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Abstract With the rapid development of graphene industry, low-cost sustainable synthesis of monolayer graphene oxide (GO) has become more and more important for many applications such as water desalination, thermal management, energy storage and functional composites. Compared to the conventional chemical oxidation methods, water electrolytic oxidation of graphite-intercalation-compound (GIC) shows significant advantages in environmental-friendliness, safety and efficiency, but suffers from non-uniform oxidation, typically ~50 wt.% yield with ~50% monolayers. Here, we show that water-induced deintercalation of GIC is responsible for the non-uniform oxidation of the water electrolytic oxidation method. Using in-situ experiments, the control principles of water diffusion governing electrochemical oxidation and deintercalation of GIC are revealed. Based on these principles, a liquid membrane electrolysis method was developed to precisely control the water diffusion to achieve a dynamic equilibrium between oxidation and deintercalation, enabling industrial sustainable synthesis of uniform monolayer GO with a high yield (~180 wt.%) and a very low cost (~1/7 of Hummers’ methods). Moreover, this method allows precise control on the structure of GO and the synthesis of GO by using pure water. This work provides new insights into the role of water in electrochemical reaction of graphite and paves the way for the industrial applications of GO.

Melothria scabra has gradually become an economically important plant worldwide. The complete chloroplast genome of M. scabra has a length of 156,744 bp, contains a large single-copy (LSC) region (86,387 bp), a small single-copy (SSC) region (18,055 bp), and two inverted repeats (IRs) with the same length of 26,151 bp. In total, 126 genes were detected, including 83 protein-encoding genes, 35 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and eight ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. For phylogenetic analysis, M. scabra has a closer genetic relationship with Cucumis sativus and Citrullus lanatus. The complete chloroplast genome sequence of M. scabra would promote the germplasm exploration, phylogenetic relationships, and molecular biology researches in Melothria.

Abstract This study examines the complex interactions between official development assistance (ODA) and the ecological environment of recipient countries, mainly focusing on agricultural economic development and renewable energy. Using dynamic threshold models and robust statistical methods, the analysis uncovers the nuanced effects of ODA across various dimensions. Findings suggest that ODA has different impacts on the ecology of African countries depending on their agricultural dependence and renewable energy development levels. The study highlights the importance of targeted aid and advocates for the integration of ODA with environmentally sustainable development goals. Furthermore, the research underscores the potential for environmental improvement in countries with significant agricultural reliance. It emphasizes the critical role of renewable energy in mitigating ecological pressures and adapting to climate change. This study contributes to the assessment of sustainable development performance after the expiration of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in 2030.

Background & Aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is characterized by a high mortality rate. The Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) results in a considerable number of indeterminate observations, rendering an accurate diagnosis difficult. Methods: We developed four deep learning models for diagnosing HCC on computed tomography (CT) via a training–validation–testing approach. Thin-slice triphasic CT liver images and relevant clinical information were collected and processed for deep learning. HCC was diagnosed and verified via a 12-month clinical composite reference standard. CT observations among at-risk patients were annotated using LI-RADS. Diagnostic performance was assessed by internal validation and independent external testing. We conducted sensitivity analyses of different subgroups, deep learning explainability evaluation, and misclassification analysis. Results: From 2,832 patients and 4,305 CT observations, the best-performing model was Spatio-Temporal 3D Convolution Network (ST3DCN), achieving area under receiver-operating-characteristic curves (AUCs) of 0.919 (95% CI, 0.903–0.935) and 0.901 (95% CI, 0.879–0.924) at the observation (n = 1,077) and patient (n = 685) levels, respectively during internal validation, compared with 0.839 (95% CI, 0.814–0.864) and 0.822 (95% CI, 0.790–0.853), respectively for standard of care radiological interpretation. The negative predictive values of ST3DCN were 0.966 (95% CI, 0.954–0.979) and 0.951 (95% CI, 0.931–0.971), respectively. The observation-level AUCs among at-risk patients, 2–5-cm observations, and singular portovenous phase analysis of ST3DCN were 0.899 (95% CI, 0.874–0.924), 0.872 (95% CI, 0.838–0.909) and 0.912 (95% CI, 0.895–0.929), respectively. In external testing (551/717 patients/observations), the AUC of ST3DCN was 0.901 (95% CI, 0.877–0.924), which was non-inferior to radiological interpretation (AUC 0.900; 95% CI, 0.877–-923). Conclusions: ST3DCN achieved strong, robust performance for accurate HCC diagnosis on CT. Thus, deep learning can expedite and improve the process of diagnosing HCC. Impact and implications:: The clinical applicability of deep learning in HCC diagnosis is potentially huge, especially considering the expected increase in the incidence and mortality of HCC worldwide. Early diagnosis through deep learning can lead to earlier definitive management, particularly for at-risk patients. The model can be broadly deployed for patients undergoing a triphasic contrast CT scan of the liver to reduce the currently high mortality rate of HCC.

Vaccine literacy (VL) is an important part of health literacy (HL), which is of great significance in reducing vaccine hesitancy and improving vaccine coverage rate. We aimed to perform a bibliometric analysis of VL research conducted from 1982 to 2023 to evaluate its current status and prospects. All relevant publications were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database and the Scopus database. The Bibliometrix R-package and VOSviewer software were used to analyze the publication outputs, countries, organizations, authors, journals, cited publications, and keywords. In total, 1,612 publications were included. The number of articles published on VL generally showed an increasing trend. The United States was in a leading position among all countries and had the closest connections with other countries and organizations. Its in-depth study of vaccine hesitancy provided a good foundation for VL research. Harvard University was the most productive organization. Bonaccorsi G was the most productive and cited author. VACCINES was the most productive journal. Research topics primarily revolved around vaccination, HL, vaccine hesitancy, and COVID-19 vaccine. In conclusion, the current research on the conceptual connotation and influencing factors of VL is insufficiently deep and should be further improved in the future to distinguish it from HL in a deeper manner. More tools for measuring VL need to be developed, such as those applicable to different populations and vaccines. The more complex relationship between VL, vaccine hesitancy and vaccination needs to be further explored. Gender differences deserve further investigation.

The vestibular system is essential for balance and spatial orientation, and its dysfunction can lead to cognitive deficits. This study investigates the effects of unilateral vestibular dysfunction (UVL) on cognitive function and the underlying neurobiological changes in mice. We established a unilateral labyrinthectomy (UL) model in mice and assessed cognitive function at 28 days post-surgery using a comprehensive battery of behavioral tests. We found significant impairments in spatial reference memory, working memory, and synaptic plasticity in UL mice, which persisted despite compensation for vestibular and postural motor deficits. Immunofluorescence staining revealed enhanced activation of c-Fos in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) at various time points post-UL, suggesting a role of the hippocampus in cognitive deficits following UVL. RNA sequencing of the DG identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and altered pathways related to cognitive function, synaptic plasticity, and neuronal activation. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) validated the expression changes of selected genes. Our findings indicate that UVL leads to persistent cognitive impairments in mice, associated with altered neuronal activation and gene expression in the hippocampus. This study offers valuable insights into the neurobiological mechanisms underlying cognitive deficits associated with UVL. Moreover, it underscores the importance of early cognitive screening in patients with vestibular diseases, as this approach is instrumental in comprehensive condition assessment, precise diagnosis, targeted treatment, and effective rehabilitation.

Abstract Having an accurate understanding of the scale effect of surface morphology characteristics is crucial to examining the mechanical behavior of rock structural plane. At present, the quantification and sampling methods of surface morphology show diversity, which is the potential reason for the inconsistent research conclusions on scale effect. Firstly, based on mathematical statistics and correlation analysis, the most representative parameter is proposed from hundreds of morphological parameters. Then, the previous scale effect sampling methods are analyzed. In order to ensure that the selected samples are representative, a novel sampling method, considering all morphological information, is proposed. By means of the novel quantification and sampling methods, the size effect characteristics are systematically analyzed. Under the conditions of different rock types, shear directions and sampling locations, etc., discontinuity roughness does not change significantly with sampling scale. As sampling scale increases, the distribution range of representative samples is gradually concentrated, the total amount decreases, and the proportion increases. However, the distribution of representative samples on the initial structural plane does not show obvious regularity. These findings would provide theoretical support for the deformation control and stability analysis of rock mass in engineering.

Rockburst disaster has become a major safety hazard for deep cavern construction worldwide. Using the new true triaxial rockburst test system, an indoor physical simulation test of “single face lateral unloading-three direction and five faces stress-vertical continuous loading” under different intermediate principal stresses was conducted. The ejection failure process, failure mode, acoustic emission characteristics, fragment characteristics and ejection kinetic energy of rock samples under different intermediate principal stresses were compared and analyzed. Based on the three-dimensional discrete element theory and the polycrystalline modeling technique (randomly generated Voronoi mineral grains), the entire process of rockburst inoculation-occurrence-development-failure as well as the energy evolution characteristics under true triaxial single face unloading conditions were studied. The results indicate that the ejection failure process of rockburst under different intermediate principal stresses can be summarized as four stages: grains ejection, rock spalling into plates, rock shearing into fragments, and rock fragments ejection. Among them, the rock spalling into plates is an inevitable failure phenomenon in the process of rockburst. The failure modes of free face of rock samples have similar multi-zone failure characteristics. That is, the splitting cracks dominated by tensile failure are generated near the free face, and the penetrating shear cracks dominated by shear failure are generated away from the free face. The evolution process of AE hits can be divided into four stages: relatively stable, rapid rising, overall failure stage and quiet period. As the intermediate principal stress increases, the ejection kinetic energy of the fragments increases. Rockburst fragments is mostly coarse-grained, medium-grained, and fine-grained fragments. With the increase of intermediate principal stress, the mass of fine particles is basically unchanged, while the mass of fine, medium and coarse particles shows a steady increase trend. The entire process of rockburst inoculation−occurrence−development−failure is successfully simulated using the crystal scale fine model (CSFM) considering the grain mineral composition. The variation trend of the stress-strain curve of the rock sample is basically consistent with the indoor test results and the curve is in good agreement. The evolution curve of elastic strain energy can be roughly divided into the early growth rate increasing stage, the approximate linear growth stage, the growth rate decreasing stage during the yield platform period and the post-peak sharp decline stage.

This study performs one-sided lateral unloading- and three-way five-sided force-vertical continuous loading experiments with different intermediate principal stresses (IPS) to investigate the effect of the IPS on deformation, strength, failure modes, and acoustic emission (AE) signals of rock and to elucidate the role of the IPS on the rock strength. The inoculation, occurrence, development, and failure of rockburst as well as the AE evolution characteristics are discussed. The findings indicate that the rockburst ejection includes localized ejections of particles, spalling of rocks into plates, shearing of rocks into fragments, and ejections of rock fragments. The formation mechanism of rockburst involves three progressive processes, i.e., tensile, shear, and tensile-shear composite destruction. The peak stress of sample increases with increasing IPS, while the deformation modulus decreases exponentially as the unloading progresses. The sample properties under true triaxial unloading condition with different IPS can be described by the Mogi-Coulomb criterion. The evolution curves of ringing impact ratio (CH) and cumulative absolute energy can be divided into four stages. The crystal-scale refined model that considers mineral components efficiently simulate the rockburst. The simulated stress-strain (SS) curves of samples are in good agreement with those obtained from laboratory tests.

The temperature of the surrounding rock in cold-region tunnels is crucial for antifreeze design, and the water-ice phase transition is essential to addressing the temperature field. This paper proposes a refined method that equates the latent heat of the ice-water phase transition to heat capacity and establishes a one-dimensional radial heat transfer model considering phase change. By defining an average thermal diffusivity coefficient through the concept of equal accumulated temperature, this method overcomes the limitations of classical heat transfer theory in directly solving the temperature field of three zone (unfrozen zone, freezing zone and frozen zone). Additionally, by employing the variable separation method and Fourier integral transformation method, the analytical formula for the transient temperature field considering phase change is derived. Then, the analytical solution was verified based on the field data. The results calculated using this method exhibit greater consistency with field temperature data and outperform the modified Stephan formula in determining the maximum frozen depth of the surrounding rock. Finally, the simplified form of the established analytical solution was further discussed. The research results can provide a theoretical basis for the analysis of the temperature field of the surrounding rock of the tunnel in cold regions and its antifreeze design.

To investigate the mechanical properties and failure processes of carbon nanotube concrete, a three-dimensional meso-scale finite element model of concrete was constructed. Using ABAQUS software, numerical simulations were conducted on concrete samples with different carbon nanotube concentrations under triaxial compression and splitting conditions. The results indicate that under splitting conditions, the failure of the specimens initially occurs along the loading direction from both ends, with few cracks and slow propagation. Subsequently, the cracks rapidly expand, penetrating the entire specimen, leading to the formation of a macro-fracture surface with a crack aligned with the loading direction. This failure mode manifests as a straight crack. At the same loading rate, the tensile strength of the specimens with different carbon nanotube concentrations increases to varying degrees during splitting failure, with a maximum increase of 45.10% to 4.15 MPa. nder triaxial compression conditions, the main failure mode of the specimens exhibits shear failure characteristics. As the confining pressure gradually increases, the failure angle of the specimens enlarges. Under low confining pressure, there are fewer wing-shaped tensile cracks at the shear failure surface of the specimens. As the confining pressure increases, irregular shear failures and multiple shear planes appear in the specimens, resulting in more complex failure modes. For specimens with the same carbon nanotube concentration, the triaxial compressive strength of carbon nanotube concrete specimens increases with increasing confining pressure. The triaxial compressive strengths of the specimens under confining pressures of 5 MPa, 10 MPa, 15 MPa, and 20 MPa are 90.48 MPa, 122.72 MPa, 137.22 MPa, and 172.65 MPa, with strength increases of 35.63%, 51.66%, and 90.81%, respectively.

To investigate the mechanical properties and failure processes of carbon nanotube concrete, a three-dimensional meso-scale finite element model of concrete was constructed. Using ABAQUS software, numerical simulations were conducted on concrete samples with different carbon nanotube concentrations under triaxial compression and splitting conditions. The results indicate that under splitting conditions, the failure of the specimens initially occurs along the loading direction from both ends, with few cracks and slow propagation. Subsequently, the cracks rapidly expand, penetrating the entire specimen, leading to the formation of a macro-fracture surface with a crack aligned with the loading direction. This failure mode manifests as a straight crack. At the same loading rate, the tensile strength of the specimens with different carbon nanotube concentrations increases to varying degrees during splitting failure, with a maximum increase of 45.10% to 4.15 MPa. nder triaxial compression conditions, the main failure mode of the specimens exhibits shear failure characteristics. As the confining pressure gradually increases, the failure angle of the specimens enlarges. Under low confining pressure, there are fewer wing-shaped tensile cracks at the shear failure surface of the specimens. As the confining pressure increases, irregular shear failures and multiple shear planes appear in the specimens, resulting in more complex failure modes. For specimens with the same carbon nanotube concentration, the triaxial compressive strength of carbon nanotube concrete specimens increases with increasing confining pressure. The triaxial compressive strengths of the specimens under confining pressures of 5 MPa, 10 MPa, 15 MPa, and 20 MPa are 90.48 MPa, 122.72 MPa, 137.22 MPa, and 172.65 MPa, with strength increases of 35.63%, 51.66%, and 90.81%, respectively.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of retrograded resistant starch (RS3) (0, 2%, 4% and 6%; w/v) on the emulsion gel properties stabilized by myofibrillar proteins (MPs) and in vitro protein digestibility of the gels. The RS3 was prepared from corn or potato starch using the gelatinization–ultrasound–retrogradation method. The results showed that the addition of RS3 decreased the surface hydrophobicity (p < 0.05) and increased the fluorescence intensity of MPs, indicating enhanced protein–protein interactions. More stable emulsions stabilized by MP/RS3 mixtures were formed, along with higher electronegativity, a smaller droplet size and reduced creaming index. These changes promoted the formation of better gel networks with the oil droplets evenly dispersed, thus improving gel strength, water holding capacity (WHC) and texture, especially at the concentration of 6% RS3 added. The gel force results indicated that the addition of RS3 enhanced the hydrophobic interaction and disulfide bonds between MPs. LF-NMR and MRI data further confirmed that RS3 addition facilitated the migration of free water to immobilized water. Furthermore, the incorporation of RS3 caused a relatively lower pepsin digestibility but did not change the overall in vitro protein digestibility of the gels. This paper provides a method to produce high-quality low-GI meat products without degrading protein digestibility.

Extreme heat events, or heatwaves, exert significant impacts on human society, ecosystems, and the economy. The continuous development of remote sensing technology has facilitated the acquisition of high-quality data for assessing health risks associated with these extreme heat events. This study systematically reviews the evaluation factors and assessment framework for a spatially explicit assessment of heat-related health risks. The contribution of geospatial big data, with a particular focus on satellite observations, to these assessments was investigated. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Landsat surface temperature (LST) are identified as the two most widely utilized data sources for mapping heat hazards. The incorporation of multi-sensor observations, along with the implementation of spatiotemporal fusion and downscaling techniques, enhances both the spatial resolution and temporal frequency of heat hazard characterization. It is essential to consider issues of justice and equality in heat-resilient planning and mitigation practices. Integrating heatwave risk assessment results with analyses of urban morphology, land use functions and infrastructure can provide critical information for government agencies to strategically plan urban layout, functions, and public service facilities while optimizing and enhancing urban green infrastructures.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a severe disease threatening people's health. The aim of this study is to find a significant biomarker inducive to predicting the prognosis of HF. Methods: GSE135055 and GSE161472 datasets were reanalyzed for exploring key genes related to HF. This single-center, prospective, observational cohort study enrolled 298 patients with or without HF from the Cardiology Department of Zhongda Hospital. Levels of ADAM8 were measured using ELISA kits. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) were defined as the composite end points of the first occurrence of rehospitalization because of HF or cardiac-related death during one-year follow-up. Results: (1) Bioinformatics analysis showed that ADAM8 was a key gene in HF via mainly regulating the mechanisms of extracellular matrix (ECM) organization. (2) Levels of ADAM8 were significantly increased in the HF group, compared to the non-failing (NF) group (p

The Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) satellite is a small magnetosphere–ionosphere link explorer developed cooperatively between China and Europe. It pioneers the use of X-ray imaging technology to perform large-scale imaging of the Earth’s magnetosheath and polar cusp regions. It uses a high-precision ultraviolet imager to image the overall configuration of the aurora and monitor changes in the source of solar wind in real time, using in situ detection instruments to improve human understanding of the relationship between solar activity and changes in the Earth’s magnetic field. The SMILE satellite is scheduled to launch in 2025. The European Incoherent Scatter Sciences Association (EISCAT)-3D radar is a new generation of European incoherent scatter radar constructed by EISCAT and is the most advanced ground-based ionospheric experimental device in the high-latitude polar region. It has multibeam and multidirectional quasi-real-time three-dimensional (3D) imaging capabilities, continuous monitoring and operation capabilities, and multiple-baseline interferometry capabilities. Joint detection by the SMILE satellite and the EISCAT-3D radar is of great significance for revealing the coupling process of the solar wind–magnetosphere–ionosphere. Therefore, we performed an analysis of the joint detection capability of the SMILE satellite and EISCAT-3D, analyzed the period during which the two can perform joint detection, and defined the key scientific problems that can be solved by joint detection. In addition, we developed Web-based software to search for and visualize the joint detection period of the SMILE satellite and EISCAT-3D radar, which lays the foundation for subsequent joint detection experiments and scientific research.

Shoulder pain and injuries present significant challenges to researchers and clinicians for diagnosing underlying structural changes due to the complexity of the shoulder joint. Ultrasonography has been used for diagnosing shoulder impairment and can non-invasively assess structures and mechanical properties of the shoulder. However, the complexity of the shoulder structures often results in diagnostic difficulties and misdiagnosis. Although deep learning of artificial intelligence has been applied in various biomedical imaging, the adoption of deep learning techniques in the segmentation of musculoskeletal ultrasound images, especially the shoulder, is limited. This study addresses this gap by assessing the effectiveness of 3 deep learning models, U-Net, Mask R-CNN, and DeepLab V3+, for the segmentation of soft tissues from shoulder ultrasound images. We collected 721 images from the shoulder area of 17 healthy adults, including the anterior deltoid, medial deltoid, posterior deltoid, and supraspinatus. We employed a combination of three augmentation methods (elastic transform, horizontal flip, and shift scale rotate) to enhance the dataset. The mixed augmentation strategy resulted in U-Net outperforming Mask R-CNN and DeepLab V3+ with a mean Average Precision (mAP) of 78-81%, a mean Intersection over Union (mIoU) of 81-87%, and Recall and Precision values between 91-94% and 87-91%, respectively. The effective use of deep learning methods could assist clinicians on assessing shoulder structures from ultrasound images.

Over the past 40 years, research has heavily emphasized stroke treatments that directly target ischemic cascades after stroke onset. Much attention has focused on studying neuroprotective drugs targeting one aspect of the ischemic cascade. However, the single-target therapeutic approach resulted in minimal clinical benefit and poor outcomes in patients. Considering the ischemic cascade is a multifaceted and complex pathophysiological process with many interrelated pathways, the spotlight is now shifting towards the development of neuroprotective drugs that affect multiple aspects of the ischemic cascade. Phosphatidylserine (PS), known as the “eat-me” signal, is a promising candidate. PS is involved in many pathophysiological changes in the central nervous system after stroke onset, including apoptosis, inflammation, coagulation, and neuronal regeneration. Moreover, PS might also exert various roles in different phases after stroke onset. In this review, we describe the synthesis, regulation, and function of PS under physiological conditions. Furthermore, we also summarize the different roles of PS after stroke onset. More importantly, we also discuss several treatment strategies that target PS. We aim to advocate a novel stroke care strategy by targeting PS through a translational perspective.

So as to efficiently address the distortion of surrounding rock in tunnels constructed utilizing ADECO-RS, it is crucial to define suitable parameters for advanced support systems. This study took the 8 # tunnel in the F3 portion of the E60 Expressway in Georgia as an engineering case. Initially, the original support scheme underwent systematic monitoring and analysis in the field. Subsequently, the FLAC3D 6.0 software was employed to examine the influence of the advanced pipe roof and tunnel face fiberglass bolts on the steady state of the surrounding rock. Optimization of the support parameters was also proposed. Further, the sensitivity of different parameters to the distortion of the rock surrounding the tunnel was analyzed and ranked via an orthogonal experiment. Ultimately, the effectiveness of the optimization scheme was evaluated by numerical methods and field observations. The findings of the research indicate the following: (1) The monitoring results of the original support parameters show that the irrational design of the support parameters can bring about deformation non-convergence in the tunnel’s surrounding rock. Support parameters must be optimized. (2) The spacing of the pipe roof is positively correlated with the distortion of the surrounding rock. In contrast, the length and the grouting strength are negatively correlated with the distortion of the surrounding rock. The reinforcement density, length, and lap length of glass fiber bolts exhibit an inverse relationship with the distortion of the surrounding rock. (3) The efficacy of pipe shed grouting in mitigating subsidence and deformation of the vault is superior, followed by the spacing of the supports. In contrast, the length of the supports demonstrates comparatively lesser effectiveness. Under optimal parameters, the vault subsidence was reduced by 23.2%, 10.2%, and 2.0%, respectively. The most significant factor controlling the extrusion deformation of the tunnel face is bolt lap length, followed by reinforcement density and then reinforcement length. Extrusion displacement was reduced by 52.5%, 40.3%, and 9.3%, respectively, under the optimal parameters. (4) In comparison to the primordial support system, the optimized support scheme reduces the subsidence of the vault by about one time and the convergence deformation around the cave by about two times. The research findings offer guidance for analogous engineering support design and parameter optimization.

In order to ensure the safety of the tunnel approaching the fault and prevent water inrush disasters, and then take reasonable protective measures, a fault-tunnel-surrounding rock is established by using a three-dimensional (3D) discrete element numerical analysis method, which takes into account the fluid-structure coupling effect. Based on the method of control variables, the catastrophe information characteristics of displacement and water pressure of the surrounding rock of the tunnel face and the corresponding characteristics of changes before the occurrence of water inrush disasters were studied under different fault water pressures during the excavation of the tunnel approaching the water-rich fault. The results show that, during excavation at the same step, displacement and its magnitude in the surrounding rock escalate as fault water pressure increases. The maximum pressure of the water in the surrounding rock is also constantly increasing. As tunnel excavation progresses, at constant fault water pressure, longer excavation distances result in greater axial displacement of the surrounding rock mass and increased water pressure at corresponding positions within the surrounding rock, leading to higher magnitude increases. As excavation proceeds, the displacement and water pressure in the surrounding rock and the increase of its amplitude continue to increase. Pre-reinforcement grouting techniques and pipe umbrella support systems that are very effective protective measures can be determined by a comprehensive approach integrating advanced geological forecasting methods, real-time water pressure detection, and the analysis of stress-strain and seepage pressure field variations in the surrounding rock mass.

Strain rockburst is a severe failure phenomenon caused by the release of elastic strain energy in intact rocks under high-stress conditions. They frequently occur in deep tunnels, causing significant economic losses, casualties, and construction delays. Understanding the factors influencing this disaster is of significance for tunnel construction. This paper first proposes a novel three-dimensional (3D) discrete element numerical analysis method for rockburst numerical analysis considering the full stress state energy based on the bonded block model and the mechanics, brittleness, integrity, and energy storage of the surrounding rock. This numerical method is first validated via laboratory tests and engineering-scale applications and then is applied to study the effects of compressive and tensile strengths of rock mass, tunnel depth, and lateral pressure coefficient on strain rockburst. Meanwhile, sensitivity analyses of these influencing factors are conducted using numerical results and systematic analysis methods, and the influence degree of each factor on the rockburst tendency is explored and ranked. The results reveal that laboratory tests and actual engineering conditions are consistent with numerical simulation results, which validates the rationality and applicability of the novel rockburst analysis method proposed in this paper. With the increase in compressive strength, the stress concentration degree, energy accumulation level, maximum stress difference, and maximum elastic strain energy within the rock mass all increase, leading to a stronger rockburst tendency. Tunnel depth and the lateral stress coefficient are positively correlated with rockburst tendency. As the lateral pressure coefficient and tunnel depth increase, rockburst tendency exponentially increases, while the maximum stress difference and maximum elastic strain energy within the rock mass also increase. The influence degree of each factor is ranked from highest to lowest as follows: tensile strength, lateral pressure coefficient, compressive strength, and tunnel depth. The research results provide theoretical support and technical guidance for the effective prediction, prevention, and control of rock burst disasters in deep tunnels.

To investigate how bedding planes affect the energy evolution and failure characteristics of transversely isotropic rock, uniaxial compression tests were conducted on soft–hard interbedded rock-like specimens with varying bedding angles (α) using the RMT-150B rock mechanics loading system. The test results indicate that throughout the loading process, the energy evolution shows obvious stage characteristics, and the change of α mainly affects the accelerating energy dissipation stage and the full energy release stage. With the increase of α, the ability of rock to resist deformation under the action of energy shows the characteristics of “strong–weak–strong”. The energy dissipation process is accelerated by medium angle bedding planes (α = 45°~60°). The precursor points of the ratios of dissipation energy to total energy (RDT) and elastic energy to dissipation energy (RED) can be used to effectively predict early failure. With the gradual increase of α, the difficulty of crack development is gradually reduced. The changes of energy storage limitation and release rate of releasable elastic energy are the immanent cause of different macroscopic failure modes of specimens with varying α.

To ensure the construction and operational safety of tunnel undercrossing multi-situational goafs, the Huaying Mountain High-Speed Rail Tunnel, a critical section of the Xi’an-Chongqing High-Speed Railway, was taken as a case study. Based on a three-dimensional finite difference numerical simulation platform, twelve situations were established to analyze the effects of three factors: distance, scale, and angle. The stability analysis was conducted by examining the displacement and deformation characteristics of the surrounding rock, stress changes, and axial forces of the initial support for each situation. The results show that in tunnel undercrossing multi-situational goafs, the vertical deformation, horizontal convergence of the surrounding rock, and the maximum axial force of initial support are all affected. Within a certain range, changes in distance significantly impact subsidence and settlement deformation of the surrounding rock. However, as the distance increases, the horizontal and vertical displacements of the tunnel and the axial force of the initial support tend to decrease. Conversely, the scale and angle of the goaf have an opposite effect on the surrounding rock: as the scale and angle increase, the stability of the surrounding rock deteriorates. In this case study, when the distance exceeds 1.13 times the tunnel span, the influence of the goaf on the stability of the surrounding rock gradually decreases. When the angle exceeds 45°, vertical displacement decreases, and the increasing trend of horizontal displacement gradually diminishes. The conclusions of this paper can provide guidance for designing reinforcement schemes for tunnels crossing through multi-situational goafs. The findings provide valuable insights and guidance for similar engineering projects.

Fritillaria taipaiensis P. Y. Li (F. taipaiensis) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine that has been used for over two millennia to treat cough and expectoration. However, the increasing cultivation of F. taipaiensis has led to the spread of bulb rot diseases. In this study, pathogens were isolated from rotten F. taipaiensis bulbs. Through molecular identification, pathogenicity testing, morphological assessment, and microscopy, Fusarium solani was identified as the pathogen causing bulb rot in F. taipaiensis. The colonization of F. solani in the bulbs was investigated through microscopic observation. The rapid and accurate detection of this pathogen will contribute to better disease monitoring and control. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and qPCR methods were established to quickly and specifically identify this pathogen. These results provide valuable insights for further research on the prediction, rapid detection, and effective prevention and control of bulb rot in F. taipaiensis.

A subway station’s operation is susceptible to accidents when there is a high-pressure gas pipeline overlaying it, and analyzing the correlations between the safety influencing factors (SIFs) in this operating situation can provide paths to reduce safety accidents. Thus, this paper investigated the coupling correlations between the SIFs. We firstly identified the SIFs during subway station operation under a high-pressure pipeline (SSOUHP) based on a literature review and discussion with experts. Then, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and coupling degree analysis (CDA) were combined to assess the coupling correlations between the SIFs, and Y subway station was selected to test the proposed hybrid coupling analysis approach. Research results show that (a) 23 second-level SIFs were identified and these SIFs can be summed up into five first-level SIFs, namely, human-related SIFs, pipeline-related SIFs, station-related SIFs, environment-related SIFs, and management-related SIFs; (b) the proposed hybrid approach can be used to evaluate the coupling correlations between SIFs; (c) of the coupling situations during Y subway station’s operation, the internal coupling correlations among environment-related SIFs, the coupling correlations between pipe-related SIFs and environment-related SIFs, and the coupling correlations among human-related SIFs, pipe-related SIFs, and environment-related SIFs are all greater than 1, and the coordination degree is 0.778, 0.781, and 0.783, respectively, which is a high security risk; (d) the overall coupling degree among all SIFs during Y subway station’s operation is 0.995 and the coordination degree is 0.809, which is a low safety risk. The research can enrich knowledge in the safety evaluation area, and provide a reference for onsite safety management. The results are basically consistent with the conclusion of the enterprise report, which verifies the scientificity and validity of the evaluation method.

Nitrogen-doped biochar performs much better in dye adsorption due to its rich functional groups. Soybean cake, a by-product of soybean oil production, comprises rich contents of cellulose, lignin, and protein. Therein, simple direct carbonization was utilized to prepare self-nitrogen-doped biochar (SCB). The results showed that the N content of SCB was 6.81 wt%, and its specific surface area was 18.8 m2/g. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic results confirmed that the surface of SCB was rich in pyridine-N, pyrrole-N, graphite-N, and oxidized-N functional groups. The adsorption capacity of SCB for Rhodamine B was 17.2 mg/g, which is higher compared with other unactivated biochars. The results of thermodynamic parameters indicate that Rhodamine B adsorption on SCB is an endothermic, entropy-increasing, and spontaneous process.

This paper conducted a comprehensive investigation into the role of polymers in cement-based materials. First, the modification mechanism of polymers on cement-based materials based on physical and chemical effects are analyzed. The polymers are adsorbed on the surface of cement particles and cement hydration products through electrostatic attraction or hydrogen bonding, and filled in the pores or interfacial areas, and then transformed into a three-dimensional interpenetrating network structure, so as to densify the matrix materials. Then, the effects of polymers on the cement hydration reaction were introduced. It is mainly attributed to the adsorption behavior between polymer particles, and polymer films with cement causes them to cover the surfaces of cement particles and hydration products, which to some extent restricts the effective diffusion of various ions, such as Ca2+, AlO2−, SiO42−, SO42−, etc., as well as water in the system. And the complexation of functional groups in the polymer with Ca2+ hinders the nucleation and precipitation of calcium-containing hydration products, which in turn delays the hydration reaction process. In terms of strength, as it can be due to the agglomeration of polymer chains, increased porosity arised from generated CO2 gas and entrained air during preparation, the improvement effect of the polymers on cement-based material's compressive strength is not apparent or it shows a decreasing trend. As the role of “microfibers” and “bridge”, many filamentous or network structures composed of flexible polymer membranes dramatically improve the flexural strength and toughness, and also enhance the bonding property of the matrix material. It is expected that the polymers containing designed specific structures according to target property will be applied in cement-based materials, and the universal guidelines and regulations will be provide for expanded application of polymer modified cement-based materials (PMCBMs) in the construction industry.

Rose black spot disease caused by Marssonina rosae is among the most destructive diseases that affects the outdoor cultivation and production of roses; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying the defensive response of roses to M. rosae have not been clarified. To investigate the diversity of response to M. rosae in resistant and susceptible rose varieties, we performed transcriptome and metabolome analyses of resistant (KT) and susceptible (FG) rose varieties and identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) in response to M. rosae at different time points. In response to M. rosae, DEGs and DAMs were mainly upregulated compared to the control and transcription factors were concentrated in the WRKY and AP2/ERF families. Gene Ontology analysis showed that the DEGs of FG were mainly enriched in biological processes, such as the abscisic acid-activated signaling pathway, cell wall, and defense response, whereas the DEGs of KT were mainly enriched in Golgi-mediated vesicle transport processes. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis showed that the DEGs of both varieties were concentrated in plant–pathogen interactions, plant hormone signal transduction, and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways, with the greatest number of DEGs associated with brassinosteroid (BR) in the plant hormone signal transduction pathway. The reliability of the transcriptome results was verified by qRT-PCR. DAMs of KT were significantly enriched in the butanoate metabolism pathway, whereas DAMs of FG were significantly enriched in BR biosynthesis, glucosinolate biosynthesis, and tryptophan metabolism. Moreover, the DAMs in these pathways were significantly positively correlated with the DEGs. Disease symptoms were aggravated when FG leaves were inoculated with M. rosae after 24-epibrassinolide treatment, indicating that the response of FG to M. rosae involves the BR signaling pathway. Our results provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying rose response to M. rosae and lay a theoretical foundation for formulating rose black spot prevention and control strategies and cultivating resistant varieties.

Sugar is an excellent raw material for activated carbon preparation because of its wide availability, sustainability, and low mineral content. Herein, we developed an easy method for preparing sucrose-derived activated carbon (SAC) with desirable hierarchically porous structures by combining the foaming of molten sucrose, dual-templating (K2C2O4·H2O and CaCO3), and sequential etching by dual-templating activators at elevated temperatures. As an adsorbent, SAC–800 has a high specific surface (1594 m2/g), with rich both micro- and mesopores (microsurface vs external surface area is 812 and 782 m2/g). As a result of its desirable hierarchically porous structures, it adsorbs dyes fast and efficiently, attributed to the rich specific surface area that favors adsorption capability and pore size distribution that affects mass transport and adsorption speed. The adsorption for Rhodamine B and Congo Red is spontaneous and endothermic process. The adsorption capacities reach 357 and 780 mg/g for Rhodamine B and Congo Red, respectively, while the rate constants for adsorption (ka) and desorption (kd) for Rhodamine B are 4.23 × 10–3 L/(mg·min) and 0.12 L/min, and 1.02 × 10–3 L/(mg·min) and 5.6 × 10–3 L/min for Congo Red. With the easy preparation procedure and the desirable hierarchically porous structures, sucrose-derived activated carbons are promising candidates for potential practical applications.

Impoverished sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is under increasing environmental pressure from global environmental changes. It is now generally accepted in academic circles that economic development in SSA countries can cause environmental pressure in other countries. However, there is research gap on the impact of economic assistance on environmental pressure in SSA countries and whether economic assistance causes spatial spillovers of environmental pressure between SSA countries. To better understand the impact of economic assistance on environmental pressures in SSA, a dynamic spatial Dubin panel model was developed. It helped us explore the spatial spillover effects of economic assistance on environmental pressures in recipient countries based on the panel data from 34 SSA countries. The results show that economic assistance had a positive stimulating effect on environmental pressures of recipient countries, which means that the degree of human disturbance to the environment has deepened. Due to the regional correlation effect, neighboring countries were saddled with environmental pressures from the target country. Moreover, environmental pressures have time inertia, which can easily produce a snowball effect. The decomposition of effects shows that the impact of economic assistance on environmental pressures is relatively minor. Environmental pressures have spillover effects, so to deal with diffuse risks, joint regional prevention and control policies should be developed.

As an efficient flocculant, polyacrylamide (PAM) is widely used in water treatment process. The acrylamide monomer (AM) produced by depolymerization of residual PAM has been listed as a class IIA carcinogen, and its treatment is imminent. Flotation tailing (TC) was used as raw material to prepare a modified tailing matrix by alkali excitation. Nano-TiO2 was loaded onto the modified tailing matrix by hydrothermal method to prepare tailing-based nano-TiO2 composite (TiO2/TC) and Pb-doped tailing-based nano-TiO2 composite (Pb-TiO2/TC). The photocatalytic degradation properties of TC, modified coal matrix, TiO2/TC and Pb-TiO2/TC were analyzed with PAM as the target pollutant. The samples were characterized by XRD, SEM, UV-vis and BET, and the degradation products were analyzed and studied by high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The degradation mechanism of PAM was explored. The results show that TC is irregular and the surface is rough; the surface of TiO2/TC is loose, the pore structure is obvious, and the fine tubular TiO2 is uniformly coated on the surface of modified tailings. The structure of Pb-TiO2/TC is more fluffy, and the modified coal matrix is loaded with more tubular TiO2. The band gap of TiO2/TC was 3.16 eV, and Pb2+ doping reduced the band gap of Pb-TiO2/TC to 3.08 eV. The specific surface area of TiO2 is 286.66 m2/g, the specific surface area of TiO2/TC and Pb-TiO2/TC are 360.33 m2/g and 358.54 m2/g. The higher specific surface area provides more active sites for the reaction, and the adsorption-catalytic synergistic effect significantly improves the photocatalytic efficiency. The degradation rates of PAM by TC and modified tailing matrix were 3.39% and 4.68%. The degradation rates of polyacrylamide by TiO2/TC and Pb-TiO2/TC loaded with TiO2 increased to 38.92% and 63.87%. After five cycles, the photocatalytic properties of TiO2/TC and Pb-TiO2/TC remained basically unchanged. In the degradation process of PAM, the macromolecular PAM breaks into small molecular weight PAM molecules, and further decomposes into NO3−, acrylic acid, acetamide and acetic acid.

To mitigate freeze-thaw damage in tunnels located in high-altitude cold regions, insulation layers are implemented to prevent the freezing of surrounding rocks. Currently, the selection of laying methods lacks a solid scientific basis, with the merits and demerits of various techniques remaining insufficiently evaluated. This study seeks to establish a scientifically grounded equilibrium between the anti-freezing efficacy and the construction impact of tunnel insulation in cold regions through the optimization of insulation design via numerical calculations. First, the advantages and disadvantages of the four insulation layer laying methods were summarized. Then, a multilayer media heat transfer model that accounts for the latent heat of phase change was developed, grounded in solid heat transfer and porous media heat transfer theories, and corroborated by typical case studies. Finally, taking Duolong tunnel as a case study, the insulation effect of various laying methods at different positions of the tunnel was analyzed based on the finite element method. The results show that the unfavorable position of the four laying methods is at the inverted arch of the tunnel, and the unfavorable time point occurs when the temperature rises from below 0℃ to above 0℃. Among the four laying methods, off-wall laying exhibits the superior insulation performance at tunnel vault, while sandwich laying has best insulation effect at the arch foot and inverted arch. The research results can provide reference and basis for the thermal insulation and anti-freezing design of tunnels in high-altitude cold regions.

Abstract Computing‐in‐memory (CIM) is a promising technique for solving the ‘memory wall’ and ‘power consumption wall’ problems. However, calculations in the analog domain are limited in terms of accuracy and sensitivity to process, voltage, and temperature changes. In this study, the authors proposed a CIM multiply‐and‐accumulate (MAC) circuit in which the MAC result was reflected by the pulse edge and converted into the final digital output using a dual‐edge counter quantization circuit, thereby improving the accuracy of the MAC operation and reducing the difficulty of quantization. The performance of the proposed CIM circuit was evaluated using a 28‐nm process. It could achieve 4‐bit multiplication without errors, with an energy efficiency of 24.38 to 670.86 TOPS/W.

This paper addresses the innovation management problem of financial trading strategies for power system planning through the utilization of the BO-BERT-GRNN model. The BO-BERT-GRNN model, which combines Bayesian optimization, BERT model, and gated recurrent neural network, is divided into three parts to optimize hyperparameters, extract features from historical data, and model and predict power system planning. The objective is to achieve electricity asset allocation, market risk management, and revenue maximization. Experimental analysis demonstrates that the BO-BERT-GRNN model outperforms in power system planning price prediction, energy transaction risk management, and energy asset allocation, showcasing its potential for practical application. This paper addresses the innovation management problem of financial trading strategies for power system planning through the utilization of the BO-BERT-GRNN model. The BO-BERT-GRNN model, which combines Bayesian optimization, BERT model, and gated recurrent neural network, is divided into three parts to optimize hyperparameters, extract features from historical data, and model and predict power system planning. The objective is to achieve electricity asset allocation, market risk management, and revenue maximization. Experimental analysis demonstrates that the BO-BERT-GRNN model outperforms in power system planning price prediction, energy transaction risk management, and energy asset allocation, showcasing its potential for practical application.

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) have become a serious global health problem as the population ages. Traditionally, treatment strategies for NDs have included oral and intravenous administration; however, the blood–brain barrier (BBB) can prevent drugs from reaching the brain, rendering the treatment incomplete and the effect unsatisfactory. Additionally, the prolonged or excessive use of drugs that can cross the BBB can damage liver and kidney function. Recent studies have shown that nose-to-brain drug delivery can noninvasively bypass the BBB, allowing drugs to enter the brain through the olfactory or trigeminal nerve pathways; additionally, nanoparticle carriers can enhance drug delivery. This review introduces drug carrier nanoparticles for nose-to-brain delivery systems, compares the advantages and disadvantages of different nanoparticles, and discusses the factors influencing nose-to-brain nanomedicine delivery and enhancement strategies. We also summarize nose-to-brain delivery and nanomedicines for treating NDs, the current challenges of this approach, and the future promise of nanomedicine-based ND treatment.

Tunnel construction adjacent to the fault fracture zone is prone to water inrush disasters, which pose a serious threat to the safety of tunnel construction. To provide theoretical support for the early warning and prevention of water inrush disasters of the tunnel adjacent to the water-rich faults, a numerical analysis based on the three-dimensional discrete element method (DEM) was performed to study the evolution of the displacement and seepage fields of the water-resistant rock mass of a tunnel adjacent to a water-rich fault during the water inrush process by taking the Xianglushan tunnel as the research project. With reference to the obtained results, a grouting reinforcement scheme was developed, and its effectiveness was evaluated. The results indicated that as the tunnel face approached the water-rich fault fracture zone, the effect of water pressure gradually became obvious, and the displacement at the face continuously increased. When the tunnel face was excavated to the position 5 m from the fault, the displacement at the center of the face changed suddenly with a sudden increase in water pressure. The water-resistant rock mass ahead of the center of the face was damaged, and a water inrush disaster occurred in the tunnel. Numerical simulation results demonstrated the feasibility of the grouting reinforcement scheme. The assessment based on the borehole acoustic waves, borehole TV, geological radar detection, and convergence monitoring as well as the excavation results confirmed that the water inrush disasters in the 2# adit of Xianglushan tunnel adjacent to the water-rich fault were effectively prevented and controlled, which can provide a reference for the prevention and treatment of the frequent water inrush disasters in underground projects constructed in the water-rich fault area.

Abstract In recent decades, the continuous depletion of fossil fuels and the increasingly serious environmental issue have aroused wide attention on the development of biopolymers based on renewable biomass. Lignin is the second most abundant organic bio‐based macromolecule second to cellulose, and it can be widely found in plants. Furthermore, various phenol derivatives can be obtained by their depolymerization processes. The development of bio‐renewable polymeric materials originating from lignin‐derivative phenol monomers, such as vanillin, syringaldehyde, eugenol, vanillyl alcohol, vanillic acid, and ferulic acid, will not only valorize the bio‐sourced materials but also effectively reduce petroleum resource consumption and mitigate the environmental pollution. Therefore, an updated overview of the synthesis processes of these bio‐based polymers developed in the past decade, which includes both thermosets and thermoplastics such as epoxy, phenolic, polyimine, polybenzoxazine, polyurethane, and polyesters, are elucidated. In addition, the applications of these bio‐based polymers and their composites in flame‐retarded materials, degradable and reprocessable materials, dielectric materials, optoelectronic materials, as well as smart responsive materials are also intensively discussed. In line with the gradual development of synthesis technologies, we believe that derivatives of lignin will turn into one of the most promising materials to be considered for the preparation of high‐performance and functional bio‐based polymer materials.

Due to the advantages such as low multi-solution, high signal-to-noise ratio, low environmental impact, high efficiency and low cost, microbial prospection for oil and gas has been accepted for petroleum exploreration. With the rapid development of high-throughput sequencing, molecular biology and bioinformatics, describing the changes of specific oil and gas indicator micro-organisms from the perspective of microbial community as a whole has become an valuable progress of microbial exploration method for the future. In this paper, soil sampling, DNA extraction and analysis, discriminant model development and favorable area prediction are introduced, and soil DNA extraction as well as oil/gas indicator micro-organism detection are emphasized. With the study of industrial-grade DNA extraction technology, Griffth method has been considered as the best effect for the extraction and purification of soil microbial DNA. For projects with a large sample number, high-throughput pipetting workstations and commercial multi-well plate DNA extraction kits can greatly improve working efficiency. Integrated stable isotope probes and the molecular detection of high-throughput sequencing showed that the main hydrocarbon indicator microorganism strains typically imply the expected distribution. High frequency oil indicator bacteria (AMNR) are Arthrobacter, Mycobacterium, Nocardia, and Rhodospirillum, while high frequency gas indicator bacteria include Methylococcus, Methylobacterium, and Methylocystis. The preliminary application in the Hangjinqi area shows that the microbial molecular exploration technology can significantly improve the oil and gas identification accuracy in loess tableland regions, and has a good effect on the evaluation of oil and gas bearing property, which provides a reference for the selection of favorable tight gas regions in the northern part of Ordos Basin.

IntroductionNeuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are autoimmune central nervous system diseases characterized by the immune system's abnormal attack on glial cells and neurons. Optic neuritis (ON) is one of the indicators of NMOSD, often starting unilaterally and potentially affecting both eyes later in the disease progression, leading to visual impairment. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) has the potential to aid in the early diagnosis of NMOSD by examining ophthalmic imaging and may offer a window for disease prevention.MethodsIn this study, we collected OCTA images from 22 NMOSD patients (44 images) and 25 healthy individuals (50 images) to investigate retinal microvascular changes in NMOSD. We employed effective retinal microvascular segmentation and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) segmentation techniques to extract key OCTA structures for biomarker analysis. A total of 12 microvascular features were extracted using specifically designed methods based on the segmentation results. The OCTA images of NMOSD patients were classified into two groups: optic neuritis (ON) and non-optic neuritis (non-ON). Each group was compared separately with a healthy control (HC) group.ResultsStatistical analysis revealed that the non-ON group displayed shape changes in the deep layer of the retina, specifically in the FAZ. However, there were no significant microvascular differences between the non-ON group and the HC group. In contrast, the ON group exhibited microvascular degeneration in both superficial and deep retinal layers. Sub-regional analysis revealed that pathological variations predominantly occurred on the side affected by ON, particularly within the internal ring near the FAZ.DiscussionThe findings of this study highlight the potential of OCTA in evaluating retinal microvascular changes associated with NMOSD. The shape alterations observed in the FAZ of the non-ON group suggest localized vascular abnormalities. In the ON group, microvascular degeneration in both superficial and deep retinal layers indicates more extensive vascular damage. Sub-regional analysis further emphasizes the impact of optic neuritis on pathological variations, particularly near the FAZ's internal ring.ConclusionThis study provides insights into the retinal microvascular changes associated with NMOSD using OCTA imaging. The identified biomarkers and observed alterations may contribute to the early diagnosis and monitoring of NMOSD, potentially offering a time window for intervention and prevention of disease progression.

Hibiscus manihot L. seed oil is an emerging high-value edible vegetable oil that also has a variety of important health functions, and concerns about its pressing method have great significance for commercial and consumer health. This study compared triacylglycerols (TAGs), diacylglycerol (DAG), free fatty acids (FFAs), and volatile flavor compounds for discriminating cold-pressed oil from hot-pressed oil. The profiles of TAGs, DAGs, FFAs, and flavor compounds were established by a lipidomic approach and electronic-nose (E-nose). Our results demonstrated that a slight decrease in TAG content and a significant increase in FFA and DAG contents were observed after roasting. The E-nose results showed that sulfides, terpenes, methane, compounds containing oxygen and nitrogen, alcohol and aromatic compounds greatly influenced the oil flavor. The PCA result of the E-nose data indicated that flavor compounds showed great promise for distinguishing the two samples. The quality indices and the oxidative stability of oil samples were detected to identify their nutritional value and edible quality. This study revealed that roasting greatly influenced the lipid and flavor substances of the Hibiscus manihot L. seed oil. Our findings could provide useful information on the impact of the pressing method for Hibiscus manihot L. seed oil.

In ferroelectric heterostructures, the interaction between intrinsic polarization and the electric field generates a rich set of localized electrical properties. The local electric field is determined by several connected factors, including the charge distribution of individual unit cells, the interfacial electromechanical boundary conditions, and chemical composition of the interfaces. However, especially in ferroelectric perovskites, a complete description of the local electric field across micro-, nano-, and atomic-length scales is missing. Here, by applying four-dimensional scanning transmission electron microscopy (4D STEM) with multiple probe sizes matching the size of structural features, we directly image the electric field of polarization vortices in (PbTiO3)16/(SrTiO3)16 superlattices and reveal different electric field configurations corresponding to the atomic scale electronic ordering and the nanoscale boundary conditions. The separability of two different fields probed by 4D STEM offers the possibility to reveal how each contributes to the electronic properties of the film.

Measurement(s) climate change • temperature • volume of hydrological precipitation Technology Type(s) computational modeling technique Factor Type(s) surface temperature • precipitation Sample Characteristic - Organism monthly surface temperatures and precipitation Sample Characteristic - Environment climate system Sample Characteristic - Location global

Abstract Live-attenuated vaccines (LAVs) represent a promising approach for flavivirus vaccine development. In the present study, we demonstrated a method for generating flavivirus LAVs based on breaking spatially and temporally regulated C-prM cleavage to disturb the viral assembly process, using an avian flavivirus (Tembusu virus) as the model. Using reverse genetics technology, we successfully generated two recombinant viruses (CQW1-IRES-mC and CQW1-MINI-mC) with bicistronic genomic RNA in which native capsid genes were deleted and instead expressed in the 3’UTR under the control of an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) or minimum IRES. Both viruses showed a significantly attenuated phenotype in vitro due to impaired viral assembly, and the engineered mutations were genetically stable in vitro within ten passages. Importantly, their virulence was also highly attenuated in ducklings and suckling mice and did not cause any overt clinical symptoms or mortality. In addition, a single dose of immunization with any of these mutant viruses could completely protect ducklings from a lethal challenge, and no viremia was detected after immunization and challenge, even though the viruses induced a relatively moderate immune response in terms of the T-lymphocytes proliferative response and the level of neutralization antibodies compared with that obtained with the wild-type virus. Besides, a recombinant virus ectopically expressing the prM-E protein was also generated in the present study, but this virus was too attenuated with severely decreased proliferation. Our results indicated that the use of a recombinant flavivirus that ectopically expresses structural proteins could be an effective and universal method for flavivirus LAVs development.

Rigid structural planes encountered during construction have an obvious influence on rockburst intensity and occurrence mechanism. The high-intensity rockburst induced by the structural plane poses a great threat to the safety construction of the tunnel. A novel 3D discrete element numerical analysis method for rockburst is proposed with the help of the bonded block model and multi-parameter rockburst energy index. According to this method, the influence of multivariate information characteristics such as stress, energy, fracture, and rockburst proneness index on the surrounding rock during the strain-structural plane slip rockburst in deep tunnels is systematically investigated. The results are drawn as follows: The results show that from the analysis of multivariate information characteristics of strain-structural plane slip rockburst, the rock between the plane and tunnel is a typical rockburst risk area. The dip angle, length, and relative distance of the structural plane have a significant influence on the multivariate catastrophe information characteristics of the surrounding rock: As the dip angle increases, the fracture propagation range within the risk rock expands, but the rockburst intensity and the occurrence range gradually decrease; as the length increases, the fracture propagation range, rockburst intensity and occurrence range within the risk rock increase slightly; as the relative distance increases, the fracture propagation range and rockburst intensity gradually weaken, and the occurrence range of rockburst first increases and then decreases. Using the “11.28” strain-structural plane slip rockburst case as a basis, engineering validation research was conducted. The simulation results are found to be essentially consistent with the rockburst condition on the field, validating the rationality and applicability of the novel rockburst analysis method proposed in this paper.

The hydrodynamic performance and wake evaluation results of a cantilever flexible cylindrical triangular array at Re = 9000 and with L/D spacing ratios ranging from 3 to 7 are presented in this paper. The improved delayed separation eddy current simulation (IDDES) SST k-ω turbulence model and tetrahedral mesh are employed to solve the three-dimensional instantaneous flow field. The objective is to find the L/D ratio that the upstream cylinder has the most pronounced effect on the downstream cylinders, to quantify whether a flexible upstream cylinder is more favorable than the rigid upstream cylinder, and to know the flexible cylinder wake distribution. The findings indicate that, at Re = 9000, when the spacing ratio is 3~7 and the spacing ratio L/D is 6, the amplitude of the downstream cylinder is most affected by the wake of the upstream cylinder; the amplitude of downstream cylinders of the rigid upstream cylinder exerted a 1% or 2% greater effect than the flexible cylinder, with vortices predominantly concentrated in the middle and upper parts of the flexible cylinder rather than at its top.

Abstract The utilization of lignin, the most abundant aromatic biomass component, is at the forefront of sustainable engineering, energy, and environment research, where its abundance and low‐cost features enable widespread application. Constructing lignin into material parts with controlled and desired macro‐ and microstructures and properties via additive manufacturing has been recognized as a promising technology and paves the way to the practical application of lignin. Considering the rapid development and significant progress recently achieved in this field, a comprehensive and critical review and outlook on three‐dimensional (3D) printing of lignin is highly desirable. This article fulfils this demand with an overview on the structure of lignin and presents the state‐of‐the‐art of 3D printing of pristine lignin and lignin‐based composites, and highlights the key challenges. It is attempted to deliver better fundamental understanding of the impacts of morphology, microstructure, physical, chemical, and biological modifications, and composition/hybrids on the rheological behavior of lignin/polymer blends, as well as, on the mechanical, physical, and chemical performance of the 3D printed lignin‐based materials. The main points toward future developments involve hybrid manufacturing, in situ polymerization, and surface tension or energy driven molecular segregation are also elaborated and discussed to promote the high‐value utilization of lignin.

Under the action of dissolution, rock masses form solution fissure leading to changes in their internal structure, which in turn affect their engineering mechanical properties and failure characteristics. Karst rock masses usually have a significant impact on the stability of tunnel surrounding rocks in karst stratum. This article utilizes digital image processing technology and particle flow discrete element method to numerically reconstruct calculation models of limestone with different degree of dissolution. A series of uniaxial compression discrete element numerical experiments were conducted on karst limestone with different degree of dissolution, analyzing the stress-strain relationship, mechanical parameters, failure modes, and energy changes of limestone with different degree of dissolution. Research results indicated the following: (1) The karst limestone model constructed based on digital image processing technology can effectively characterize the dissolution features of karst limestone, and numerical simulation experiments can effectively characterize the mechanical behavior of karst limestone. (2) As the degree of dissolution increases, the stress-strain curve of karst limestone gradually exhibits bimodal or multimodal characteristics, and the uniaxial compressive strength of karst limestone shows an exponential decrease trend, while the elastic modulus shows a linear decrease trend. (3) Under high degree of dissolution, the existence of pore structure causes the stress skeleton inside the karst limestone to be damaged, and the number of shear and tensile cracks is continuously decreasing. The distribution of internal force chains is dispersed, making the karst limestone more prone to failure. (4) During the process of karst limestone failure, most of the input total strain energy is first converted into elastic strain energy, and only a small portion is converted into dissipative strain energy. The increase in the degree of dissolution significantly reduces the total energy input and the storage limit of elastic strain energy during the uniaxial compression failure process of karst limestone, and increases the degree of strain energy dissipation.

BackgroundThe causality between plasma branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) levels and stroke remains uncertain and the stratified research on the association between BCAAs levels and subtypes of stroke is not well studied. Therefore, the association of genetically proxied circulating BCAA levels with the risks of stroke and its subtypes was explored by Mendelian randomization (MR) in this study.MethodsSummary-level data derived from the published genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were employed for analyses. Data for plasma BCAA levels (n = 16,596) were obtained from a meta-analysis of GWAS. The MEGASTROKE consortium provided data for ischemic stroke (n = 440,328) and its subtypes and data for hemorrhagic stroke were available from 2 meta-analyses of GWAS of European-ancestry groups (intracerebral hemorrhage, n = 3,026; subarachnoid hemorrhage, n = 77,074). The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was selected as the primary MR analysis. Supplementary analysis used included the weighted median, MR-Egger regression, Cochran’s Q statistic, MR Pleiotropy Residual Sum and Outlier global test, and leave-one-out analysis method.ResultsAccording to IVW analysis, 1-SD increment in genetically determined circulating isoleucine was associated with increased risks of cardioembolic stroke (CES) (OR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.21–2.20, P = 0.0007), but not with risks of other stroke subtypes. We could not discover any proof that leucine and valine levels could increase risk of any stroke subtype. All heterogeneity tests produced stable findings, and there was no concrete evidence to indicate the perturbation of horizontal multiplicity.ConclusionIncreasing plasma isoleucine level had a causal effect on the risk of CES but not on the risk of other stroke subtypes. Further research is needed to identify the mechanisms of the causal associations between BCAAs and stroke subtypes.

ABSTRACT Recently, a new strategy for attenuating RNA viruses by redirecting their evolution in sequence space was confirmed for Enterovirus and Influenza viruses. Using avian flavivirus as a model, the 69 serine and 53 leucine codons on the E-NS1 genes were modified to change evolutionary direction of the viral sequence space. This means that all codons encoding serine or leucine residues were substituted with codons that are only one base different from the three stop codons, resulting in the initial position of the virus genome in sequence space being closer to the detrimental areas to achieve attenuation by reducing viral adaptability. The growth curve and plaque size of CQW1-one-to-stop (CQW1-OTS) were similar to those of CQW1-wild type (CQW1-WT) in vitro, but attenuated proliferation was detected when treated with a mutagenic reagent (ribavirin). However, comparably high CQW1-OTS and CQW1-WT lethality rates were detected in 9-day-old duck embryos and 5-day-old ducklings, suggesting that this strategy works but with limitations. With that in mind, homologous hosts in nonsensitive age (25-day-old ducks) and heterologous hosts (3-week-old Kunming mice) were employed to investigate if CQW1-OTS was attenuated under host selection pressure. Minimal attenuation of CQW1-OTS in elder ducks and apparent attenuation in mice were reported, providing reduced viral titers, mild clinical signs, and lower specific infectivity. Collectively, we experimentally demonstrate that the attenuation strategy of redirecting virus evolution in sequence space works for flavivirus. Redirection of the virus is attenuated only under some outside pressure, such as heterologous hosts or antiviral drugs treatment, limiting its usage in flaviviruses. IMPORTANCE Flaviviruses are medically important arboviruses that threaten public health, but no approved treatments are currently available. Vaccines prevent flavivirus infection. We employed duck Tembusu virus (TMUV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus, to evaluate virus redirection. TMUV is native to birds and could infect mice by intracerebral injection, making it an experimental animal model to study flavivirus characteristics in vivo. The 69 serine and 53 leucine codons on the E-NS1 proteins of CQW1 were synonymously substituted to change evolutionary direction of the virus in sequence space. In vitro mutagen reagent treatment suppressed CQW1-OTS viral multiplication, but in vivo attenuation depended on host selective pressure. CQW1-OTS viral attenuation was observed in older ducks but not sensitive ducklings; considerable attenuation was also observed in heterogenous host (mice), which provides more selective pressure on viruses. Collectively, these data indicated that there are very important preconditions for application of evaluating whether this strategy shows application prospects in novel flavivirus vaccine development.

In order to ensure the safety of construction and operation of the tunnel near the goaf. Based on dynamic numerical analysis, three-dimensional finite difference numerical simulation software was developed by FISH programming. Then, on basis of the construction of practical engineering, the safety distance and energy evolution mechanism in an underlying mining goaf area of deep tunnel are studied. The results show that according to the different safe distance in an underlying mining goaf area of deep tunnel, the tunnel structure is divided into danger zone, influence zone and safe zone. The relationship between the cumulative horizontal energy and stress ratio can be divided into three stages: acceleration, average stability and deceleration. The energy evolution of the three stages can also better reflect the damage and failure mechanism inside the surrounding rock mass. The measured field curve shows that when the safety distance is 12 m, the goaf has limited influence on the stability of the tunnel, and the construction in an underlying mining goaf area of deep tunnel is stable on the whole and meets the safety requirements. The best safe distance between the tunnel and goaf is about one time of the tunnel span.