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Simple and efficient nanofabrication technology with low cost and high flexibility is indispensable for fundamental nanoscale research and prototyping. Lithography in the near field using the surface plasmon polariton (i.e., plasmonic lithography) provides a promising solution. The system with high stiffness passive nanogap control strategy on a high-speed rotating substrate is one of the most attractive high-throughput methods. However, a smaller and steadier plasmonic nanogap, new scheme of plasmonic lens, and parallel processing should be explored to achieve a new generation high resolution and reliable efficient nanofabrication. Herein, a parallel plasmonic direct-writing nanolithography system is established in which a novel plasmonic flying head is systematically designed to achieve around 15 nm minimum flying-height with high parallelism at the rotating speed of 8–18 m·s−1. A multi-stage metasurface-based polarization insensitive plasmonic lens is proposed to couple more power and realize a more confined spot compared with conventional plasmonic lenses. Parallel lithography of the nanostructures with the smallest (around 26 nm) linewidth is obtained with the prototyping system. The proposed system holds great potential for high-freedom nanofabrication with low cost, such as planar optical elements and nano-electromechanical systems.

Clematis is one of the largest genera of Ranunculaceae with many phylogenetic problems left to be resolved. Clematis species have considerable genome size of more than 7 Gbp, and there was no whole-genome reference sequence published in this genus. This raises difficulties in acquiring nuclear genome data for its phylogenetic analysis. Previous studies based on Sanger sequencing data, plastid genome data, and nrDNA sequences did not well resolve the phylogeny of Clematis. In this study, we used genome skimming and transcriptome data to assemble the plastid genome sequences, nuclear single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) datasets, and single-copy nuclear orthologous genes (SCOGs) to reconstruct the phylogenetic backbone of Clematis, and test effectiveness of these genome partitioning methods. We also further analyzed the discordance among nuclear gene trees and between plastid and nuclear phylogenies. The results showed that the SCOGs datasets, assembled from transcriptome method, well resolved the phylogenetic backbone of Clematis. The nuclear SNPs datasets from genome skimming method can also produce similar results with the SCOGs data. In contrast to the plastid phylogeny, the phylogeny resolved by nuclear genome data is more robust and better corresponds to morphological characters. Our results suggested that rapid species radiation may have generated high level of incomplete lineage sorting, which was the major cause of nuclear gene discordance. Our simulation also showed that there may have been frequent interspecific hybridization events, which led to some of the cyto-nuclear discordances in Clematis. This study not only provides the first robust phylogenetic backbone of Clematis based on nuclear genome data, but also provides suggestions of genome partitioning strategies for the phylogenomic study of other plant taxa.

The near-field photolithography system has attracted increasing attention in the micro- and nano-manufacturing field, due to the high efficiency, high resolution, and the low cost of the scheme. Nevertheless, the low quality of the nano-patterns significantly limits the industrial application of this technology. Theoretical calculations showed that the reason for the poor nano-patterns is the sharp attenuation of the surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) in the photoresist layer. The calculation results suggest that the waveguide mode, which is composed of the chromium-equivalent dielectric layer-aluminum, can facilitate the energy flux density distribution in the photoresist layer, resulting in the enhancement of the field intensity of SPPs in the photoresist layer. This reduces the linewidth of nano-patterns, while it enhances the pattern steepness. Eventually, the focusing energy of the photoresist layer can be improved. The finite-difference time-domain method was employed to simulate and verify the theoretical results. It is found that for the rotational near-field photolithography with 355 nm laser illumination, the linewidths of the nano-patterns with and without the aluminum reflector are 17.54 nm and 65.51 nm, respectively. The robustness of the experimental results implies that the application of the aluminum reflector enhances the focusing effect in the photoresist, which can broaden the application of the near-field photolithography.

There is a growing interest in leveraging LiDAR-generated forest Aboveground Biomass (LG-AGB) data as a reference to retrieve AGB from satellite observations. However, the biases arising from the upscaling process and the impact of the sampling strategy on model accuracy still need to be resolved. In this study, we first corrected the bias arising from upscaling the LG-AGB map to match the spatial resolution of Landsat observations. Subsequently, the stratified random sampling method was used to select training samples from the corrected LG-AGB map (cLG-AGB) for the Random Forest (RF) regression model. The RF model features were extracted from the Landsat observations and auxiliary data. The impact of strata numbers on model accuracy was explored during the sampling process. Finally, independent validation was conducted using in situ measurements. The results indicated that: (1) about 68% of the biases can be corrected in the up-scale transformation; (2) compared to no stratification, a three-strata model achieved a 6.5% improvement in AGB estimation accuracy while requiring a 37.8% reduction in sample size; (3) the black locust forest had a low saturation point at 60.52 ± 4.46 Mg/ha AGB and 72.4% AGB values were underestimated and the remaining were overestimated. In summary, our study provides a framework to harmonize near-surface LiDAR and satellite data for AGB estimation in plantation forest ecosystems with small patch sizes and fragmented distribution.

Abstract Rare earth‐based perovskites have become an attractive research interest in the field of cryogenic magnetic refrigerants due to their unique advantages in practical applications. The remarkable magnetocaloric effect (MCE) renders EuTiO3 a potential magnetic refrigerant in the liquid helium temperature range. More impressively, the tunability between antiferromagnetism (AFM) and ferromagnetism (FM) provides the feasibility of tailoring the magnetism and enhancing the magnetocaloric performance. In this study, the magnetism of EuTi0.75Al0.125Zr0.125O3 is investigated in depth through first‐principles calculations and experimental methods. Both theoretical calculations and experimental results reveal that it exhibits significant ferromagnetism due to the AFM‐FM magnetic transition promoted by the co‐substitution of Al and Zr. Lattice expansion and altered electronic interactions are responsible for the FM behavior, which leads to a significant enhancement of the MCE. With the field change of 0−1 T, the peak values of magnetic entropy change (−ΔSM), refrigerating capacity (RC), and adiabatic temperature change (ΔTad) reach 18.9 J kg−1 K−1, 77.7 J kg−1, and 7.4 K, respectively. More surprisingly, the values of maximum magnetic entropy change (−ΔSMmax) and maximum adiabatic temperature change ΔTadmax for EuTi0.75Al0.125Zr0.125O3 reach 11.4 J kg−1 K−1 and 3.7 K under the field change of 0−0.5 T, respectively. The remarkable magnetocaloric performance proves it to be a brilliant magnetic refrigerant operating near liquid helium temperature.

IntroductionAltrenogest (ALT) is widely used to regulate the estrous cycle of sows and mares; however, currently used oral solutions of ALT are deficient in terms of dose accuracy and stability during use. To resolve these problems, we aimed to prepare softgel capsules of ALT with a unit dose equal to the clinically administered dose.MethodThe shell of the softgel capsule was mainly composed of gelatin and glycerol, with titanium dioxide and red iron oxide as masking agents. Using the shake flask method, the contents were screened for ethyl acetate as a lipophilic solubilizing carrier based on soya bean oil. The contents were automatically filled and compressed into softgel capsules by a softgel capsule machine. The quality of the prepared softgel capsules was evaluated through a drug content test, an in vitro release test, and stability studies. Furthermore, bioequivalence studies were conducted with atrenogest oral solution.ResultsThe content is an ALT concentration of 2% oil solution and the specification of the softgel is 20 mg/capsule. In in vitro dissolution experiments, the softgel capsules were rapidly disintegrated and released in three different pH buffers, with a cumulative release rate of nearly 100% at 1 h. The softgel capsules were stable at high temperature and under strong light for 10 days, and the concentration of ALT was >99% in the 6-month accelerated and long-term tests. In the bioequivalence study, Tmax of the softgel capsules was 2.20 ± 0.77 h, t1/2 was 6.36 ± 1.74 h, and Cmax was 64.65 ± 20.69 ng/ml. The main pharmacokinetic parameters Tmax, Cmax, AUC0−t, and AUC0−∞, did not differ significantly between the softgel capsules and the commercially available ALT oral solution (P > 0.05), and bioequivalence was demonstrated within the 90% confidence interval.ConclusionThe prepared softgel capsules have the advantages of higher content, ease of use with accurate dosing, good stability, and equivalence to ALT oral solution, implying that our softgels are ready for clinical use.

Manganese (Mn) exposure is a common environmental risk factor for Parkinson's disease (PD), with pathogenic mechanisms associated with dopaminergic neuron damage and neuroinflammation. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) have emerged as a novel therapeutic approach for neural damage repair. The functional sEVs released from MSCs when they are induced into dopaminergic progenitors may have a better repair effect on neural injury. Therefore, we collected sEVs obtained from primary human nasal mucosal mesenchymal stem cells (hnmMSC-sEVs) or cells in the process of dopaminergic progenitor cell differentiation (da-hnmMSC-sEVs), which were cultured in a 3D dynamic system, and observed their repair effects and mechanisms of Mn-induced neural damage by intranasal administration of sEVs. In Mn-exposed mice, sEVs could reach the site of brain injury after intranasal administration, da-hnmMSC enhanced the repair effects of sEVs in neural damage and behavioral competence, as evidenced by restoration of motor dysfunction, enhanced neurogenesis, decreased microglia activation, up-regulation of anti-inflammatory factors, and down-regulation of pro-inflammatory factors. The transcriptomics of hnmMSC-sEVs and da-hnmMSC-sEVs revealed that miRNAs, especially miR-494–3p in sEVs were involved in neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects. Overexpression of miR-494–3p in sEVs inhibited Mn-induced inflammation and neural injury, and its repair mechanism might be related to the down-regulation of CMPK2 and NLRP3 in vitro experiments. Thus, intranasal delivery of da-hnmMSC-sEVs is an effective strategy for the treatment of neural injury repair.

Objectives: The role of Epoxide Hydrolase-4 (EPHX4), a member of epoxide hydrolase family, has not been investigated in cancer. The purpose of this article is to explore the application value of EPHX4 in laryngeal cancer and its relationship with immune infiltration. Methods: We observed that EPHX4 expression and its survival assays in laryngeal cancer specimens based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohorts. We also analyzed the correlation between immune cell infiltration levels and EPHX4 gene copy number in laryngeal cancer. Finally, we conducted in vitro assay to evaluate the functions of EPHX4 in laryngeal cancer cell line. Results: EPHX4 is highly expressed in laryngeal cancer specimens and has a poor prognosis. EPHX4 related immune cell analysis showed that it participated in NK Natural killer cell mediated cytotoxicity. Finally, Cell experiments indicate that EPHX4 could promote laryngeal cancer cell line proliferation, colony formation and invasion. Conclusions: Our research results suggest that EPHX4 may be a potential immunotherapy target for laryngeal cancer. The nominated immune signature is a helpful and promising prognostic indicator in laryngeal cancer. Levels of Evidence: Level 3.

Abstract Prostate cancer (PC) is one of the most common cancers in men and becoming the second leading cause of cancer fatalities. At present, the lack of effective strategies for prognosis of PC patients is still a problem to be solved. Therefore, it is significant to identify potential gene signatures for PC patients’ prognosis. Here, we summarized 71 different prognostic gene signatures for PC and concluded 3 strategies for signature construction after extensive investigation. In addition, 14 genes frequently appeared in 71 different gene signatures, which enriched in mitotic and cell cycle. This review provides extensive understanding and integrated analysis of current prognostic signatures of PC, which may help researchers to construct gene signatures of PC and guide future clinical treatment.

Abstract Intense grazing may lead to grassland degradation on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, but it is difficult to predict where this will occur and to quantify it. Based on a process-based ecosystem model, we define a productivity-based stocking rate threshold that induces extreme grassland degradation to assess whether and where the current grazing activity in the region is sustainable. We find that the current stocking rate is below the threshold in ~80% of grassland areas, but in 55% of these grasslands the stocking rate exceeds half the threshold. According to our model projections, positive effects of climate change including elevated CO2 can partly offset negative effects of grazing across nearly 70% of grasslands on the Plateau, but only in areas below the stocking rate threshold. Our analysis suggests that stocking rate that does not exceed 60% (within 50% to 70%) of the threshold may balance human demands with grassland protection in the face of climate change.

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a common malignant bone tumor that occurs mostly in children and adolescents. At present, surgery after chemotherapy or postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy is the main treatment plan. However, the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs is limited by the occurrence of chemotherapeutic resistance, toxicity to normal cells, poor pharmacokinetic performance, and drug delivery failure. The delivery of chemotherapy drugs to the bone to treat OS may fail for a variety of reasons, such as a lack of selectivity for OS cells, initial sudden release, short‐term release, and the presence of biological barriers (such as the blood‐bone marrow barrier). Nanomaterials are new materials with at least one dimension on the nanometer scale (1–100 nm) in three‐dimensional space. These materials have the ability to penetrate biological barriers and can accumulate preferentially in tumor cells. Studies have shown that the effective combination of nanomaterials and traditional chemotherapy can significantly improve the therapeutic effect. Therefore, this article reviews the latest research progress on the use of nanomaterials in OS chemotherapy.

Flexible temperature sensors have diverse applications and a great potential in the field of temperature monitoring, including healthcare, smart homes and the automotive industry. However, the current flexible temperature sensor preparation generally suffers from process complexity, which limits its development and application. In this paper, a nickel oxide (NiO) flexible temperature sensor based on a low-temperature sintering technology is introduced. The prepared NiO flexible temperature sensor has a high-resolution temperature measurement performance and good stability, including temperature detection over a wide temperature range of (25 to 70 °C) and a high sensitivity performance (of a maximum TCR of −5.194%°C−1 and a thermal constant of 3938 K). The rapid response time of this temperature sensor was measured to be 2 s at 27–50 °C, which ensures the accuracy and reliability of the measurement. The NiO flexible temperature sensor prepared by electrohydrodynamic direct writing has a stable performance and good flexibility in complex environments. The temperature sensor can be used to monitor the temperature status of the equipment and prevent failure or damage caused by overheating.

Against the backdrop of global warming and vegetation restoration, research on the evapotranspiration mechanism of the Yellow River basin has become a hot topic. The Budyko-Fu model is widely used to estimate basin-scale evapotranspiration, and its crucial parameter ω is used to characterize the underlying surface and climate characteristics of different basins. However, most studies only use factors such as the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), which represents the greenness of vegetation, to quantify the relationship between ω and the underlying surface, thereby neglecting richer vegetation information. In this study, we used long time-series multi-source remote sensing data from 1988 to 2015 and stepwise regression to establish dynamic estimation models of parameter ω for three subwatersheds of the upper Yellow River and quantify the contribution of underlying surface factors and climate factors to this parameter. In particular, vegetation optical depth (VOD) was introduced to represent plant biomass to improve the applicability of the model. The results showed that the dynamic estimation models of parameter ω established for the three subwatersheds were reasonable (R2 = 0.60, 0.80, and 0.40), and parameter ω was significantly correlated with the VOD and standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) in all watersheds. The dominant factors affecting the parameter in the different subwatersheds also differed, with underlying surface factors mainly affecting the parameter in the watershed before Longyang Gorge (BLG) (contributing 64% to 76%) and the watershed from Lanzhou to Hekou Town (LHT) (contributing 63% to 83%) and climate factors mainly affecting the parameter in the watershed from Longyang Gorge to Lanzhou (LGL) (contributing 75% to 93%). The results of this study reveal the changing mechanism of evapotranspiration in the Yellow River watershed and provide an important scientific basis for regional water balance assessment, global change response, and sustainable development.

Ecological engineering (EE) has a profound impact on land-use dynamics, leading to alterations in ecosystem services (ESs). However, an appropriate EE implementation intensity that can balance the tradeoffs associated with altered ESs well has always been a concern for researchers and policymakers. In this study, we set the transition probability of farmland, bare land, and desertification land to forest and natural shrub, with 2010–2020 as the natural implementation scenario, as 10% for the low-intensity implementation scenario (LIS), 30% for the medium-intensity scenario, and 50% for the high-intensity scenario. The patch-generating land-use simulation (PLUS) model was used to project land-use patterns and the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Service and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model was used to simulate changes in the quality of ESs under four EE implementation intensities in 2030. We then performed a quantitative tradeoff analysis on the dominant ESs under four scenarios and used the production possibility frontier (PPF) curve to identify the optimal EE implementation intensity scenario. Our results indicated that an increase in EE implementation intensity would lead to an increase in soil retention, water purification, habitat quality, and carbon storage, but also to a decrease in water yield, aggravating the tradeoffs between water yield and other ESs. In all EE implementation intensity scenarios, the LIS had the lowest tradeoff intensity index and balanced ESs well, and thus was the optimal EE implementation scenario in Qinghai province. Our results provide knowledge to help decision makers select the appropriate EE intensity to maintain sustainable development. The integrated methodology can also be applied in other conservation regions to carry out practical land management.

In order to obtain a fibrous biofilm carrier material with a good water purification effect, the biofilm carrier of PAN and PAN-PEO (mass ratio 9:1) was prepared by the electrospinning process, and the performance differences between the fabric biofilm carriers of PAN, PAN-PEO (mass ratio 9:1), and blank non-woven fabric, including the structure of biofilm carriers (surface morphology, specific surface area, and porosity), surface wettability (water contact angle and water absorbance) and membrane hanging ratio, were tested through various characterization methods. The experimental results show that the nanofiber membrane of PAN and PAN-PEO (mass ratio 9:1) prepared by the electrospinning process has a diameter of 75–375 nm, a specific surface area of 19.2 m2/g, and a porosity of 80%. The fiber diameter of non-woven fabric is in the micrometer range, with a specific surface area of 0.3659 m2/g and a porosity of 60%. This indicates that the nanofiber biofilm of PAN and PAN-PEO (mass ratio 9:1) prepared by electrospinning belongs to the carrier with a small diameter, high specific surface area, and high porosity, which can provide more attachment sites and pores for micro-organisms and is more conducive to their attachment in wastewater treatment. At the same time, the water contact angles of PAN and PAN-PEO (mass ratio 9:1) are 27.97° and 18°, respectively, and the water absorption of both reached 300%. The water contact angle of non-woven fabric is 93.32°, and the water absorption rate is only 75%. This shows that the nanofiber biofilms of PAN and PAN-PEO (mass ratio 9:1) prepared by electrospinning effectively improve the infiltration of the carrier in sewage. Finally, under the same conditions, bacterial growth and biofilm growth experiments were conducted on the nanofiber biofilm carriers of PAN and PAN-PEO (mass ratio 9:1) and the biofilm carriers of non-woven fabric. It was found that the effectiveness of the PAN and PAN-PEO (mass ratio 9:1) nanofiber biofilm carrier was significantly higher than that of non-woven fabric in treating wastewater. After 3 days of bacterial cultivation, the membrane hanging ratio of the PAN nanofiber biofilm carrier was 90.36%, the membrane hanging ratio of the PAN-PEO (mass ratio 9:1) nanofiber biofilm carrier was 82.04%, and the membrane hanging ratio of the non-woven fabric biofilm carrier was only 27.32%. After 15 days of bacterial cultivation, the membrane hanging ratio of the PAN nanofiber biofilm carrier was 147.52%, the membrane hanging ratio of the PAN-PEO (mass ratio 9:1) nanofiber biofilm carrier was 147.52%, and the membrane hanging ratio of the non-woven fabric biofilm carrier was 110.53%.

Abstract Stability control of electrohydrodynamic (EHD) printing technology is urgent needed for efficient fabrication of flexible electronics. In this study, a new fast on–off controlling technology for micro droplets of EHD is proposed by applying an AC induced voltage. The suspending droplet interface is broken through quickly, and the impulse current can be significantly reduced from 527.2 to 50.14 nA, which greatly reduces its negative impact on jet stability. What’s more, time interval of jet generation can be shortened by a factor of three, while not only significantly improving the uniformity of the droplets, but effectively reducing the droplet size from 195 to 104 μm. Moreover, the controllable and mass formation of micro droplets are realized, but also the structure of each droplet is able to be controlled independently, which promoted the development of EHD printing technology in more fields.

The development of flexible electronic devices is faced with the challenge of difficult fabrication of complex functional structures on flexible substrates. In this paper, a high viscosity ink of silver-ammonia complex was developed based on the reductive ink principle. Using the electrohydrodynamic direct writing, composite fiber patterned printing was achieved on a flexible substrate. By low-temperature sintering of precursor fibers for reduction, a dense silver structure was formed on the surface, resulting in the formation of Ag/PEO conductive fibers. This approach avoided the high temperature damage to the flexible substrate and the adhesion of materials, while demonstrating good conductivity. The Ag/PEO conductive fibers exhibited different sensitivities to H2O molecules in low, medium, and high humidity environments, which were used to design a flexible Ag structure humidity sensor (ASHS) as a functional material. The ASHS showed a linear response relationship and a fast response speed in an environmental humidity range of 11 % to 75 %RH, enabling real-time monitoring of human respiration. This study demonstrates a promising application prospect of the silver-ammine complex ink in the field of flexible electronic devices.

Delivery of anti-inflammatory microRNA (miRNA) could be beneficial for inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Here the authors show that a fluorinated polyamidoamine dendrimer nanoparticle delivers miR-23b to affected RA joints and reduces inflammation, joint damage and synovial cell influx.

Objective Percutaneous suture is a classic technique used in Achilles tendon repair. However, the complication rates surrounding the sural nerve remain relatively high. Modified percutaneous repair technology can effectively avoid these complications; however, the surgical procedure is complicated. Hence, the present study was conducted to describe a redesigned repair technique for the Achilles tendon able to avoid sural nerve injury and reduce the complexity of the procedure. Methods Data of patients with acute primary Achilles tendon rupture at our hospital from January 2019 to May 2020 were included. Subjects with expectations for surgical scarring underwent a minimally invasive‐combined percutaneous puncture technique. The surgical time, requirement for conversion to other technologies, and length of postoperative hospitalization were investigated to assess efficacy. The American Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score and the Arner–Lindholm scale (A‐L scale) were used to assess postoperative clinical outcomes (> 24 months). During the 2‐year follow‐up, MRI was performed to observe the healing of the Achilles tendon. In addition, subjective satisfaction with surgical scar healing was recorded. Results Twenty consecutive subjects with an average follow‐up of 28.3 ± 4.5 months (range, 24–41) met the inclusion criteria. None of the 20 enrolled patients required a converted surgical approach. The mean surgical time was 26.9 ± 6.47 min (range, 20–44). None of the patients experienced dysesthesia or anesthesia around the sural nerve. No signs of postoperative infections were observed. MRI data showed that the wounds of the Achilles tendon healed completely in all the subjects. The AOFAS score increased from 55.6 ± 11.07 (range, 28–71) preoperatively to 97.8 ± 3.34 (range, 87–100) at the last follow‐up. The A‐L scale showed that 90% of the subjects (n = 18) presented as excellent and 10% of the subjects (n = 2) presented as good, with an excellent/good rate of 100%. Moreover, subjects' satisfaction for surgical scars was 9.1 ± 0.78 (upper limit, 10). Conclusions The results indicate that this technique can achieve good postoperative function, a small surgical incision, and high scar satisfaction. In addition, this technique should be widely used in suturing Achilles tendon ruptures.

Abstract Background The function of the insula has been increasingly mentioned in neurocircuitry models of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) for its role in affective processing and regulating anxiety and its wide interactions with the classic cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical circuit. However, the insular resting-state functional connectivity patterns in OCD remain unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate characteristic intrinsic connectivity alterations of the insula in OCD and their associations with clinical features. Methods We obtained resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 85 drug-free OCD patients and 85 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs). We performed a general linear model to compare the whole-brain intrinsic functional connectivity maps of the bilateral insula between the OCD and HC groups. In addition, we further explored the relationship between the intrinsic functional connectivity alterations of the insula and clinical features using Pearson or Spearman correlation analysis. Results Compared with HCs, patients with OCD exhibited increased intrinsic connectivity between the bilateral insula and bilateral precuneus gyrus extending to the inferior parietal lobule and supplementary motor area. Decreased intrinsic connectivity was only found between the right insula and bilateral lingual gyrus in OCD patients relative to HC subjects, which was negatively correlated with the severity of depression symptoms in the OCD group. Conclusion In the current study, we identified impaired insular intrinsic connectivity in OCD patients and the dysconnectivity of the right insula and bilateral lingual gyrus associated with the depressive severity of OCD patients. These findings provide neuroimaging evidence for the involvement of the insula in OCD and suggest its potential role in the depressive symptoms of OCD.

Resting-state fMRI analysis of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) compared to controls suggests a specific role of amygdala subregions in neurocircuitry models of OCD.

BackgroundDeep learning technology has been widely applied to medical image analysis. But due to the limitations of its own imaging principle, ultrasound image has the disadvantages of low resolution and high Speckle Noise density, which not only hinder the diagnosis of patients’ conditions but also affect the extraction of ultrasound image features by computer technology.ObjectiveIn this study, we investigate the robustness of deep convolutional neural network (CNN) for classification, segmentation, and target detection of breast ultrasound image through random Salt & Pepper Noise and Gaussian Noise.MethodsWe trained and validated 9 CNN architectures in 8617 breast ultrasound images, but tested the models with noisy test set. Then, we trained and validated 9 CNN architectures with different levels of noise in these breast ultrasound images, and tested the models with noisy test set. Diseases of each breast ultrasound image in our dataset were annotated and voted by three sonographers based on their malignancy suspiciousness. we use evaluation indexes to evaluate the robustness of the neural network algorithm respectively.ResultsThere is a moderate to high impact (The accuracy of the model decreased by about 5%-40%) on model accuracy when Salt and Pepper Noise, Speckle Noise, or Gaussian Noise is introduced to the images respectively. Consequently, DenseNet, UNet++ and Yolov5 were selected as the most robust model based on the selected index. When any two of these three kinds of noise are introduced into the image at the same time, the accuracy of the model will be greatly affected.ConclusionsOur experimental results reveal new insights: The variation trend of accuracy with the noise level in Each network used for classification tasks and object detection tasks has some unique characteristics. This finding provides us with a method to reveal the black-box architecture of computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) systems. On the other hand, the purpose of this study is to explore the impact of adding noise directly to the image on the performance of neural networks, which is different from the existing articles on robustness in the field of medical image processing. Consequently, it provides a new way to evaluate the robustness of CAD systems in the future.

Flexible devices have extensive applications in areas including wearable sensors, healthcare, smart packaging, energy, automotive and aerospace sectors, and other related fields. Droplet printing technology can be utilized to print flexible electronic components with micro/nanostructures on various scales, exhibiting good compatibility and wide material applicability for device production. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the current research status of droplet printing technologies and their applications across various domains, aiming to offer a valuable reference for researchers in related areas.

Accurate quantification of terrestrial gross primary production (GPP) is integral for enhancing our understanding of the global carbon budget and climate change. The light use efficiency (LUE) model is undoubtedly the most extensively applied method for GPP estimation. However, the two-leaf (TL)-LUE model using a ‘potential’ sunlit leaf area index (LAI _su ) can separate a portion of LAI _su even when the canopy does not receive any direct radiation, leading to the underestimation of GPP under cloudy and overcast days. Here, we developed a dynamic-leaf (DL) LUE model by introducing an ‘effective’ LAI _su to improve GPP estimation, which considers the comprehensive contribution of LAI _su when the canopy does and does not receive direct radiation. In particular, the new model decreases LAI _su to zero when direct radiation reaches zero. Our evaluation at eight ChinaFLUX sites showed that (1) the DL-LUE model outperformed the most well-known BL-LUE (namely, the MOD17 GPP algorithm) and TL-LUE models in reproducing the daily in situ GPP, especially at four forest sites [reducing the root mean square error (RMSE) from 1.74 g C m ^−2 d ^−1 and 1.53 g C m ^−2 d ^−1 to 1.36 g C m ^−2 d ^−1 and increasing the coefficient of determination ( R ^2 ) from 0.74 and 0.79–0.82, respectively]. Moreover, the improvements were particularly pronounced at longer temporal scales, as indicated by the RMSE decreasing from 29.32 g C m ^−2 month ^−1 and28.11 g C m ^−2 month ^−1 to 25.81 g C m ^−2 month ^−1 at a monthly scale and from 231.82 g C m ^−2 yr ^−1 and 221.60 g C m ^−2 yr ^−1 –200.00 g C m ^−2 yr ^−1 at a yearly scale; (2) the DL-LUE model mitigated the systematic underestimation of the in situ GPP by both the TL-LUE and BL-LUE models when the clearness index (CI) was below 0.5, as indicated by the Bias reductions of 0.25 g C m ^−2 d ^−1 and 0.46 g C m ^−2 d ^−1 , respectively; and (3) the contributions of the shaded GPP to the total GPP from the DL-LUE model were higher by 0.07–0.16 than those from the TL-LUE model across the eight ChinaFLUX sites. The proposed parsimonious and effective DL-LUE model not only has great potential for improving global GPP estimations but also provides a more mechanism-based approach for partitioning the total GPP into its shaded and sunlit components.

IntroductionConductance-photosynthesis (Gs-A) models, accompanying with light use efficiency (LUE) models for calculating carbon assimilation, are widely used for estimating canopy stomatal conductance (Gs) and transpiration (Tc) under the two-leaf (TL) scheme. However, the key parameters of photosynthetic rate sensitivity (gsu and gsh) and maximum LUE (ϵmsu and ϵmsh) are typically set to temporally constant values for sunlit and shaded leaves, respectively. This may result in Tc estimation errors, as it contradicts field observations.MethodsIn this study, the measured flux data from three temperate deciduous broadleaved forests (DBF) FLUXNET sites were adopted, and the key parameters of LUE and Ball-Berry models for sunlit and shaded leaves were calibrated within the entire growing season and each season, respectively. Then, the estimations of gross primary production (GPP) and Tc were compared between the two schemes of parameterization: (1) entire growing season-based fixed parameters (EGS) and (2) season-specific dynamic parameters (SEA).ResultsOur results show a cyclical variability of ϵmsu across the sites, with the highest value during the summer and the lowest during the spring. A similar pattern was found for gsu and gsh, which showed a decrease in summer and a slight increase in both spring and autumn. Furthermore, the SEA model (i.e., the dynamic parameterization) better simulated GPP, with a reduction in root mean square error (RMSE) of about 8.0 ± 1.1% and an improvement in correlation coefficient (r) of 3.7 ± 1.5%, relative to the EGS model. Meanwhile, the SEA scheme reduced Tc simulation errors in terms of RMSE by 3.7 ± 4.4%.DiscussionThese findings provide a greater understanding of the seasonality of plant functional traits, and help to improve simulations of seasonal carbon and water fluxes in temperate forests.

BackgroundAlthough the specific role of the uncinate fasciculus (UF) in emotional processing in patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) has been investigated, the exact focal abnormalities in the UF have not been identified. The aim of the current study was to identify focal abnormalities in the white matter (WM) microstructure of the UF and to determine the associations between clinical features and structural neural substrates.MethodsIn total, 71 drug-naïve patients with OCD and 81 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) were included. Automated fiber quantification (AFQ), a tract-based quantitative approach, was adopted to measure alterations in diffusion parameters, including fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), radial diffusivity (RD) and axial diffusivity (AD), along the trajectory of the UF. Additionally, we utilized partial correlation analyses to explore the relationship between the altered diffusion parameters and clinical characteristics.ResultsOCD patients showed significantly higher FA and lower RD at the level of the temporal and insular portions in the left UF than HCs. In the insular segments of the left UF, increased FA was positively correlated with the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) score, while decreased RD was negatively correlated with the duration of illness.ConclusionWe observed specific focal abnormalities in the left UF in adult patients with OCD. Correlations with measures of anxiety and duration of illness underscore the functional importance of the insular portion of left UF disturbance in OCD patients.

With spherical Fe-Mn-CuOx/γ-Al2O3 catalyst as the packing of RPB (Rotating Packed Bed), the apparent reaction kinetics of phenol degradation by high gravity intensified heterogeneous catalytic ozonation was investigated under different operating conditions (high gravity factor, pH value, liquid flow rate, temperature). The reaction rate constants in BR (Bubbling Reactor) were compared, and the apparent reaction kinetics empirical models were established. The research results showed that the direct reaction rate constant of ozone and phenol (kPhOH/O3/RPB) in the high gravity field ranges in 8.17×104~8.80×105 L·mol-1·s-1, and the indirect reaction rate constant of ·OH and phenol (kPhOH/·OH/RPB) varies in the range of 1.54×1010~1.78×1010 L·mol-1·s-1, which are higher than these for BR (kPhOH/O3/BR=1.64×104 L·mol-1·s-1, kPhOH/·OH/BR=1.05×1010 L·mol-1·s-1). The activation energy of the indirect reaction (0.53 kJ/mol) is significantly lower than that of direct reaction (34.07 kJ/mol). By linearly fitting the apparent reaction rate constants under various reaction conditions, the apparent kinetic empirical models of direct and indirect reactions were obtained. The models show that among the influencing factors, β has the greatest influence on the apparent reaction rate.

The accurate estimation of gross primary productivity (GPP) plays an important role in accurately projecting the terrestrial carbon cycle and climate change. Satellite-driven near-infrared reflectance (NIRv) can be used to estimate GPP based on their nearly linear relationship. Notably, previous studies have reported that the relationship between NIRv and GPP seems to be biome-specific (or land cover) at the ecosystem scale due to both biotic and abiotic effects. Hence, the NIRv-based estimation of GPP may be influenced by land cover changes (LCC) and the discrepancies in multisource products (DMP). However, these issues have not been well understood until now. Therefore, this study took the Yellow River basin (YRB) as the study area. This area has experienced remarkable land cover changes in recent decades. We used Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and European Space Agency (ESA) Climate Change Initiative (CCI) land cover products (termed MCD12C1 and ESACCI, respectively) during 2001–2018 to explore the impact of land cover on NIRv-estimated GPP. Paired comparisons between the static and dynamic schemes of land cover using the two products were carried out to investigate the influences of LCC and DMP on GPP estimation by NIRv. Our results showed that the dominant land cover types in the YRB were grassland, followed by cropland and forest. Meanwhile, the main transfer was characterized by the conversion from other land cover types (e.g., barren) to grassland in the northwest of the YRB and from grassland and shrubland to cropland in the southeast of the YRB during the study period. Moreover, the temporal and spatial pattern of GPP was highly consistent with that of NIRv, and the average increase in GPP was 2.14 gCm−2yr−1 across the YRB. Nevertheless, it is shown that both LCC and DMP had significant influences on the estimation of GPP by NIRv. That is, the areas with obvious differences in NIRv-based GPP closely correspond to the areas where land cover types dramatically changed. The achievements of this study indicate that considering the land cover change and discrepancies in multisource products would help to improve the accuracy of NIRv-based estimated GPP.

Public service motivation contains distinctive cultural characteristics. Different cultural backgrounds shape public service motives with different connotations and levels. However, the traditional cultural values rooted in historical development and socialization process have not received enough attention in the research on public service motivation. In order to investigate the influence of Confucian culture based on Chinese scenes on public service motivation, in the current study we collected 1308 representative questionnaires from 12 cities in central and eastern China, and adopted the dual fixed effect model and moderating effect model to verify six hypotheses. The empirical results showed that Confucian culture has different effects on public service motivation from four dimensions, namely, attraction to politics and policy making (APP), commitment to public interest (CPI), compassion (COM), and self-sacrifice (SS). The paternalistic leadership plays a part in moderating the influence of Confucian culture on public service motivation. This study not only expands the cross-cultural applicability of the theory of public service motivation in non-western countries, but also supplements the evidence of research on public service motivation in East Asian countries. In practice, it is necessary for the organizations to consider the importance of specific cultural values for organizational culture and personal value orientation.

Grade II and III gliomas are heterogeneous and aggressive diseases. More efficient prognosis models and treatment methods are needed. This study aims to construct a new risk model and propose a new strategy for grade II and III gliomas. The data were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), and the EMTome website for analysis. The Human Cell Landscape website and the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer website were used for single-cell analysis and drug susceptibility analysis. Gene set enrichment analysis, gene function enrichment analysis, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, Pearson’s correlation analysis, log-rank test, Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, and ROC analysis were performed. We constructed an immune-related prognostic model associated with the isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) mutation status. By analyzing the immune microenvironment of patients with different risk scores, we found that high-risk patients were more likely to have an inflammatory immune microenvironment and a higher programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression level. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related gene sets were significantly enriched in the high-risk group, and the epithelial–mesenchymal transition phenotype was associated with a decrease in CD8+ T cells and an increase in M2 macrophages. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling was the most important signaling in inducing epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and TGFB1/TGFBR1 was correlated with an increase in CD8+ T cytopenia and M2 macrophages. Survival analysis showed that simultaneous low expression of TGFBR1 and PD-L1 had better survival results. Through single-cell analysis, we found that TGFB1 is closely related to microglia and macrophages, especially M2 macrophages. Finally, we discussed the sensitivity of TGFB1 inhibitors in gliomas using cell line susceptibility data. These results demonstrated a potential immunotherapy strategy in combination with the TGFB1/TGFBR1 inhibitor and PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor for grade II and III gliomas.