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Abstract Migratory cells exist in the heart, such as immune cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, etc. During myocardium injury, such as ischemia–reperfusion (MIRI), cells migrate to the site of injury to perform repair functions. However, excessive aggregation of these cells may exacerbate damage to the structure and function of the heart, such as acute myocarditis and myocardial fibrosis. Myocardial injury releases exosomes, which are a type of vesicle with signal transduction function and the miRNA carried by exosomes can control cell migration function. Therefore, regulating this migratory cell population through cardiac-derived exosomal miRNA is crucial for protecting and maintaining cardiac function. Through whole transcriptome RNA sequencing, exosomal miRNA sequencing and single-cell dataset analysis, we (1) determined the potential molecular regulatory role of the lncRNA‒miRNA‒mRNA axis in MIRI, (2) screened four important exosomal miRNAs that could be released by cardiac tissue, and (3) screened seven genes related to cell locomotion that are regulated by four miRNAs, among which Tradd and Ephb6 may be specific for promoting migration of different cells of myocardial tissue in myocardial infarct. We generated a core miRNA‒mRNA network based on the functions of the target genes, which may be not only a target for cardiac repair but also a potential diagnostic marker for interactions between the heart and other tissues or organs. In conclusion, we elucidated the potential mechanism of MIRI in cardiac remodeling from the perspective of cell migration, and inhibition of cellular overmigration based on this network may provide new therapeutic targets for MIRI and to prevent MIRI from developing into other diseases.

Abstract Based on limited theoretical applicability of metropolitan area concept under China’s circumstances and the planning practice in Greater Shanghai Metropolitan Area, this article proposes a Chinese understanding on the concept of “Metropolitan Area”, which extends its core connotation from a commuting area to a multi-functional area. It further proposes to utilize the preparation of spatial plans as means to promote high-quality development of metropolitan areas and to achieve coordinated regional development. Metropolitan area planning takes spatial planning as its basic attribute, and simultaneously embodies the contents of economic and social arrangements. It could become a binding contract based on consensus among member cities. In terms of technical innovations in planning practice, this article firstly suggests using a “problem-based, goal-targeted, action-driven, space-oriented and implementation-guided” approach to form a framework of “objective (indicator)-strategy-action-mechanism” to realize collaborative goals. Secondly, the spatial plan should focus on “bottom line factors” as well as “collaborative factors”, establishing a technical framework for regional spatial organization from multiple dimensions such as ecological pattern, city function, spatial structure, and conduction mechanism which drive transformations in regional governance modes.

Abstract The water-shale interaction affect the shale structure, leading to wellbore instability and increasing drilling costs. The extent of structural changes within the shale can be determined non-destructively by analyzing its acoustic characteristics. Experiments were conducted to investigate the acoustic properties of shale from the Yanchang Formation in the Ordos Basin before and after exposure to brines of varying types, soaking times, and salinities. The study investigated the effects of brine type, soaking time, and salinity on shale’s acoustic properties, including changes in acoustic wave propagation speed, P/S wave velocity ratio, and both time-domain and frequency-domain amplitudes. The results indicate that although the type of brine has a limited impact on the water-shale interaction, KCl exhibits a significant inhibitory effect. However, the soaking time and the brine salinity have a significant impact on the acoustic properties of shale. As the soaking time increases, the decrease in wave velocity increases, the P/S wave velocity ratio increases, and the decrease in time-domain amplitude increases. The amplitude of the main frequency in the frequency domain signal also decreases with the increase of reaction time, which is consistent with the analysis results of the time domain signal. As the salinity of brine increases, the decrease in wave velocity decreases, the P/S wave velocity ratio decreases, and the decrease in time-domain amplitude decreases. The amplitude of the main frequency in the frequency domain signal also decreases with the increase of brine salinity, which is consistent with the analysis results of the time domain signal. This work establishes the relationship between water-shale interaction and acoustic characteristics, which can quantitatively evaluate the degree of interaction between water and shale without damaging shale. Furthermore, this research provides new insights and guidance for predicting drilling collapse cycles and optimizing drilling fluid compositions.

Abstract Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation can deliver therapeutic proteins to the central nervous system (CNS) through transplant-derived microglia-like cells. However, current conditioning approaches result in low and slow engraftment of transplanted cells in the CNS. Here we optimized a brain conditioning regimen that leads to rapid, robust, and persistent microglia replacement without adverse effects on neurobehavior or hematopoiesis. This regimen combines busulfan myeloablation and six days of Colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor inhibitor PLX3397. Single-cell analyses revealed unappreciated heterogeneity of microglia-like cells with most cells expressing genes characteristic of homeostatic microglia, brain-border-associated macrophages, and unique markers. Cytokine analysis in the CNS showed transient inductions of myeloproliferative and chemoattractant cytokines that help repopulate the microglia niche. Bone marrow transplant of progranulin-deficient mice conditioned with busulfan and PLX3397 restored progranulin in the brain and eyes and normalized brain lipofuscin storage, proteostasis, and lipid metabolism. This study advances our understanding of CNS repopulation by hematopoietic-derived cells and demonstrates its therapeutic potential for treating progranulin-dependent neurodegeneration.

Recent advancements in ophthalmology have been driven by the incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI), especially in diagnosing, monitoring treatment and predicting outcomes for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss worldwide, and its increasing prevalence among the ageing population presents a significant challenge for managing the disease. AI holds considerable promise in tackling this issue. This paper provides an overview of the latest developments in AI applications for AMD. However, current limitations include insufficient and unbalanced data, lack of interpretability in models, dependence on data quality and limited generality.

Summary: Urban flooding significantly impacts city planning and resident safety. Traditional flood risk models, divided into physical and data-driven types, face challenges like data requirements and limited scalability. To overcome these, this study developed a model combining graph convolutional network (GCN) and spiking neural network (SNN), enabling the extraction of both spatial and temporal features from diverse data sources. We built a comprehensive flood risk dataset by integrating social media reports with weather and geographical data from six Chinese cities. The proposed Graph SNN model demonstrated superior performance compared to GCN and LSTM models, achieving high accuracy (85.3%), precision (0.811), recall (0.832), and F1 score (0.821). It also exhibited higher energy efficiency, making it scalable for real-time flood prediction in various urban environments. This research advances flood risk assessment by efficiently processing heterogeneous data while reducing energy consumption, offering a sustainable solution for urban flood management.

AimThis study aimed to predict the formation of OBL during femtosecond laser SMILE surgery by employing deep learning technology.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional, retrospective study conducted at a university hospital. Surgical videos were randomly divided into a training (3,271 patches, 73.64%), validation (704 patches, 15.85%), and internal verification set (467 patches, 10.51%). An artificial intelligence (AI) model was developed using a SENet-based residual regression deep neural network. Model performance was assessed using the mean absolute error (EMA), Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r), and determination coefficient (R2).ResultsFour distinct types of deep neural network models were established. The modified deep residual neural network prediction model with channel attention built on the PyTorch framework demonstrated the best predictive performance. The predicted OBL area values correlated well with the Photoshop-based measurements (EMA = 0.253, r = 0.831, R2 = 0.676). The ResNet (EMA = 0.259, r = 0.798, R2 = 0.631) and Vgg19 models (EMA = 0.31, r = 0.758, R2 = 0.559) both displayed satisfactory predictive performance, while the U-net model (EMA = 0.605, r = 0.331, R2 = 0.171) performed poorest.ConclusionWe used a panoramic corneal image obtained before the SMILE laser scan to create a unique deep residual neural network prediction model to predict OBL formation during SMILE surgery. This model demonstrated exceptional predictive power, suggesting its clinical applicability across a broad field.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to propose a novel approach to assess the safety climate level of different groups of workers in a construction company and predict safety performance and implement targeted improvement measures.Design/methodology/approachThis paper utilizes the BP neural network and random forest algorithm to establish a weight learning mechanism for calculating the weights of safety climate evaluation criteria. The cloud model is employed to construct the decision matrix for different groups under the evaluation criteria. Meanwhile, the paper utilizes the COPRAS method to compare the safety climate of different groups.FindingsThe findings show the accuracy of the CM-COPRAS model is assessed by comparing it with the other methods. The three models are almost consistent in assessing the safety climate for working age groups, accident experience groups, and work type groups, with slight differences in the evaluation results for the education groups. The consistency of the computational results of the CM-COPRAS model with the results of the existing research, i.e., that the education level is positively proportional to the safety climate supports the reasonableness and validity of the CM-COPRAS model.OriginalityThe paper proposes a hybrid MCDM method that integrates the Combined weighting method, Cloud model, and COPRAS for safety climate level evaluation in different construction worker groups. A case study is presented to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed method and to compare it with other methods to validate the effectiveness of the present method.

Abstract Background Studies evaluating the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) for endometrial cancer (EC) are limited. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors as monotherapy for EC by conducting a meta-analysis. The predictive significance of MMR status, a biomarker for ICI response, also required further investigation. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted in English databases until September 2023. The analysis included objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), adverse events (AEs), and odds ratios (OR), along with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results There were twelve trials totaling 685 individuals. PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor monotherapy resulted in an ORR for 34% (95% CI = 24–44%) of the pooled EC patients. Subgroup analysis revealed a significantly higher ORR in dMMR EC (45%) compared to pMMR EC (8%), with an OR of 6.36 (95% CI = 3.64–11.13). The overall DCR was 42%, with dMMR EC at 51% and pMMR EC at 30% (OR = 2.61, 95% CI = 1.69–4.05). Grade three or higher adverse events (AEs) occurred in 15% of cases (95% CI = 9–24%) of the pooled incidence of AEs, which was 68% (95% CI = 65–72%). Conclusions This meta-analysis provides significant evidence for the effectiveness of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors as monotherapy for EC. Notably, dMMR EC patients demonstrated superior treatment efficacy with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor immunotherapy. Further research is required to explore subclassifications of EC based on dMMR molecular subtypes, enabling improved treatment strategies and outcomes for EC patients.

A two-dimensional symmetric fluid model is established to study the influence of radio frequency (RF) wave driving frequency on the capacitively coupled plasma discharge. The relationship between the driving frequency and electron density is obtained by solving the electron energy balance equation. The calculation results show that the average electron density first increases rapidly with the increase in driving frequency and then gradually tends to saturation at a threshold frequency. A fluid simulation is also carried out, which provides similar results. Physical studies on this phenomenon are conducted, revealing that the essence of this phenomenon is due to the inability of electrons to quickly respond to potential changes within the boundary sheath when the driving frequency of RF exceeds the plasma frequency. In addition, it is also found that increasing gas pressure can enhance the electron density and the type of gas can also affect the electron density.

This study investigated the savory intensity of aroma-active compounds derived from yeast extract Maillard reaction models. Sensory evaluation results revealed that beef flavoring model (28.00 g) exhibited the highest savory perception intensity when the yeast extract FA34 (0.50 g) the added. Eleven aroma-active compounds associated with saltiness perception were identified via solid-phase microextraction and extraction combined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry/olfactory. The odorant–NaCl mixture model and saltiness intensity evaluation results revealed that thiazole and 4-methylpentanoic acid could significantly (p < 0.05) enhance the saltiness perception of salt solution (5.00 g/L), 2-methylpyrazine, 2-methyl-3-furanthiol, 2,6-dimethylpyrazine, furfuryl mercaptan, and methyl 2-methyl-3-furyl disulfide could significantly (p < 0.01) enhance the saltiness perception of a salt solution (5.00 g/L). Electroencephalography revealed that the main mechanisms underlying aroma-induced saltiness perception enhancement included the strengthening of the saltiness perception signal and prolonging signal stimulation time in the frontal regions of the cerebral cortex.

As the Internet of Things (IoT) becomes increasingly prevalent, there is a surge in wireless-connected devices. In this context, one technique that has garnered significant attention is visible light communication (VLC) due to its ultra-wide and license-free frequency resource. However, a critical issue in utilizing VLC in IoT lies in its lack of smooth cooperation with ubiquitous radio frequency (RF)-based wireless networks. RF signals can use duplex techniques to transmit and receive bidirectional signals with one antenna. In contrast, VLC's light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and PIN diodes cannot operate in duplex mode, posing challenges in establishing two unidirectional VLC links. To address the mismatch between VLC and RF, we propose a light-based RF transceiver design called LiRF, capable of smooth transmission of RF signals through VLC for IoT devices. To verify its feasibility, we first build a prototype using 802.11ax (WiFi-6) network interface cards (NICs) in the 5 GHz channel. Experimental results show that LiRF is compatible with the 802.11bb standard, supporting TCP/IP data streams at 750 Mbps with a 200 MHz Superluminescent Diode-PIN (SLD-PIN) transceiver and at 600 Mbps with a 180 MHz LED-PIN transceiver. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first real-time bidirectional VLC system utilizing WiFi NICs capable of achieving near-Gbps data rates for a single spatial stream without altering the RF designs. LiRF paves the way for seamlessly integrating VLC into upcoming IoT networks, supporting high-speed, low-latency applications like Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality.

A novel acquisition scheme of pseudo-noise (PN) codes is proposed for spreading satellite communication systems relying on the proposed multi-voter model of this paper. Based on the proposed model, the acquisition of PN codes can be attributed to a voting and selecting mechanism to pick out the erroneous chips. Although message passing algorithm (MPA) is a feasible algorithm for decoding PN codes, MPA does not get good detection performance due to the limited number of parity check equations in the acquisition scheme. To overcome the negative impact of the limited number of parity check equations, this paper proposes single-voter and multi-voter models, which combine chip and sequence estimation on the basis of the chip-flipping (CF). It is known that the bit-flipping (BF), weighted-bit-flipping (WBF) and other algorithms based on BF are credible for low density parity check (LDPC) codes. Because of the lack of research, these algorithms have not been extended to the detection of PN codes. As the same as BF, the inputs of the proposed CF algorithm are the hard-decision samples. For the proposed CF, there exists an optimal flipping-threshold which is similar to the random weight of the WBF. Owing to the low computation complexity of CF, the unlimited number of parity check equations can be enabled in the voting model. The experimental results show that the detection performance of the proposed method of $N > $ 15 is improved by 2 dB compared with MAP-based method and 4 dB compared with LEAP-based method at the detection probability 99%.

Visible light communications (VLC) utilizing LEDs for transmissions have been widely considered a revolutionary solution for next-generation networks such as 6G. Frequency response (FR) is of great importance for LEDs, but the inherent internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of LEDs is often disregarded, resulting in imprecise FR models. Although it is widely known that IQE varies with the injected direct current (DC), the impact of IQE on the frequency response has not been thoroughly analyzed. To address this issue, we have developed a precise electro-optical (E-O) FR model by incorporating the ABC model of IQE, named IQE-FR. To validate the accuracy of IQE-FR, we conducted the experiments using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) LEDs including a tri-color LED and three monochromatic LEDs. The IQE-FR model aligns well with the experimental findings in terms of the maximum FR value, while state-of-the-art FR models that ignore the IQE effects do not yield consistent results. Specifically, we discovered that the red LEDs exhibit a stable DC gain when the biasing current rises to 300 mA, but the highest DC gain for green and blue LEDs can only be achieved under 100 mA. For green and blue LEDs, the biasing currents are much lower than their typical working currents (350 mA and 500 mA). To address the trade-off between luminance and DC gain, we propose cascading multiple LEDs operating at a low current corresponding to the maximum response. Experimental results demonstrate that four cascaded monochromatic LEDs exhibit similar bandwidth and response gain larger than 11 dB compared to a single LED at the same biasing current while delivering four times the emission power, which is very close to the theoretical value of 12 dB. Furthermore, we find that the DC gain improvement by cascading multiple LEDs is nonlinear and bounded by an upper limit as the number of LEDs increases, and as a cost-effective solution, a few tens of LEDs is recommended. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt to apply the IQE model to study the LEDs’ precise FR performances for VLC. We believe that the precise IQE-FR model opens new avenues for optimizing VLC system performance by considering the effects of IQE.

Visible light communications (VLC) has experienced rapid development in recent years as a strong competitor for next-generation wireless applications due to its wider bandwidth, higher security, and better electromagnetic immunity compared with conventional radio frequency (RF) microwaves. Although state-of- the-art VLC systems can achieve Gbps data rates by employing equalization schemes, designing a general low-complexity VLC transmitter with hundreds of MHz 3-dB bandwidth is still challenging due to the narrow modulation bandwidth nature of light emitting diodes (LEDs). In this paper, we first present a second-order equivalent circuit model for the LED, based on which we propose a general second-order equalizer (GSE) with low complexities, consisting of less than 5 passive capacitors, inductors, and resistors. We show that the GSE can enlarge the LED transmitter's bandwidth to a few hundred MHz. To validate our GSE, we build a broadband VLC transmitter using commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) red, green and blue (RGB) LEDs, whose bandwidth is 14 MHz, by summing up three colours. Experimental results show that our proposed GSE can extend the transmitter's 3-dB bandwidth from 14 MHz to 1.5 GHz. Furthermore, we demonstrate that a VLC system utilizing the proposed GSE transmitter can achieve 1.15 Gbps data rates at a distance of 250 cm with a bit error ratios (BERs) below the forward error correction (FEC) limit $3.8 \times 10^{-3}$.

Abstract Rock mechanical property is significant for shale gas development and exploitation. Shale compressive strength, tensile strength, elastic deformation and so on, are necessary parameters for drilling, completion and fracturing work in shale formation. Among all these shale mechanical parameters, brittleness is a tricky and significant rock property, which has been widely used to hydraulic fracturing design. Currently, although so many works have been conducted to investigate shale brittleness, there is no precise definition of brittleness. In particular, there is no consensus on which method is the most reliable for shale brittleness evaluation. It is vital to figure out how to evaluate shale brittleness in a reliable method. Thus, this paper presents an experimental study on shale mechanical properties, analyzing mechanical features in stress strain curve, relation between mineral content and strength, mechanical parameters at varying confined stress. Based on shale mechanical characteristics and its brittle exhibition, stress strain curve from triaxial compression test is divided into 3 stages, namely, elastic stage, plastic stage and post peak stage. In combined with brittle characteristics in 3 stages of axial and radial stress–strain curves, a new brittleness index has been established for assessing shale brittleness. In order to prove the applicability of new brittleness index, its result is compared with shale failure sample after triaxial test and existing brittleness indexes based on mineral content, elastic deformation, energy, stress and strain, showing a good consistency and proving its practicability. Based on this brittleness index, influence factors of shale brittleness have been discussed. It is shown that elastic module is the most important factor of shale brittleness. Bedding plane makes shale brittleness have strong anisotropy. Brittleness is not only relied on its structure and mineral (like bedding plane, silicate and clay mineral content), but is also highly affected by external stress. Large confined pressure is able to impair shale brittleness. Outcome in this study can offer theoretical guidance for shale exploitation.

According to the transversely isotropic theory and weak plane criterion, and considering the mechanical damages due to stress unloading and hydration during drilling, a shale wellbore stability model with the influence of stress unloading and hydration was established using triaxial test and shear test. Then, factors influencing the wellbore stability in shale were analyzed. The results indicate that stress unloading occurs during drilling in shale. The larger the confining pressure and axial stress, the more remarkable weakening of shale strength caused by stress unloading . The stress unloading range is positively correlated with the weakening degree of shale strength. Shale with a higher development degree of bedding is more prone to damage along bedding. In this case, during stress unloading, the synergistic effect of weak structural plane and stress unloading happens, leading to a higher weakening degree of shale strength and poorer mechanical stability, which brings a higher risk of wellbore instability. Fluid tends to invade shale through bedding, promoting the shale hydration. Hydration also can weaken shale mechanical stability, causing the decline of wellbore stability. Influence of stress unloading on collapse pressure of shale mainly occurs at the early stage of drilling, while the influence of hydration on wellbore stability mainly happens at the late stage of drilling. Bedding, stress unloading and hydration jointly affect the wellbore stability in shale. The presented shale wellbore stability model with the influence of stress unloading and hydration considers the influences of the three factors. Field application demonstrates that the prediction results of the model agree with the actual drilling results, verifying the reliability of the model.

Salt stress is a key environmental factor altering rice plant growth. Strigolactones (GR24) play a vital role in responding to various abiotic stresses and regulating plant growth. However, the regulatory mechanisms of SLs on rice seedlings under salt stress have not yet been clarified. A pot experiment was undertaken to evaluate the effects of GR24 soaking on the rice variety ‘Huanghuazhan’ (salt-sensitive) seedling growth, antioxidant metabolism, and endogenous hormones under NaCl stress. Results showed that NaCl stress significantly inhibited rice growth; disrupted antioxidant enzymes activity; and increased the content of soluble proteins (SPs), proline (Pro), malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen–peroxide (H2O2). GR24 significantly improved photosynthetic pigments and antioxidant–enzyme activities, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and ascorbate–peroxidase (APX); increased SP, ascorbic acid (AsA); and reduced glutathione (GSH) content and MDA, H2O2, and Pro content, resulting in the mitigation of oxidative injury caused by NaCl stress. Moreover, GR24 significantly increased the content of strigolactones (SLs), cytokinin (CTK), auxin (IAA), Gibberellin A3 (GA3), and IAA/ABA and CTK/ABA ratios and decreased the abscisic acid (ABA). Findings indicated that GR24 alleviated oxidative damage caused by NaCl stress by increasing photosynthetic and antioxidant capacity and maintaining the balance of endogenous hormones, thus improving the salt tolerance of rice seedlings.

To determine the acoustic wave propagation characteristics of bedded shales under different confining pressures and temperatures, shales from the Longmaxi Formation in the Sichuan Basin are taken as research objects. Based on ultrasonic experiments, the acoustic wave propagation properties of shales with different bedding angles are investigated. The effects of the confining pressure, temperature, and bedding angle on the acoustic velocity, attenuation coefficient, and acoustic anisotropy coefficient are analyzed. Based on the results, an acoustic velocity prediction model for bedded shales considering the confining pressure, temperature, and bedding angle is established. The experiments show that, for confining pressures from 0 to 50 MPa and temperatures from 20 to 100 °C, the acoustic velocity of the shales increases with increasing confining pressure and decreases with increasing temperature and bedding angle. The attenuation coefficient of the shales exhibits a decreasing trend with increasing confining pressure, but increases with increasing temperature and bedding angle. The acoustic anisotropy coefficient of shale gradually decreases with increasing confining pressure, but increases with increasing temperature and bedding angle. The acoustic velocity prediction model for in-situ bedded shales established in this study has a high level of accuracy. The relationship between the acoustic anisotropy coefficient and the bedding angle is satisfied by a binomial equation. The relationship between the acoustic anisotropy coefficient and the confining pressure and temperature follows a binary linear logarithmic equation.

Abstract Background In previous systematic reviews, meta-analysis was lacking, resulting in the statistical difference between the data of different surgeries being impossible to judge. This meta-analysis aims to contrast the fertility results and cancer outcomes between open and minimally invasive surgery. Method We systematically searched databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Scopus to collect studies that included open and minimally invasive radical trachelectomy. A random-effect model calculated the weighted average difference of each primary outcome via Review Manager V.5.4. Result Eight studies (1369 patients) were incorporated into our study. For fertility results, the Open group excels MIS group in pregnancies-Third trimester delivery [OR = 2.68; 95% CI (1.29, 5.59); P = 0.008]. Nevertheless, there is no statistical difference in clinical pregnancy, miscarriage, and second-trimester rate. Concerning cancer outcomes, no difference was detected in the overall survival [OR = 1.56; 95% CI (0.70, 3.45); P = 0.27] and recurrence [OR = 0.63; 95% CI (0.35, 1.12); P = 0.12]. Concerning surgery-related outcomes, the comprehensive effects revealed that the estimated blood loss of the Open group was higher than that of the MIS group[MD = 139.40; 95% CI (79.05, 199.75); P

Abstract Fiber‐reinforced composites are a popular lightweight materials used in a variety of engineering applications, such as aerospace, architecture, automotive, and marine construction, due to their attractive mechanical properties. Constructing lattice materials from fiber‐reinforced composites is an efficient approach for developing ultra‐lightweight structural systems with superior mechanical properties and multifunctional benefits. In contrast to corrugated, foam, and honeycomb core materials, composite lattice materials can be manufactured with various architectural designs, such as woven, grid, and truss cores. Moreover, lattice materials with open‐cell topology provide multifunctional advantages over conventional closed‐cell honeycomb and foam structures and are thus highly desirable for developing aerospace systems, hypersonic vehicles, long‐range rockets and missiles, ship and naval structures, and protective systems. The objective of this study is to review and analyze dynamic mechanical behavior performed by different researchers in the area of composite lattice materials and to highlight topics for future research.

Secretome derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have profound effects on tissue regeneration, which could become the basis of future MSCs therapies. Hypoxia, as the physiologic environment of MSCs, has great potential to enhance MSCs paracrine therapeutic effect. In our study, the paracrine effects of secretome derived from MSCs preconditioned in normoxia and hypoxia was compared through both in vitro functional assays and an in vivo rat osteochondral defect model. Specifically, the paracrine effect of total EVs were compared to that of soluble factors to characterize the predominant active components in the hypoxic secretome. We demonstrated that hypoxia conditioned medium, as well as the corresponding EVs, at a relatively low dosage, were efficient in promoting the repair of critical-sized osteochondral defects and mitigated the joint inflammation in a rat osteochondral defect model, relative to their normoxia counterpart. In vitro functional test shows enhancement through chondrocyte proliferation, migration, and matrix deposition, while inhibit IL-1β-induced chondrocytes senescence, inflammation, matrix degradation, and pro-inflammatory macrophage activity. Multiple functional proteins, as well as a change in EVs’ size profile, with enrichment of specific EV-miRNAs were detected with hypoxia preconditioning, implicating complex molecular pathways involved in hypoxia pre-conditioned MSCs secretome generated cartilage regeneration.

Dragon fruits have abundant nutritional and antioxidant properties. High temperatures limit the growth and production of dragon fruits. Hemin can effectively alleviate abiotic stress in plants. However, the regulatory effect of Hemin on dragon fruit under heat stress remains unclear. In this study, we explored the impacts of foliar application of Hemin on dragon fruit size, yield and quality during the high temperatures of the summer season. In this experiment, dragon fruit variety ‘Jindu No. 1’ was used as material and treated with three Hemin concentrations, i.e., H1: 1 μmol.L−1, H2: 10 μmol.L−1, H3: 100 μmol.L−1, compared with CK: control. The results show that exogenous Hemin increased the single fruit weight, yield, fruit shape index and edible rate. It also improved pericarp L* value, a* value, C* and decreased ho, improving the peel colour; exogenous Hemin enhanced soluble solids content and phenolic compounds content and antioxidant enzyme activities in the pulp of dragon fruit. In addition, exogenous Hemin increased the content of chlorophyll content in dragon fruit stems. Differential metabolites determined by metabolomic assay also indicated that Hemin significantly increased the content of active substances such as selagin. Additionally, the Hemin treatment H2 also activated the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), which helps to mitigate the effects of high temperatures on dragon fruit. The current findings strongly advocate that H2 treatment may effectively counteract the adverse effects of heat stress by regulating the morph-physiological and antioxidant traits.

Tooth profile errors are the internal excitations that cause gear meshing errors, which are critical error factors affecting gear transmission accuracy. In existing studies, it is usually regarded as a constant or random distribution function. However, the actual machined tooth profile error is not a constant, so this estimation is inconsistent with the actual situation, resulting in an inaccurate evaluation of transmission accuracy. This paper proposes a method for representing tooth profile errors using distribution errors (including systematic and random errors), and a mathematical model of distributed tooth profile errors is presented. The contact stresses of the complex transmission system were compared with those obtained by formulas, proving that tooth profile errors increase contact stress. A method for calculating gear meshing error is proposed to evaluate the actual output accuracy of the complex transmission system. Compared with the test, the output accuracy is reduced by 13.8% under the temperature environment and distributed tooth profile errors. The proposed methods can accurately predict the transmission accuracy of precision transmission systems at the design stage and provide theoretical support for reducing systematic and random errors at the gear machining stage.

In this study, hybrid skeleton material ZIF-8@ZIF-67 was synthesized by the epitaxial growth method and then was utilized as a carrier for encapsulating Pseudomonas fluorescens lipase (PFL) through the co-precipitation method, resulting in the preparation of immobilized lipase (PFL@ZIF-8@ZIF-67). Subsequently, it was further treated with glutaraldehyde to improve protein immobilization yield. Under optimal immobilization conditions, the specific hydrolytic activity of PFL@ZIF-8@ZIF-67 was 20.4 times higher than that of the free PFL. The prepared biocatalyst was characterized and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR). Additionally, the thermal stability of PFL@ZIF-8@ZIF-67 at 50 °C was significantly improved compared to the free PFL. After 7 weeks at room temperature, PFL@ZIF-8@ZIF-67 retained 78% of the transesterification activity, while the free enzyme was only 29%. Finally, PFL@ZIF-8@ZIF-67 was applied to the neryl acetate preparation in a solvent-free system, and the yield of neryl acetate reached 99% after 3 h of reaction. After 10 repetitions, the yields of neryl acetate catalyzed by PFL@ZIF-8@ZIF-67 and the free PFL were 80% and 43%, respectively.

Background. This work focused on investigating the role of programmed death ligand 2 (PD-L2) in the progression of breast cancer by utilizing breast cancer specimens and cells. Materials and Methods. The serum levels of soluble PD-L2 (sPD-L2) in breast cancer patients and healthy individuals were analyzed by means of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the PD-L2 levels within 416 resected breast cancer specimens were assessed through immunohistochemistry. Concurrently, in vitro cell experiments and in vivo animal experiments were carried out to analyze the relationship between PD-L2 and the invasion and migration of breast cancer. Results. The concentration of sPD-L2 in breast cancer patients significantly increased compared to that in the control groups. Additionally, breast cancer patients with high concentrations of sPD-L2 had higher Ki67 values (≥30%) and tumor grades. PD-L2 was expressed in 79.09% of the cancer samples, which exhibited a positive correlation with the progesterone receptor (PR) and the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Furthermore, we discovered that knockdown of PD-L2 inhibited the migratory and invasive abilities of both MCF-7 and MDA-MB231 cells. Conclusion. Our findings demonstrated that knockdown of PD-L2 suppressed tumor growth, providing novel insights into important biological functions.

Purpose. Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) was conducted to assess the causal relationship between angina pectoris and gout. Material and Methods. Based on genome-wide association studies, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that were closely associated with gout were selected from the UK Biobank–Neale Lab (ukb-a-107) as genetic instrumental variables. Considering that gout is characterized by elevated blood uric acid levels, SNPs related to blood uric acid levels were screened from BioBank Japan (bbj-a-57) as auxiliary gene instrumental variables. SNPs closely associated with angina pectoris onset were screened from the FINN dataset (finn-b-I9_ANGINA) as outcome variables. Two-sample MR was conducted, with inverse variance weighting (IVW) of the random effects model as the primary result, along with the weighted median method (WME) and the MR-Egger regression method. To further confirm the causal relationship between angina and gout incidence, a meta-analysis was conducted on the IVW results of the ukb-a-107 and bbj-a-57. Results. The odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of the IVW, WME, and MR-Egger results of ukb-a-107 were (OR = 33.72; 95% CI: 2.07∼550.38), (OR = 57.94; 95% CI: 2.75∼1219.82), and (OR = 96.38; 95% CI: 0.6∼15556.93), respectively. The P values of IVW and WME were 0.014 and 0.014 (both

This study investigated changes in physical, sensory, and safety qualities of pre-processed snakehead fish fillets seasoned with yeast extract and packaged under atmospheric pressure and vacuum during 4 °C and 0 °C storage, and predicted their shelf-life. The differently packaged fillets kept decreasing in water-holding capacity, lightness, whiteness, texture, and sensory properties, with better performance for 0 °C storage plus vacuum packaging in delaying quality deterioration of fish fillets. The zero-order kinetic model well fitted the changes in 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBA) and total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) of the fillets. The TVB-N-based predicted shelf-life was 5 and 7 days at 4 °C storage, and 25 and 30 days at 0 °C storage for the atmospheric- and vacuum-packaged fish fillets, respectively. The TBA-based predicted shelf-life was shorter than the days predicted by TVB-N, and the shelf-life based on TVB-N and TBA was in good agreement with the time for the unacceptable and poor sensory properties, respectively. This study has shed some light on the selection of packaging and storage conditions and shelf-life prediction of pre-processed snakehead fish fillets seasoned with yeast extract.

Introduction This study aimed to investigate the manifestations of postoperative Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) changes in patients with stage III and IV ovarian endometriomas. Material and methods Trends in postoperative AMH were categorized and described, and the risk factors for postoperative AMH decline were screened using dichotomous logistic regression. Results The overall trend of postoperative AMH decreased, with a more significant decrease in stage IV than stage III cases. Elevated preoperative CA-125 levels, a history of caesarean section, and abortion were independent risk factors for postoperative AMH decline. Conclusions There is a general trend toward decreasing AMH levels after surgery, but each case may also show a different elevation.

Wettability is one of the important physical properties of reservoir rock surfaces, and it is a key factor affecting capillary force, relative permeability, bound water saturation and fluid micro-distribution. Based on the molecular simulation method, this paper made a study of the wetting behavior of a graphite surface (organic surface) modified by the oxygen-containing functional groups and the distribution characteristics of the methane-water system in organic slit pores. The results showed that the interaction energy between the water molecules and the surface decreased and the wetting contact angle of the organic matter surface increased with the increase in the oxygen-containing functional groups; with the increase in the temperature, the interaction energy between the organic matter surface and the water molecules increased, and the wetting contact angle decreased; in the graphite slit pore model with symmetrical C/O ratio, water molecules were symmetrically distributed near the wall of oxygen-containing functionalized graphite, and with the decreasing in the C/O ratio, the relative concentration of water molecules increased and the diffusion coefficient decreased, while methane molecules were clustered in the center of the pore. In the graphite slit pore model with asymmetric C/O ratio, the water molecules were asymmetrically distributed near the wall of the oxygenated functionalized graphite, while the methane molecules were clustered in the center of the pore, where the side with a low C/O ratio had strong hydrophilicity on the wall and a high relative concentration of water molecules, while the side with a high C/O ratio had strong hydrophobicity on the wall and a low relative concentration of water molecules. The research findings were extremely significant to make a study of the influences of shale reservoir characteristics.

By applying the “safety atmosphere” measurement theory to Chinese management companies engaged in road transportation, a corporate and individual safety risk assessment system was established that is consistent with the management and cultural climate in China, thereby reducing the driving safety risk of truck drivers. The system realizes the safety risk assessment of enterprises, fleets and individuals in the form of test scales by constructing a structural model of the enterprise safety atmosphere, including the management, communication, and supervision of enterprises, fleets, and individuals. The safety climate was modeled using a two-level framework, at the organizational level and fleet level, and three dimensions of test items for each level were obtained by exploratory factor analysis. The three dimensions of safety management, safety supervision, and safety priority at the organizational level, and the three dimensions of positive communication, safety awareness, and self-discipline at the fleet level, respectively, passed a valid factorial test (p < 0.01). Finally, the validity of the system evaluation results was verified by relying on the actual in-vehicle monitoring data and accident records of the corporate transportation fleet. The results show that the total test scores at the organizational level and the fleet level are significantly correlated with their driving risk behaviors, and both are linearly and negatively correlated with the number of accidents per thousand kilometers. This indicates a high degree of consistency between the system’s test results and actual risky accidents.

With the promotion of the dual carbon target, the scale of the wind power grid connection will significantly increase. However, wind power has characteristics such as randomness and volatility, and its grid connection challenges the pressure of system peak shaving, making it increasingly difficult to regulate the power system. To solve the problem of wind power abandonment, the positive and negative peak shaving characteristics of wind power were first analyzed. Based on this, it is proposed that demand response resources and energy storage with adjustable characteristics are used as the new means of wind power consumption. Together with the thermal power units, they participate in the optimization and scheduling of the power grid, forming a coordinated and optimized operation mode of source load storage. With the goal of minimizing system operating costs, a two-stage economic scheduling model was formed for the day-ahead and intra-day periods. Finally, optimization software was used to solve the problem, and the simulation results showed the effectiveness of the proposed economic scheduling model, which can improve the system’s new energy consumption and reduce the system’s operating costs.

Ovarian cancer is a highly malignant gynecological cancer influenced by the immune microenvironment, metabolic reprogramming, and cellular senescence. This review provides a comprehensive overview of these characteristics. Metabolic reprogramming affects immune cell function and tumor growth signals. Cellular senescence in immune and tumor cells impacts anti-tumor responses and therapy resistance. Targeting immune cell metabolism and inducing tumor cell senescence offer potential therapeutic strategies. However, challenges remain in identifying specific targets and biomarkers. Understanding the interplay of these characteristics can lead to innovative therapeutic approaches. Further research is needed to elucidate mechanisms, validate strategies, and improve patient outcomes in ovarian cancer.

ABSTRACT To explore the functions of Txnip and its mechanism in adipocyte differentiation, the preadipocytes were isolated from subcutaneous adipose tissue of three-day-old piglets and induced into adipogenic differentiation. The expression of Txnip and ChREBP was silenced, and the Txnip overexpression was achieved in the cells with transfection of the recombinant lentivirus strategies. Txnip silencing promoted the differentiation of porcine preadipocytes and PPARγ expression, and a PPARγ inhibitor reduced this facilitation. Instead, Txnip overexpression exerted a suppressive effect on the cell differentiation and PPARγ expression, and the PPARγ agonist offset this inhibition. High glucose stimulated the preadipocyte differentiation and expressions of ChREBP and Txnip. In contrast, Txnip expression was reduced by ChREBP silencing, suggesting glucose-regulated Txnip expression through the mediation of ChREBP. Moreover, the expressions of ChREBP and Glut4 induced by high glucose and glucose uptake of the cells were reduced by Txnip-overexpression, but increased by Txnip silencing, while these changes of Txnip did not alter their expressions under low glucose. Collectively, Txnip could be an inhibitor of porcine preadipocyte differentiation, which attenuated the adipogenesis through the negative feedback regulation on PPARγ. Txnip impaired the induction of glucose on the preadipocyte differentiation through decreasing Glut4 expression and glucose uptake and subsequent decrease of the expression and transcriptional activity of ChREBP.

Background Pneumonia is the main complication of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2; however, the incidence proportions and prognostic factors for Omicron-associated pneumonia have not been established. We conducted this study to characterise the incidence proportions and influence of various factors on prognosis of Omicron-associated pneumonia.Methods We collected data from 714 patients infected with the Omicron variant in The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University (Chongqing, China) who were divided into different groups for analysis.Results We identified 313 patients with Omicron-associated pneumonia at the time of diagnosis of patients infected with the Omicron variant, representing 43.8% of the entire cohort. A total of 82 were 15–59 years old, 71 were 60–69 years old, 76 were 70–79 years old and 84 were >80 years old. 133 were female and 180 were male. Incidence proportions of pneumonia were highest among patients with cardiovascular (82.4% of the basic disease of the cardiovascular system subset) or kidney disease (92.3% of the kidney disease subset), whereas patients with lung cancer (35.7% of the lung cancer subset) had a lower incidence proportion. Several factors were associated with the prognosis of pneumonia in patients infected with the Omicron variant. Patients with a thrombosis or pleural effusion had a longer hospitalisation time. Paxlovid and immunoglobulins improved the prognosis of patients with severe pneumonia. The following measures were significantly different in patients as a function of disease severity: number of neutrophils and lymphocytes, partial oxygen pressure; and myoglobin, lactic dehydrogenase, aspartate transaminase and procalcitonin levels.Conclusion Patients infected with the Omicron variant with coexisting cardiovascular or kidney disease, but not respiratory disease, had a higher incidence proportion of pneumonia. Paxlovid and immunoglobulins can be used in patients with severe infections to improve prognosis.

ABSTRACT With the global prevalence of Varroa mites, more and more beekeepers resort to confining the queen bee in a queen cage to control mite infestation or to breed superior and robust queen bees. However, the impact of such practices on the queen bee remains largely unknown. Therefore, we subjected the queen bees to a 21-day egg-laying restriction treatment (from the egg stage to the emergence of adult worker bees) and analyzed the queen bees’ ovarian metabolites and gut microbiota after 21 days, aiming to assess the queen bees’ quality and assist beekeepers in better hive management. Our findings revealed a significant reduction in the relative expression levels of Vg and Hex110 genes in the ovaries of egg laying-restricted queen bees compared to unrestricted egg-laying queens. The diversity of gut microbiota in the queen bee exhibited a notable decrease, accompanied by corresponding changes in the core bacteria of the microbial community, the relative abundance of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium increased from 22.34% to 53.14% (P = 0.01) and from 0.053% to 0.580% (P = 0.04), respectively. The relative abundance of Bombella decreased from 25.85% to 1.720% (P = 0.002). Following egg-laying restriction, the activity of the queen bee’s ovaries decreased, while the metabolism of glycerophospholipids remained or stored more lipid molecules, awaiting environmental changes for the queen bee to resume egg laying promptly. Furthermore, we observed that Bombella in the queen bee’s gut may regulate the queen’s ovarian metabolism through tryptophan metabolism. These findings provide novel insights into the interplay among queen egg laying, gut microbiota, and ovarian metabolism. IMPORTANCE With Varroa mite infestation, beekeepers often confine the queen bee in cages for control or breeding. However, the impact on the queen bee is largely unknown. We evaluated queen bee quality by restricting egg laying and analyzing ovarian metabolites and gut microbiota. In this study, we provided a comprehensive explanation of the expression of ovarian genes, the diversity of gut microbiota, and changes in ovarian metabolism in the queen bee. Through integrated analysis of the queen bee’s gut microbiota and ovarian metabolism, we discovered that the gut microbiota can regulate the queen bee’s ovarian metabolism. These findings provide valuable insights into the interplay among egg laying, gut microbiota, and the reproductive health of the queen bee. Understanding these relationships can contribute to the development of better strategies for Varroa mite control and queen bee breeding.

Visible light communications (VLC) is a good candidate technology for the 6th generation (6G) wireless communications. Red, green, and blue (RGB) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) based VLC has become an important research branch due to its low price and high reliability. However, the saturation of photodiode (PD) caused by the ambient background light may seriously degrade the bit error rate (BER) performance of an RGB-VLC system's three spatially uncoupled information streams (i.e., red, green, and blue LEDs can transmit different data packets simultaneously) in practical applications. To mitigate the ambient light interference in point-to-point RGB-VLC systems, we propose, PNC-VLC, a network-coded scheme that uses two LEDs with the same color at the transmitter to transmit two different data streams and we make use of the naturally overlapped signals at the receiver to formulate physical-layer network coding (PNC). The adaptivity of PNC-VLC could effectively improve the BER degradation problem caused by the saturation of PD under the influence of ambient light. We conducted simulations based on the parameters of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products to prove the superiority of the PNC-VLC under the influence of four typical illuminants. Simulation results show that the PNC-VLC system can maintain a better and more stable system BER performance under different ambient background light conditions. Remarkably, with 2/3 throughput efficiency, PNC-VLC can bring 133.3% gain to the BER performance when compared with RGB-VLC under the Illuminant A interference model, making it a good option for VLC applications with unpredictable ambient background interferences.

Lasers differ from other light sources in that they are coherent, and their coherence makes them indispensable to both fundamental research and practical application. In optomechanical cavities, photon and phonon lasing is facilitated by the ability of photons and phonons to interact intensively and excite one another coherently. The lasing linewidths of both phonons and photons are critical for practical application. This study investigates the lasing linewidths of photons and phonons from the underlying dynamics in an optomechanical cavity. We find that the linewidths can be accounted for by two distinct physical mechanisms in two regimes, namely the normal regime and the reversed regime, where the intrinsic optical decay rate is either larger or smaller than the intrinsic mechanical decay rate. In the normal regime, an ultra-narrow spectral linewidth of 5.4 kHz for phonon lasing at 6.22 GHz can be achieved regardless of the linewidth of the pump light, while these results are counterintuitively unattainable for photon lasing in the reversed regime. These results pave the way towards harnessing the coherence of both photons and phonons in silicon photonic devices and reshaping their spectra, potentially opening up new technologies in sensing, metrology, spectroscopy, and signal processing, as well as in applications requiring sources that offer an ultra-high degree of coherence.

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of Kinesio taping (KT) combined with multi-angle isometric resistance training for cervical spondylosis. Methods Sixty-one patients were divided into two groups by random number table method. Both groups were given multi-angle isometric training, the patients in the observation group were supplemented with Kinesio taping. Before and after treatment, the symptoms of cervical spine function were evaluated in two groups by visual analogue scale (VAS), cervical dysfunction index (NDI), cervical range of motion and muscle stiffness. Results After 3 weeks of treatment, VAS, NDI scores and the cervical range of motion were significantly better than before (P

TPC2 is an important organellar Na+/Ca2+ release channel which regulates function of lysosomes and lysosome-related organelles. Here, Wang et al. demonstrate that a gain-of-function mutation (R210C) in TPC2 leads to hypopigmentaion, enlarged endolysosomes, enhanced lysosomal Ca2+ release and hyper-acidification.

Peptides have been used as flavors for decades, however, their tasting mechanism remains not entirely clear. In the present work, 10 kokumi peptides identified in yeast extracts were selected as ligands. Their binding mechanism to calcium-sensitive receptors (CaSR) were investigated at molecular level by using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations. The results showed that all kokumi peptides could bind to CaSR to form complexes, of which γ-Glu-Cys-Gly (GSH), γ-Glu-Leu (EL) and γ-Glu-Tyr (EY) being the top 3 peptides with higher affinity. Arg66, Ser147 and Ala168 may be the active sites of CaSR and interact with CaSR through hydrogen bonds; the different kokumi peptides and CaSR mainly rely on hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interaction and hydrophobic interaction to bind each other. This study provides a theoretical reference for the interaction between kokumi peptides and their receptors.

In this paper, several yeast extracts (YE) were taken as the main material to explore their function in salt reduction and effect in reducing salt in stock flavoring powder. Firstly, through physical and chemical index detection of different YE and comparative sensory analysis of saltiness intensity, the optimal effect of salt reduction YE was determined; then the molecular weight distribution of the peptide was detected, and different peptides were applied in the compound salt reduction model solution to explore the mechanism of salt reduction; finally, the effect of salt reducing was verified in the stock flavoring powder. According to the results, it showed that there were differences in salt reduction effect and flavor modification effect of different yeast extracts on low sodium salt, among which strong YE-2 had a better effect of reducing 20% salt in model experiment than other test YE. The components of 1000~2000 Da peptide in dense YE-2 had a significant sense of denseness and effect in saltiness enhancement. The application of strong YE-2 in the seasoning of stock powder could help reduce salt, improve umami taste and strong taste, and enhance the sense of overall coordination. YE products with stronger salt-reducing effect can be developed by increasing the content of 1000~2000 Da peptides in YE-2 products.

Introduction: Complex outcome of ovarian cancer (OC) stems from the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) influenced by genetic and epigenetic factors. This study aimed to comprehensively explored the subclasses of OC through lncRNAs related to both N6-methyladenosine (m6A)/N1-methyladenosine (m1A)/N7-methylguanosine (m7G)/5-methylcytosine (m5C) in terms of epigenetic variability and immune molecules and develop a new set of risk predictive systems. Material and methods: The lncRNA data of OC were collected from TCGA. Spearman correlation analysis on lncRNA data of OC with immune-related gene expression and with m6A/m5C/m1A/m7G were respectively conducted. The m6A/m5C/m1A/m7G-related m6A/m5C/m1A/m7G related immune lncRNA subtypes were identified on the basis of the prognostic lncRNAs. Heterogeneity among subtypes was evaluated by tumor mutation analysis, tumor microenvironment (TME) component analysis, response to immune checkpoint blocked (ICB) and chemotherapeutic drugs. A risk predictive system was developed based on the results of Cox regression analysis and random survival forest analysis of the differences between each specific cluster and other clusters. Results: Three m6A/m5C/m1A/m7G-related immune lncRNA subtypes of OC showing distinct differences in prognosis, mutation pattern, TIME components, immunotherapy and chemotherapy response were identified. A set of risk predictive system consisting of 10 lncRNA for OC was developed, according to which the risk score of samples in each OC dataset was calculated and risk type was defined. Conclusions: This study classified three m6A/m5C/m1A/m7G-related immune lncRNA subtypes with distinct heterogeneous mutation patterns, TME components, ICB therapy and immune response, and provided a set of risk predictive system consisted of 10 lncRNA for OC.

BackgroundTo explore the underlying mechanism of programmed cell death (PCD)-related genes in patients with endometrial cancer (EC) and establish a prognostic model.MethodsThe RNA sequencing data (RNAseq), single nucleotide variation (SNV) data, and corresponding clinical data were downloaded from TCGA. The prognostic PCD-related genes were screened and subjected to consensus clustering analysis. The two clusters were compared by weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA), immune infiltration analysis, and other analyses. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm was used to construct the PCD-related prognostic model. The biological significance of the PCD-related gene signature was evaluated through various bioinformatics methods.ResultsWe identified 43 PCD-related genes that were significantly related to prognoses of EC patients, and classified them into two clusters via consistent clustering analysis. Patients in cluster B had higher tumor purity, higher T stage, and worse prognoses compared to those in cluster A. The latter generally showed higher immune infiltration. A prognostic model was constructed using 11 genes (GZMA, ASNS, GLS, PRKAA2, VLDLR, PRDX6, PSAT1, CDKN2A, SIRT3, TNFRSF1A, LRPPRC), and exhibited good diagnostic performance. Patients with high-risk scores were older, and had higher stage and grade tumors, along with worse prognoses. The frequency of mutations in PCD-related genes was correlated with the risk score. LRPPRC, an adverse prognostic gene in EC, was strongly correlated with proliferation-related genes and multiple PCD-related genes. LRPPRC expression was higher in patients with higher clinical staging and in the deceased patients. In addition, a positive correlation was observed between LRPPRC and infiltration of multiple immune cell types.ConclusionWe identified a PCD-related gene signature that can predict the prognosis of EC patients and offer potential targets for therapeutic interventions.

In this study, tea waste was used as a raw material, and TBC (tea waste biochar) was prepared by pyrolysis at 700 °C. La(NO3)3·6H2O was used as the modifier to optimize one-way modification; the orthogonal experiment was undertaken to determine the optimal preparation conditions; and La-TBC (lanthanum-modified biochar) was obtained. The key factors for the adsorption of fluoride by La-TBC were investigated by means of batch adsorption experiments, and kinetics and isothermal adsorption experiments were carried out on the adsorption of fluoride in geothermal hot spring water. The adsorption mechanism of fluoride by La-TBC was analyzed via characterization methods such as SEM-EDS (Scanning Electron Microscope and Energy Dispersive Spectrometer), BET (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller), FTIR (Fourier transform infrared), XRD (X-ray diffraction), and so on. The results show that La-TBC had the best adsorption effect on fluoride at pH 7. The process of adsorption of fluoride follows the pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir isothermal model, and the maximum theoretical adsorption quantity was 47.47 mg/g at 80 °C, while the removal rate of fluoride from the actual geothermal hot spring water reached more than 95%. The adsorption process was dominated by the monolayer adsorption of chemicals, and the mechanisms mainly include pore filling, ion exchange, and electrostatic interaction.

Point clouds are considered one of the fundamental pillars for representing the 3D digital landscape [...]

From the preparation of bread, cheese, beer, and condiments to vegetarian meat products, fungi play a leading role in the food fermentation industry. With the shortage of global protein resources and the decrease in cultivated land, fungal protein has received much attention for its sustainability. Fungi are high in protein, rich in amino acids, low in fat, and almost cholesterol-free. These properties mean they could be used as a promising supplement for animal and plant proteins. The selection of strains and the fermentation process dominate the flavor and quality of fungal-protein-based products. In terms of function, fungal proteins exhibit better digestive properties, can regulate blood lipid and cholesterol levels, improve immunity, and promote gut health. However, consumer acceptance of fungal proteins is low due to their flavor and safety. Thus, this review puts forward prospects in terms of these issues.

Lalu wetland is the world’s largest plateau urban wetland. It was designated as a national-level nature reserve in China in 2004 and is often called “the lung of Lhasa”. It serves as a vital recreational area for urban residents. Concerns have arisen about the potential harm to human health due to heavy metals (HMs) in the wetland soil. This study assessed the ecological risk of HMs in Lalu wetland soil by using the potential ecological risk index and geo-accumulation index techniques. The findings showed that the Lalu wetland’s overall risk level is low risk. with Cd being the primary pollutant. Through the absolute principal component scores–multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR) model and Pearson correlation analysis, three sources of HMs were identified, including traffic sources, soil parent material sources, and geothermal sources, contributing 51.13%, 32.35%, and 16.52%, respectively. The results of the probabilistic health risk assessment based on Monte Carlo simulation indicate that non-carcinogenic risks are absent for both adults and children. However, acceptable carcinogenic risks are present. For adults, the main exposure mode is through dermal contact, while children are primarily exposed through ingestion. Children manifest a heightened vulnerability to these risks compared to adults, with As being the primary contributing element. The source-oriented health risk assessment (HRA) highlights geothermal sources as the primary contributors to health risks. The research results provide insights into the current status of HMs in Lalu wetland soil, offering a scientific basis for restricting and managing contamination by HMs in wetlands.

The preparation of high-value-added platform compounds from biomass materials provides an important method for solving fossil energy shortages. Known as the “sleeping giant”, 5-HMF is one of the most important biomass platform compounds with promising applications. At present, raw materials for the preparation of 5-HMF mainly comprise sugar compounds and non-food biomass. The current systems for preparing 5-HMF are disadvantaged by poor selectivity and a low conversion rate. This paper focuses on the catalytic mechanisms and catalytic systems for the synthesis of 5-HMF from different biomass feedstocks and reviews a series of existing techniques for the preparation of 5-HMF. Catalytic systems for the synthesis of 5-HMF from different feedstocks are also discussed in depth, providing theoretical support for its subsequent in-depth study. The development of efficient catalysts and catalytic systems for the conversion of polysaccharide raw materials into 5-HMF is anticipated.