Search

Abstract The membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is promising for practical applications of the electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) to multi-carbon (C2+) compounds. Water management is crucial in the MEA electrolyser without catholyte, but few studies have clarified whether the co-feeding water in cathode can enhance C2+ formation. Here, we report our discovery of pivotal roles of a suitable nanocomposite electrocatalyst with abundant Cu2O−Cu0 interfaces in accomplishing water-promoting effect on C2+ formation, achieving a current density of 1.0 A cm−2 and a 19% single-pass C2+ yield at 80% C2+ Faradaic efficiency in MEA. The operando characterizations confirm the co-existence of Cu+ with Cu0 during CO2RR at ampere-level current densities. Our studies reveal that Cu+ works for water activation and aids C‒C coupling by enhancing formations of adsorbed CO and CHO species. This work offers a strategy to boost CO2RR to C2+ compounds in industrial-relevant MEA by combining water management and electrocatalyst design.

Abstract Molecular dynamics (MD) is an indispensable atomistic-scale computational tool widely-used in various disciplines. In the past decades, nearly all ab initio MD and machine-learning MD have been based on the general-purpose central/graphics processing units (CPU/GPU), which are well-known to suffer from their intrinsic “memory wall” and “power wall” bottlenecks. Consequently, nowadays MD calculations with ab initio accuracy are extremely time-consuming and power-consuming, imposing serious restrictions on the MD simulation size and duration. To solve this problem, here we propose a special-purpose MD processing unit (MDPU), which could reduce MD time and power consumption by about 103 times (109 times) compared to state-of-the-art machine-learning MD (ab initio MD) based on CPU/GPU, while keeping ab initio accuracy. With significantly-enhanced performance, the proposed MDPU may pave a way for the accurate atomistic-scale analysis of large-size and/or long-duration problems which were impossible/impractical to compute before.

Abstract Information industry is one of the major drivers of the world economy. Its rapid growth, however, leads to severe heat problem which strongly hinders further development. This calls for a non-charge-based technology. Magnon, capable of transmitting spin information without electron movement, holds tremendous potential in post-Moore era. Given the cornerstone role of the field effect transistor in modern electronics, creating its magnonic equivalent is highly desired but remains a challenge. Here, we demonstrate a nonvolatile three-terminal lateral magnon field effect transistor operating at room temperature. The device consists of a ferrimagnetic insulator (Y3Fe5O12) deposited on a ferroelectric material [Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)0.7Ti0.3O3 or Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3], with three Pt stripes patterned on Y3Fe5O12 as the injector, gate, and detector, respectively. The magnon transport in Y3Fe5O12 can be regulated by the gate voltage pulses in a nonvolatile manner with a high on/off ratio. Our findings provide a solid foundation for designing energy-efficient magnon-based devices.

Abstract Achieving near-zero-wear remains a major challenge in mechanical engineering and material science. Current ultra-low wear materials are typically developed based on the self-consumption strategy. Here, we demonstrate a new self-repairing approach to achieve near-zero-wear. We find that the WB4-βB/WC tribo-pair has a low wear rate of 10−8 mm3 N−1 m−1 in low vacuum conditions, under a maximum Hertzian contact stress of 2.23 GPa over 1 × 105 friction cycles. Additionally, we observe an abnormal wear phenomenon after 5 × 104 friction cycles, characterized by an increase in the dimensions of the tribo-pair. This near-zero-wear mechanism is attributed to the synergistic action of the super-hard WB4-βB substrate and the self-repairing tribo-oxide layer. This research provides a new approach for advancing wear-resistant materials and enhancing material longevity.

Abstract The existence and causes of the recently observed rainfall heterogeneity over monsoonal east Asia in historical periods remain unclear. Here we show that such rainfall heterogeneity has been present at least in the last millennium, with decadal to centennial precipitation variations over southeast Asia and north China being broadly synchronous, while central to southwest China’s variations are generally out-of-phase with those in southeast Asia and north China. We propose that the western Pacific subtropical high, which reduces decadal to centennial precipitation over central to southwest China due to its anticyclonic feature, could be responsible for the observed rainfall heterogeneity over subtropical East Asia. Further analyses suggest that intensified decadal to centennial solar activity can lead to enhanced and northward and westward extension of the western Pacific subtropical high, resulting in tripolar rainfall heterogenous patterns over monsoonal East Asia.

Abstract Background Sedentary behavior (SB) has emerged as a significant health concern that deserves attention. This study aimed to examine the associations between prolonged sedentary behavior and the risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality as well as to explore desirable alternatives to sitting in terms of physical activity (PA). Methods Two prospective cohort investigations were conducted using the UK Biobank and NHANES datasets, with a total of 490,659 and 33,534 participants, respectively. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the associations between SB and the risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality due to cancer, cardiovascular disease (CVD), respiratory diseases, and digestive diseases. In addition, we employed isotemporal substitution models to examine the protective effect of replacing sitting with various forms of PA. Results During the average follow-up times of 13.5 and 6.7 years, 36,109 and 3057 deaths were documented in the UK Biobank and NHANES, respectively. Both cohorts demonstrated that, compared with individuals sitting less than 5 h per day, individuals with longer periods of sitting had higher risks of all-cause and cause-specific mortality due to cancer, CVD, and respiratory diseases but not digestive diseases. Moreover, replacing SB per day with PA, even substituting 30 min of walking for pleasure, reduced the risk of all-cause mortality by 3.5% (hazard ratio [HR] 0.965, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.954–0.977), whereas cause-specific mortality from cancer, CVD, and respiratory diseases was reduced by 1.6% (HR 0.984, 95% CI 0.968–1.000), 4.4% (HR 0.956, 95% CI 0.930–0.982), and 15.5% (HR 0.845, 95% CI 0.795–0.899), respectively. Furthermore, the protective effects of substitution became more pronounced as the intensity of exercise increased or the alternative duration was extended to 1 h. Conclusions SB was significantly correlated with substantially increased risks of all-cause mortality and cause-specific mortality from cancer, CVD, and respiratory diseases. However, substituting sitting with various forms of PA, even for short periods involving relatively light and relaxing physical activity, effectively reduced the risk of both overall and cause-specific mortality. Graphical Abstract

The bio-corrosion behavior and bio-compatibility of TiNbZrTa and TiNbZrTaMo high entropy alloys (HEAs) are crucial for their efficient maintenance during biological implantation. In this work, TiNbZrTa and TiNbZrTaMo HEAs were successfully prepared via vacuum melting, with a β-type titanium alloy Ti35Nb7Zr5Ta, exhibiting good biocompatibility used as a comparison. Due to the high entropy effect of equal atomic ratios, both TiNbZrTa and TiNbZrTaMo HEAs exhibit body-centered cubic (BCC) structure and lattice distortion compared to the β titanium alloy Ti35Nb7Zr5Ta. Mo elements contribute to the formation of a new BCC phase, resulting in a white matrix rich in Ta and Mo, and a dark second phase rich in Ti, Zr, and Nb. Electrochemical test results at 37 °C shown that TiNbZrTa has a wider and more stable passivation area than TiNbZrTaMo. The XPS results shown that formation of the passive film is related to the main elements added. Ti, Nb, Ta and Mo formed oxides via the solid-liquid interface and migrate inward, while Zr is formed at the passivation film/metal substrate interface and migrates outward, finally forming the layered structure of the passivation film. Additionally, the cytotoxicity test of mouse fiber cells was carried out to evaluate the biocompatibility of the HEAs. The results shown that the cell proliferation rate of TiNbZrTa and TiNbZrTaMo HEAs reached 0 and 1, respectively, with TiNbZrTa exhibiting better biocompatibility, as adding Mo reduced the cell proliferation rate. These findings may provide a method for predicting the bio-corrosion behavior and bio-compatibility of HEAs used for biological implantation.

Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), an additive manufacturing technology, is extensively applied in various fields. In the building process, one or more laser beams scan and melt the powder previously deposited on the build platform, following a prescribed scanning path to achieve the designed three-dimensional geometry. After the current powder layer is selectively melted and solidified, another layer of powder is spread, and the laser scanning continues. Such repetitive operations exhibit inherent rapid heating and cooling characteristics, resulting in uneven microstructures and the accumulation of internal stresses for the produced parts. For the most widely used Ti–6Al–4V, this LPBF characteristic forms fine needle-like α′ martensite and small amounts of beta phase. There is a phase potential difference between the α′ and the β phases, which constitutes a corrosive galvanic battery, and the corrosion reaction preferentially occurs at the phase interface of the α′ and the β phases. However, as a metastable structure, the thermodynamic stability of the α′ phase is lower than that of the β phase, which makes the α′ phase preferentially corroded. Moreover, the V element enrichment in the β phase imparts stability, exerting a significant inhibitory effect on the corrosion and dissolution of the Ti–6Al–4V alloy. This is evident in the denser and more stable passive film formed on the β phase compared with that on the α′ or α phase, accompanied by a corresponding increase in corrosion resistance. To better meet different service conditions, it is imperative to regulate its microstructure and alleviate residual stresses through heat treatment as a heat-treatable α + β type titanium alloy. However, the optimal heat treatment conditions for LPBF Ti–6Al–4V are being determined. We aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the current literature, focusing on the perspective that the properties of a material are inherently influenced by its microstructure. Specifically, the correlation between microstructure and corrosion resistance in LPBF-produced Ti–6Al–4V before and after heat treatment is explored. The influence of post-heat treatment on the microstructure and corrosion behavior of LPBF-produced Ti–6Al–4V is also discussed. Results reveal that appropriate heat treatment can facilitate the decomposition of fine needle-like α′ martensite and the formation of β phases, enhancing the corrosion resistance of LPBF-produced Ti–6Al–4V. However, excessive heat treatment will increase the grain size of the LPBF Ti–6Al–4V and deteriorate the corrosion resistance. Finally, conclusions are drawn, which is expected to bring some support to researchers.

Abstract In this paper, we calculated the extreme mass-ratio inspiral (EMRI) waveform radiated from a binary composed of a massive horizonless object (MHO) and a compact object (CO), where CO is spiraling on a circular equatorial orbit around the MHO. Due to the absent of horizon, there exist the ingoing and outgoing waves near the reflective surface of MHO, which have significantly influence on the evolution of orbital parameters. We observe that there indeed exist the differences of EMRI trajectories between the massive Kerr black hole and MHO cases. By calculating the mismatch of gravitational wave (GW) waveforms from massive black hole (MBH) and MHO, our result indicates that the space-borne gravitational wave detector could distinguish the modified effect of reflectivities from the BH case, which allows to put an upper constraint on the reflectivity $${\mathcal {R}}$$ R of MHO, at the level of $${\mathcal {R}} > rsim 10^{-4}$$ R ≳ 10 - 4 .

Abstract Background Declining physical activity and increasing screen time (ST) among Chinese adolescents have become major concerns shared by scholars, while mental health issues are also on the rise. Previous studies have confirmed the association between physical activity and screen time and psychological symptoms, but it is unclear how their psychological symptoms, especially for Chinese university students who have a high proportion of psychological symptoms, and no research evidence has been found. Methods This study investigated physical activity, screen time, and psychological symptoms in 11,173 university students aged 19–22 years in six regions of China. A binary logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the association between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and screen time and psychological symptoms. And the generalize linear model (GLM) analysis was used to further analyze the association between MVPA and screen time and psychological symptoms. Results The detection rate of psychological symptoms among Chinese university students was 16.3%, with a higher percentage of female students (17.5%) than male students (14.7%). The proportion of male students (8.2%) with MVPA > 60 min/d was higher than that of female students (2.3%), and the proportion of male students (33.8%) and female students (34.5%) with screen time > 2 h/d was basically the same. The generalize linear model (GLM) analysis showed that university students with MVPA 2 h/d (OR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.10–2.31) had the highest risk of psychological symptoms (OR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.10–2.31) compared to university students with MVPA > 60 min/d and screen time 2 h/d (OR = 1.59,95% CI: 1.10–2.31). In addition, university students with MVPA > 60 min/d and a screen time of 1–2 h/d (OR = 0.09, 95% CI: 0.03–0.25) had the lowest risk of psychological symptoms (P

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) can be caused by aging, injury, and genetic factors. The pathological changes associated with IVDD include the excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), cellular pyroptosis, and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation. There are currently no approved specific molecular therapies for IVDD. In this study, we developed a multifunctional and microenvironment-responsive metal-phenolic network release platform, termed TMP@Alg-PBA/PVA, which could treat (IL-1β)-induced IVDD. The metal-phenolic network (TA-Mn-PVP, TMP) released from this platform targeted mitochondria to efficiently scavenge ROS and reduce ECM degradation. Pyroptosis was suppressed through the inhibition of the IL-17/ERK signaling pathway. These findings demonstrate the versatility of the platform. And in a rat model of IVDD, TMP@Alg-PBA/PVA exhibited excellent therapeutic effects by reducing the progression of the disease. TMP@Alg-PBA/PVA, therefore, presents clinical potential for the treatment of IVDD.

This study employs first-principles calculations to investigate the structural, electronic, and mechanical properties of La1-xMxB6 (M = Ba, Sr, Ca), focusing on the surface work function, elastic constants, bulk modulus, shear modulus, Young’s modulus, Debye temperature, and melting point. The results indicate that doping generally leads to a reduction in the surface work function, with La0.375Ba0.625B6 achieving a work function as low as 1.27 eV. The influence of doping concentration on the mechanical properties and anisotropy is analyzed, revealing that La1-xMxB6 and La0.5Sr0.5B6 exhibit oscillatory changes related to the layered structure of the dopants. Brittleness is assessed through the B/G ratio and Poisson’s ratio. Thermodynamic analysis shows that the melting points of these compounds exceed 2000 K. These findings provide useful references for choosing cesium-free electrode materials applied for plasma-facing applications in neutral beam injection.

Fibrosis is usually the final pathological state of many chronic inflammatory diseases and may lead to organ malfunction. Excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules is a characteristic of most fibrotic tissues. The blood vessel wall contains three layers of membrane structure, including the intima, which is composed of endothelial cells; the media, which is composed of smooth muscle cells; and the adventitia, which is formed by the interaction of connective tissue and fibroblasts. The occurrence and progression of vascular remodeling are closely associated with cardiovascular diseases, and vascular remodeling can alter the original structure and function of the blood vessel. Dysregulation of the composition of the extracellular matrix in blood vessels leads to the continuous advancement of vascular stiffening and fibrosis. Vascular fibrosis reaction leads to excessive deposition of the extracellular matrix in the vascular adventitia, reduces vessel compliance, and ultimately alters key aspects of vascular biomechanics. The pathogenesis of fibrosis in the vasculature and strategies for its reversal have become interesting and important challenges. Ion channels are widely expressed in the cardiovascular system; they regulate blood pressure, maintain cardiovascular function homeostasis, and play important roles in ion transport, cell differentiation, proliferation. In blood vessels, different types of ion channels in fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells may be relevant mediators of the development of fibrosis in organs or tissues. This review discusses the known roles of ion channels in vascular fibrosis remodeling and discusses potential therapeutic targets for regulating remodeling and repair after vascular injury.

ObjectiveTo explore and describe the epidemiological and genetic variation characteristics of the influenza A (H1N1) virus in Hangzhou City.MethodsRespiratory throat swab specimens collected from the fever clinic of the 903rd Hospital of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) between January and March 2023 were collected. The respiratory pathogen antigens were identified using the colloidal gold method, and those testing positive for influenza A virus antigens were confirmed and subtyped by RT-qPCR. Seventeen H1N1 isolates were selected to amplify hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) gene sequences via RT-PCR, and sequencing was completed following the identification of the amplified products. The sequenced HA and NA sequences were spliced using DNASTAR software (version 5.0), and a phylogenetic tree was constructed using MEGA software (version 11.0) for genetic characterization.ResultsA total of 2,376 respiratory samples were tested, with 680 cases testing positive for influenza A. Of these, 129 positive cases of influenza A were randomly selected for typing, resulting in the isolation of 112 H1N1 subtypes and 17 H3N2 subtypes. The HA genes of 17 strains of influenza A (H1N1) were randomly selected for amino acid homology comparisons with two vaccine strains recommended by the WHO for 2023 (A/Wisconsin/67/2022 (H1N1) and A/Victoria/4897/2022 (H1N1)). The HA gene results showed identities of 98.24 to 98.65% and 98.41 to 98.82%, respectively, and the NA gene results were 98.79 to 99.15% and 98.94 to 99.29%, respectively. Fourteen amino acid sites were altered in the HA gene of the 17 strains, with some strains contributing to the Sa and Ca antigenic determinants, respectively. Seventeen strains had mutations in the NA gene at sites 13, 50, 200, 339, 382, and 469. The sequenced strains, vaccine strains, and some 2023 domestic representative strains independently formed a branch 6B.1A.5a.2a.ConclusionThe continuous evolutionary mutations of the H1N1 virus genes in Hangzhou City suggest the possibility of the virus escaping from the immune response. This study provides an experimental basis for evaluating the protective effect of the vaccine and formulating preventive measures against influenza in Hangzhou City.

The development of high-energy-density Li-ion batteries is hindered by the irreversible capacity loss during the initial charge-discharge process. Therefore, pre-lithiation technology has emerged in the past few decades as a powerful method to supplement the undesired lithium loss, thereby maximizing the energy utilization of LIBs and extending their cycle life. Lithium oxalate (Li2C2O4), with a high lithium content and excellent air stability, has been considered one of the most promising materials for lithium compensation. However, the sluggish electrochemical decomposition kinetics of the material severely hinders its further commercial application. Here, we introduce a recrystallization strategy combined with atomic Ni catalysts to modulate the mass transport and decomposition reaction kinetics. The decomposition potential of Li2C2O4 is significantly decreased from ∼4.90V to ∼4.30V with a high compatibility with the current battery systems. In compared to the bare NCM//Li cell, the Ni/N-rGO and Li2C2O4 composite (Ni-LCO) modified cell releases an extra capacity of ∼11.7 ​%. Moreover, this ratio can be magnified in the NCM//SiOx full cell, resulting in a 30.4 ​% higher reversible capacity. Overall, this work brings the catalytic paradigm into the pre-lithiation technology, which opens another window for the development of high-energy-density battery systems.

Objectives: This study examined adherence rates to tuberculosis preventive treatment (TPT) among close contacts of individuals with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and identified factors associated with TPT adherence in China. Methods: A multicenter, cluster-randomized, open-label control trial was carried out across three sites involving 34 counties in China. Close contacts of bacteriologically confirmed rifampin and isoniazid-susceptible PTB cases were identified and screened for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). Eligible participants were randomly assigned to either the 3H2P2 group, which consisted of a 3-month, twice-weekly regimen of rifapentine and isoniazid, or the 6H group, which entailed a 6-month daily regimen of isoniazid. To assess the factors influencing adherence, a two-level logistic regression model was utilized. Results: Out of the 2434 close contacts who initiated TPT, 2121 (87.1%) completed the regimen. Of the 313 individuals who did not complete TPT, 60.1% refused to continue, and 27.8% discontinued due to adverse effects. The two-level logistic regression model revealed several factors associated with enhanced TPT adherence: enrollment in the 3H2P2 group (odds ratio [OR] = 2.09), management by a TB dispensary responsible for TPT (OR = 2.55), supervision by healthcare workers (OR = 6.40), and clinician incentives (OR = 2.49). Conversely, the occurrence of any adverse effects (OR = 0.08) was identified as a risk factor for nonadherence. Conclusion: Administering TPT to individuals with LTBI is feasible among close contacts. Adherence to TPT can be enhanced through shorter, safer treatment regimens and supportive interventions, such as directly supervised therapy for TPT recipients and incentives for healthcare providers managing TPT.

Abstract C − H bond activation is a ubiquitous reaction that remains a major challenge in chemistry. Although semiconductor-based photocatalysis is promising, the C − H bond activation mechanism remains elusive. Herein, we report value-added coupling products from a wide variety of biomass and fossil-derived reagents, formed via C − H bond activation over zinc-indium-sulfides (Zn-In-S). Contrary to the commonly accepted stepwise electron-proton transfer pathway (PE-ET) for semiconductors, our experimental and theoretical studies evidence a concerted proton-coupled electron transfer (CPET) pathway. A pioneering microkinetic study, considering the relevant elementary steps of the surface chemistry, reveals a faster C − H activation with Zn-In-S because of circumventing formation of a charged radical, as it happens in PE-ET where it retards the catalysis due to strong site adsorption. For CPET over Zn-In-S, H abstraction, forming a neutral radical, is rate-limiting, but having lower energy barriers than that of PE-ET. The rate expressions derived from the microkinetics provide guidelines to rationally design semiconductor catalysis, e.g., for C − H activation, that is based on the CPET mechanism.

Summary: Objectives: The exostosins (EXT), which are responsible for heparan sulfate backbone synthesis and play a vital role in tissue homeostasis, have been reported to be correlated with prognosis of various cancers. However, the expression, prognostic value, and immune infiltration of EXT1 and EXT2 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) remain uncertain. Methods: GEPIA, UALCAN, and Xiantao bioinformatics tools were used to explore the EXT1 and EXT2 expression level in HNSC. GEPIA and Sangerbox were utilised to obtain the prognostic value of EXT1 and EXT2 in HNSC. Genetic alterations, immune cell infiltration, and single-cell analysis were conducted in cBioPortal, TIMER, and TISCH2. In addition, the expressions of EXT1 and EXT2 were validated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in HNSC samples. Results: EXT1 and EXT2 were highly expressed in HNSC, especially in malignant cells. Only EXT2 was significantly negatively correlated to the prognosis of patients with HNSC. EXT1 and EXT2 were found to be associated with focal adhesin and cell adhesin molecule binding. EXT1 expression levels were considerably connected with CD8+ T cell infiltrating levels, whilst EXT2 expression levels were considerably negatively connected with infiltrating levels of CD4+ T cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells in HNSC. The gene mutation rates of EXT1 and EXT2 in HNSC were 7% and 2.8%, respectively. Moreover, EXT2 was validated to be highly expressed in HNSC samples by real-time PCR. Conclusion: EXT2 was highly expressed and presented negative correlation with the prognosis and immune infiltration of HNSC, which might be a potential biomarker for HNSC.

Abstract Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) seems to prevent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV). However, the mechanism is still little known. This study aimed to investigate the the roles and mechanisms of TDF, tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF), and entecavir (ETV) on the malignant characteristics of liver cancer cells. Using the wound-healing assays, transwell assays, matrigel transwell assays, and cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assays, it was possible to identify that TDF/TAF, inhibited migration, invasion, and proliferation of HepG2 cells and Huh7 cells. To investigate the mechanisms, we performed TOP/FOP-Flash system, Western blot, and RT-qPCR assays of liver cancer cells cultured with TDF/TAF and found a lower activity of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway compared with control cells. Finally, Hepatitis C virus p7 trans-regulated protein 3 (p7TP3), a tumor suppressor in liver cancers, was significantly increased in HepG2 cells and Huh7 cells that treated with TDF/TAF. However, entecavir (ETV)-treated liver cancer cells showed no significant difference in the malignant characteristics of liver cancer cells, activity of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and expression of p7TP3, compared with the control groups. To conclude, TDF/TAF maybe novel promising therapeutic strategy for liver cancers, including HCC and hepatoblastoma, via Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, by up-regulating expression of the tumor suppressor, p7TP3.

Abstract Yttrium iron garnet, a material possessing ultralow magnetic damping and extraordinarily long magnon diffusion length, is the most widely studied magnetic insulator in spintronics and magnonics. Field-free electrical control of perpendicular yttrium iron garnet magnetization with considerable efficiency is highly desired for excellent device performance. Here, we demonstrate such an accomplishment with a collinear spin current, whose spin polarization and propagation direction are both perpendicular to the interface. Remarkably, the field-free magnetization switching is achieved not only with a heavy-metal-free material, Permalloy, but also with a higher efficiency as compared with a typical heavy metal, Pt. Combined with the direct and inverse effect measurements, we ascribe the collinear spin current to the anomalous spin Hall effect in Permalloy. Our findings provide a new insight into spin current generation in Permalloy and open an avenue in spintronic devices.

Food safety and food security can impact the quality of human life, and these two aspects are interrelated alongside many influencing external factors. Global stressors such as climate change, recent pandemic, and geopolitical tensions have demonstrated tangible impacts on food security and safety. Food and food system innovation is a key strategy towards feeding the world in a more sustainable and climate-resilient manner. This paper highlights the use of a science-based risk assessment and management in Singapore’s food safety system, specifically in the integration of exposure assessment approaches to support evidence-based food safety risk analysis and decision-making. The use of complementary top-down and bottom-up exposure assessment approaches through the market monitoring programme, total diet study and human biomonitoring forms a comprehensive integrated exposure assessment strategy which can ultimately inform policy and measures in ensuring and securing a supply of safe food. The discussion on such application for chemical food safety in Singapore offers additional insights into the synergistic inter-relationships contributing to the exposure assessment associated with chemicals in food.

Background: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is spreading rapidly in Asia. The pathway of SFTS virus shedding from patient and specific use of personal protective equipments (PPEs) against viral transmission have rarely been reported. The study was to determine SFTS virus (SFTSV) shedding pattern from the respiratory, digestive and urinary tract to outside in patients. Methods: Patients were divided into mild and severe groups in three sentinel hospitals for SFTS in Anhui province from April 2020 to October 2022. SFTSV level from blood, throat swabs, fecal/anal swabs, urine and bedside environment swabs of SFTS patients were detected by qRT-PCR. Specific PPEs were applied in healthcare workers contacting with the patients who had oropharyngeal virus shedding and hemorrhagic signs. Results: A total of 189 SFTSV-confirmed patients were included in the study, 54 patients died (case fatality rate, 28.57 %). Positive SFTSV in throat swabs (T-SFTSV), fecal/anal swabs (F-SFTSV) and urine (U-SFTSV) were detected in 121 (64.02 %), 91 (48.15 %) and 65 (34.4 %) severely ill patients, respectively. The levels of T-SFTSV, F-SFTSV and U-SFTSV were positively correlated with the load of SFTSV in blood. We firstly revealed that SFTSV positive rate of throat swabs were correlated with occurrence of pneumonia and case fatality rate of patients (P

In order to reduce the deformation resistance, the rolling process of metastable β titanium alloys is generally carried out in the β single-phase state, which causes the problem of non-uniform grain size during the subsequent annealing process, thus affecting the alloy properties. Here we first solution-treated the as-cast Ti–15Mo–3Al-2.7Nb-0.2Si alloy at 740 °C to obtain α + β phase, then cold rolled it with a reduction of 60 %, and finally annealed it at 710–810 °C for 2–240min. Characterization of the annealed metastable β alloy revealed that α phase was involved in the rolling deformation at the same time and recrystallized on the β matrix during the subsequent annealing process, known as equiaxial dispersion, which impeded the recrystallization of the β grains, and ultimately an ultrafine crystalline microstructure of α + β phases with an average grain size of less than 2 μm was obtained.

Abstract To determine the dietary structure and its associated factors of tuberculosis (TB) patients in the community. This cross-sectional study analysed the dietary intake of 300 TB patients in two impoverished counties in China. Food intake was collected by using food frequency and two consecutive 24-h dietary review (24hdr) methods. The dietary composition and dietary structure of TB patients were compared with China’s 2022 Dietary Reference Intake (DRIs) and the average reference value of dietary composition (ARC) in China in 2013. Binary logistic regression models were used to explore the factors associated with inadequate intake of animal food, insufficient protein and fat energy supply in patients with TB. The daily intake of various foods in TB patients was measured and the results were as follows: staple foods—median 372.12 g (interquartile range [IQR] 315.87 g); vegetables—median 200.00 g (IQR 205.55 g); fruits—median 20.22 g (IQR 36.82 g); animal foods—median 100.82 g (IQR 180.74 g); dairy products—median 0.00 g (IQR 0.00 g); nuts—median 17.10 g (IQR 29.75 g). The average daily intakes of vegetables, fruits, animal food, dairy products, soy and nuts were lower than those recommended by the DRIs (P

Abstract The Holocene temperature conundrum, the discrepancy between proxy-based Holocene global cooling and simulated global annual warming trends, remains controversial. Meanwhile, reconstructions and simulations show inconsistent spatial patterns of terrestrial temperature changes. Here we report Holocene alkenone records to address spatial patterns over mid-latitude Eurasia. In contrast with long-term cooling trends in warm season temperatures in northeastern China, records from southwestern Siberia are characterized by colder conditions before ~6,000 years ago, thus long-term warming trends. Together with existing records from surrounding regions, we infer that colder airmass might have prevailed in the interior of mid-latitude Eurasian continent during the early to mid-Holocene, perhaps associated with atmospheric response to remnant ice sheets. Our results challenge the proposed seasonality bias in proxies and modeled spatial patterns in study region, highlighting that spatial patterns of Holocene temperature changes should be re-considered in record integrations and model simulations, with important implications for terrestrial hydroclimate changes.

Ethylene plays an important role in regulating the development and ripening of fruits, and 1-aminocyclopropane carboxylic acid synthase is the key rate-limiting enzyme in ethylene synthesis pathway. In this study, eight PpACS genes were identified from the peach genome [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch], and their phylogeny, gene structures, promoter motifs and expression patterns were analyzed. The PpACS genes could be divided into four types, and the genes with similar structures and motif distribution clustered together. Identification of the cis-elements in the promoters revealed that the PpACS genes may respond to various hormones. Furthermore, expression analysis showed that five (PpACS1, PpACS5, PpACS6, PpACS7 and PpACS8) of the eight PpACS genes were expressed at different stages during peach fruit development. Among them, PpACS1 was highly expressed at the ripening stage and induced by ethylene. The expression peaks of PpACS5, PpACS6, PpACS7 and PpACS8 during the transition from first exponential growth to pit hardening (S1 to S2) indicated a potential function of ethylene during this important transition. Taken together, these results provide valuable information for future investigation into the functions of the PpACS genes during peach fruit development and ripening.

As an essential thrombolytic agent, the tissue plasminogen activator receives increasing attention due to its longer half-life, lower immunogenicity, and easier administration, which are superior to other thrombolytic agents. In this study, the isolated and purified plasminogen activator from the sandworm (Perinereis aibuhitensis) was expressed in E. coli (Escherichia coli) to investigate its potential for simplifying the development process. The sandworm plasminogen activator was previously successfully cloned and expressed in E. coli with low yield and activity in the culture supernatant. This low yield and activity prompted us to optimize its DNA sequence. Furthermore, to raise the efficiency in the separation of the target protein, the protein’s solubility was enhanced by fusing it with maltose-binding protein (MBP) tags. Eventually, the fibrinolytic activity was successfully restored after digestion with tobacco etch virus (TEV) protease. This study provides an innovative method of efficiently expressing and purifying plasminogen activators from sandworm in E. coli and broadens its applications in therapeutic treatment of cardiovascular diseases, including thrombosis, stroke, and coronary atherosclerotic heart disease.

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

In light of the low dissolved oxygen concentration in the deep sea, the corrosion mechanisms of the high entropy alloy (HEA) AlCoCrFeNi in artificial seawater with varying oxygen concentrations (2.0, 4.0, 7.0 mg/L) were studied. As the oxygen concentration decreases, the alloy's free corrosion potential decreases, and at 2.0 mg/L, the corrosion rate is 421 times higher than that at 7.0 mg/L. The corrosion form transforms from pitting to uniform corrosion. The primary reasons for this are the passivation film is thin under low oxygen concentration conditions, as well as the preferential dissolution of the alloy elements Al and Ni due to their high activity and “local acidizing” properties, respectively. In designing a super corrosion-resistant high entropy alloy for use in the deep sea, it is advisable to avoid the use of element Al and to add Ni with caution.

ObjectivesLung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, and 80–85% of all lung cancer cases are non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Surgical resection is the standard treatment for early-stage NSCLC. However, lung resection, a surgical procedure, can result in complications and increased mortality. Recent studies have shown a significant correlation between complications after lung resection and right ventricular dysfunction.MethodsTransthoracic echocardiography-derived right ventricular-pulmonary artery coupling (RV-PAC) was utilized to assess right ventricular function in these patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was also conducted to assess risk factors independently associated with RV-PA uncoupling. The 3- and 5-year cumulative survival rates were estimated with Kaplan-Meier curves, and differences between groups were analyzed using the Mantel-Cox log-rank test.ResultsRV-PA uncoupling was defined as a TAPSE/PASP value < 0.67 mm/mm Hg according to spline analysis. The results of multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that diabetes is an independent risk factor for right ventricular dysfunction after lung resection in patients with NSCLC. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a significant decrease in the survival rate of patients with RV-PA uncoupling at both the 3-year follow-up (73% vs 40%, p < 0.001) and 5-year follow-up (64% vs 37%, p < 0.001).ConclusionsAfter lung resection for NSCLC, the patient’s right ventricular function predicts prognosis. Patients with right ventricular dysfunction, particularly those with diabetes mellitus, have a worse prognosis. It is crucial to actively prevent and correct risk factors to reduce the mortality rate in these patients.

Background Left ventricular opacification (LVO) improves the accuracy of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by enhancing the visualization of the endocardium. Manual delineation of the endocardium by sonographers has observer variability. Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to improve the reproducibility of LVO to assess LVEF. Objectives The aim was to develop an AI model and evaluate the feasibility and reproducibility of LVO in the assessment of LVEF. Methods This retrospective study included 1305 echocardiography of 797 patients who had LVO at the Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Union Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from 2013 to 2021. The AI model was developed by 5-fold cross validation. The validation datasets included 50 patients prospectively collected in our center and 42 patients retrospectively collected in the external institution. To evaluate the differences between LV function determined by AI and sonographers, the median absolute error (MAE), spearman correlation coefficient, and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were calculated. Results In LVO, the MAE of LVEF between AI and manual measurements was 2.6% in the development cohort, 2.5% in the internal validation cohort, and 2.7% in the external validation cohort. Compared with two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE), the left ventricular (LV) volumes and LVEF of LVO measured by AI correlated significantly with manual measurements. AI model provided excellent reliability for the LV parameters of LVO (ICC > 0.95). Conclusions AI-assisted LVO enables more accurate identification of the LV endocardium and reduces observer variability, providing a more reliable way for assessing LV function.

With the advancements of IoT and blockchain, a novel era has emerged in the domain of smart building systems. At the same time, it also brings some problems and challenges. Most traditional solutions typically utilize the fully-replicated storage strategy that results in high storage costs, while recent solutions like coded blockchain may compromise query efficiency. Moreover, traditional reputation-based consensus schemes do not consider dynamic situations, limiting scalability. To handle these problems, we propose a novel hierarchical message aggregation scheme and a classified storage method under Reed–Solomon (RS) coding to minimize storage overhead while ensuring data recoverability and query performance. Additionally, we introduce a dynamic incentive reputation consensus mechanism to tackle scalability challenges such as preventing node monopolies, promoting new node integration, and enhancing fault tolerance. Through theoretical analysis and experimental simulation, the proposed scheme demonstrates a high degree of decentralization and scalability. Our scheme achieves a 20% reduction in the Gini coefficient compared to other approaches. Furthermore, our scheme can save 19 of storage overhead compared to traditional solutions while maintaining high query performance.

While the 5-year survival rate of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has seen some improvement, the majority of NSCLC patients fail to respond to immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). It is critical to identify effective biomarkers that can enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy. The clinical data in the current study were collected from NSCLC patients treated with ICIs, and two groups were classified according to treatment effect: good group with consistent efficacy, poor group with only progressiveness. Differences in intestinal microbiota between the two groups were analyzed using 16s rRNA sequencing. Beta diversity analysis indicated differences between the two groups that were available for differentiation. Comparison of the number of common or unique operational taxonomic units (OTUs) among different groups suggested that there were 53 unique OTUs in the good group and 51 unique OTUs in the poor group. At the phylum level, there was a difference between the two groups for several bacterial groups with the highest abundance values, among which Firmicutes, Actinobacteria and Fusobacteria were more abundant in the good group. Members of the genera Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus were abundant in the good group, while the abundance of Bacteroides was low. Biomarkers in the poor group included Bacteroides, Bacteroidetes, Bacteroidia, Bacteroidales, Bacteroidaceae and Veillonellaceae. The intestinal microbiota composition affected the immunotherapy process for NSCLC, which might offer more rational instructions for the clinical application of ICIs in NSCLC patients.

BackgroundT cell exhaustion in the tumor microenvironment has been demonstrated as a substantial contributor to tumor immunosuppression and progression. However, the correlation between T cell exhaustion and osteosarcoma (OS) remains unclear.MethodsIn our present study, single-cell RNA-seq data for OS from the GEO database was analysed to identify CD8+ T cells and discern CD8+ T cell subsets objectively. Subgroup differentiation trajectory was then used to pinpoint genes altered in response to T cell exhaustion. Subsequently, six machine learning algorithms were applied to develop a prognostic model linked with T cell exhaustion. This model was subsequently validated in the TARGETs and Meta cohorts. Finally, we examined disparities in immune cell infiltration, immune checkpoints, immune-related pathways, and the efficacy of immunotherapy between high and low TEX score groups.ResultsThe findings unveiled differential exhaustion in CD8+ T cells within the OS microenvironment. Three genes related to T cell exhaustion (RAD23A, SAC3D1, PSIP1) were identified and employed to formulate a T cell exhaustion model. This model exhibited robust predictive capabilities for OS prognosis, with patients in the low TEX score group demonstrating a more favorable prognosis, increased immune cell infiltration, and heightened responsiveness to treatment compared to those in the high TEX score group.ConclusionIn summary, our research elucidates the role of T cell exhaustion in the immunotherapy and progression of OS, the prognostic model constructed based on T cell exhaustion-related genes holds promise as a potential method for prognostication in the management and treatment of OS patients.

Microstructure evolution and coarsening behavior of precipitated O phase were systematically investigated in this study, and the corresponding microstructures were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that the original microstructure was composed of lath O phase, α2 phase and B2 matrix. The precipitated O phase presented different morphologies and sizes during heat treatment. With the increase of solution temperature and holding time, the O phase occurred coarsening, with a thickness ranging from 0.73 increased to 2.64 μm. But the volume fraction decreased from 57.65 to 18.40 %. During aging treatment, large amounts of fine secondary acicular O phase have precipitated from the matrix. As the aging temperature increases, the O phase underwent coarsening and the thickness increases from 0.70 to 1.40 μm. However, the aging temperature has little effect on the precipitation of acicular O phase, and the volume fraction decreases from 37.66 to 33.32 %. Research found that the small-sized O phase gradually dissolved in the matrix, while the large-sized O phase grew. This phenomenon can be explained by Ostwald ripening mechanism. The TEM analysis revealed that the O phase occurred separation, mainly due to the diffusion of solute atoms and the embedding of B2 matrix. Meanwhile, the O phase had been completed and segmented. The coarsening mechanism of the O phase was also explained by the boundary splitting mechanism and terminal migration mechanism.

Ti–Nb alloys have the advantages of non-toxicity, low elastic modulus, high strength, and good biocompatibility. However, the effect of Nb content on its passivation behavior in Hank's solution still needs to be investigated. This work investigated the microstructure, hardness, and corrosion behavior of Ti-xNb (x = 5, 15, 25 wt%) alloys. The β phase gradually increases associated with the increasing Nb content in Ti–Nb alloys, resulting in the dispersion strengthening of alloys. Moreover, with the increased Nb content, the samples show higher open circuit potential, lower passivation current density, and higher charge transfer resistance in Hank's solution at 37 °C. When the passive films of Ti–Nb alloys are formed under the high potentials of 1 V and 2 V, the passive films gradually dissolve after the withdrawal of applied potential, representing the decrease in the total impedance of the passive film. The reason for this phenomenon is the addition of Nb substantially decreases the oxygen vacancies in the passive film formed on the samples. Therefore, the impedance of the passive film is increased.

The fibrinolytic kinase identified in the nereid worm (Perinereis aibuhitensis Grub) displays exceptional kinase activity, stability, and specificity, suggesting its potential as a promising candidate for the advancement of new thrombolytic drugs. In this study, a process was optimized for the production of fibrinolytic kinase using Escherichia coli, and the effects of factors such as inoculum, pH, OD, temperature, inducer concentration, and time on the protein yield were investigated. The optimum points of key parameters were determined by single-factor experiments, and the initial pH, OD, and time were determined to be significant by PB (Plackett–Burman design) with six factors at two levels of experiments. The response surface experiments highlighted the key roles of initial pH and induced OD values, and the convergence of the model and experimental data confirmed the optimal conditions and reasonable fluctuation intervals, which proved the reliability of the model.

Background: Genetic information is stored in the bases of double-stranded DNA. However, the integrity of DNA molecules is constantly threatened by various mutagenic agents, including pollutants, ultraviolet light (UV), and medications. To counteract these environmental damages, cells have established multiple mechanisms, such as producing molecules to identify and eliminate damaged DNA, as well as reconstruct the original DNA structures. Failure or insufficiency of these mechanisms can cause genetic instability. However, the role of genome stability in eye diseases is still under-researched, despite extensive study in cancer biology. Main text: As the eye is directly exposed to the external environment, the genetic materials of ocular cells are constantly under threat. Some of the proteins essential for DNA damage repair, such as pRb, p53, and RAD21, are also key during the ocular disease development. In this review, we discuss five ocular diseases that are associated with genomic instability. Retinoblastoma and pterygium are linked to abnormal cell cycles. Fuchs’ corneal endothelial dystrophy and age-related macular degeneration are related to the accumulation of DNA damage caused by oxidative damage and UV. The mutation of the subunit of the cohesin complex during eye development is linked to sclerocornea. Conclusions: Failure of DNA damage detection or repair leads to increased genomic instability. Deciphering the role of genomic instability in ocular diseases can lead to the development of new treatments and strategies, such as protecting vulnerable cells from risk factors or intensifying damage to unwanted cells.

Abstract Aims Vascular resident stem cells expressing stem cell antigen-1 (Sca-1+ cells) promote vascular regeneration and remodelling following injury through migration, proliferation and differentiation. The aim of this study was to examine the contributions of ATP signalling through purinergic receptor type 2 (P2R) isoforms in promoting Sca-1+ cell migration and proliferation after vascular injury and to elucidate the main downstream signalling pathways. Methods and results ATP-evoked changes in isolated Sca-1+ cell migration were examined by transwell assays, proliferation by viable cell counting assays and intracellular Ca2+ signalling by fluorometry, while receptor subtype contributions and downstream signals were examined by pharmacological or genetic inhibition, immunofluorescence, Western blotting and quantitative RT-PCR. These mechanisms were further examined in mice harbouring TdTomato-labelled Sca-1+ cells with and without Sca-1+-targeted P2R knockout following femoral artery guidewire injury. Stimulation with ATP promoted cultured Sca-1+ cell migration, induced intracellular free calcium elevations primarily via P2Y2R stimulation and accelerated proliferation mainly via P2Y6R stimulation. Enhanced migration was inhibited by the ERK blocker PD98059 or P2Y2R-shRNA, while enhanced proliferation was inhibited by the P38 inhibitor SB203580. Femoral artery guidewire injury of the neointima increased the number of TdTomato-labelled Sca-1+ cells, neointimal area and the ratio of neointimal area to media area at 3 weeks post-injury, and all of these responses were reduced by P2Y2R knockdown. Conclusions ATP induces Sca-1+ cell migration through the P2Y2R–Ca2+–ERK signalling pathway, and enhances proliferation through the P2Y6R–P38-MAPK signalling pathway. Both pathways are essential for vascular remodelling following injury. Video Abstract

Background: PreS1-binding protein (PreS1BP), recognized as a nucleolar protein and tumor suppressor, influences the replication of various viruses, including vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Its role in hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication and the underlying mechanisms, however, remain elusive. Methods: We investigated PreS1BP expression levels in an HBV-replicating cell and animal model and analyzed the impact of its overexpression on viral replication metrics. HBV DNA, covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg), and HBV RNA levels were assessed in HBV-expressing stable cell lines under varying PreS1BP conditions. Furthermore, co-immunoprecipitation and ubiquitination assays were used to detect PreS1BP- hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) interactions and HBx stability modulated by PreS1BP. Results: Our study revealed a marked decrease in PreS1BP expression in the presence of active HBV replication. Functional assays showed that PreS1BP overexpression significantly inhibited HBV replication and transcription, evidenced by the reduction in HBV DNA, cccDNA, HBsAg, HBcAg, and HBV RNA levels. At the molecular level, PreS1BP facilitated the degradation of HBx in a dose-dependent fashion, whereas siRNA-mediated knockdown of PreS1BP led to an increase in HBx levels. Subsequent investigations uncovered that PreS1BP accelerated HBx protein degradation via K63-linked ubiquitination in a ubiquitin-proteasome system-dependent manner. Co-immunoprecipitation assays further established that PreS1BP enhances the recruitment of the proteasome 20S subunit alpha 3 (PSMA3) for interaction with HBx, thereby fostering its degradation. Conclusions: These findings unveil a previously unidentified mechanism wherein PreS1BP mediates HBx protein degradation through the ubiquitin-proteasome system, consequentially inhibiting HBV replication. This insight positions PreS1BP as a promising therapeutic target for future HBV interventions. Further studies are warranted to explore the clinical applicability of modulating PreS1BP in HBV therapy.

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic non-specific inflammatory disease with intestinal tract as the main site. The pathogenic of UC has not yet been clarified, and multiple mechanisms can lead to the pathogenesis of UC. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) offers an opportunity for UC treatment. TCM has become the preferred treatment for UC with characteristics of multiple targets, multiple pathways and high safety. This review attempted to summarize the characteristics of TCM (compound prescriptions, single Chinese herbs, and active ingredients) for UC treatment and discussed their pathogenesis based on analyzing the UC-related gut microbiota, signaling pathway and cytokine. In order to provide more systematic and diverse reference for TCM in the prevention and treatment of UC, and provide theoretical reference for clinical treatment of UC. Materials and methods: The information was acquired from different databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP databases. We then focused on the recent research progress in UC treatment by TCM. Finally, the deficiencies and future perspectives are proposed. Results: Modern pharmacological studies have shown that the compound prescriptions (strengthening spleen, clearing heat and removing dampness, clearing heat and removing toxin), single Chinese herbs (replenishing Qi, clearing heat, tonifying blood, etc.), and active ingredients (alkaloids, polysaccharides, flavonoids, polyphenols, terpenes, etc.) have an efficiency in UC treatment by regulating gut microbiota, signaling pathway and cytokine. Conclusions: TCM can achieve its purpose of UC prevention and treatment by acting in multiple ways, and TCM deserves further research and development in this field.

Objective: This study explores the 22-year evolution of Infantile Hemangiomas (IHs) treatment strategies at a single-center hospital, aiming to establish an individualized IHs management protocol.Methods: Retrospective review of IHs infants 2000–2022 at the Department of Plastic Surgery, Jiangxi Provincial Children’s Hospital.Results: In our study of 27,513 IHs cases, 72.2% were female, with the median age at first hospital visit being 25 days. The majority of cases had localized and superficial lesions primarily on the head, face, and neck (67.5%). Ulceration rates fell from 21.1% to 12.6% with the introduction of propranolol. Management strategies have shifted over time, with the proportion of cases undergoing expectant management dropping from 32.9% to 12.4%. Since 2008, 26.1% of patients were treated with oral propranolol, largely replacing corticosteroids. Topical β-blockers have been used in 12.1% of cases, leading to a reduction in local injection therapy from 20.8% to 13.2%. Laser therapy, introduced in 2016, has been used in 13.8% of cases, while surgical excision has dropped from 25.0% to 8.5% due to alternative treatment options. Combination therapy was used in 8.8% of cases post-2015, indicating a rising trend. Drawing from the evolution of IHs management strategies, an individualized protocol for the management of IHs was successfully established.Conclusion: Treatment for IHs has evolved over recent decades, with less invasive medical interventions increasingly replacing more invasive methods. Furthermore, a personalized treatment protocol established in this study could boost the cure rate of IHs while minimizing potential side effects and complications.

This study was conducted to observe the effect of Chinese herbal compound on the treatment of colon cancer using AOM/DSS-induced C57BL/6J colon cancer mice and to validate potential influence on intestinal flora of mice. A colorectal cancer (CRC) mouse model was built with a total of 50 C57BL/6J mice that were induced by administrating AOM/DSS. These experimental animals were split up into 5 groups, a control group, a model group, and low-, medium- and high-dose Chinese herbal compound groups. All mice were given Chinese herbal compound treatment, and the colon tissues of each group were harvested with the length measured and the number of colon polyps accounted. The Ki-67 expression in the colon tissues was detected via immuno-histochemistry. Relative quantification of the expression of genes and proteins was determined through qPCR and WB assays. Contents of IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-10 in serum and colon tissues of mice were determined by ELISA. An additional 16S rRNA sequencing analysis was implemented for the identification of mouse intestinal flora. The results suggested that all low-, medium- or high-dose Chinese herbal compound could markedly inhibit the shortening of colon length and significant number reduction of colon polyps in the model group. The relative expression of genes and proteins (PCNA, Muc16, and MMP-9) associated with proliferation in mouse colon tissues were inhibited. In addition, compared with the model group, the contents of IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ in serum and colon tissues were substantially decreased in the high-dose Chinese herbal compound group, thereby reducing the structure damage in colon tissues and the infiltration degree of inflammatory cells. Besides, the expression of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB protein was markedly decreased. The 16S rRNA sequencing analysis demonstrated that mice in the model group had decreased intestinal flora diversity, and there were significant changes in flora abundance and amino acid metabolism between the control group and the model group. Taken together, the treatment of Chinese herbal compound against CRC in this study might be regulated by the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway, and the imbalance in intestinal flora was also closely related to CRC occurrence.

Abstract Although the efficacy of propranolol in the treatment of infantile hemangioma (IH) has been well established, clinical data on the safety and tolerability of propranolol in neonates are still lacking. In this work, clinical data of 112 neonates with IH were analyzed retrospectively. All of the patients were evaluated in the hospital at the beginning of the treatment and later in outpatient settings during the treatment. Each time, the following monitoring methods were applied: physical examination, ultrasound echocardiography (UCG), electrocardiography (ECG), blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and basic laboratory tests including blood glucose (BG), liver function, blood potassium, thyroid function. There was a significant reduction in BP and HR at the initiation of treatment. The incidences of bradycardia and hypoglycemia were observed to be increased with the prolong duration of treatment, but not prolonged PR interval. During the course of the therapy, the risk of hyperkalemia and hypothyroidism was reached maximum at the 2 months and 3 months, respectively. Physical growth index including average height, weight and head circumference was not influenced by the treatment. The observed adverse effects were majority mild and only 3 patients needed to rest for 7 days due to severe diarrhea before restarting treatment. This study demonstrated that propranolol is safe and well-tolerated by properly selected young infants with IH. No serious adverse events were observed.

WAAM has emerged as a promising technique for manufacturing medium- and large-scale metal parts due to its high material deposition efficiency and automation level. However, its high heat accumulation and complex thermal evolution strongly affect the resulting microstructures and mechanical properties. The heterogeneous and unpredictable nature of these properties hinder the widespread application of WAAM in the steel construction industry. In this study, an artificial neural network (ANN) hardness model is developed, based on a thermal–metallurgical model for mild steel. The objective is to establish non-linear relationships between the input process parameters and the desired output, i.e., hardness. The thermal–metallurgical model utilizes a well-distributed heat source model, a death-and-birth algorithm, and a metallurgical model to simulate the temperature field and to calculate the microstructure phase fraction. The temperature prediction errors at four thermocouple positions are mostly below 20%. Because of the limited experimental data, twenty-five simulation experiments are performed using the L25 orthogonal array based on the Taguchi method. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) reveals that the travel speed has the greatest impact on hardness. With the dataset from the thermal–metallurgical model, an ANN model to predict hardness is developed. A comparison to experimental data shows excellent performance and accuracy, with the Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) of ANN predictions within 10% of the targeted hardness.

Ganoderma lucidum spore powder, valued for its nutritional and medicinal properties, contains polysaccharides crucial for its efficacy. However, the complex structural nature of these polysaccharides necessitates further investigation to fully realize their potential. This study aimed to investigate the effects of acid heat treatment on Ganoderma lucidum spore polysaccharides (GLSPs) to enhance their properties and application in antitumor activity. The GLSP was obtained via acid heat treatment, concentration, and centrifugal separation. This process led to a notable reduction in polysaccharide molecular weight, increasing water solubility and bioavailability. Analytical techniques including NMR spectroscopy and methylation analysis revealed a polysaccharide composition comprising four distinct monosaccharides, with molecular weights of 3291 Da (Mw) and 3216 Da (Mn). Six different linkage modes were identified, with a molar ratio of 1:5:2:3:4:3. In vivo experiments demonstrated the GLSP’s significant inhibitory effect on the growth of four tumor models (sarcoma S180, Lewis lung cancer, liver cancer H22, and colon cancer C26) in mice, with no observed toxicity. These findings suggest the GLSP’s potential as an antitumor therapeutic agent for clinical use.

The contamination of food by microplastics has garnered widespread attention, particularly concerning the health risks associated with small-sized microplastics. However, detecting these smaller microplastics in food poses challenges attributed to the complexity of food matrices and instrumental and method limitations. Here, we employed Raman imaging for visualization and identification of polystyrene particles synthesized in polymerization reactions, ranging from 400 to 2600 nm. We successfully developed a quantitative model of particle size and concentration for polystyrene, exhibiting excellent fit (R2 of 0.9946). We established procedures for spiked flavored yogurt using synthesized polystyrene, providing fresh insights into microplastic extraction efficiency. Recovery rates calculated from models validated the method’s feasibility. In practical applications, the assessment of the size, type, shape, and quantity of microplastics in unspiked flavored yogurt was conducted. The most common polymers found were polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyethylene, with the smallest polystyrene sizes ranging from 1 to 10 μm. Additionally, we conducted exposure assessments of microplastics in branded flavored yogurt. This study established a foundation for developing a universal method to quantify microplastics in food, covering synthesis of standards, method development, validation, and application.

Multi-sensor fusion is pivotal in augmenting the robustness and precision of simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) systems. The LiDAR–visual–inertial approach has been empirically shown to adeptly amalgamate the benefits of these sensors for SLAM across various scenarios. Furthermore, methods of panoptic segmentation have been introduced to deliver pixel-level semantic and instance segmentation data in a single instance. This paper delves deeper into these methodologies, introducing PSMD-SLAM, a novel panoptic segmentation assisted multi-sensor fusion SLAM approach tailored for dynamic environments. Our approach employs both probability propagation-based and PCA-based clustering techniques, supplemented by panoptic segmentation. This is utilized for dynamic object detection and the removal of visual and LiDAR data, respectively. Furthermore, we introduce a module designed for the robust real-time estimation of the 6D pose of dynamic objects. We test our approach on a publicly available dataset and show that PSMD-SLAM outperforms other SLAM algorithms in terms of accuracy and robustness, especially in dynamic environments.

Blockchain technology has attracted significant attention since its publication. However, most existing blockchain platforms are isolated systems, which makes it difficult to exchange data among different blockchains. The industry has proposed the notary schemes to enhance blockchain interoperability, which can exchange messages among different blockchains through a notary. However, conventional notary schemes are centralized, which suffers from single point of failures. To address these issues, this paper proposes a distributed cross-chain notary model with regulatory mechanisms, based on improved threshold group signatures. We improve the group signature scheme by setting up a group of tracing authorities to achieve distributed tracing. Furthermore, we incorporate this signature scheme into our notary scheme, where a group of notaries signs cross-chain transactions using group signatures. We also introduce a group of regulators to reveal the true identities of malicious notaries when disputes occur. Finally, we prove the security of our signature scheme based on the Random Oracle Model. In our experiments, when the number of notaries is 102 and the threshold is 2/3 of that, it takes 166 ms to set up and generate signature. Also, it takes 161 ms for regulators to reveal the true identities of malicious notaries.

Introduction Coagulation disorders play a key role in chronic kidney disease, and the formation or elevation of plasma D-dimer levels reflects activation of the coagulation system. However, its relationship with the severity and progression of kidney disease in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) remains unclear.Methods We assessed 1818 patients with IgAN diagnosed between 2002 and 2019 at the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine. Plasma D-dimer levels were measured at the time of the renal biopsy. The association between plasma D-dimer levels and kidney disease progression events, defined as a 50% decline in eGFR and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), was tested using restricted cubic splines and Cox proportional hazard models.Results The median plasma D-dimer level was 220 (170–388.5) µg/L FEU, which was significantly higher than healthy controls 170 (170–202) µg/L FEU. Plasma D-dimer levels were positively correlated with proteinuria (r = 0.211, p