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Deep seawater, characterized by low temperature, high purity, and a rich content of beneficial elements, has significant potential as a health resource. Developing a technology to selectively concentration of mineral ions from deep seawater is crucial for obtaining a functional deep seawater mineral solution. A hybrid ultrafiltration (UF)/Dia-nanofiltration (Dia-NF)/reverse osmosis (RO)/electrodialysis (ED) process was developed and tested for the highly selective separation of these elements. The novel five-step process includes: 1) UF to remove suspended particles and macromolecular organic matter; 2) NF to produce a retentate rich in multivalent ions;3)a Dia-NF step where reverse osmosis desalinated deep seawater is added to the NF retentate, serving as the feed solution and minimizing the concentration of monovalent ions; 4) a selective ED step with a monovalent selective anion exchange membrane to further concentrate beneficial ions (Ca2 +, Mg2+, etc.) and reduce the concentration of SO42- to prevent scaling with Ca2+ and Mg2+; and 5) a selective ED step with a monovalent selective cation exchange membrane to further lower the concentration of monovalent cations (Na+, etc.), producing a highly concentrated functional solution with 7-fold increase in beneficial divalent cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, etc.) compared to raw deep seawater.

The existing clinical diagnostic methods of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) usually have some of the following limitations, such as time-consuming, invasive, radioactive, insufficiently sensitive and accurate. This study demonstrates the possibility of using blood plasma autofluorescence spectroscopy and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) algorithm for the rapid and accurate diagnosis of latent and active pulmonary TB from healthy subjects. The fluorescence spectra of blood plasma from 18 healthy volunteers, 12 individuals with latent TB infections and 80 active TB patients are measured and analyzed. By optimizing the ANN structure and activation functions, the ANN three-classification model achieves average classification accuracy of 96.3 %, and the accuracy of healthy persons, latent TB infections and active TB patients are 100 %, 83.3 % and 97.5 %, respectively, which is much better than the results of traditional Principal component analysis (PCA) and Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) method. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first research work of differentiating latent, active pulmonary TB cases from healthy samples with autofluorescence spectroscopy. As a rapid, accurate, safe, label-free, non-invasive and cost-effective technique, it can be developed as a promising diagnostic tool for the screening of pulmonary TB disease in the early stage.

Abstract Infections by drug-resistant microorganisms are a threat to global health and antimicrobial peptides are considered to be a new hope for their treatment. Temporin-WY2 was identified from the cutaneous secretion of the Ranidae frog, Amolops wuyiensis. It presented with a potent anti-Gram-positive bacterial efficacy, but its activity against Gram-negative bacteria and cancer cell lines was unremarkable. Also, it produced a relatively high lytic effect on horse erythrocytes. For further improvement of its functions, a perfect amphipathic analogue, QUB-1426, and two lysine-clustered analogues, 6K-WY2 and 6K-1426, were synthesised and investigated. The modified peptides were found to be between 8- and 64-fold more potent against Gram-negative bacteria than the original peptide. Additionally, the 6K analogues showed a rapid killing rate. Also, their antiproliferation activities were more than 100-fold more potent than the parent peptide. All of the peptides that were examined demonstrated considerable biofilm inhibition activity. Moreover, QUB-1426, 6K-WY2 and 6K-1426, demonstrated in vivo antimicrobial activity against MRSA and E. coli in an insect larvae model. Despite observing a slight increase in the hemolytic activity and cytotoxicity of the modified peptides, they still demonstrated a improved therapeutic index. Overall, QUB-1426, 6K-WY2 and 6K-1426, with dual antimicrobial and anticancer functions, are proposed as putative drug candidates for the future.

Abstract In practical engineering, the development of surface cracks is one of the most important reasons for the destruction of the rock mass, and the development of complex morphology fractures on the rock mass surface significantly influences rock mass mechanics. This paper addresses the freeze–thaw damage issue in rock mass containing surface fractures in cold regions. Tuffs and a control group are selected as research samples, with the control group being prefabricated surface jointed specimens with an inclination angle of 70° and a fracture depth ratio d (crack depth) /t (sample width) of 0.26. The study analyzes the mass, wave velocity loss, macro-microcosmic fracture damage morphology, and mechanical properties of the two specimen groups through laboratory freeze–thaw cycle tests, uniaxial compression tests, and scanning electron microscopy examinations. The results show an overall decrease in mass, wave velocity, and uniaxial compressive strength as the cycle number increases, with the prefabricated jointed group samples showing more significant changes. However, the two specimen groups exhibit different macroscopic failure fracture states. In addition, scanning electron microscopy images illustrate that after freeze–thaw cycles, the large rock mass particles break into smaller fragments, resulting in looser particle arrangements and a transition from initial surface cementation to point contact., which weakens the compressive strength of the rock mass. The paper also explains the mechanism of the diminishing impact of freeze–thaw cycles on the strength of the rock mass after a certain number of cycles. The research outcomes hold significant reference value for engineering construction in cold regions.

Accurate bathymetric data is crucial for various aspects such as marine resource exploitation and marine ecological conservation. Currently, satellite-derived bathymetry (SDB) based on empirical and physical models has been widely utilized in constructing underwater terrain in shallow seas. However, the application of such SDB models is limited in remote island reef areas lacking in-situ measurement data. To overcome this issue, the manuscript proposes an unconstrained SDB optimization method without in-situ measurement data, utilizing satellite multispectral imagery (Geoeye-1) and spaceborne LiDAR data (ICESat-2). By classifying the seafloor substrate in coral reef areas into sandy and coral, based on the depth invariant index (DII), we employ an adaptive logarithmic ratio model for unconstrained SDB. The ICESat-2 LiDAR data are then used to correct the SDB results, achieving bathymetry optimization in the coral reef area of the Xisha Islands. Additionally, the proposed method is applied to Yuanzhi Island of the Xisha Islands, and the accuracy of the bathymetric results is evaluated against ALB (Airborne LiDAR Bathymetry) data. The findings demonstrate that compared to conventional methods, our method can improve the accuracy of SDB results with good adaptability. In the Yuanzhi Island area, the proposed method yields SDB results with an R2 of 0.93, an MAE (Mean Absolute Error) of 0.94, and an RMSE (Root Mean Square Error) of 1.12 m, compared to ALB data. The average error is less than 10 % of the maximum depth, essentially meeting the requirements of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) standards for depth measurement error when depth is

Recently, the Mg–Ag binary alloy has gained much attention as an antibacterial biomaterial. However, the relationships between the extrusion parameters, microstructure, and mechanical properties of Mg–Ag alloys haven't been clearly established. Therefore, in this paper, the effects of silver (Ag) content (0, 3, 6 wt%) and extrusion (as cast, extrusion ratio (ER) 7.1 and 72.2) on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg–Ag alloys are systematically investigated. The results indicate that for the Mg–Ag alloys with the same extrusion ratio, as the Ag increased from 0 to 3 wt%, Mg4Ag and Mg54Ag17 precipitated, leading to significant precipitation strengthening and an increase in the yield strength by over 137%. As the Ag increased to 6 wt%, the yield strength increased by only ∼20%, attributable to Ag promoting dynamic recrystallization, resulting in less grain refinement, a slower amount increase and a smaller size reduction of the precipitate. For the Mg–Ag alloys with the same Ag content, as the extrusion ratio increased to 7.1, the yield strength increased significantly by over 37%, since the grain boundary strengthening and precipitation strengthening were significantly enhanced as the grains were refined, a large number of precipitates appeared, and their sizes significantly reduced. When the extrusion ratio increased to 72.2, the yield strength increased by only ∼10%, due to the weakening of both grain boundary strengthening and precipitation strengthening as the recrystallization further improved, leading to an increase in grain sizes, the redissolution of precipitates, and a lesser reduction in their sizes.

This study uses the implementation of the watershed compensation policy as a quasi-natural experiment and selects a sample of 53 cities located within the four major watersheds from 2005 to 2022. By employing a staggered difference-in-differences model and a synthetic control difference-in-differences model, the study investigates how watershed compensation policies influence green technology innovation ecosystems and delves into the underlying mechanisms that are responsible for these impacts. The research reveals the following findings: (1) The introduction of the watershed compensation policy markedly boosts the development of green technology innovation ecosystems in the pilot cities, and this finding remains consistent following a series of robustness checks. (2) An analysis of the mechanisms indicates that the watershed compensation policy exerts its impact on the advancement of green technology innovation ecosystems through a reduction in carbon emission intensity and the enhancement of wastewater treatment efficiency. (3) The influence of the watershed compensation policy on green technology innovation ecosystems varies according to the level of public financial expenditure and labor productivity. This research offers a factual foundation for comprehending the effects of watershed compensation policies on the innovation of green technologies within China.

The Gulong shale demonstrates high clay content and pronounced thin laminations, with limited vertical variability in log curves, complicating lithofacies classification. To comprehend the distribution and compositional features of lithofacies in the Gulong shale for optimal sweet spot selection and reservoir stimulation, this study introduced a lithofacies classification scheme and a log-based lithofacies evaluation method. Specifically, the ΔlgR method was utilized for accurately determining the total organic carbon (TOC) content; a multi-mineral model based on element-to-mineral content conversion coefficients was developed to enhance mineral composition prediction accuracy, and the microresistivity curve variations derived from formation micro-image (FMI) log were used to compute lamination density, offering insights into sedimentary structures. Using this method, integrating TOC content, sedimentary structures, and mineral compositions, the Qingshankou Formation is classified into four lithofacies and 12 sublithofacies, displaying 90.6% accuracy compared to core description outcomes. The classification results reveal that the northern portion of the study area exhibits more prevalent fissile felsic shales, siltstone interlayers, shell limestones, and dolomites. Vertically, the upper section primarily exhibits organic-rich felsic shale and siltstone interlayers, the middle part is characterized by moderate organic quartz-feldspathic shale and siltstone/carbonate interlayers, and the lower section predominantly features organic-rich fissile felsic/clayey felsic shales. Analyzing various sublithofacies in relation to seven petrophysical parameters, oil test production, and fracturing operation conditions indicates that the organic-rich felsic shales in the upper section and the organic-rich/clayey felsic shales in the lower section possess superior physical properties and oil content, contributing to smoother fracturing operation and enhanced production, thus emerging as dominant sublithofacies. Conversely, thin interlayers such as siltstones and limestones, while producing oil, demonstrate higher brittleness and pose great fracturing operation challenges. The methodology and insights in this study will provide a valuable guide for sweet spot identification and horizontal well-based exploitation of the Gulong shale.

Epididymitis or epididymo-orchitis is a common urological condition in males characterized by scrotal pain, swelling, and potential urinary symptoms. Although antibiotics can eliminate the causative pathogens, persistent inflammation may compromise spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis. The testis, an immune-privileged organ, possesses a specialized immune microenvironment that shields germ cells (GCs) from autoimmune attacks and orchestrates immune defenses against pathogens. This review focuses on the complex interplay between immune cells, including macrophages, dendritic cells (DCs), mast cells (MCs), and T cell subsets, in the testis. The roles of these immune cells in infection-induced orchitis were deliberated upon, emphasizing their involvement in inflammation and immune tolerance. Furthermore, the implications of testicular fibrosis and its effect on male infertility are discussed, emphasizing the role of MCs in tissue remodeling. The objective of this review is to expand comprehension of male reproductive health and foster the identification of potential therapeutic targets for epididymo-orchitis.

This is an article in the field of earth sciences. Magmatic rocks of the Gondwana Belt are one of the most popular problems in basic geological research on the Xizang-Qinghai Plateau. In this paper, we analyze the physical origin and regional tectonic properties of the Gachatai granite using LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating method, combined with the geochemical characteristics of the rocks and various graphical methods. The rocks are characterized by high alkali (average Na2O+K2O content of 6.26%), potassium (K2O/Na2O=1.03), low TiO2 (average 0.50%) and quasi-aluminous (aluminum saturation index A/CNK=0.933～1.033, average 0.991) high potassium-calcium-alkaline rock system. Rare earth elements show negative anomalies at Eu, which is the Eu-deficient type, and Ce has weak negative anomalies; trace elements show enrichment of large ion-parental elements Rb, Th, Nd, La and K; high field strength elements Nb, Ba, U, Ta, Ce, Sm and Ti are deficient; reflecting the mixed crust-mantle type of magma origin and the presence of subduction oceanic crustal melting. The zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb isotopic age is （345.3±1.8） Ma, and its formation age is Early Carboniferous. The analysis of the regional geological data suggests that this magmatic event is a product of the formation of the northern part of the eastern Gondwana continent after the breakup of the Rodinia supercontinent. The project points go to I-type granite, the discriminant diagrams indicate it’s formed from continental island arc, going through time before plate collision to co-collisional orogenic movement, which indicates a long period time of magmatic evolution; the rock geochemical characteristics show the environment of magmatic evolution changed from the start of island arc(primary island arc)-development(early stage island arc)-maturement(full-grown island arc).

Rapid urbanization has affected ecosystem stability, and the construction of ecological security patterns (ESPs) can rationally allocate resources and achieve ecological protection. Priority evaluation of critical areas can maximize the benefits of ecological protection, which is crucial for sustainable urban development. However, most prior studies have focused on assessing individual elements of the ESP, rarely considering both the protection priority of ecological sources and corridors. We constructed ESPs for the Wuhan Metropolitan Area (WMA) from 2000 to 2020 and evaluated the priority of ecological sources and corridors for protection. The findings indicated that high-level ecological sources exhibited higher overall landscape connectivity and ecosystem service values with lower patch fragmentation. The average area proportions of primary, secondary, and tertiary ecological sources in 2000, 2010, and 2020 were 41.11%, 23.03%, and 29.86%, respectively. High-level ecological corridors had shorter lengths and offered higher comprehensive ecosystem service values. The total length of secondary corridors exceeded that of primary corridors by 1951.19 km, 650.39 km, and 2238.18 km in 2000, 2010, and 2020, respectively. Primary corridors, which connected fragmented and isolated sources, should have their ecological land percentage increased to enhance connectivity. Secondary corridors connected two independent and distant sources, providing the basis for ecological protection in the intervening area, whose surrounding habitats should be protected. This study identifies the ecological protection priority and offers a theoretical basis and practical reference for balancing urban development with ecological protection.

Abstract In recent years, digital transformation (DT) has become an inevitable choice for manufacturing enterprises to achieve sustainable development. As a large number of enterprise groups, small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises (SMMEs) play an important role in the industrial development of China. However, due to insufficient resource investment, high transformation costs, lack of talents, and unclear transformation pathways, how the government can help SMMEs carry out DT has become an important research topic. Based on this background, this study considers the strategies of government, third-party demonstration enterprises (TDEs) and SMMEs, develops and builds a three-party evolutionary game model, and puts forward a governance mechanism for effective DT strategies (TDEs guide DT and SMMEs conduct DT). This study has drawn many interesting conclusions. (1) If the government chooses not to regulate, when SMMEs are risk-neutral, the government only needs to increase the rewards for SMMEs to effectively promote DT. When SMMEs are risk-averse, the government needs to increase the penalties for SMMEs and increase the rewards for TDEs to effectively promote DT. (2) If the government chooses to regulate, when SMMEs are risk-neutral, the government needs to increase the penalties for both TDEs and SMMEs to effectively promote DT. When SMMEs are risk-averse, the government only needs to increase penalties on SMMEs or TDEs to effectively promote DT. (3) When SMMEs are risk-averse, the government’s best choice is regulation. Because when the government does not regulate, DT may fail even if the government increases the penalties for SMMEs and increases the incentives for TDEs.

In this work, the corrosion behavior of pure Mg, Mg3Ag, Mg6Ag, and MgZnYNd alloys in different fixatives (ethyl alcohol (EA), 85 % ethyl alcohol (85 % EA), 10 % neutral buffered formalin (10 % NBF), 4 % glutaric dialdehyde (4 % GD), and 4 % paraformaldehyde (4 % PFA)) was investigated to provide a valuable reference for the selection of fixatives during the histological evaluation of Mg implants. Through the hydrogen evolution test, pH test, and corrosion morphology and product characterization, it was found that corrosion proceeded slowest in the EA and 85 % EA groups, slightly faster in 4 % GD, faster in 10 % NBF, and fastest in 4 % PFA. After corrosion, the EA group surface remained unchanged, while the 85%EA group surface developed minor cracks and warping. The 4%GD fixative formed a dense needle-like protective layer on the Mg substrate. The 10%NBF group initially grew a uniform layer, but later developed irregular pits due to accelerated corrosion. In contrast, the 4%PFA solution caused more severe corrosion attributed to chloride ions. The main corrosion products in the EA and 85%EA groups were MgO and Mg(OH)2, while the other fixatives containing diverse ions also yielded phosphates like Mg3(PO4)2 and MgHPO4. In 4 % PFA, AgCl formed on the surface of Mg6Ag alloy after corrosion. Therefore, to minimize Mg alloy corrosion without compromising staining quality, EA or 85 % EA is recommended, while 4 % PFA is not recommended due to its significant impact.

Objective This study aimed to introduce a novel laparoscopic haemostasis for myomectomy and investigate the independent risk factors for uterine fibroid recurrence.Design A retrospective cohort study.Setting Following strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology (STROBE) criteria, a retrospective study of prospectively collected available data of the consecutive patients who underwent the myomectomy in the department of obstetrics and gynaecology of the single centre between February 2018 and December 2020.Participants 177 patients who underwent laparoscopic myomectomy resection were enrolled in the present cohort study.Materials and methods Patients were classified into two groups according to their different methods of haemostasis in laparoscopic surgery. Recurrence-free survival was compared between the groups during an average follow-up of nearly 2 years.Results Of the 177 patients from 672 consecutive patients in the retrospective cohort, laparoscopic circular suture and baseball suture were carried out in 102 (57.6%) and 75 (42.4%) patients, respectively. The total amount of blood lost during surgery varied significantly (37.6 vs 99.5 mL) (p

The current sales model combining online and offline channels meets the diverse requirements of consumers. However, consumers’ inter-channel switching behavior and strategic behavior also pose significant challenges to pricing decisions in the hybrid channel. Using game theory and consumer utility theory, a retailer-driven pricing model is developed to study the optimal pricing problem for each channel in a mixed-channel supply chain considering the characteristics of channel competition and the waiting behavior of strategic consumers. Study results show there is a negative correlation between the proportion of strategic consumers and the optimal pricing and profit of each channel, and as the proportion of strategic consumers rises, the optimal pricing and profit of manufacturers and retailers all trend downward. Incorporating strategic consumers into the pricing model will assist the supply chain in elucidating the behavior of consumer heterogeneity during various decision-making periods and in making reasonable pricing decisions. Effective guiding strategies, such as pre-discount and purchase restrictions, can reduce the profit loss caused by strategic consumer behavior. The optimal combination of pre-announcement discount and strategic consumer ratio can generate the greatest profit for retailers and the supply chain.

The construction of ecological security pattern (ESP) is an effective way to ensure regional ecological security. Although the method of constructing the regional ESP based on ecosystem services (ESs) has been widely recognized and applied, the spatial characteristics of ESs supply–demand mismatch has not been well included into ESP construction. We constructed a regional ESP framework connecting demand sources and ecological sources from the perspective of ESs supply–demand mismatch. Taking the Wuhan urban agglomeration (WUA), findings indicated distinct spatial aggregations of ecological sources and demand sources due to the supply–demand mismatch of ESs. Ecological sources (12,406.29 km2 or 21.42%) were primarily located in the south and north of WUA, while demand sources (1,191.26 km2 or 2.07%) were concentrated mainly in the central. Two types of corridors jointly ensured regional ecological security. A total of 86 supply–supply corridors in the north ensured the supply ability of ESs by connecting ecological sources, while 35 supply–demand corridors in the south alleviated the supply–demand mismatch of ESs. The targeted implementation of ecological governance based on the corridor types provides a new approach to coordinate the mismatch of ESs supply–demand and enhance ecological security. However, 63.38 km2 of pinch points, recognized as high-flow areas within the corridors, primarily comprised fragmented landscapes, and barriers covering 99.67 km2 obstructed corridor flow, notably surrounding the demand sources. These regions should be prioritized for ecological conservation. Overall, this research framework provides a reliable scientific basis for configuring spatial landscape patterns and developing ecological strategies in urban agglomerations.

Recently, quantum biology and molecular quantum computation have attracted substantial attention. Quantum biology applies quantum mechanics to biological systems at the molecular scale. Molecular quantum computing explores the degrees of freedom of molecules that can be used to produce quantum coherence, such as charge, orbital, opto-spin (interplay between optical excitation and spin), vibration, and rotation, to process quantum information. Cognitive science focuses on understanding how learning processes are realized, particularly within the human brain. The most common topic among these three is the computational process, which can exploit different levels of representation, either classical or quantum. Here, we review progress in quantum biology, molecular quantum computing, and quantum theory in cognitive science. Based on our critical analysis and review, we highlight that molecular quantum computing could be an important bridging research area between quantum biology and a deeper understanding of neuronal cells in cognitive science. Thus, these three areas can be the core to understanding how the classical world emerges from the quantum world and human intelligence. To answer these questions, we may gain insight by studying the quantum processes that underlie biological systems, such as photosynthesis and enzyme catalysis. An unprecedented opportunity for molecular quantum computing is to perform functionalities similar to those of the human brain. In this manner, we could not only expand the boundaries for quantum computing but also gain a better understanding of cognitive processes.

ALK rearrangement is called the ‘diamond mutation’ in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Accurately identifying patients who are candidates for ALK inhibitors is a key step in making clinical treatment decisions. In this study, a total of 783 ALK rearrangement‐positive NSCLC cases were identified by DNA‐based next‐generation sequencing (NGS), including 731 patients with EML4‐ALK and 52 patients with other ALK rearrangements. Diverse genomic breakpoints of ALK rearrangements were identified. Approximately 94.4% (739/783) of the cases carried ALK rearrangements with genomic breakpoints in the introns of ALK and its partner genes, and 2.8% (21/739) of these cases resulted in frameshift transcripts of ALK. Meanwhile, 5.6% (44/783) of the ALK rearrangement‐positive cases had breakpoints in the exons that would be expected to result in abnormal transcripts. RNA‐based NGS was performed to analyse the aberrant fusions at the transcript level. Some of these rearranged DNAs were not transcribed, and the others were fixed by some mechanisms so that the fusion kinase proteins could be expressed. Altogether, these findings emphasize that, when using DNA‐based NGS, functional RNA fusions should be confirmed in cases with uncommon/frameshift rearrangement by RNA‐based assays.

Abstract Background Plant-derived exosomes-like nanovesicles (PDENs) have been found to be advantageous in disease treatment and drug delivery, but research on their biogenesis, compositional analysis, and key marker proteins is still in its infancy, which limits the standardized production of PDENs. Efficient preparation of PDENs continues to be a major challenge. Results Novel PDENs-based chemotherapeutic immune modulators, Catharanthus roseus (L.) Don leaves-derived exosome-like nanovesicles (CLDENs) were isolated from apoplastic fluid. CLDENs were membrane structured vesicles with a particle size of 75.51 ± 10.19 nm and a surface charge of −21.8 mV. CLDENs exhibited excellent stability, tolerating multiple enzymatic digestions, resisting extreme pH environments, and remaining stable in the gastrointestinal simulating fluid. Biodistribution experiments showed that CLDENs could be internalized by immune cells, and targeted at immune organs after intraperitoneal injection. The lipidomic analysis revealed CLDENs’ special lipid composition, which contained 36.5% ether-phospholipids. Differential proteomics supported the origin of CLDENs in multivesicular bodies, and six marker proteins of CLDENs were identified for the first time. 60 ~ 240 μg/ml of CLDENs promoted the polarization and phagocytosis of macrophages as well as lymphocyte proliferation in vitro. Administration of 20 mg/kg and 60 mg/kg of CLDENs alleviated white blood cell reduction and bone marrow cell cycle arrest in immunosuppressive mice induced by cyclophosphamide. CLDENs strongly stimulated the secretion of TNF-α, activated NF-κB signal pathway and increased the expression of the hematopoietic function-related transcription factor PU.1 both in vitro and in vivo. To ensure a steady supply of CLDENs, plant cell culture systems of C. roseus were established to provide CLDENs-like nanovesicles which had similar physical properties and biological activities. Gram-level nanovesicles were successfully obtained from the culture medium, and the yield was three times as high as the original. Conclusions Our research supports the use of CLDENs as a nano-biomaterial with excellent stability and biocompatibility, and for post-chemotherapy immune adjuvant therapy applications. Graphical Abstract

To achieve lightweight B4C-based composite ceramics with high electrical conductivities and hardness, B4C–TiB2 ceramics were fabricated by reactive spark plasma sintering (SPS) using B4C, TiC, and amorphous B as raw materials. During the sintering process, fine B4C–TiB2 composite particles are firstly in situ synthesized by the reaction between TiC and B. Then, large raw B4C particles tend to grow at the cost of small B4C particles. Finally, small TiB2 grains surround large B4C grains to create a three-dimensional interconnected intergranular TiB2 network, which is beneficial for an electro-conductive network and greatly improves the conductivity of the ceramics. The effect of the B4C particle size on the mechanical and electrical properties of the ceramics was investigated. When the particle size of initial B4C powders is 10.29 µm, the obtained B4C–15 vol% TiB2 composite ceramics exhibit an electrical conductivity as high as 2.79×104 S/m and a density as low as 2.782 g/cm3, together with excellent mechanical properties including flexural strength, Vickers hardness (HV), and fracture toughness (KIC) of 676 MPa, 28.89 GPa, and 5.28 MPa·m1/2, respectively.

Soil conservation services play a vital role in regulating ecosystem services to prevent soil erosion and ensure regional ecological security. Therefore, effective evaluation and quantification of soil conservation services in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGRA) are conducive to sustainable management under future global change. In this study, based on a basic database, including land use/cover data, soil data, topographic data, meteorological data, and NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) data as the basic databases, to evaluate the temporal and spatial changes of soil conservation services in the TGRA from 1990 to 2015 at a regional-scale level using the general soil loss equation. The results showed that forest ecosystems (including coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forests, coniferous forests, shrub forests, and broad-leaved forests) made a greater contribution (69%) to regulating soil conservation in TGRA, followed by farmland ecosystems (29%). In total TGRA, large spatial variation in soil conservation, such as the highest appeared in the northern hinterland, whereas the lowest was mostly shown in the northwest with relatively frequent human activities and developed industry and agriculture. In general, soil conservation in the TGRA ecosystem gradually increased from 1990 to 2015, with a total increase of 6%. In this period, with the effective implementation of ecological projects, such as the conversion of farmland to forest and natural forest protection, the distributed proportion of forest land area in total TGRA showed a significant increase. In the meantime, the increase of vegetation coverage also helps the restoration of ecosystem structure and function and the improvement of soil conservation services. Our findings will aid our knowledge regarding the ecosystem services of the TGRA and provide implications for future sustainable land management and ecological protection.

6-BA, a small molecule compound of cytokinins, has been proven to delay leaf senescence in different species, including Chinese flowering cabbage; however, its specific mechanism remains relatively unknown. In this study, the application of external 6-BA delayed leaf senescence in Chinese flowering cabbage, showing that 6-BA effectively prevented the decrease in the maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm) and overall chlorophyll content and suppressed the expression of the senescence-associated gene BrSAG12 over a 7-day period of storage. Moreover, treatment with 6-BA decreased the respiratory rate, NAD(H) content, the activities of hexose phosphate isomerase (PHI), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), cytochrome c oxidase (CCO), and ascorbic acid oxidase (AAO) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the transcriptional abundance of related genes by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, 6-BA also increased the activity and expression levels of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and 6-phosphate gluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGDH). The group treated with 6-BA retained elevated levels of NADP (H), ATP, total ATPase, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide kinase (NADK) activity, as well as the expression of respiratory enzymes. Molecular docking indicated that 6-BA hinders the glycolysis pathway (EMP), tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA), and cytochrome pathway (CCP), and sustains elevated levels of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) through interactions with the PHI, SDH, 6-PGDH, G6PDH, CCO, and AAO proteins, consequently delaying postharvest leaf senescence in Chinese flowering cabbage.

In order to accomplish the calibration and validation (Cal/Val) of altimeters, the Wanshan calibration site (WSCS) has been used as a calibration site for satellite altimeters since its completion in August 2019. In this paper, we introduced the WSCS and the dedicated equipment including permanent GNSS reference stations (PGSs), acoustic tide gauges (ATGs), and dedicated GNSS buoys (DGB), etc. placed on Zhi’wan, Wai’ling’ding, Dan’gan, and Miao’Wan islands of the WSCS. The PGSs data of Zhi’wan and Wai’ling’ding islands were processed and analyzed using the GAMIT/GLOBK (Version 10.7) and Hector (Version 1.9) software to define the datum for Cal/Val of altimeters in WSCS. The DGB was used to transfer the datum from the PGSs to the ATGs of Zhi’wan, Wai’ling’ding, and Dan’gan islands. Separately, the tidal and mean sea surface (MSS) corrections are needed in the Cal/Val of altimeters. We evaluated the global/regional tide models of FES2014, HAMTIDE12, DTU16, NAO99jb, GOT4.10, and EOT20 using the three in situ tide gauge data of WSCS and Hong Kong tide gauge data (No. B329) derived from the Global Sea Level Observing System. The HAMTIDE12 tide model was chosen to be the most accurate one to maintain the tidal difference between the locations of the ATGs and the altimeter footprints. To establish the sea surface connections between the ATGs and the altimeter footprints, a GPS towing body and a highly accurate ship-based SSH measurement system (HASMS) were used to measure the sea surface of this area in 2018 and 2022, respectively. The global/regional mean sea surface (MSS) models of DTU 2021, EGM 2008 (mean dynamic topography minus by CLS_MDT_2018), and CLS2015 were accurately evaluated using the in situ measured data and HY-2A altimeter, and the CLS2015 MSS model was used for Cal/Val of altimeters in WSCS. The data collected by the equipment of WSCS, related auxiliary models mentioned above, and the sea level data of the hydrological station placed on Dan’gan island were used to accomplish the Cal/Val of HY-2B, HY-2C, Jason-3, and Sentinel-3A (S3A) altimeters. The bias of HY-2B (Pass No. 375) was −16.7 ± 45.2 mm, with a drift of 0.5 mm/year. The HY-2C biases were −18.9 ± 48.0 mm with drifts of 0.0 mm/year and −5.6 ± 49.3 mm with −0.3 mm/year drifts for Pass No. 170 and 185, respectively. The Jason-3 bias was −4.1 ± 78.7 mm for Pass No. 153 and −25.8 ± 85.5 mm for Pass No. 012 after it has changed its orbits since April 2022, respectively. The biases of S3A were determined to be −16.5 ± 46.3 mm with a drift of −0.6 mm/year and −9.8 ± 30.1 mm with a drift of 0.5 mm/year for Pass No. 260 and 309, respectively. The calibration results show that the WSCS can commercialize the satellite altimeter calibration. We also discussed the calibration potential for a wide swath satellite altimeter of WSCS.

Abstract Background Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has been proven to be a promising tumor-specific biomarker in solid tumors, but its clinical utility in risk stratification and early prediction of relapse for diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) has not been well explored. Methods Here, using a lymphoma-specific sequencing panel, we assessed the prognostic and predictive utilities of ctDNA measurements before, during, and after first-line therapy in 73 Chinese DLBCL patients. Results The pretreatment ctDNA level serving as an independent prognostic factor for both progression-free survival (PFS, adjusted HR 2.47; p = 0.004) and overall survival (OS, adjusted HR 2.49; p = 0.011) was confirmed in our cohort. Furthermore, the patients classified as molecular responders who presented a larger decrease in ctDNA levels after the initial two treatment cycles had more favorable PFS (unreached vs. 6.25 months; HR 5.348; p = 0.0015) and OS (unreached vs. 25.87; HR 4.0; p = 0.028) than non-responders. In addition, interim ctDNA clearance may be an alternative noninvasive method of positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET-CT) for predicting better PFS (HR 3.65; p = 0.0033) and OS (HR 3.536; p = 0.016). We also demonstrated that posttreatment ctDNA was a sensitive indicator for detecting minimal residual disease (MRD) in patients with a high risk of recurrence (HR 6.471; p = 0.014), who were otherwise claimed to achieve radiographic CR (complete remission). Conclusions CtDNA is a promising noninvasive tool for prognosis prediction, response assessment, and early relapse prediction of first-line treatment in DLBCL patients.

A novel acidic homogeneous polysaccharide (AIPW50-1) with a molecular weight of 214.5 kDa was isolated by hot water extraction and several column chromatographic purification methods from Arca inflata Reeve. The repeating structural units of AIPW50-1 were elucidated by the combined chemical and instrumental analyses. AIPW50-1 is composed of glucose, glucuronic acid and galactose with molar ratio of 18.06: 1.00: 1.56. The backbone of AIPW50-1 consisted of →4)-α-D-GlcpA-(1→, →4)-α-D-Glcp-(1→ and →4,6)-α-D-Glcp-(1→ with two branches of α-D-Glcp-(1→ and →6)-β-D-Galp-(1→ terminated with α-D-Glcp-(1→, respectively. The antioxidant assay demonstrated that AIPW50-1 possessed strong ABTS free radical scavenging activity and prominently stimulated the secretion of a cytotoxic molecule (NO), cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) by murine RAW 264.7 macrophages. The in vivo antioxidative effect of AIPW50-1 was further evaluated using Caenorhabdiyis elegans oxidative stress model. AIPW50-1 could prolong the lifespan, improve locomotory behavior and reproductive ability, and significantly enhance intracellular activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) of C. elegans by 19.80 %, 17.05 % and 17.22 % at 4 mg/mL. These results suggested that AIPW50-1 has the potential to be used as a functional additive with antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects.

ABSTRACT Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a clinical threat with high morbidity and mortality. Here, we describe a new simple, rapid identification method for MRSA using oxacillin sodium salt, a cell wall synthesis inhibitor, combined with Gram staining and machine vision (MV) analysis. Gram staining classifies bacteria as positive (purple) or negative (pink) according to the cell wall structure and chemical composition. In the presence of oxacillin, the integrity of the cell wall for methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) was destroyed immediately and appeared Gram negative. In contrast, MRSA was relatively stable and appeared Gram positive. This color change can be detected by MV. The feasibility of this method was demonstrated in 150 images of the staining results for 50 clinical S. aureus strains. Based on effective feature extraction and machine learning, the accuracies of the linear linear discriminant analysis (LDA) model and nonlinear artificial neural network (ANN) model for MRSA identification were 96.7% and 97.3%, respectively. Combined with MV analysis, this simple strategy improved the detection efficiency and significantly shortened the time needed to detect antibiotic resistance. The whole process can be completed within 1 h. Unlike the traditional antibiotic susceptibility test, overnight incubation is avoided. This new strategy could be used for other bacteria and represents a new rapid method for detection of clinical antibiotic resistance. IMPORTANCE Oxacillin sodium salt destroys the integrity of the cell wall of MSSA immediately, appearing Gram negative, whereas MRSA is relatively stable and still appears Gram positive. This color change can be detected by microscopic examination and MV analysis. This new strategy has significantly reduced the time to detect resistance. The results show that using oxacillin sodium salt combined with Gram staining and MV analysis is a new, simple and rapid method for identification of MRSA.

In this study, a novel heteropolysaccharide (ASPA80-1) with an average molecular weight of 5.48 × 104 Da was isolated and structurally elucidated from custard apple pulp (Annona squamosa) through DEAE-cellulose, Sephadex G-100 and Sephacryl S-300 HR chromatography and spectral analysis. ASPA80-1 is a water-soluble polysaccharide and it is a polymer consisting of predominant amounts of (1 → 3)-linked-L-arabinose (Ara) residues, small amounts of (1 → 6)-linked-D-galactose (Gal), (1 → 3,5)-linked-L-arabinose (Ara) residues and terminal linked-L-arabinose (Ara) residues, trace amount of (1 → 4)-linked-D-glucose (Glc) residues and (1 → 2)-linked-L-rhamnose (Rham) residues. ASPA80-1 showed significant effect on antigen-presenting cells (APCs) activation. On the one hand, ASPA80-1 activated RAW264.7 macrophage cells by inducing morphology change, enhancing phagocytic ability, increasing nitric oxide (NO) secretion and promoting expression of major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC II) and cluster of differentiation 86 (CD 86). On the other hand, ASPA80-1 promoted the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) by inducing longer dendrites, decreasing phagocytic ability and increasing MHC II and CD86 expression. Furthermore, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathways were activated after the intervention of ASPA80-1 on RAW264.7 cells or DCs. Thus, the novel heteropolysaccharide ASPA80-1 has the potential to be used as an immunoenhancing component in functional foods.

Summary: The Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) signals obtained from bacterial samples are specific and reproducible, making FT-IR an efficient tool for bacterial typing at a subspecies level. However, the typing accuracy could be affected by many factors, including sample preparation and spectral acquisition. Here, we present a unified protocol for bacterial typing based on FT-IR spectroscopy. We describe sample preparation from bacterial culture and FT-IR spectrum collection. We then detail FT-IR spectrum preprocessing and multivariate analysis of spectral data for bacterial typing. : Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.

Anoikis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) are significant phenomena occurring in distant metastasis of colon adenocarcinoma (COAD). A comprehensive understanding of their crosstalk and the identification of key genes are vital for treating the distant metastasis of COAD. The objective of this study was to design and validate accurate prognostic predictors for COAD patients based on the anoikis and EMT processes. We obtained gene signatures from various databases and performed univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, principal component analysis (PCA). The COAD patients were categorized into the worst prognosis group, the Anoikis Potential Index (API) Low + EMT Potential Index (EPI) High group and the others group. Then we utilized gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) to identify differentially expressed genes and to establish a prognostic risk model. The model classified patients into high- or low-risk groups, with patients in the high-risk group displaying worse survival status. A nomogram was established to predict overall survival rates, demonstrating high specificity and sensitivity. Additionally, we connected the risk model to the tumor microenvironment (TME) using single-sample GSEA and the MCP counter tool, as well as evaluated the sensitivity to common chemotherapeutic drugs, such as Gefitinib and Gemcitabine. Lastly, cell and tissue experiments suggested a positive correlation among anoikis resistance, EMT, and liver/lung metastasis of COAD. This is the first study to comprehensively analyze the crosstalk between anoikis and EMT and offers new therapeutic targets for COAD metastasis patients.

In order to solve the problem of large delay and uncertain impact on the system when traditional automatic voltage control is used in photovoltaic power station system control, a small signal analysis model of photovoltaic grid connected system including automatic voltage control is established. Firstly, considering that the actual automatic voltage control system contains dead time and delay link, the continuous dead time model of photovoltaic system is defined; Then, considering the nonlinear part of automatic voltage control, the small disturbance model of photovoltaic grid connected system with dead time and delay part is derived. The small disturbance model of photovoltaic system is formed by using the linearization principle, which is used to describe the expressions of damping torque and synchronous torque of photovoltaic system; Then, the expressions of PV active power increment, power angle increment and speed increment are obtained by small signal model; Finally, the validity of the model is verified by the comparison of theoretical calculation and simulation results. The results show that the proposed model can describe the damping component and synchronous component effect of photovoltaic system under disturbance, and provide a reference for the study of photovoltaic stability.

Background: Vitamin D has anti-inflammatory efficacy against ulcerative colitis (UC), however, the mechanism is yet little understood. Objective: To investigate the immunomodulatory effects of vitamin D against the UC, and to explore the potential downstream mechanisms. Materials and methods: Serum vitamin D, Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and Interleukin (IL)-17 levels of the patients with UC were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) levels were determined by using quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from healthy control subjects, stimulated with CD4+ T lymphocytes or helper T cells 17(Th17) differentiation conditions, and then exposed to calcitriol (vitamin D active form) or certain lentiviral treatment, followed by subsequent molecular level testing. For in vivo assay, mice were given 3% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) to induce colitis. Results: Compared with the control group, vitamin D levels in the UCs were statistically lower, and there was a negative correlation between IL-17 and vitamin D in the UCs. The lncRNA OIP5-AS1 could decrease under calcitriol treatment in both CD4+ T cells and Th17 differentiation. The lncRNA OIP5-AS1 was a microRNA (miR)-26a-5p sponge and therefore modulated the Th17 cells and IL-6 expression. The lncRNA OIP5-AS1/miR-26a-5p/IL-6 axis mediated the regulation of calcitriol-induced Th17 differentiation. Calcitriol had therapeutic effects on the UC mouse models by regulating the lncRNA OIP5-AS1 related pathway. Conclusion: Vitamin D might have anti-inflammatory potential in the treatment of the UC.

Preharvest threshing is a harvesting method that focuses on collecting rice grains while leaving the rice straw unharvested. Investigating the interaction mechanism between the machine and rice during the operation process and its correlation with harvest losses is crucial for enhancing harvest quality. In this study, structural design and operational mechanism analysis of the combs was conducted through theoretical analysis. By extracting the relevant parameters of rice plants, a model of entire-plant rice during the harvesting period was established based on the discrete element method (DEM). Numerical simulation studies were conducted to clarify the interaction mechanism between the machinery and rice at different operating stages and under various operating parameters, as well as the impact of this interaction on operational quality. The simulation results revealed that various operating parameters had a significant impact on the sliding-cut effect between the combs and rice. A higher cylinder rotation speed enhanced the effect, whereas increased forward velocity hampered it. Additionally, the effect initially improved and then decreased with a higher threshing height. In the bench test, high-speed cameras were used to verify and further analyze the comb–rice interaction mechanism and explore the optimal working parameter combination. The results showed that at a rotation speed of 616 r/min, a forward velocity of 0.91 m/s, and a threshing height of 792 mm, the grain loss rate was 1.997%, and the impurity rate was 4.073%. The harvesting losses were effectively reduced, validating the effectiveness of the study on the interaction between the machinery and rice.