), the EH group (n=7), and the HSS group (n=7),Measurements of athletes' explosive jumps (CMJ, SJ, SLJ) heights, relative peak power indices, and 30-m sprint times were collected before and 6 min after the intervention. Results: At D1 loading dose, CMJ, SJ jump height, and relative peak power increased significantly (p 0.05). At D2 loading dose, CMJ, SJ jump height, and relative peak power increased significantly (p 0.05). CMJ vertical jump height and relative peak power were significantly higher after D2FEOL and D2EH interventions than after D1HHS (P

ObjectiveInternet addiction and depressive symptoms are common mental health problems in adolescents. Due to the comorbidity of Internet addiction and depressive symptoms, their mutual relationship influences their developmental trajectories over time. Thus, this study aimed to identify the joint trajectories of Internet addiction and depressive symptoms, and examined the individual, family, and school antecedents of these trajectories among Chinese adolescents.MethodsUsing a battery of self-report scales, three waves of data collection were conducted in a Chinese adolescent sample (N = 1,301). The co-developmental trajectories of Internet addiction and depressive symptoms were extracted by adopting parallel-process latent class growth modeling (PPLCGM). Multinomial logistic regression was performed to assess predictive factors.ResultsFour unique joint trajectory classes were detected: the Health Group (n = 912, 70.1%), Comorbidity-Worsening Group (n = 85, 6.5%), Asymptomatic-Comorbid Risk Group (n = 148, 11.4%), and Prominent Depressive Symptoms-Remission Group (n = 156, 12.0%). Individual, family, and school factors (e.g., gender, positive youth development, family function, academic performance) significantly predicted the membership in these distinct co-developmental trajectories.ConclusionOur findings illustrate that the joint development of Internet addiction and depressive symptoms among adolescents presents a heterogeneous distribution, which could better inform prevention and intervention strategies since each co-developmental trajectory may represent unique experience for adolescents who need targeted treatment. Various individual, family, and school factors are important predictors that play different roles in distinguishing the joint trajectories of Internet addiction and depressive symptoms during this critical developmental transition period.

Objective: To develop and validate predictive models based on clinical parameters, and radiomic features to distinguish pulmonary pure invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma (pIMA) from mixed mucinous adenocarcinoma (mIMA) before surgery. Method: From January 2017 to December 2022, 193 pIMA and 111 mIMA were retrospectively analyzed at our hospital in this retrospective study. From contrast-enhanced computed tomography, 1037 radiomic features were extracted. The patients were randomly divided into a training group and a test group (n = 213 and 91, respectively) in a 7:3 ratio. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator algorithm was used to select radiomic features. In this study, 9 machine learning radiomics prediction models were applied. The radiomics score was then calculated based on the best-performing machine learning model adopted. The clinical model was developed using the same machine learning model of radiomics. In the end, a combined model based on clinical factors and radiomics features was developed. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) value and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the clinical usefulness of the prediction model. Results: The combined model established by the Gaussian Naive Bayes machine learning method exhibited the best performance. The AUC of the combined model, clinical model, and radiomics model were 0.81, 0.80, and 0.68 in the training group and 0.91, 0.80, and 0.81 in the test group, respectively. The Brier scores of the combined model were 0.171 and 0.112. The DCA curve also showed that the combined model was beneficial to clinical settings. Conclusion: The combined model integration of radiomics features and clinical parameters may have potential value for the preoperative differentiation of pIMA from mIMA.

Abstract In recent years, there is a meteoric rise in the prevalence of electronic wearables, and flexible wearables have attracted tremendous attention in human–machine interfaces due to their high biocompatibility, functionality, conformability, and low‐cost. Flexible magnetic smart skin is part of this rapidly progressing field of flexible wearable electronics, which has paved the way for a new path for human perceptual development, as they may form a new perception, also known as magnetic sense, that is, the capacity to detect and interact with magnetic fields. In this review, the concept of the magnetic smart skin is defined: magnetoelastomers and flexible magnetic sensors. In magnetoelastomers, different sources of magnetic field, structures, and applications are summarized by recent and renowned research. In flexible magnetic sensors, different flexible substrates, sensor types, and applications are also summarized. This review further concludes by discussing the outlook and current challenges of magnetic smart skin in human–machine interfaces.

Abstract Variations in temperature and moisture content in the earthen plasters of the Maijishan Grottoes can readily lead to mural deterioration. This study investigates the influence of two different clay/sand ratios on the hygrothermal properties of earthen plasters in the Maijishan Grottoes. Two distinct types of earthen plasters samples were created with different clay/sand ratios: one with a weight ratio of 30:70 and another with a weight ratio of 70:30. The hygrothermal properties of earthen plasters samples were examined, and the temperature and moisture content variations were evaluated based on measurement data of hygrothermal environment in three caves. The findings revealed that the influence of the clay/sand ratios on thermal properties was relatively minor compared to its effect on hygric properties. Lower clay/sand ratio resulted in decreased thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity of earthen plasters, leading to increased temperature fluctuation, but the difference is minor. Additionally, in high-humidity environments, the difference in moisture content variations between the two types is greater than in low-humidity environments as the relative humidity changes. This research holds significant implications for the preservation of murals in the Maijishan Grottoes while also providing fresh perspectives for the restoration of multi-layered mural structures.

Abstract Background Prediction of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) is essential to select biopsy‐naive patients for prostate biopsy. This study was to develop and validate a nomogram based on clinicodemographic parameters and exclude csPCa using prostate‐specific antigen density (PSAD) stratification. Methods Independent predictors were determined via univariate and multivariate logistic analysis and adopted for developing a predictive nomogram, which was assessed in terms of discrimination, calibration, and net benefit. Different PSAD thresholds were used for deciding immediate biopsies in patients with Prostate Imaging‐Reporting and Data System (PI‐RADS) 3 lesions. Results A total of 932 consecutive patients who underwent ultrasound‐guided transperineal cognitive biopsy were enrolled in our study. In the development cohort, age (odds ratio [OR], 1.075; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.036–1.114), PSAD (OR, 6.003; 95% CI, 2.826–12.751), and PI‐RADS (OR, 3.419; 95% CI, 2.453–4.766) were significant predictors for csPCa. On internal and external validation, this nomogram showed high areas under the curve of 0.943, 0.922, and 0.897, and low Brier scores of 0.092, 0.102, and 0.133 and insignificant unreliability tests of 0.713, 0.490, and 0.859, respectively. Decision curve analysis revealed this model could markedly improve clinical net benefit. The probability of excluding csPCa was 98.51% in patients with PI‐RADS 3 lesions and PSAD

Abstract Background Right ventricle failure (RVF) is a progressive heart disease that has yet to be fully understood at the molecular level. Elevated M-type pyruvate kinase 2 (PKM2) tetramerization alleviates heart failure, but detailed molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Objective We observed changes in PKM2 tetramerization levels during the progression of right heart failure and in vitro cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and explored the causal relationship between altered PKM2 tetramerization and the imbalance of redox homeostasis in cardiomyocytes, as well as its underlying mechanisms. Ultimately, our goal was to propose rational intervention strategies for the treatment of RVF. Method We established RVF in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats by intraperitoneal injection of monocrotaline (MCT). The pulmonary artery pressure and right heart function of rats were assessed using transthoracic echocardiography combined with right heart catheterization. TEPP-46 was used both in vivo and in vitro to promote PKM2 tetramerization. Results We observed that oxidative stress and mitochondrial disorganization were associated with increased apoptosis in the right ventricular tissue of RVF rats. Quantitative proteomics revealed that PKM2 was upregulated during RVF and negatively correlated with the cardiac function. Facilitating PKM2 tetramerization promoted mitochondrial network formation and alleviated oxidative stress and apoptosis during cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Moreover, enhancing PKM2 tetramer formation improved cardiac mitochondrial morphology, mitigated oxidative stress and alleviated heart failure. Conclusion Disruption of PKM2 tetramerization contributed to RVF by inducing mitochondrial fragmentation, accumulating ROS, and finally promoted the progression of cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Facilitating PKM2 tetramerization holds potential as a promising therapeutic approach for RVF.

Abstract Regulating electron transport rate and ion concentrations in the local microenvironment of active site can overcome the slow kinetics and unfavorable thermodynamics of CO2 electroreduction. However, simultaneous optimization of both kinetics and thermodynamics is hindered by synthetic constraints and poor mechanistic understanding. Here we leverage laser-assisted manufacturing for synthesizing CuxO bipyramids with controlled tip angles and abundant nanograins, and elucidate the mechanism of the relationship between electron transport/ion concentrations and electrocatalytic performance. Potassium/OH− adsorption tests and finite element simulations corroborate the contributions from strong electric field at the sharp tip. In situ Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and differential electrochemical mass spectrometry unveil the dynamic evolution of critical *CO/*OCCOH intermediates and product profiles, complemented with theoretical calculations that elucidate the thermodynamic contributions from improved coupling at the Cu+/Cu2+ interfaces. Through modulating the electron transport and ion concentrations, we achieve high Faradaic efficiency of 81% at ~900 mA cm−2 for C2+ products via CO2RR. Similar enhancement is also observed for nitrate reduction reaction (NITRR), achieving 81.83 mg h−1 ammonia yield rate per milligram catalyst. Coupling the CO2RR and NITRR systems demonstrates the potential for valorizing flue gases and nitrate wastes, which suggests a practical approach for carbon-nitrogen cycling.

A facile and cost-effective approach for hierarchically porous ceramics has been proposed firstly, using coal fly ash as the main powder while secondary aluminum dross (SAD) as curing and foaming agents. Benefited from the hydrolysis of AlN and Al in SAD, gas and lamellar aluminum hydroxide sol attached to the surface of unreacted particles were produced, meanwhile pH value and viscosity increased, realizing foaming and coagulation casting simultaneously to fabricate porous green body. The increase of SAD amount could contribute to more intensive formation of flaky aluminum hydroxide sol, enhancing mechanical strength of green body, which has high compressive strength of 1.03 MPa at a bulk density of 0.68 g/cm3. Porous mullite-based ceramics could be sintered at a relatively low temperature of 1200–1250 °C owing to alkali metal oxide and amorphous SiO2 in the solid wastes, which also help to form micropores on the pore wall due to partially sintering. Porous mullite-based ceramics possess hierarchical pores, bulk density of 1.00 g/cm3, open porosity of 66.15%, specific surface area of 2.24 m2/g and compressive strength of 9.14 MPa. Their removal rate of malachite green solution reaches 99.1% at a concentration of 100 mg/L and an adsorbent dosage of 100 g/L.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are contaminants of great concern due to their ubiquitous environmental occurrence in the environment and their potential adverse effects on organisms. There is currently limited information regarding the occurrence of PFASs in Scopoli’s Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea). In this study, two feather samples per bird were obtained from 26 adults on Strofades colony (Ionian Sea/Greece) during the early phase of the chick-rearing period (late July 2019). The samples consisted of barbs and barbules of the primary feathers, P1 and P10, reflecting pollution pressures at the time and the place of feather growth, i.e., at the species’ breeding and wintering grounds for P1 and P10, respectively. There were 25 PFAS detected in the feathers, with detection rates ranging from 2% (perfluorododecanoic acid—PFDoDA; perfluorohexane sulfonate—PFHxS; 9-chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanonane-1-sulfonate—9Cl-PF3ONS; 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(1,1,2,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropoxy)propanoate—Gen-X) to 98% (sodium 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctane sulfonate; 6:2 FTSA). ∑PFAS ranged from 25.93 ng/g to 426.86 ng/g of feather sample. The highest mean concentration (109.10 ng/g feather) was reported for perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA). No significant differences in PFAS concentrations with high detection rate (>20%) were found according to the sex of the birds. PFAS concentrations with a detection rate > 20% in the P1 vs. P10 feathers of Scopoli’s Shearwater adults were not significantly different, reflecting the fact that breeding grounds in the Mediterranean and wintering grounds in the Atlantic seem to be contaminated with similar PFASs levels, even though some compounds showed regional trends.

The Bax inhibitor-1 (BI-1) gene family, which is important for plant growth, development, and stress tolerance, remains largely unexplored in cauliflower. In this study, we identified and characterized cauliflower BI-1 family genes. Based on aligned homologous sequences and collinearity with Arabidopsis genes, we identified nine cauliflower BI-1 genes, which encode proteins that varied in length, molecular weight, isoelectric point, and predicted subcellular localization, including the Golgi apparatus, plasma membrane, and various compartments within the chloroplast. Phylogenetic analyses detected evolutionary conservation and divergence among these genes. Ten structural motifs were identified, with Motif 5 found to be crucial for inhibiting apoptosis. According to the cis-regulatory elements in their promoters, these genes likely influence hormone signaling and stress responses. Expression profiles among tissues highlighted the functional diversity of these genes, with particularly high expression levels observed in the silique and root. Focusing on BobBIL4, we investigated its role in brassinosteroid (BR)-mediated root development and salt stress tolerance. BobBIL4 expression levels increased in response to BR and salt treatments. The functional characterization of this gene in Arabidopsis revealed that it enhances root growth and salinity tolerance. These findings provide insights into BI-1 gene functions in cauliflower while also highlighting the potential utility of BobBIL4 for improving crop stress resistance.

The discrete element method (DEM) is a vital numerical approach for analyzing the mechanical behavior of elastoplastic wet sand. However, parameter uncertainty persists within the mapping between constitutive relationships and inherent model parameters. We propose a Parameter calibration neural network based on Attention, Retention, and improved Transformer for Sequential data (PartsNet), which effectively captures the nonlinear mechanical behavior of wet sand and obtains the optimal parameter combination for the Edinburgh elasto-plastic adhesion constitutive model. Variational autoencoder-based principal component ordering is employed by PartsNet to reduce the high-dimensional dynamic response and extract critical parameters along with their weights. Gated recurrent units are combined with a novel sparse multi-head attention mechanism to process sequential data. The fusion information is delivered by residual multilayer perceptron, achieving the association between sequential response and model parameters. The errors in response data generated by calibrated parameters are quantified by PartsNet based on adaptive differentiation and Taylor expansion. Remarkable calibration capabilities are exhibited by PartsNet across six evaluation indicators, surpassing seven other deep learning approaches in the ablation test. The calibration accuracy of PartsNet reaches 91.29%, and MSE loss converges to 0.000934. The validation experiments and regression analysis confirmed the generalization capability of PartsNet in the calibration of wet sand. The improved sparse attention mechanism optimizes multi-head attention, resulting in a convergence speed of 21.25%. PartsNet contributes to modeling and simulating the precise mechanical properties of complex elastoplastic systems and offers valuable insights for diverse engineering applications.

Prior research on cascading failures within interdependent networks has predominantly emphasized the coupling of nodes. Nevertheless, in practical networks, interactions often exist not just through the nodes themselves but also via the connections (edges) linking them, a configuration referred to as edge-coupled interdependent networks. Past research has shown that introducing a certain percentage of reinforced nodes or connecting edges can prevent catastrophic network collapses. However, the effect of reinforced inter-layer links in edge-coupled interdependent networks has yet to be addressed. Here, we develop a theoretical framework for studying percolation models in edge-coupled interdependent networks by introducing a proportion of reinforced inter-layer links and deriving detailed expressions for the giant and finite components and the percolation phase transition threshold. We find that there exists a required minimum proportion of the reinforced inter-layer links to prevent abrupt network collapse, which serves as a boundary to distinguish different phase transition types of a network. We provide both analytical and numerical solutions for random and scale-free networks, demonstrating that the proposed method exhibits superior reinforcement efficiency compared to intra-layer link reinforcement strategies. Theoretical analysis, simulation results, and real network systems validate our model and indicate that introducing a specific proportion of reinforced inter-layer links can prevent abrupt system failure and enhance network robustness in edge-coupled interdependent networks.

Phaseolus vulgaris is a globally important legume cash crop, which can carry out symbiotic nitrogen fixation with rhizobia. The presence of suitable rhizobia in cultivating soils is crucial for legume cropping, especially in areas beyond the plant-host native range, where soils may lack efficient symbiotic partners. We analyzed the distribution patterns and traits of native rhizobia associated with P. vulgaris in soils of Yunnan, where the common bean experienced a recent expansion. A total of 608 rhizobial isolates were tracked from soils of fifteen sampling sites using two local varieties of P. vulgaris. The isolates were discriminated into 43 genotypes as defined by IGS PCR-RFLP. Multiple locus sequence analysis based on recA, atpD and rpoB of representative strains placed them into 11 rhizobial species of Rhizobium involving Rhizobium sophorae, Rhizobium acidisoli, Rhizobium ecuadorense, Rhizobium hidalgonense, Rhizobium vallis, Rhizobium sophoriradicis, Rhizobium croatiense, Rhizobium anhuiense, Rhizobium phaseoli, Rhizobium chutanense and Rhizobium etli, and five unknown Rhizobium species; Rhizobium genosp. I~V. R. phaseoli and R. anhuiense were the dominant species (28.0% and 28.8%) most widely distributed, followed by R. croatiense (14.8%). The other rhizobial species were less numerous or site-specific. Phylogenies of nodC and nifH markers, were divided into two specific symbiovars, sv. phaseoli regardless of the species affiliation and sv. viciae associated with R. vallis. Through symbiotic effect assessment, all the tested strains nodulated both P. vulgaris varieties, often resulting with a significant greenness index (91–98%). However, about half of them exhibited better plant biomass performance, at least on one common bean variety, and two isolates (CYAH-6 and BLYH-15) showed a better symbiotic efficiency score. Representative strains revealed diverse abiotic stress tolerance to NaCl, acidity, alkalinity, temperature, drought and glyphosate. One strain efficient on both varieties and exhibiting stress abiotic tolerance (BLYH-15) belonged to R. genosp. IV sv. phaseoli, a species first found as a legume symbiont.

Pure titanium is a preferred material for medical applications due to its outstanding properties, and the fabrication of its surface microtexture proves to be an effective method for further improving its surface-related functional properties, albeit imposing high demands on the processing accuracy of surface microtexture. Currently, we investigate the fabrication of precise microtextures on pure titanium surfaces with different grid depths using precision-cutting methods, as well as assess its impact on surface wettability through a combination of experiments and finite element simulations. Specifically, a finite element model is established for pure titanium precision cutting, which can predict the surface formation behavior during the cutting process and further reveal its dependence on cutting parameters. Based on this, precision-cutting experiments were performed to explore the effect of cutting parameters on the morphology of microtextured pure titanium with which optimized cutting parameters for high-precision microtextures and uniform feature size were obtained. Subsequent surface wettability measurement experiments demonstrated from a macroscopic perspective that the increase in the grid depth of the microtexture increases the surface roughness, thereby enhancing the hydrophilicity. Corresponding fluid–solid coupling finite-element simulation is carried out to demonstrate from a microscopic perspective that the increase in the grid depth of the microtexture decreases the cohesive force inside the droplet, thereby enhancing the hydrophilicity.