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Abstract Background It is beneficial for society to discover the risk factors associated with surgery and to carry out some early interventions for patients with these risk factors. Few studies specifically explored the relationship between bone marrow lesions (BMLs) and long-term incident joint surgery. Objective To investigate the association between BML severity observed in knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients’ first MRI examination and incident knee surgery within 5 years. Additionally, to assess the predictive value of BMLs for the incident knee surgery. Design Retrospective cohort study. Methods We identified patients diagnosed with knee OA and treated at our institution between January 2015 and January 2018, and retrieved their baseline clinical data and first MRI examination films from the information system. Next, we proceeded to determine the Max BML grades, BML burden grades and Presence BML grades for the medial, lateral, patellofemoral, and total compartments, respectively. Multi-variable logistic regression models examined the association of the BML grades with 5-year incident knee surgery. Positive and negative predictive values (PPVs and NPVs) were determined for BML grades referring to 5-year incident knee surgery. Results Totally, 1011 participants (knees) were found eligible to form the study population. Within the 5 years, surgery was performed on 74 knees. Max BML grade 2 and grade 3 of medial, patellofemoral and total compartments were strongly and significantly associated with incident surgery. None of the BML grades from lateral compartment was associated with incident surgery. The PPV was low and NPV was high for BMLs. Conclusions BMLs found in the first MRI examination were associated with 5-year incident joint surgery, except for those allocated in lateral compartments. The high NPVs imply that patients without BMLs have a low risk of requiring surgery within 5 years.

Objective: Ginsenoside Re, a unique tetracyclic triterpenoid compound found in ginseng, has been suggested in previous reports to improve non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by modulating lipid imbalance. This study aims to elucidate the potential mechanisms of Ginsenoside Re in treating NAFLD through a combination of bioinformatics analysis and biological experiments. Methods: Network pharmacology methods were employed to systematically depict the effective components and mechanisms of Ginsenoside Re in improving NAFLD. Molecular docking was utilized to evaluate the binding affinity of Ginsenoside Re with NAFLD-related targets and identify potential targets. NAFLD-related target genes were obtained from the GEO database for gene enrichment analysis, revealing signaling pathways, biological processes, and gene differential expression. Finally, animal experiments were conducted to verify the mechanism of action of Ginsenoside Re in NAFLD. Results: Network pharmacology analysis revealed that Ginsenoside Re improves NAFLD by modulating targets such as AKT1 and TLR4, findings corroborated by molecular docking, GEO database analysis, and experimental validation. Further investigation found that Ginsenoside Re ameliorates lipid metabolism disorders and inflammatory responses induced by NAFLD by modulating the PI3K/AKT and TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathways. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates the pharmacological effects of Ginsenoside Re in treating NAFLD, implicating multiple components, targets, and pathways. This provides a solid foundation for considering Ginsenoside Re as an alternative therapy for NAFLD, with promising clinical applications.

For the sake of improving the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of biodegradable Mg alloy synergistically, various content of element V (0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20 wt.%) are introduced into an Mg-Zn-Y alloy with long-period stacking ordered (LPSO) structure, and the effects of V on its microstructure, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance are investigated systematically. The results indicate that the grains are effectively refined by V addition, and the primary α-Mg in Mg-Zn-Y-V0.1 alloy is most significantly refined, with grain size being decreased by 62%. The amount of 18R LPSO structure is increased owing to the V addition. The growth mode of the second phase (W-phase and 18R LPSO structure) is transformed to divorced growth pattern, which ascribes to the thermodynamic drive force of V to promote the nucleation of LPSO phase. Thus, 18R LPSO structure presents a continuous distribution. Due to grains refinement and modification of second phase, the tensile strength and strain of alloys are both enhanced effectively. Especially, the ultimate tensile strength and the elongation of V0.1 alloy are 254 MPa and 15.26%, which are 41% and 61% higher than those of V-free alloy, respectively. Owing to the continuously distributed 18R LPSO structure with refined grains and stable product film, the weight loss and hydrogen evolution corrosion rates of V0.1 alloy are 7.1 and 6.2 mmy−1, respectively, which are 42.6% and 45.4% lower than those of V-free alloy.

As environmental pressures intensify and digital technology advances rapidly, many countries, including China, are looking to more effectively heed social and environmental responsibilities by effectively integrating digital technology with traditional industries. Digital green innovation is gradually becoming a necessary direction for enterprises in various countries as they strive for high-quality development. How enterprises can achieve digital green innovation through the duality of digitalization and sustainability has become a crucial research question. However, existing research rarely addresses the mechanisms that lead to the formation of digital green innovation within enterprises. This study uses a sample of 305 manufacturing enterprises in China. Based on strategic orientation theory, this study introduces the concept of digital sustainability orientation, integrating both digital and sustainability orientations. A model is constructed to examine the impact of digital sustainability orientation on digital green innovation in enterprises, analyzing the mechanism of action through the mediation of capability reconfiguration and the moderation of environmental scanning. The study finds that digital sustainability orientation significantly positively impacts digital green innovation, highlighting the integrated effect of digital and sustainability orientations. The findings indicate that digital sustainability orientation significantly positively impacts digital green innovation, whereas a single strategic orientation does not effectively promote digital green innovation; capability reconfiguration partially mediates the relationship between digital sustainability orientation and digital green innovation in enterprises; and environmental scanning positively moderates the relationship between digital sustainability orientation and capability reconfiguration and further influences the mediating role of capability reconfiguration. This study contributes to the advancement of digital sustainability theory in the field of digital green innovation; moreover, the results of this study offer significant practical insights for enterprises aiming to successfully implement digital green innovation.

Water management is critical for wheat production under extreme drought conditions, and the mechanisms by which root dynamics and soil water utilization affect wheat yield are uncertain. This study was conducted in 2023–2024 under a mesophilic semi-arid climate with a two-factor partitioned experimental design, aiming to assess the response of different irrigation amounts in winter wheat crops on root growth and development, soil water utilization, and yields in different soil horizons. The results showed that variety and irrigation volume had significant effects on the spatial and temporal distribution of root and yield components, with irrigation volume having the greatest effect on yield. Compared with CK, deficit-regulated irrigation significantly promoted root penetration to deeper layers and delayed root senescence. DRWD, RLD, RSA, and RV decreased gradually with increasing soil depth, and the peaks of RLD, RSA, and RV appeared at the tassel to flowering stage, respectively; and under deficit-regulated irrigation, the contribution of the A2W4 treatment to stable yield was greater. Therefore, A2W4 is an effective water-saving irrigation method to improve grain yield and water-use efficiency under deficit-regulated irrigation.

Geobacter grbiciae can grow via coupling oxidation of ethanol to the reduction of various forms of soluble Fe(III) and poorly crystalline Fe(III) oxide, suggesting that G. grbiciae can act as an electron-donor microbe for forming co-cultures through direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET). In this report, potential co-cultures through DIET of G. grbiciae and Methanosarcina barkeri 800, G. sulfurreducens Δhyb, or Methanospirillum hungatei, as electron-acceptor microbes, were examined. Co-cultures of G. grbiciae and G. sulfurreducens Δhyb were performed with ethanol as the sole electron-donor substance and fumarate as the electron-acceptor substance in the presence of granular activated carbon (GAC), magnetite, or polyester felt. The conditions for co-culturing G. grbiciae and M. barkeri 800 (or M. hungatei) were the same as those for G. grbiciae and G. sulfurreducens Δhyb, except fumarate was absent and different cultivation temperatures were used. All co-cultures were anaerobically cultivated. Samples were regularly withdrawn from the co-cultures to monitor methane, fumarate, and succinate via gas or high-performance liquid chromatography. G. grbiciae formed functional co-cultures with M. barkeri 800 in the presence of GAC or magnetite. No co-culture of G. grbiciae with the H2/formate-utilizing methanogen M. hungatei was observed. Additionally, G. grbiciae formed functional co-cultures with H2/formate-un-utilizing G. sulfurreducens Δhyb without the GAC or magnetite supplement. These findings indicate electron transfer between G. grbiciae and M. barkeri 800/G. sulfurreducens Δhyb is via DIET rather than H2/formate, confirming that G. grbiciae acts as an electron-donor microbe. Although the co-cultures of G. grbiciae and M. barkeri 800 syntrophically converted ethanol to methane through DIET, the conversion of propionate or butyrate to methane was not observed. These findings expand the range of microbes that can act as electron donors for interaction with other microbes through DIET. However, propionate and butyrate metabolism through DIET in mixed microbial communities with methane as a product requires further analysis. This study provides a framework for finding new electron-donor microbes.

Effects of B4C on the microstructure and properties of Mg94Zn2.5Y2.5Mn1 alloy were investigated by means of optical microscope, scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscope, nano indentation tester and electronic universal testing machine. The results indicated that the as-cast Mg94Zn2.5Y2.5Mn1 alloy was mainly composed of α-Mg, fishbone-like W phase, and block 18 R long period stacking ordered (LPSO) phase. The addition of an appropriate amount of B4C could effectively refine grains, promote the formation of the LPSO phase and inhibit the generation of the W phase. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the alloy were both optimal at the addition of 0.5 at.% B4C. The microstructure exhibited a refined grain size from 41.2 μm to 20.7 μm, and the volume fraction of the LPSO phase increased from 8.1 % to 22.5 %. The yield strength increases from 112 MPa to 145 MPa, the tensile strength of the alloy was enhanced from 192 MPa to 256 MPa, and the elongation increased from 4.8 % to 8.6 %.

This study examines how ambidextrous balanced innovation and ambidextrous combined innovation affect international entrepreneurial-oriented enterprise growth within the holistic paradigm of systems thinking and discusses the systemic impact of industry international competitiveness and industry financing dependence. We select the unbalanced panel data of China’s ICT industry international enterprises from 2010 to 2021 for empirical research, and we employ the fixed effect model for testing. The empirical results indicate that both ambidextrous balanced innovation and ambidextrous combined innovation promote international entrepreneurial-oriented enterprise growth, that the industry’s international competitiveness positively moderates the relationship between ambidextrous balanced innovation and international entrepreneurial-oriented enterprise growth, and that the industry’s financing dependence negatively moderates the relationship between ambidextrous balanced innovation and international entrepreneurial-oriented enterprise growth. The aforementioned conclusion is robust against a series of robustness tests. This study expands the theoretical research on international entrepreneurship and ambidextrous innovation strategy selection and may help in the selection of ambidextrous innovation strategies for international entrepreneurial-oriented enterprises.

This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effects of three major flavonoids from the Hippophae rhamnoides subsp. yunnanensis berries on four pathogenic microorganisms. The antimicrobial activity of total flavonoids from Hippophae rhamnoides subsp. yunnanensis berries on Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Candida albicans was firstly measured by filter paper method. Then, the total flavonoids compositions were identified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) and the main components were quantified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Finally, the Bradford method and the double dilution method were used to assess the antimicrobial effect of the three flavonoids. The results showed that the major flavonoid components of the Hippophae rhamnoides subsp. yunnanensis berries were isorhamnetin-3-O-glucoside-7-O-rhamnoside (Is-3-G-7-Rh), quercetin-3-O-rutinoside (Qu-3-R) and isorhamnetin-3-O-glucoside (Is-3-G), which with the contents of 38.43±0.85, 29.44±0.42 and 21.11±0.55 mg/g, respectively. The extract and its three main flavonoids had inhibitory effect on the four microorganisms. The inhibitory effects of Is-3-G-7-Rh and Is-3-G on the microorganisms were better than Qu-3-R and extract, and the results of protein detection showed that flavonoids induced antimicrobial death through intracellular protein efflux. This study can provide a scientific basis for the application of flavonoids in the berries of Hippophae rhamnoides for antimicrobial purposes.

To solve the problem of internal surface cracking problem during equal channel angular pressing (ECAP), this study modified a conventional die. The dies before and after modification were compared and analyzed by using DEFORM-3D software. Finally, a modified ECAP die was manufactured to investigate the effect of different number of pressed passes on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the solution-treated Mg93.5Zn2.5Y2.5Mn1Ti0.5 alloy. The results show that the volume fraction of dynamically-recrystallized grains continuously increases while the volume fraction of W phase continuously decreases with the increase of pressed passes. The size of recrystallized grains initially decreases and then increases, reaching the minimum after 6 pressing passes. The basal texture of (0002) initially decreases, then increases and finally decreases, and the basal texture of 6-pass pressed sample displays the strongest texture. The yield strength and tensile strength of the alloy increase initially and then decrease, while the elongation increases continuously. After 6 pressing passes, the alloy exhibits excellent comprehensive mechanical properties, with a yield strength of 251 MPa, a tensile strength of 340 MPa and an elongation of 26.1%.

The hot compression experiments of the solution-treated Mg93.5Zn2.5Y2.5Mn1Ti0.5 alloy were carried out using a Gleeble-1500D thermal simulator under the conditions of a temperature of 350∼500 °C, a strain rate of 0.001–1 s−1 and a strain of 0.9. According to the stress-strain curve, the characteristics of flow stress were analyzed. Moreover, the constitutive equation of flow stress, the kinetic model of dynamic recrystallization, and the processing map were established. The results show that the flow stress of the alloy decreases as the deformation temperature increases or the strain rate decreases. The constitutive equation of flow stress can be expressed as a hyperbolic sine function: ε˙=4.27115×1019[sinh(0.01153σ)]8.493×exp(2.856×105/RT). With the increase of the deformation temperature or the decrease of the strain rate, the volume fraction and grain size of dynamic recrystallization of the alloy increase continuously. Its dynamic recrystallization volume fraction can be expressed by the Avrami equation as: XDRX=1−exp[−2.05((ε−εc)/ε∗)1.42]. The instability region of the alloy increases with the increase of strain. The first instability region is (350–410 °C, 0.12–1 s−1), the second one is (450–500 °C, 0.001–1 s−1), and the optimum domain for the hot processing of this alloy is (380–450 °C, 0.001–0.01 s−1).

PurposeRex shunt is an optimal surgery for the treatment of extra-hepatic portal venous obstruction (EHPVO) in children. Anticoagulant therapy has been used to keep the patency of the bypass vein in the Rex shunt. This study was to investigate the effectiveness of anticoagulant therapy using heparin combined with Plavix in improving the prognosis and shunt patency of Rex shunt.MethodsFrom January 2010 to September 2019, 51 children with EHPVO underwent a portal cavernoma- Rex shunt. Based on whether using the anticoagulant therapy after the Rex shunt, all patients were divided into two groups: the anticoagulant group and the non-anticoagulant group. The diameter and flow velocity of the bypass vein were measured by the post-operative ultrasound, which was used to calculate the flow volume of the bypass vein (FV) and standard portal venous flow (SPVF). The bypass venous flow index (BVFI) was used to evaluate the ability of portal blood into the liver through the bypass vein after the Rex shunt, which was a ratio of FV to SPVF. The incidence of post-operative re-bleeding, the postoperative patency rate of the bypass vein, the remission rate of postoperative hypersplenism, the remission rate of postoperative esophagogastric varices and the BVFI were compared between the two groups.ResultsOf the 51 patients, 12 patients in the anticoagulant group were treated with heparin combined with Plavix after Rex shunt; 39 patients in the non-anticoagulant group were not treated with any anticoagulant therapy. 8 of 51 patients suffered from postoperative re-bleeding, of whom 6 patients with thrombosis of the bypass vein and 2 patients with anastomotic stenosis of the bypass vein. All 8 patients with re-bleeding belonged to the non-anticoagulant group. The remission rate of hypersplenism was no significant difference between the two groups after surgery (91% vs. 58%, P = 0.100). However, 3 patients without hypersplenism before surgery suffered from hypersplenism after surgery, who belonged to the non-anticoagulant group. There was no significant difference in the remission rate of esophagogastric varices (33% vs. 46%, P = 1.000). The BVFI of the anticoagulant group was significantly higher than that of the non-anticoagulant group (5.71 ± 5.89 vs. 1.1 ± 1.52, P = 0.003).ConclusionsAnticoagulant therapy using heparin combined with Plavix plays an important role in maintaining the patency of the bypass vein, which improved the portal blood flow into the liver through the bypass vein after the Rex shunt.

Soil microbes are crucial in shaping the root-associated microbial communities. In this study, we analyzed the effect of the soil–root niche gradient on the diversity, composition, and assembly of the bacterial community and co-occurrence network of two cotton varieties. The results revealed that the bacterial communities in cotton soil–root compartment niches exhibited a skewed species abundance distribution, dominated by abundant taxa showing a strong spatial specificity. The assembly processes of the rhizosphere bacterial communities were mainly driven by stochastic processes, dominated by the enrichment pattern and supplemented by the depletion pattern to recruit bacteria from the bulk soil, resulting in a more stable bacterial community. The assembly processes of the endosphere bacterial communities were determined by processes dominated by the depletion pattern and supplemented by the enrichment pattern to recruit species from the rhizosphere, resulting in a decrease in the stability and complexity of the community co-occurrence network. The compartment niche shaped the diversity of the bacterial communities, and the cotton variety genotype was an important source of diversity in bacterial communities within the compartment niche. We suggest that the moderate taxa contribute to significantly more changes in the diversity of the bacterial community than the rare and abundant taxa during the succession of bacterial communities in the cotton root–soil continuum.

The effect of extrusion on the microstructure, mechanical property, corrosion behavior, and in vitro biocompatibility of as-cast Mg-1.5Zn-1.2Y-0.1Sr (wt.%) alloy was investigated via tensile tests, electrochemical methods, immersion tests, methylthiazolyl diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), and analytical techniques. Results showed that the as-cast and as-extruded Mg-1.5Zn-1.2Y-0.1Sr alloys comprised an α-Mg matrix and Mg3Y2Zn3 phase (W-phase). In the as-cast alloy, the W-phase was mainly distributed at the grain boundaries, with a small amount of W-phase in the grains. After hot extrusion, the W-phase was broken down into small particles that were dispersed in the alloy, and the grains were refined considerably. The as-extruded alloy exhibited appropriate mechanical properties that were attributed to refinement strengthening, dispersion strengthening, dislocation strengthening, and precipitation strengthening. The as-cast and as-extruded alloys exhibited galvanic corrosion between the W-phase and α-Mg matrix as the main corrosion mechanism. The coarse W-phase directly caused the poor corrosion resistance of the as-cast alloy. The as-extruded alloy obtained via hydrogen evolution and mass loss had corrosion rates of less than 0.5 mm/year. MTT, high-content screening (HCS) analysis, and cell adhesion tests revealed that the as-extruded alloy can improve L929 cell viability and has great potential in the field of biomedical biodegradable implant materials.

ObjectiveTo investigate whether depression and exposure to anti-depressant medication are independent risk factors for incident knee surgery and opioid use in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients.MethodsWe identified all patients who visited our outpatient department and were clinically diagnosed with KOA between January 2010 and January 2018. We retrieved their demographic, clinical, and radiographic data from the database of our hospital. Next, we analyzed the effect of depression and anti-depressant medication on the incident knee surgery and opioid use in KOA patients.ResultsA total of 4,341 KOA patients were found eligible to form the study population. Incident knee surgery and opioid use for the purpose of treating osteoarthritis were observed in 242 and 568 patients, respectively. Incident knee surgery was significantly associated with age (OR [95%CI], 1.024 [1.009–1.039], P = 0.002), BMI (OR [95%CI], 1.090 [1.054–1.128], P < 0.001), baseline K-L grade 3 (OR [95%CI], 1.977 [1.343–2.909], P = 0.001), baseline K-L grade 4 (OR [95%CI], 1.979 [1.241–3.157], P = 0.004), depression (OR [95%CI], 1.670 [1.088–2.563], P = 0.019), and exposure to anti-depressant medication (OR [95%CI], 2.004 [1.140–3.521], P = 0.016). Incident opioid use was significantly associated with depression (OR [95%CI], 1.554 [1.089–2.215], P = 0.015) and exposure to anti-depressant medication (OR [95%CI], 1.813 [1.110–2.960], P = 0.017).ConclusionDepression and anti-depressant drug exposure were independently associated with incident knee surgery, highlighting the need for more attention on comorbid depression in KOA management.

ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to investigate whether alcohol exposure and specific alcoholic drinks are independent risk factors for incident knee surgery in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients.MethodsWe identified all patients who were clinically diagnosed as KOA between January 2010 and January 2018 in our outpatient department. Demographic, clinical, and radiographic data were collected from the database of our hospital. Next, we analyzed the association between alcohol consumption and incident knee surgery.ResultsA total of 4,341 KOA patients completed the current study and were included in the final analysis. Incident knee surgery for the purpose of treating osteoarthritis was observed in 242 patients. Incident knee surgery was significantly associated with age (OR [95%CI], 1.023 [1.009–1.039], P = 0.002), BMI (OR [95%CI], 1.086 [1.049–1.123], P < 0.001), baseline K-L grade 3 (OR [95%CI], 1.960 [1.331–2.886], P = 0.001), baseline K-L grade 4 (OR [95%CI], 1.966 [1.230–3.143], P = 0.005), 7.1–14 drinks per week (OR [95%CI], 2.013 [1.282–3.159], P = 0.002), >14 standard drinks per week (OR [95%CI], 2.556 [1.504–4.344], P = 0.001), and the most common alcoholic drink produced by pea (OR [95%CI], 3.133 [1.715–5.723], P < 0.001).ConclusionKOA patients who consumed more than seven standard drinks per week were at substantial risk of incident knee surgery. In addition, alcoholic drink produced by pea is also an independent risk factor.

The effect of solid-solution treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg93·5Zn2·5Y2·5Mn1Ti0.5 alloys was studied by the optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nanoindentation tester, and an electronic universal testing machine. The results showed that the fishbone-like W phase can be transformed into the spherical W phase by the solution treatment, and the partial bulk 18R LPSO phase along grain boundaries can be transformed into the intragranular lamellar 14H LPSO phase. The spheroidization of W phase and the formation of intragranular 14H LPSO phase effectively improved the mechanical properties of considered alloys. With the increase of solid-solution time, the yield strength, tensile strength, and elongation of alloys initially increase and then decrease. The biggest improvement in mechanical properties was observed for alloys subjected to solid-solution treatment for 40 h; the yield strength, tensile strength, and the elongation were 165 MPa, 265 MPa, and 11.5%, respectively.

This study explores storm floods in the Yangtze Estuary to investigate how extreme sea levels and storm surges change in the context of global warming. Previous studies focused on the long-term variations in amplitude or frequency of storm surges, with limited research conducted on the timing of extreme storm surge events. Based on the methods of non-stationary extreme value theory, we explored the last 33-year tidal levels at Xuliujing Station and found that the annual extreme water level has exhibited a slight downward trend, which is directly attributed to the decrease in mean sea level resulting from reduced upstream river flow. The storm surge season of the Yangtze Estuary experienced a significant lag in the period 2005–2018, which is not restricted to the Yangtze Estuary but is rather a large-scale climate characteristic of a broad oceanic region. The reason for this shift is the sustained increase in the intensity of the western Pacific subtropical high in the last 15 years, leading to the appearance of low-pressure channels in the East China Sea in September and October and thus causing more typhoons to enter the East China Sea during the later period of the storm surge season.

The effects of Zn/Y atomic ratio on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg–Zn–Y–Mn alloys were studied and analyzed using optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), microhardness testing, high-temperature creep testing and an electronic universal testing machine. The results indicated that when Zn/Y ratio is 3:1, the alloy is mainly composed of α-Mg, I phase and W phase; when Zn/Y ratio is 1.5:1, the alloy is mainly composed of α-Mg and W phase; the alloys are all composed of α-Mg, W phase and LPSO phase when the Zn/Y ratio decreases to 1:1 or 0.8:1. With the decrease of Zn/Y ratio, the yield strength and tensile strength of alloy first increase and then decrease; the high-temperature creep resistance increases first and then decreases, and the elongation shows the trend of decreasing, increasing and then decreasing again. In total, the Mg94Zn2.5Y2.5Mn1 alloy exhibits the best mechanical properties and the best creep resistance, which is mainly related to the type and amount of the second phase.

In the present study, a thermo-mechanical simulator (Gleeble-1500D) is applied to conduct compression tests on homogenized Mg–6Zn-1.2Y–1Mn (wt.%) alloy and investigate features of this alloy in terms of flow behavior, dynamic recrystallization (DRX) evolution and hot workability. Different strain rates varying from 0.005 to 5 s−1 and different temperatures within the range of 200–400 °C are used in the experiments. An apparent mean deformation activation energy of 216.027 kJ/mol with a stress exponent of 10.88964 are achieved by regression analysis of Arrhenius type flow behavior equation. Using true stress-true strain data analysis, a kinetic model of dynamic recrystallization is presented as: XDRX=1−exp[−1.41((ε−εc)/ε∗)1.51]. Furthermore, the processing maps are developed and analyzed according to the dynamic material model (DMM). Based on the processing maps, the flow stability and instability domains are determined. It is found that the optimal hot working region of the alloy is temperature of 325–400 °C and strain rate of 0.005–0.05 s−1. Finally, a finite element analysis is carried out, and the reasonability of the optimal deformation parameters are verified.

Objective With the rapid development of proteomics sequencing and RNA sequencing technology, multi-omics analysis has become a current research hotspot. Our previous study indicated that Xinjiang brown cattle have better meat quality than Kazakh cattle. In this study, Xinjiang brown cattle and Kazakh cattle were used as the research objects. Methods Proteome sequencing and RNA sequencing technology were used to analyze the proteome and transcriptome of the longissimus dorsi muscle of the two breeds of adult steers (n = 3). Results In this project, 22,677 transcripts and 1,874 proteins were identified through quantitative analysis of the transcriptome and proteome. By comparing the identified transcriptome and proteome, we found that 1,737 genes were identified at both the transcriptome and proteome levels. The results of the study revealed 12 differentially expressed genes and proteins: troponin I1, crystallin alpha B, cysteine, and glycine rich protein 3, phosphotriesterase-related, myosin-binding protein H, glutathione s-transferase mu 3, myosin light chain 3, nidogen 2, dihydropyrimidinase like 2, glutamate-oxaloacetic transaminase 1, receptor accessory protein 5, and aspartoacylase. We performed functional enrichment of these differentially expressed genes and proteins. The Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes results showed that these differentially expressed genes and proteins are enriched in the fatty acid degradation and histidine metabolism signaling pathways. We performed parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) verification of the differentially expressed proteins, and the PRM results were consistent with the sequencing results. Conclusion Our study provided and identified the differentially expressed genes and proteins. In addition, identifying functional genes and proteins with important breeding value will provide genetic resources and technical support for the breeding and industrialization of new genetically modified beef cattle breeds.

Abstract Background Senile osteoporosis with age-related bone loss is diagnosed depending on radiographic changes of bone and bone mineral density (BMD) measurement. However, radiographic alterations are usually signs of medium-late stage osteoporosis. Therefore, biomarkers have been proposed as indicators of bone loss. In the current study, Galectin-1 (Gal-1) showed age-related decline in mice serum. The role of Gal-1 in osteoporosis has not been investigated so far. Hence, the current study illustrated the relationship of serum Gal-1 level with bone loss. Methods We employed 6- and 18-month-old mice to establish an animal model of age-related trabecular bone loss, whose bone density and microstructure were investigated by micro-CT. ELISA was used to measure the levels of Gal-1 in serum. The correlation analysis was performed to illustrate the relationship between serum Gal-1 levels and trabecular bone loss. In addition, immunohistochemistry was used to investigate the abundance of Gal-1 in bone marrow of mice. ELISA and western blot were performed to measure the secretion ability and protein expression of Gal-1 in bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC), hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and myeloid progenitor (MP) respectively. Flow cytometry was used to measure BMSC number in bone marrow. Finally, male volunteers with age-related BMD decrease were recruited and the relationship between serum Gal-1 and BMD was analyzed. Results Gal-1 showed age-related decline in mice serum. Serum Gal-1 was positively associated with BV/TV of femur, tibia and L1 vertebrae in mice. BMSC secreted more Gal-1 compared with HSC and MP. BMSC number in bone marrow was significantly lower in aged mice compared with young mice. Significant attenuation of Gal-1 protein expression was observed in BMSC and HSC from aged mice compared with young mice. Further, we found a decline in serum Gal-1 levels in men with age-related BMD decrease. There was positive correlation between BMD and serum Gal-1 levels in these men. Conclusions Age-related trabecular bone loss is associated with a decline in serum Gal-1 level in mice and men. Our study suggested Gal-1 had great potential to be a biomarker for discovering BMSC senescence, diagnosing early osteoporosis and monitoring trabecular bone loss.

Abstract Silicon plays a vital role in plant growth. However, molecular mechanisms in response to silicon have not previously been studied in wheat. In this study, we used RNA-seq technology to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in wheat seedlings treated with silicon. Results showed that many wheat genes responded to silicon treatment, including 3057 DEGs, of which 6.25% (191/3057) were predicted transcription factors (TFs). Approximately 14.67% (28 out of 191) of the differentially expressed TFs belonged to the MYB TF family. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment showed that the highly enriched DEGs were responsible for secondary biosynthetic processes. According to KEGG pathway analysis, the DEGs were related to chaperones and folding catalysts, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum. Moreover, 411 R2R3-MYB TFs were identified in the wheat genome, all of which were classified into 15 groups and accordingly named S1–S15. Among them, 28 were down-regulated under silicon treatment. This study revealed the essential role of MYB TFs in the silicon response mechanism of plants, and provides important genetic resources for breeding silicon-tolerant wheat.

Background YABBY is a plant-specific transcription factor (TF) that belongs to the zinc finger protein superfamily and is composed of a C2–C2 domain at the N-terminus and a YABBY domain at the C-terminus. It plays a role in plant development and growth. Methods In this study, 20 YABBY TFs were identified in the wheat genome. Phylogenetic relationships, collinearity relationships, gene structures, conserved motifs, and expression patterns were analyzed. Results Twenty TaYABBY TFs were distributed unevenly on 15 chromosomes. Collinearity analysis showed that these genes have a close relationship with monocot plants. The phylogenetic tree of wheat YABBYs classified these TaYABBYs into FIL, YAB2, INO, and CRC clades. Gene structure and conserved motif analyses showed that they share similar components in the same clades. Expression profile analysis showed that many TaYABBY genes have high expression levels in leaf tissues and are regulated by abiotic stresses, especially salt stress. Our results provide a basis for further functional characterization of the YABBY gene family.

Glacier surges have been increasingly reported from the mountain and high-latitude cryosphere. They represent active glaciological processes that affect the evolution of natural landscapes, and they possibly lead to catastrophic consequences, such as ice collapse, which threatens the downstream communities. Identifying and monitoring surge-type glaciers has been challenging due to the irregularity of the behavior and limitations on the spatiotemporal coverage of remote-sensing observations. With a focus on the Karakoram region, with concentrated surge-type glaciers, we present a new method to efficiently detect glacier-surging activities by integrating the high temporal resolution of MODIS imagery and the long-term archived medium spatial resolution of Landsat imagery. This method first detects the location and initial time of glacier surges by trend analysis (trend and breakpoint) from MODIS data, which is implemented by the Breaks for Additive Seasonal and Trend (BFAST) tool. The initial location and time information is then validated with the detailed surging features, such as the terminus-position changes from Landsat, and the thickness-change patterns from surface-elevation-change maps. Our method identified 74 surging events during 2000–2020 in the Karakoram, including three tributary-glacier surges, and seven newly detected surge-type glaciers. The surge-type glaciers tend to have longer lengths and smaller mean slopes compared with nonsurge-type glaciers. A comparison with previous studies demonstrated the method efficiency for detecting the surging of large-scale and mesoscale glaciers, with limitations on small and narrow glaciers due to the spatial-resolution limitation of MODIS images. For the 38 surge-type nondebris-covered glaciers, we provide details of the surging, which depict the high variability (heavy-tailed distribution) in the surging parameters in the region, and the concentration of the surge initiation during 2008–2010 and 2013–2015. The updated glacier-surging information solidifies the basis for a further investigation of the surging processes at polythermal glaciers, and for an improved assessment of the glacier-mass balance and monitoring of glacier hazards.

In this paper, the characteristics and current problems associated with red mud and the progress of research on iron extraction from high-iron red mud are briefly described. By adding conditioning materials to red mud and quenching and tempering, the iron tailings extracted from red mud were reconstructed by heating to form molten tailings in the laboratory. A thermodynamic analysis of the iron reduction reaction during tailings reconstruction was performed, and the best conditions for iron extraction by calcified slag reduction were verified. The contents of CaO, Al2O3 and Na2O in the reduced tailings were 37.07, 37.67 and 0.48%, respectively. According to X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses, the main crystalline phases in the calcified extracted iron tailings were C2AS and CT, which aggregated and met the expected composition standard for calcified extracted iron tailings.

Rex shunt, which was first put in use in 1992, has been considered as an ideal surgical method for the treatment of extra-hepatic portal venous obstruction (EHPVO) due to its reconstruction of the hepatopetal portal blood flow. However, despite its long tradition, there are only a few reports about the application and advances in Rex shunt for the treatment of EHPVO in children. In this paper, we summarized the literature related to Rex shunt and discussed the new advances of Rex shunt in the following aspects: surgical method of Rex shunt, the indications of Rex shunt, the strengths of Rex shunt, the effectiveness of Rex shunt, factors affecting the efficacy of Rex shunt, methods that improve the prognosis of Rex shunt, and treatment strategy for recurrence after Rex shunt.

The ZrB2 particles firstly modified Mg94Zn2.5Y2.5Mn1 alloy. And the microstructures and mechanical performances of the modified alloys were studied systematically. The results showed that the moderate addition of ZrB2 accelerated the development of long-period stacking ordered (LPSO) structure and refined the grain size. The grains in ZrB2-modified alloys were nearly equiaxed with a homogeneous size. When 0.0075 wt% ZrB2 was added, the as-cast alloy with the finest grains (24.87 µm) presented desirable mechanical properties (especially ductility) with maximum tensile strength and ductility of 225 MPa and 17.5%, respectively. Keywords: Mg94Zn2.5Y2.5Mn1, ZrB2-modified, LPSO, Microstructure, Mechanical properties

Background/Aims: Zinc finger protein 703 (ZNF703), initially identified as a novel oncogene in human breast cancer, is a member of the NET/NlZ family of zinc finger transcription factors. It is recognized that the overexpression of ZNF703 is associated with various types of human cancers, but the role and molecular mechanism of ZNF703 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) are unknown. Methods: ZNF703 expression levels were examined in OSCC tissues and non-cancerous tissues by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The molecular mechanisms of ZNF703 and its effects on cell growth and metastasis were explored in vitro and in vivo using the CCK8 assay, colony formation assay, cell cycle analysis, migration and invasion assays, wound-healing assay, western blotting and xenograft experiments in nude mice. Results: In this study, ZNF703 was found to be upregulated in OSCC tissues compared to that in normal tissues at both mRNA and protein levels, and its expression level was closely correlated with the overall survival of patients with OSCC. Silencing of the ZNF703 gene in OSCC cells significantly inhibited cell growth and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Conversely, the overexpression of ZNF703 in OSCC cells promoted cancer growth and metastasis in vitro. Mechanistically, ZNF703 activated the PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β signalling pathway and its downstream effectors, thus regulating the cell cycle and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Furthermore, the promotive effects of ZNF703 on cellular proliferation and metastasis could be rescued by LY294002 (a PI3K-specific inhibitor) and MK2206 (an Akt-specific inhibitor). Conclusion: The results show that ZNF703 promotes cell growth and metastasis through PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β signalling in OSCC and that it may be a promising target in the treatment of patients with OSCC.

The effects of Ti additions (0, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.2 wt.%) on the microstructure and mechanical properties of as-cast and aging Mg-0.4%Zn-1.0%Zr-1.5%Ca (wt.%) alloys were investigated. The results indicated that minor Ti can effectively refine grains, while excessive Ti addition resulted in the grain coarsening. When the content of Ti was 0.8 wt.%, the as-cast alloy exhibited the finest grain size of 39 μm which contributed to the optimal mechanical properties with Brinell hardness of 57.9 HB, ultimate tensile strength of 145 MPa and elongation of 3.2%. After T6 heat treatment, the continuous net-like Mg2Ca and Mg6Zn3Ca2 phases changed to uniform massive T phases (ternary Mg–Zn–Ca phases) and dispersive halo-like precipitates (Mg2Ca and Mg6Zn3Ca2 phases). The ultimate tensile strengths of the alloy at room temperature (RT), 175 °C and 200 °C were correspondingly improved to 182 MPa, 169 MPa and 141 MPa, respectively.

The aim of this note is to characterize the finite groups in which all non-linear irreducible characters have distinct zero entries number.

Mg97−xZn1Y2Alx alloys with long-period stacking ordered (LPSO) structures were prepared by conventional casting method. The optical microscopy (OM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were used to analyze the microstructure of the alloys with different compositions. Immersion test and electrochemical measurement were used to evaluate the corrosion behavior of the alloys at room temperature, and the corrosive medium is 3.5% NaCl aqueous solution. The results showed that, with the increasing aluminum (Al) addition, except α-Mg and LPSO phases, new phases also emerged on the grain boundaries. At the same time, the zigzag part of LPSO phases disappeared, and the boundaries between LPSO phases and α-Mg became smooth. Furthermore, the addition of Al to Mg–Zn–Y alloys could hinder the activity of cathodic hydrogen evolution reaction and improve the uniformity and compactness of the protective surface film, thus, enhanced the corrosion resistance of Mg–Zn–Y alloys.

BACKGROUND:The role of human papilloma virus (HPV) in oral lichen planus (OLP) is controversial. OBJECTIVES:The primary aim of the current study is to calculate the pooled risk estimates of HPV infection in OLP when compared with healthy controls. METHODS:Bibliographic searches were conducted in three electronic databases. Articles on the association between HPV and OLP were selected from case-control studies or cross-sectional studies, following predefined criteria. Pooled data were analyzed by calculating odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS:Of the 233 publications identified, 22 case-control studies met the inclusion criteria. Collectively, 835 cases and 734 controls were available for analysis. The summary estimate showed that OLP patients have significantly higher HPV prevalence (OR: 6.83; 95% CI: 4.15-11.27) than healthy controls. In subgroup analyses, the association of HPV and OLP varied significantly by geographic populations. The ORs ranged from 2.43 to 132.04. The correlation of HPV and erosive-atrophic oral lichen planus (EA-OLP) (OR: 9.34) was comparable and well above that of HPV and non-EA-OLP (OR: 4.32). Among HPV genotypes, HPV 16 showed an extremely strong association with OLP (OR: 11.27), and HPV 18 showed a relatively strong one (OR: 6.54). CONCLUSION:In conclusion, a significant association was found between HPV and OLP. The strength of the association varied across geographic populations, clinical types of OLP, and HPV genotypes. The results suggest that HPV might play an important causal role in OLP and in its malignant to progression.

With the aim of investigating the ability and possible mechanism of Chinese medicine Jinkuishenqiwan pills to inhibit the spermatgoenic arrest infertile, 100 mature male rats were randomly divided into five groups: normal control group, model group, test group treated with high dosage of Jinkuishenqiwan pills, test group treated with middle dosage of Jinkuishenqiwan pills, and test group treated with low dosage of Jinkuishenqiwan pills. Except the normal group, the other four groups were made into model of kidneyyang deficiency by injecting hydrocortisone. Simultaneously, the treatment of Jinkuishenqiwan pills was also irrigated into the stomachs of the three treated groups. After 30 days，the concentration of testosterone, the sperm density and the motility rate of sperm were examined, the microstructure of testicle was observed by optical microscope. Results showed that Jinkuishenqiwan pills can inhibit the spermatgoenic arrest infertile, there exists statistical difference between test group and the model group (P

Calcineurin plays a key role in morphogenesis, pathogenesis and drug resistance in most fungi. However, the function of calcineurin genes in Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) is unclear. We identified and characterized the calcineurin genes PsCNA1 and PsCNB1 in Pst. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that PsCNA1 and PsCNB1 form a calcium/calmodulin regulated protein phosphatase belonging to the calcineurin heterodimers composed of subunits A and B. Quantitative RT-PCR analyses revealed that both PsCNA1 and PsCNB1 expression reached their maximum in the stage of haustorium formation, which is one day after inoculation. Using barely stripe mosaic virus (BSMV) as a transient expression vector in wheat, the expression of PsCNA1 and PsCNB1 in Pst was suppressed, leading to slower extension of fungal hyphae and reduced production of urediospores. The immune-suppressive drugs cyclosporin A and FK506 markedly reduced the germination rates of urediospores, and when germination did occur, more than two germtubes were produced. These results suggest that the calcineurin signaling pathway participates in stripe rust morphogenetic differentiation, especially the formation of haustoria during the early stage of infection and during the production of urediospores. Therefore PsCNA1 and PsCNB1 can be considered important pathogenicity genes involved in the wheat-Pst interaction.