Search

Rainfall infiltration not only changes the seepage field of the slope, but also reduces the soil strength, which is easy to induce landslide. The soil in the slip zone often shows strain softening during the landslide process. However, the research of the two-parameter strength reduction method based on the strain softening model is still in its infancy, and the influence of seepage field has been ignored when analyzing the stability of landslides in the previous studies. The red-brown soil in the Liupanshui area has strong water retention and obvious strain softening characteristics, and many large and medium-sized landslides have occurred in this area. Understanding the disaster-causing mechanism according to the characteristics of red-brown soil is conducive to the prevention and control of landslides. A three-dimensional geological model was established for the Zhoujiapo landslide in Jichang town, Liupanshui city. Based on the fluid-structure interaction theory of unsaturated soil, a mathematical model of the interaction between the flow field and the stress field of slope was established. The rainwater seepage and the stability of the landslide were simulated by using the finite element and the two-parameter strength reduction method considering the strain softening of the soil. The results show that after rainfall, the rainwater mostly flows into the lower edge and gully along the slope in the surface soil in the tangential and transverse directions rather than all vertical infiltration. The saturation at the bottom of the gully increases significantly and the intensity decreases the most compared to other areas at the upper edge. With time extension of rainfall, a plastic penetration zone along the gully is formed in the slope, which greatly reduces the stability of the landslide. Compared with the classical reduction method, the stability coefficient obtained by the double reduction method considering strain softening in the rainfall process changes from small to large, but the difference was within 4%. It can be seen that the negative impact of red-brown soil strain softening on landslide stability is not significant and weakens with rainfall. The prevention and control of such landslides should focus on reducing the permeability of gully soil. This study provides a theoretical basis for the prevention and control of similar landslides.

Abstract While associations between periodontitis and an elevated risk of cancer have been suggested, the results of existing observational studies have been inconsistent, also leaving room for further investigation into the underlying mechanisms. This study was designed to delve into the possible causal link between periodontitis and 20 standard cancers while concurrently identifying potential mediators. We initiated a Mendelian randomization analysis that drew from either publicly accessible or personally obtained genome-wide association study (GWAS) datasets. The inverse variance weighting (IVW) method served as our primary tool for analysis. To ensure the strength and consistency of our results, we implemented additional strategies, including weighted median, weighted mode, MR-Egger regression, and MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO), bolstered by funnel plots. Our analysis unveiled an elevated risk of head and neck cancer concomitant with periodontitis (p = 0.041, OR 0.999, 95% CI 0.999–1.000), specifically a heightened risk of oropharyngeal cancer (p = 0.022, OR 0.999, 95% CI 0.999–1.000). As a result of probing into potential mediators, Fusobacterium nucleatum emerged as a likely intermediary in the promoting effect of periodontitis on oropharyngeal cancer (p = 0.021, OR 0.999, 95% CI 0.998–1.000). Inversely, basal cell carcinoma and endometrial cancer demonstrated an association with an increased incidence of periodontitis (basal cell carcinoma: p = 0.020, OR 0.987, 95% CI 0.976–0.998; endometrial cancer: p = 0.027, OR 0.984, 95% CI 0.970–0.998). However, periodontitis exerted no significant causal impact on the 19 other common cancers or the three subtypes of head and neck cancer. To conclude, our results support the theory that periodontitis contributes to an enhanced risk of head and neck cancer, particularly oropharyngeal cancer, with Fusobacterium nucleatum functioning as a potential intermediary.

Objective To compare the clinical outcomes of a modified arthroscopic triple‐row (TR) repair technique with the suture bridge (SB) repair technique in treating L‐shaped delaminated rotator cuff tears. Various surgical techniques for L‐shaped delaminated rotator cuff tears have been reported, many of which aid in increasing the contact area and pressure of the rotator cuff. However, there is still debate over which technique yields superior results. Methods From January 2017 to March 2020, 61 cases of L‐shaped delaminated rotator cuff tears were included in this study. Of these, 34 cases underwent the modified arthroscopic triple‐row repair technique, while 27 cases were addressed with the suture bridge repair technique. Functional assessment was conducted using the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder score, the Constant score (CS), and the visual analogue scale (VAS) score. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) assessments for rotator cuff healing were performed at the 24‐month postoperative mark. Statistical evaluations were conducted using SPSS for Windows (Version 25.0, IBM, Armonk, NY, USA), employing the Wilcoxon signed‐rank test to compare preoperative and postoperative data and ROM differences, and the Mann–Whitney U test for statistical differences in clinical outcome scores between the two groups. A p‐value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Comparative analysis of the preoperative and final follow‐up scores revealed a substantial enhancement in shoulder function, as indicated by the ASES, UCLA, CS, and VAS scores, with statistical significance (p

Laser additive manufacturing (LAM) has attracted significant interest in developing Al alloys due to its potential to fabricate structural components at low cost and high efficiency. Nevertheless, LAM Al alloys still suffer many issues, including heterogeneous microstructure, various defects, and poor mechanical properties, significantly hindering the advancement of LAM Al alloys. This article seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of the current advancements made in the field of LAM Al alloys and attempts to establish an in-depth relationship between microstructural characteristics, defects, and performances. Development status and limitations of LAM technologies are described, microstructural characteristics of Al alloys in LAM are introduced, mechanisms of formed defects and corresponding mitigation measures are discussed, and current quality improvement strategies are summarized. Following the research of previous work, this review will provide an outlook on overcoming the existing challenges and provide a helpful resource and reference for the development of LAM Al alloys.

Abstract Background Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are closely related protozoan parasites that are considered important causes of abortion in livestock, causing huge economic losses. Hunan Province ranks 12th in the production of beef and mutton in China. However, limited data are available on the seroprevalence, risk factors and molecular characterization of T. gondii and N. caninum in beef cattle and goats in Hunan province, China. Methods Sera of 985 beef cattle and 1147 goats were examined for the presence of specific antibodies against T. gondii using indirect hemagglutination test (IHAT) and anti-N. caninum IgG using competitive-inhibition enzyme-linked immunoassay assay (cELISA). Statistical analysis of possible risk factors was performed using PASW Statistics. Muscle samples of 160 beef cattle and 160 goats were examined for the presence of T. gondii DNA (B1 gene) and N. caninum DNA (Nc-5 gene) by nested PCR. The B1 gene-positive samples were genotyped at 10 genetic markers using the multilocus nested PCR-RFLP (Mn-PCR-RFLP). Results Specific IgG against T. gondii were detected in 8.3% (82/985) and 13.3% (153/1147) and against N. caninum in 2.1% (21/985) and 2.0% (23/1147) of the beef cattle and goats, respectively. Based on statistical analysis, the presence of cats, semi-intensive management mode and gender were identified as significant risk factors for T. gondii infection in beef cattle. Age was a significant risk factor for T. gondii infection in goats (P 3 years was a significant risk factor for N. caninum infection in beef cattle (P

ABSTRACT Blastocystis are common digestive tract parasites in humans and animals, extensively parasitic in humans and other primates. They exhibit extensive genetic diversity; Currently, 17 subtypes (STs) and some populations called non mammalian and avian STs (NMASTs) have been proposed. To understand the infection status and genotype distribution of Blastocystis sp. in wild mouse, this study used PCR technology to study the fecal DNA samples of 111 Leopoldomys edwardsi and 117 Berylmys bowersi collected from Guangdong and Chongqing. Among 228 fecal samples, 4 samples were positive for Blastocystis sp., with a total infection rate of 1.8% (4/228). Four positive samples formed two subtypes of ST3 and ST4, all of which were zoonotic genotypes. This article aims to investigate the infection status and genotype distribution of wild mouse Blastocystis sp., which will help reduce the infection of this pathogen to animals and thereby reduce their risk of zoonotic transmission.

Resumo Fundamento: O antibiótico quimioterápico antraciclina doxorrubicina (DOX) pode induzir cardiotoxicidade cumulativa e levar à disfunção cardíaca. RNAs não codificantes longos (lncRNAs) podem funcionar como importantes reguladores na lesão miocárdica induzida por DOX. Objetivo: Este estudo tem como objetivo investigar o papel funcional e o mecanismo molecular do RNA antisense lncRNA OXCT1 1 (OXCT1-AS1) na lesão celular miocárdica induzida por DOX in vitro. Métodos: Cardiomiócitos humanos (AC16) foram estimulados com DOX para induzir um modelo de lesão celular miocárdica. A expressão de OXCT1-AS1, miR-874-3p e BDH1 em células AC16 foi determinada por RT-qPCR. A viabilidade das células AC16 foi medida pelo ensaio XTT. A citometria de fluxo foi empregada para avaliar a apoptose de células AC16. Western blotting foi utilizado para avaliar os níveis proteicos de marcadores relacionados à apoptose. O ensaio repórter de luciferase dupla foi conduzido para verificar a capacidade de ligação entre miR-874-3p e OXCT1-AS1 e entre miR-874-3p e BDH1. O valor de p

The quantitative prediction of more process parameter variables for fewer layer geometry variables is challenging in wire-laser DED. This study’s novelty is combining machine learning models with a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA-II) to predict process parameters for desired layer geometries accurately. Thirty single-layer deposition experiments are conducted to obtain response data of layer geometries to process parameters. Two support vector regression (SVR) models are trained by these data to predict the layer height and width, respectively, and the mean absolute percentage errors (MAPEs) of these models are 4.16% and 1.76%. A reverse system, consisting of both SVR models and the NSGA-II algorithm, is designed to search the optimal process parameters for the desired layer geometries. The maximum MAPE between the actual layer geometry deposited by the predicted process parameters and the desired layer geometry is less than 5.5%, providing solid confirmation of this methodology’s reliability.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to analyze the inherent relationship between the score values and the biomechanical characteristics of the forward kicking motion, we aim to identify the fundamental variables influencing the score values of the forward kicking motion and establish the key biomechanical factors that effectively trigger scoring in the forward kicking motion.Methods: The DaeDo electronic scoring system was used with the Vicon optical motion capture system and the Kistler 3D force platform to obtain kinematic and kinetic variables of the front roundhouse kick motion. Linear bivariate correlation analysis and principal component analysis were used to analyze the associations between kinematic, kinetic variables, and scoring values, and summarize key biomechanical factors for effectively scoring.Results: The peak ankle plantar flexion angle and knee extension torque of the kicking leg showed a significant negative correlation with scoring values (r < 0, p < 0.05), while other variables showed no statistical significance. The peak knee flexion angle and hip extension angular velocity of the supporting leg showed a significant positive correlation with scoring values (r > 0, p < 0.01), while the peak ankle plantar flexion torque showed a significant negative correlation with scoring values (r < 0, p < 0.05), and other variables showed no statistically significant correlation. The absolute values of eigenvectors of the first and second principal components, which included hip angular velocity, ankle angle, knee torque, and hip torque, were relatively large, indicating their strong influence on effective scoring triggering.Conclusion: Maintaining ankle dorsiflexion and a larger knee flexion angle in the kicking leg is favorable for triggering scoring. Higher knee flexion angle and hip extension angular velocity in the supporting leg are also advantageous for triggering scoring. “Body posture” and “Strength” are key factors that effectively trigger scoring.

IntroductionMicrobial carbon (C) and nutrient limitation exert key influences on soil organic carbon (SOC) and nutrient cycling through enzyme production for C and nutrient acquisition. However, the intercropping effects on microbial C and nutrient limitation and its driving factors between rhizosphere and bulk soil are unclear.MethodsTherefore, we conducted a field experiment that covered sugarcane–peanut intercropping with sole sugarcane and peanut as controls and to explore microbial C and nutrient limitation based on the vector analysis of enzyme stoichiometry; in addition, microbial diversity was investigated in the rhizosphere and bulk soil. High throughput sequencing was used to analyze soil bacterial and fungal diversity through the 16S rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene at a phylum level.ResultsOur results showed that sugarcane–peanut intercropping alleviated microbial C limitation in all soils, whereas enhanced microbial phosphorus (P) limitation solely in bulk soil. Microbial P limitation was also stronger in the rhizosphere than in bulk soil. These results revealed that sugarcane-peanut intercropping and rhizosphere promoted soil P decomposition and facilitated soil nutrient cycles. The Pearson correlation results showed that microbial C limitation was primarily correlated with fungal diversity and fungal rare taxa (Rozellomycota, Chyltridiomycota, and Calcarisporiellomycota) in rhizosphere soil and was correlated with bacterial diversity and most rare taxa in bulk soil. Microbial P limitation was solely related to rare taxa (Patescibacteria and Glomeromycota) in rhizosphere soil and related to microbial diversity and most rare taxa in bulk soil. The variation partitioning analysis further indicated that microbial C and P limitation was explained by rare taxa (7%–35%) and the interactions of rare and abundant taxa (65%–93%).ConclusionThis study indicated the different intercropping effects on microbial C and nutrient limitation in the rhizosphere and bulk soil and emphasized the importance of microbial diversity, particularly rare taxa.

Abstract Fungal pathogens typically use secreted effector proteins to suppress host immune activators to facilitate invasion. However, there is rarely evidence supporting the idea that fungal secretory proteins contribute to pathogenesis by transactivating host genes that suppress defense. We previously found that pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae induces rice Bsr-d1 to facilitate infection and hypothesized that a fungal effector mediates this induction. Here, we report that MoSPAB1 secreted by M. oryzae directly binds to the Bsr-d1 promoter to induce its expression, facilitating pathogenesis. Amino acids 103-123 of MoSPAB1 are required for its binding to the Bsr-d1 promoter. Both MoSPAB1 and rice MYBS1 compete for binding to the Bsr-d1 promoter to regulate Bsr-d1 expression. Furthermore, MoSPAB1 homologues are highly conserved among fungi. In particular, Colletotrichum fructicola CfSPAB1 and Colletotrichum sublineola CsSPAB1 activate kiwifruit AcBsr-d1 and sorghum SbBsr-d1 respectively, to facilitate pathogenesis. Taken together, our findings reveal a conserved module that may be widely utilized by fungi to enhance pathogenesis.

Pyrops candelaria is one of the common pests of fruit trees, but the research on the pathogenic microorganisms it may carry is very limited. Therefore, it is essential to reveal the pathogenic microbes it carries and their potential hazards. This study found a new virus from the transcriptome of P. candelaria, which was first reported in P. candelaria and named PyCaV (Pyrops candelaria associated virus). RACE and bioinformatics assay revealed that the full length of PyCaV is 10,855 bp with the polyA tail, containing a single open-reading frame (ORF) encoding a polyprotein consisting of 3171 amino acid (aa). The virus has a typical iflavirus structure, including two rhv domains, an RNA helicase domain (HEL), a 3C cysteine protease domain (Pro), and an RNA–dependent RNA polymerase domain (RdRp). Further phylogenetic analysis revealed that this virus belongs to family Iflaviridae and sequence alignments analysis suggested PyCaV is a new member in an unassigned genus of family Iflaviridae. Further in-depth analysis of the virus infection showed that PyCaV is distributed throughout the whole P. candelaria, including its head, chest, and abdomen, but more PyCaV was identified in the chest. The distribution of PyCaV in different parts of P. candelaria was further explored, which showed that more PyCaV was detected in its piercing–sucking mouthparts and chest viscera. Statistical analysis showed that the PyCaV infection was affected by time and location.

Based on research into the diagnosis methods for fuel failures in pressurized water reactor nuclear power plants and an analysis of existing problems, this paper proposes an enhanced fuel failure diagnosis method, addressing three key improvements: identification of the occurrence of fuel failure, diagnosis of the number of failed fuel rods, and the size of fuel rod failure. Other factors that may influence the diagnosis results are also identified and discussed. The proposed method is then verified using operational data from in-service nuclear power plants in China. The verification results demonstrate that the improved diagnosis method accurately identifies fuel failures and exhibits broader applicability.

Objective: To explore the inherent relationship between lower limb biomechanical indicators and effective scoring values of double roundhouse kick (DRK) by taekwondo athletes, and to find key biomechanical factors that trigger effective scoring.Methods: Using the DAEDO Protector and Scoring System (PSS) in conjunction with the Vicon optical motion capture system and Kistler 3D force plate, kinematic and dynamic indicators of the front kicking motion were obtained from 12 professional taekwondo athletes (18.00 ± 2.20 years, 182.15 ± 8.62 cm and 70.00 ± 14.82 kg). The correlation between kinematics, dynamics, and scoring values was initially analyzed using bivariate linear correlation. Subsequently, based on the results of the linear correlation analysis, a stepwise regression analysis was performed to establish a stepwise regression equation.Results: The results reveal that during the First Hit, there is a significant positive correlation (r > 0, p < 0.05) between peak hip flexion angular velocity of the dominant leg, knee abduction angle, and peak foot horizontal plane linear velocity of the non-dominant leg with effective score. On the other hand, peak ankle flexion angular velocity of the non-dominant leg, peak foot sagittal plane linear velocity, peak hip abduction angle, and peak hip flexion angle of the dominant leg exhibit a significant negative correlation (r < 0, p < 0.05) with effective score. These correlations hold statistical significance (DW> 1.023). During the Second Hit, there is a significant positive correlation (r > 0, p < 0.05) between peak ankle internal rotation angular velocity of the dominant leg, foot coronal plane linear velocity, hip adduction angular velocity, and peak ankle internal rotation moment of the non-dominant leg with effective score. Conversely, peak hip flexion angle of the dominant leg shows a significant negative correlation (r < 0, p < 0.05) with effective score. All these variables have a statistically significant impact on effective score (DW > 1.023).Conclusion: Explosive power, body posture, adequate terminal velocity, and body rotation have an association with effective scoring of the electronic protector. The peak angular velocity of the ankle joint of the dominant leg and the peak linear velocity of the foot horizontal plane of the non-dominant leg significantly contribute to the effectiveness score of the electronic protector.

The use of broadband laser technology is a novel approach for inhibiting processes related to laser plasma interactions (LPIs). In this study, several preliminary experiments into broadband-laser-driven LPIs are carried out using a newly established hundreds-of-joules broadband second-harmonic-generation laser facility. Through direct comparison with LPI results for a traditional narrowband laser, the actual LPI-suppression effect of the broadband laser is shown. The broadband laser had a clear suppressive effect on both back-stimulated Raman scattering and back-stimulated Brillouin scattering at laser intensities below 1 × 1015 W cm−2. An abnormal hot-electron phenomenon is also investigated, using targets of different thicknesses.

Radionuclides emitted by nuclear power plants may have effects on the environment and public health. At present, research on radioactive material effluent in the industry mainly focuses on the treatment of radioactive effluent and the particle size distribution of the primary circuit. There is little research on the particle size of radioactive material during the migration process outside the primary circuit system, as well as the flocculation precipitation and other enrichment phenomena during the collection process of effluent. Therefore, this study relies on the sampling of effluent from an in-service nuclear power plant to measure its radioactivity level by particle size range. At the same time, the mixing process of effluent is simulated in the laboratory to simulate the adsorption behavior of effluent during the migration process. It was found that in the activity concentration of detectable radioactive nuclides in the effluent samples, more than 95% of radioactive nuclides exist in the liquid with particle sizes less than 0.1μm, while particle sizes greater than 0.45 μm account for less than 5%. After the sample was filtered by the demineralizer, the radioactive activity decreased. The flocculation precipitation in the waste liquid of the waste water recovery system has a certain contribution to the enrichment of nuclides. With the extension of time, the enrichment of transition elements such as cobalt and manganese is particularly obvious, so that it is distributed in the liquid again with a large particle size. In addition, large particle size substances such as colloids in seawater have a certain adsorption effect on radionuclides, which will lead to its aggregation effect again.

Abstract Enzymes achieve high catalytic activity with their elaborate arrangements of amino acid residues in confined optimized spaces. Nevertheless, when exposed to complicated environmental implementation scenarios, including high acidity, organic solvent and high ionic strength, enzymes exhibit low operational stability and poor activity. Here, we report a metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)-based artificial enzyme system via second coordination sphere engineering to achieve high hydrolytic activity under mild conditions. Experiments and theoretical calculations reveal that amide cleavage catalyzed by MOFs follows two distinct catalytic mechanisms, Lewis acid- and hydrogen bonding-mediated hydrolytic processes. The hydrogen bond formed in the secondary coordination sphere exhibits 11-fold higher hydrolytic activity than the Lewis acidic zinc ions. The MOFs exhibit satisfactory degradation performance of toxins and high stability under extreme working conditions, including complicated fermentation broth and high ethanol environments, and display broad substrate specificity. These findings hold great promise for designing artificial enzymes for environmental remediation.

Wire and arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) offers promise in creating large complex structures due to its flexibility and high material deposition rates. The nickel-based alloy IN718 is favoured for WAAM due to its weldability and compatibility. However, WAAM can introduce issues like anisotropic grain structure, porosity, and residual stresses which can lead to directional variations in tensile, fatigue, and fracture behaviour. This paper studied the WAAM process of IN718, utilising cold metal transfer (CMT). The optimised CMT-WAAM parameters for IN718 were identified to as a wire feed speed of 8–10 m/min and a torch travel speed of 0.5–0.7 m/min, resulting in stable deposition and minimal defects. Nevertheless, columnar grain structures were observed in the build direction (BD), with coarse grains in the wall-length direction (WD). This anisotropic microstructure coupled with stress concentrators, contributes to the directional dependence observed in tensile properties, fatigue endurance, and crack growth. The investigation revealed superior ductility in the BD compared to the WD. Interestingly, the fatigue endurance testing showed a longer life in the WD compared with the BD, attributed to stronger stress concentrators in the BD specimens. However, when examining a cracked specimen, the fatigue crack propagated faster in the WD rather than the BD.

Improving the spot brightness and uniformity of arrangement of the array laser is conducive to ensuring the beam quality of the fiber laser. Based on the light tracing principle, the optical model performance of two common fiber lasers was first analyzed. Then, a novel rotationally polarized optical model with high power and spot uniformity was designed and optimized on the basis of the aforementioned analysis. The results of the evaluation metrics of the multi-indicator optical model show that the spot uniformity of our proposed model improved by 24.03%, the power improved by 0.55%, and the maximum light distance was shortened from 120 mm to 82.58 mm. Further, the results of the coupling tolerance analysis of the optical elements show that the total coupling efficiency was 89.04%. The coupling power and tolerance relationships did not produce degradation compared with the traditional model. Extensive comparative results show that the designed rotationally polarized optical path model can effectively improve the optical coupling efficiency and spot uniformity of arrayed semiconductor lasers.

To address the inaccuracy of the Constant Acceleration/Constant Velocity (CA/CV) model as the state equation in describing the relative motion state in UAV relative navigation, an adaptive UAV relative navigation method is proposed, which is based on the UAV attitude information provided by Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS). The proposed method utilizes the AHRS output attitude parameters as the benchmark for dead reckoning and derives a relative navigation state equation with attitude error as process noise. By integrating the extended Kalman filter output for relative state estimation and employing an adaptive decision rule designed using the innovation of the filter update phase, the proposed method recalculates motion states deviating from the actual motion using the Tasmanian Devil Optimization (TDO) algorithm. The simulation results show that, compared with the CA/CV model, the proposed method reduces the relative position errors by 12%, 23%, and 32% in the X, Y, and Z directions, respectively, and that it reduces the relative velocity errors by 350%, 330%, and 300%, respectively. There is a significant improvement in the relative navigation accuracy.

Abstract Ovarian cancer is a tumor with the highest fatalities among female malignant tumors. This disease has no typical symptoms in its early stage, and most of the patients are in an advanced stage when being treated. The treatment effect is poor and it is easy to develop chemotherapy resistance. Therefore, it is particularly urgent to clarify the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer, explore its early diagnosis of biomarkers, and discover new treatment methods. As a carrier of intercellular information and genetic material transfer, exosomes are widely distributed in body fluids (e.g. blood and urine), which are regarded as latent tumor markers and take effects on tumor occurrence and invasion. Several articles have recently signified that exosomal miRNAs are widely implicated in the formation of the ovarian cancer tumor microenvironment, disease initiation and progression, and the generation of chemotherapy resistance. This article reviews the research on exosomal miRNAs in ovarian cancer.

Objective: To investigate the shift in the oral microbiota of periodontitis patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) undergoing nonsurgical periodontal treatment and its implications. Methods: Eleven patients with chronic periodontitis and eleven patients with chronic periodontitis and diabetes from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University received nonsurgical periodontitis treatment and were re-evaluated 3 months later. DNA from the saliva and subgingival plaques was amplified and sequenced using 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) gene sequencing for microbiome profiling. Clinical indexes at the onset and after periodontal therapy were recorded and compared. Results: The species richness and dominant microbiota of periodontitis patients with and without T2DM changed significantly after nonsurgical periodontal treatment in both saliva and subgingival plaques. The periodontal condition of the patients was also effectively improved three months after therapy. Glycemic control in patients with periodontitis and T2DM was improved. Additionally, nonsurgical periodontal therapy could increase in subgingival microbial diversity and the proportion of health-associated bacteria but a proportional reduction in pathogenic bacteria in periodontitis patients with T2DM. Network analysis revealed fewer links and a lower level of centralization in the chronic periodontitis (CP) group after treatment. However, more links and a higher network density of the networks were found in the CP + T2DM group, suggesting a more stable microbial community after treatment. Conclusions: There were significant differences in both the structural composition and reaction of the oral microbiota to periodontal treatment between periodontitis patients with and without T2DM. Nonsurgical periodontal treatment can improve metabolic control, decrease the proportion of periodontal pathogens in oral conditions, and help stabilize microbial communities in patients with periodontitis and T2DM. Furthermore, nonsurgical periodontal treatment may be a potential supplementary approach for managing T2DM.

Background: The Double Roundhouse Kick (DRK) is one of the major scoring tools and athletes employ the leg of the dominant side (DS) or the non-dominant side (NS) for always attacking in an alternating state. The purpose is to examine the discrepancies in the biomechanical characteristics of the DS and NS of the leg of the DRK skills of sub-elite taekwondo athletes. Methods: Using the Vicon, Kistler, and Daedo brand Electronic Body Protector (EBP), collection of the DRK data (attack time, joint angle, joint angular velocity, joint moment, ground reaction force, etc.) of 12 sub-elite taekwondo athletes (19.6 ± 2.0 yr, 180 ± 7.3 cm, 70 ± 9.8 kg) with the DS leg and NS leg. The measured data analyses via Visual3D, and statistical methods using nonparametric tests paired with samples based on the Wilcoxon signed-rank test (The significance level is set as significant for P0.05) and shift of the center of gravity (P>0.05). (ii) Attacking leg (AL): the maximum knee flexion angle (Knee-MFA) (P

Acoustic imaging technology has the advantages of non-contact and intuitive positioning. It is suitable for the rapid positioning of defects such as the mechanical loosening, discharge, and DC bias of power equipment. However, the existing research lacks the optimization design of microphone array topology. The acoustic frequency domain characteristics of typical power equipment are elaborately sorted out. After that, the cut-off frequencies of acoustic imaging instruments are determined, to meet the needs of the full bandwidth test requirements. Through a simulation calculation, the circular array is demonstrated to be the optimal shape. And the design parameters affect the imaging performance of the array to varying degrees, indicating that it is difficult to obtain the optimal array topology by an exhaustive method. Aimed at the complex working conditions of power equipment, a topology optimization design method of an acoustic imaging array for power equipment is proposed, and the global optimal solution of microphone array topology is obtained. Compared with the original array, the imaging performance of the improved LF and HF array is promoted by 54% and 49%, respectively. Combined with the simulation analysis and laboratory test, it is verified that the improved array can not only accurately locate the single sound source but also accurately identify the main sound source from the interference of the contiguous sound source.

The intercropping of peanuts and sugarcane is a sustainable planting model that deserves in-depth research. For this study, two variables, i.e., intercropping status (peanut monocropping or sugarcane/peanut intercropping) and the level of nitrogen fertilization (low, medium, or high), were evaluated to analyze the effects of intercropping and nitrogen application on soil fertility and microbial communities in peanut rhizosphere soil. These analyses revealed that higher nitrogen application led to increased total nitrogen (TN), available nitrogen (AN), and soil organic matter (OM) levels in rhizosphere soil for both monocropped and intercropped peanuts, with a decrease in pH. Monocropped peanuts had higher TN, total phosphorus (TP), and total potassium (TK) levels compared to intercropped peanuts at the same nitrogen level but lower AN content and pH levels. The diversity of microbial communities in the rhizosphere soil of intercropped peanuts was significantly higher than that of monocropped peanuts under high levels of nitrogen fertilizer application. Higher levels of Gemmatimonadetes abundance were observed in intercropping rhizosphere soil, compared to that associated with peanut monocropping under low, middle, and high levels of nitrogen fertilizer application, whereas the opposite trend was observed for Chloroflexi abundance. Nitrospira abundance levels rose gradually in the monocropping treatment group, whereas the opposite trend was evident under intercropping conditions. Further analyses of nitrogen cycle-related genes demonstrated higher levels of nitrogen conversion cycle activity in intercropping peanut rhizosphere soil under low nitrogen levels, whereas nitrogen transformation cycle activity levels were higher in monocropping peanut rhizosphere soil under high levels of nitrogen amendment. It can be concluded that intercropping and nitrogen fertilizer application change the physical and chemical properties of soil, thus affecting the diversity and function of soil microbial communities in the peanut rhizosphere. These results offer a theoretical foundation for more efficient sugarcane/peanut intercropping systems.

An unparalleled copper(I)-catalyzed synthesis of 1,3,4-oxadiazoles from tertiary amines in one step has been described. The one-pot reactions involving (N-isocyanimine)triphenylphosphorane, tertiary amines, and carboxylic acids resulted in the formation of 1,3,4-oxadiazoles in moderate to good yields through a consecutive oxidative Ugi/aza-Wittig reaction, enabling the direct functionalization of sp3 C-H bonds adjacent to the nitrogen atom. This method offered several notable advantages, including ligands-free, exceptional productivity and a high functional group tolerance. The preliminary biological evaluation demonstrated that compound 4f inhibited hepatoma cells efficiently, suggesting potentially broad applications of the approach for synthesis and medicinal chemistry.

Solar spicules are small-scale jet-like structures in the lower solar atmosphere. Currently, the formation of these widely distributed structures lacks a complete explanation. It is still unclear whether they play an essential role in corona heating. Here, based on the magnetohydrodynamic scaling transformation relation, we perform experiments with the interaction of a high power laser with a one-dimensional sinusoidal modulated target to model solar spicules. We observe several spicule-like structures with alternating polarity magnetic fields around them. Magnetohydrodynamic simulations with similar parameters show the detail information during the spicules’ formation. The results suggest that the so-called strong pulse model can lead to the formation of the solar spicules. The magnetic reconnection process may also play a part and lead to additional heating and brightening phenomena.

Abstract Objective The aim of this prospective randomized double-blind study is to evaluate whether oral dexmedetomidine (DEX) premedication could increase sedation in order to reduce preoperative anxiety and inhibit stress response during general anesthesia tracheal intubation. Materials A total of 100 ASA I and II adult patients undergoing elective neurosurgery were randomly divided into the control group (C group, n = 50) and the oral DEX premedication (DEX group, n = 50). Patients were administrated 4 μg/kg dexmedetomidine orally pre-anesthesia 120 min. Hemodynamic variables were monitored and recorded from premedication to 10 min after tracheal intubation. The primary outcome, the sedation level of all participants, was evaluated by Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS), and Numerical Rating Scale was to measure their intensity of thirst and satisfaction of patients’ family members. During general anesthesia induction, the total dosage of induction anesthetics and complications relative to anesthesia induction were recorded. After tracheal intubation, blood sample was drain from radial atrial line to measure levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol. Results RASS scores at 60 min after premedication and on arrival in the operating room were significantly reduced in the DEX group (P 0.05), as well as the complications relative to anesthesia induction and cases of rescue dopamine therapy were similar (P > 0.05). Conclusion Oral DEX 4 μg/kg premedication was an efficient intervention to increase preoperative sedation and reduce stress reaction induced by general anesthesia tracheal intubation, but also it was with the stable hemodynamic during the process of general anesthesia tracheal intubation, and improved the satisfaction of patients’ family members. In this study, the sparing-anesthetic effect of 4 μg/kg DEX oral premedication was not significant, and this would be needed to study in future. Trial registration This trail was registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ( https://www.chictr.org.cn , Jie Gao) on 15/04/2021, registration number was ChiCTR2100045458.

Magnetic reconnection drives the ejection of plasmas during solar flares through changes in the magnetic fields. Here, the authors use a laboratory-based experiment to create magnetic reconnection in a regime in which the plasma on one side of the reconnection is in a strongly collisional state, while it is weakly-collisional or collisionless on the other.

Oxygen atoms usually co-exist in the lattice of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN). The understanding of interactions between the oxygen atoms and the adsorbate, however, is still ambiguous on improving adsorptive desulfurization performance. Herein, simultaneously oxygen atom-scale interior substitution and edge hydroxylation in BN structure were constructed via a polymer-based synthetic strategy. Experimental results indicated that the dual oxygen modified BN (BN–2O) exhibited an impressively increased adsorptive capacity about 12% higher than that of the edge hydroxylated BN (BN–OH) fabricated via a traditional method. The dibenzothiophene (DBT) was investigated to undergo multi-molecular layer type coverage on the BN–2O uneven surface via π–π interaction, which was enhanced by the increased oxygen doping at the edges of BN–2O. The density functional theory calculations also unveiled that the oxygen atoms confined in BN interior structure could polarize the adsorbate, thereby resulting in a dipole interaction between the adsorbate and BN–2O. This effect endowed BN–2O with the ability to selectively adsorb DBT from the aromatic-rich fuel, thereafter leading to an impressive prospect for the adsorptive desulfurization performance of the fuel. The adsorptive result was in good accordance with Freundlich and pseudo-second-order adsorption kinetics model results. Therefore, the designing of a polymer-based strategy could be also extended to other heteroatom doping systems to enhance adsorptive performance.

Patients with liver disease are prone to various cognitive impairments. It is undeniable that cognitive impairment is often regulated by both the nervous system and the immune system. In this review our research focused on the regulation of mild cognitive impairment associated with liver disease by humoral factors derived from the gastrointestinal tract, and revealed that its mechanisms may be involved with hyperammonemia, neuroinflammation, brain energy and neurotransmitter metabolic disorders, and liver-derived factors. In addition, we share the emerging research progress in magnetic resonance imaging techniques of the brain during mild cognitive impairment associated with liver disease, in order to provide ideas for the prevention and treatment of mild cognitive impairment in liver disease.

A new approach to target development for laboratory astrophysics experiments at high-power laser facilities is presented. With the dawn of high-power lasers, laboratory astrophysics has emerged as a field, bringing insight into physical processes in astrophysical objects, such as the formation of stars. An important factor for success in these experiments is targetry. To date, targets have mainly relied on expensive and challenging microfabrication methods. The design presented incorporates replaceable machined parts that assemble into a structure that defines the experimental geometry. This can make targets cheaper and faster to manufacture, while maintaining robustness and reproducibility. The platform is intended for experiments on plasma flows, but it is flexible and may be adapted to the constraints of other experimental setups. Examples of targets used in experimental campaigns are shown, including a design for insertion in a high magnetic field coil. Experimental results are included, demonstrating the performance of the targets.

Cell death is an important physiological phenomenon in life. It can be programmed or unprogrammed. Unprogrammed cell death is usually induced by abiotic or biotic stress. Recent studies have shown that many proteins regulate both cell death and immunity in plants. Here, we provide a review on the advances in plant immunity with cell death, especially the molecular regulation and underlying mechanisms of those proteins involved in both cell death and plant immunity. In addition, we discuss potential approaches toward improving plant immunity without compromising plant growth.

Wide-range crystal spectrometers are important tools for performing X-ray spectroscopic measurements of medium- and high-Z tracer elements in research on laser-driven inertial confinement fusion (ICF) plasmas. In this paper, we propose a wide-range high-resolution crystal spectrometer based on a tandem array of crystals that have the same geometric parameters. We have developed a three-channel crystal spectrometer that covers the range of 8–18 keV by combining Ge, Ge, and Ge crystals. Here, we report the design, optical simulations, and X-ray test experiments of this spectrometer. The calibration results indicate that the spectral resolution E/ΔE is greater than 2800 at 8.048 keV. By selecting appropriate Bragg angles, crystal materials, orientations, or other geometrical parameters, the wide-range crystal spectrometer developed in this paper can also be used to make measurements in other energy ranges.

A reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) is a new and revolutionizing technology to achieve spectrum-efficient (SE) and energy-efficient (EE) wireless networks. In this paper, we study an optimal deployment strategy of RIS in a line-of-sight domain (LoSD) based on an actual deployment scenario, which jointly considers path loss, transmit power and the energy efficiency of the system. Furthermore, we aim to minimize the transmit power via jointly optimizing its transmit beamforming and the reflect phase shifts of RIS, subject to the quality-of-service (QoS) constraint, namely, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) constraint at the user. However, this optimization problem is non-convex with intricately coupled variables. To tackle this challenge, we first apply proper transformation on the QoS constraint and then propose an efficient alternating optimization (AO) algorithm. Simulation results demonstrate that compared to a conventional endpoint deployment strategy that simply deploys RIS at the transceiver ends, our proposed LoSD deployment strategy significantly reduces the transmit power by optimizing the available LoS links when a single RIS is relayed. The impact of the number of reflect elements on the system EE is also unveiled.

Abstract Background The number of older people living with HIV (PLWH) is increasing. Although there are many studies affecting medication adherence, research on the impact of social capital and mental health on medication adherence in this particular population is limited. Method Data were collected from an ongoing observational prospective cohort study, starting from November 2018, among older PLWH in Sichuan province, China. Five hundred twenty-one participants were interviewed. Social capital consists of the individual and family (IF) scale, and the community and society (CS) scale. The presence of probable depression and probable anxiety were assessed using the CES-D-10 and GAD-7 scales. Adherence was defined as taking ≥80% of prescribed HIV medication in 4 days prior to the interview. Two sets of Firth’ penalized regression analyses were used to estimate the association between social capital, mental health, and medication adherence. Results The prevalence of non-adherence was 18.2% (95/521) among older PLWH in this study. After adjusting for significant factors, the CS social capital (OR: 0.92, 95%CI:0.85–0.99, p

In view of the demand for abnormal disposal of safety and stability control devices in the actual operation of the power grid, a structured modeling method for the disposal plan of safety and control devices is proposed with the safety and control fault disposal plan as the research object. Based on the specified grid operating conditions, it automatically matches and identifies the disposal plans and generates corresponding disposal suggestions, as well as provides technical support for rapid handling and maintenance arrangements of safety control device abnormalities, so as to effectively improve the efficiency and management level of safety control device operation and maintenance.

Oxidation resistance 1 (OXR1) is regarded as a critical regulator of cellular homeostasis in response to oxidative stress. However, the role of OXR1 in the neuronal response to spinal cord injury (SCI) remains undefined. On the other hand, gene therapy for SCI has shown limited success to date due in part to the poor utility of conventional gene vectors. In this study, we evaluated the function of OXR1 in SCI and developed an available carrier for delivering the OXR1 plasmid (pOXR1). We found that OXR1 expression is remarkably increased after SCI and that this regulation is protective after SCI. Meanwhile, we assembled cationic nanoparticles with vitamin E succinate-grafted ε-polylysine (VES-g-PLL) (Nps). The pOXR1 was precompressed with Nps and then encapsulated into cationic liposomes. The particle size of pOXR1 was compressed to 58 nm, which suggests that pOXR1 can be encapsulated inside liposomes with high encapsulation efficiency and stability to enhance the transfection efficiency. The agarose gel results indicated that Nps-pOXR1-Lip eliminated the degradation of DNA by DNase I and maintained its activity, and the cytotoxicity results indicated that pOXR1 was successfully transported into cells and exhibited lower cytotoxicity. Finally, Nps-pOXR1-Lip promoted functional recovery by alleviating neuronal apoptosis, attenuating oxidative stress and inhibiting inflammation. Therefore, our study provides considerable evidence that OXR1 is a beneficial factor in resistance to SCI and that Nps-Lip-pOXR1 exerts therapeutic effects in acute traumatic SCI.

Abstract In the linear minimum mean square error (LMMSE) estimation for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems, the channel correlation function (CCF) is required. Some methods have been proposed to calculate the CCF. Instead of providing a novel method to obtain the CCF, a scheme is developed for the estimator to select among different CCFs. In this paper, an enhanced LMMSE estimation is proposed that is able to select the best‐matched CCF within a candidate set. To this end, a parameter comparison scheme is proposed, in which the possible channel statistics for the LMMSE estimation can be evaluated using the sampled noise MSE. Analytical expressions are thus derived to indicate the accuracy of the proposed scheme. Furthermore, fuzzy bound is provided as the performance metric, which reflects the resolution of the parameter comparison scheme. As an example of application, the enhanced LMMSE method is used with the block pilot pattern in the OFDM systems, and the possible CCF candidates for typical scenarios are presented. The complexity of the estimator is also analyzed and a simplified parameter comparison algorithm is proposed to reduce the complexity. Finally, the theoretical analysis and performance comparison are demonstrated by simulation experiments.

BackgroundAlcoholic osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a multifaceted illness that seriously disturbs the patients’ quality of life. The role of lncRNAs in alcoholic ONFH has attracted widespread attention in recent years. This study mainly explored whether MIR31HG polymorphism affects the risk of ONFH.MethodsThere were 733 males (308 alcohol-induced ONFH patients and 425 healthy controls). Seven single nucleotide polymorphisms from MIR31HG were genotyped using the Agena MassARRAY platform. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) via logistic regression was applied to assess the contribution of MIR31HG variants to alcoholic ONFH susceptibility.ResultsWe found that rs10965059 was related to a lower risk of alcoholic ONFH in the overall, age, and necrotic sites analysis. Rs10965064 also showed a risk-reducing effect in the occurrence of alcoholic ONFH patients older than 40 years old.ConclusionsWe confirmed that MIR31HG variants have a significant correlation with the occurrence of alcoholic ONFH among the Chinese Han male population. our findings may provide new ideas for understanding the effect of MIR31HG on the prevention and diagnosis of alcoholic ONFH.

Neurocognitive disorders (NCDs) include complex and multifactorial diseases that affect many patients. The 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) neuron system plays an important role in NCDs. Existing studies have reported that para-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA), a 5-HT scavenger, has a negative effect on cognitive function. However, we believe that PCPA may result in NCDs through other pathways. To explore this possibility, behavioral tests were performed to evaluate the cognitive function of PCPA-treated mice, suggesting the appearance of cognitive dysfunction and depression-like behavior. Furthermore, 16S rRNA and metabolomic analyses revealed that dysbiosis and acetate alternation could be related to PCPA-induced NCDs. Our results suggest that not only 5-HT depletion but also dysbiosis and acetate alternation contributed to PCPA-related NCDs. Specifically, the latter promotes NCDs by reducing short-chain fatty acid levels. Together, these findings provide an alternative perspective on PCPA-induced NCDs.

PurposeTracheobronchomegaly (TBM) is a rare disease with enlarged trachea and mainstem bronchi, which might not be diagnosed preoperatively because of patient’s nonsymptoms or clinicians’ overlook. These patients would be at fatal risk after general anesthesia endotracheal intubation due to severe peritubal leakage. This case may provide a helpful and informative resource for anesthesiologists and other clinicians, especially those managing patients’ airways.Clinical featureWe presented a patient undergoing elective scoliosis orthopedics who was postoperatively diagnosed with TBM. After general anesthesia endotracheal intubation, difficulty in maintaining ventilation with obvious peri-cuff air leakage made this rare disease to be suspected. The peritubal leakage was resolved by relocating the endotracheal tube to the subglottic area. Fortunately, there were no air leakage and postoperative complications.ConclusionAnesthesiologists should keep the possibility of the unpredicted anatomic abnormal respiratory tract in mind, such as TBM.

BackgroundMacrophage polarization is an important regulatory mechanism of ventricular remodeling. Studies have shown that sinapic acid (SA) exerts an anti-inflammatory effect. However, the effect of SA on macrophages is still unclear.ObjectivesThe purpose of the study was to investigate the role of SA in macrophage polarization and ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI).MethodsAn MI model was established by ligating the left coronary artery. The rats with MI were treated with SA for 1 or 4 weeks after MI. The effect of SA on bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) was also observed in vitro.ResultsCardiac systolic dysfunction was significantly improved after SA treatment. SA reduced MCP-1 and CCR2 expression and macrophage infiltration. SA decreased the levels of the inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-1α, IL-1β, and iNOS and increased the levels of the M2 macrophage markers CD206, Arg-1, IL-10, Ym-1, Fizz-1, and TGF-β at 1 week after MI. SA significantly increased CD68+/CD206+ macrophage infiltration. Myocardial interstitial fibrosis and MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels were decreased, and the sympathetic nerve marker TH and nerve sprouting marker GAP43 were suppressed after SA treatment at 4 weeks after MI. The PPARγ level was notably upregulated after SA treatment. In vitro, SA also increased the expression of PPARγ mRNA in BMDMs and IL-4-treated BMDMs in a concentration-dependent manner. SA enhanced Arg1 and IL-10 expression in BMDMs, and the PPARγ antagonist GW9662 attenuated M2 macrophage marker expression.ConclusionsOur results demonstrated that SA attenuated structural and neural remodeling by promoting macrophage M2 polarization via PPARγ activation after MI.

Background Storage roots of sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas L.) with different colors vary in anthocyanin content, indicating different economically agronomic trait. As the newest DNA/RNA sequencing technology, Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) have been applied in rapid transcriptome sequencing for investigation of genes related to nutrient metabolism. At present, few reports concern full-length transcriptome analysis based on ONT for study on the molecular mechanism of anthocyanin accumulation leading to color change of tuberous roots of sweet potato cultivars. Results The storage roots of purple-fleshed sweet potato (PFSP) and white-fleshed sweet potato (WFSP) at different developmental stages were subjected to anthocyanin content comparison by UV-visible spectroscopy as well as transcriptome analysis at ONT MinION platform. UV-visible spectrophotometric measurements demonstrated the anthocyanin content of PFSP was much higher than that of WFSP. ONT RNA-Seq results showed each sample generated average 2.75 GB clean data with Full-Length Percentage (FL%) over 70% and the length of N50 ranged from 1,192 to 1,395 bp, indicating reliable data for transcriptome analysis. Subsequent analysis illustrated intron retention was the most prominent splicing event present in the resulting transcripts. As compared PFSP with WFSP at the relative developmental stages with the highest (PH vs. WH) and the lowest (PL vs. WL) anthocyanin content, 282 and 216 genes were up-regulated and two and 11 genes were down-regulated respectively. The differential expression genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis pathway include CCoAOMT, PpLDOX, DFR, Cytochrome P450, CHI, and CHS. The genes encoding oxygenase superfamily were significantly up-regulated when compared PFSP with WFSP at the relative developmental stages. Conclusions Comparative full-length transcriptome analysis based on ONT serves as an effective approach to detect the differences in anthocyanin accumulation in the storage roots of different sweet potato cultivars at transcript level, with noting that some key genes can now be closely related to flavonoids biosynthesis. This study helps to improve understanding of molecular mechanism for anthocyanin accumulation in sweet potatoes and also provides a theoretical basis for high-quality sweet potato breeding.

Abstract This letter investigates the hybrid beamforming architecture design for MIMO network, where the connection between each antenna and each radio frequency chain is controlled by a switch. The optimization of the switch‐controlled connection state vector is studied for maximizing the energy efficiency of the system. The problem of connection‐state vector design is transformed into a single‐variable optimization problem, and the optimal hybrid beamforming architecture is derived. Numerical examples validate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.

This paper focuses on the cooperative navigation of heterogeneous air-ground vehicle formations in a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) challenged environment and proposes a cooperative navigation method based on motion estimation and a regionally optimal path planning strategy. In air-ground vehicle formations, unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) are equipped with low-precision inertial navigation measurement units and wireless range sensors, which interact with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with high-precision navigation equipment for cooperative measurement information and use the UAVs as aerial benchmarks for cooperative navigation. Firstly, the Interacting Multiple Model (IMM) algorithm is used to predict the next moment’s motion position of the UGVs. Then regional real-time path optimization algorithms are introduced to design the motion position of the high-precision UAVs so as to improve the formation’s configuration and reduce the geometric dilution of precision (GDOP) of the configuration. Simulation results show that the Dynamic Optimal Configuration Cooperative Navigation (DOC-CN) algorithm can reduce the GDOP of heterogeneous air-ground vehicle formations and effectively improve the overall navigation accuracy of the whole formation. The method is suitable for the cooperative navigation environment of heterogeneous air-ground vehicle formations under GNSS-challenged conditions.

Abstract Background Ovarian cancer is the seventh most common cancer in women and the second most reason of gynecologic cancer-related death. Growing evidence showed that exosomal miRNA plays a crucial role in the progression of ovarian cancer. Methods Exosomes were identified using nanoparticle tracking analysis, transmission electron microscopy and marker proteins detection. The levels of mRNA and proteins were ensured by qRT-PCR and western blot, respectively. Immunofluorescence, flow cytometry and ELISA assay were carried out to analyze macrophages polarization. CCK-8 and Transwell assay were used to measure the cell viability and invasion of ovarian cancer cells. The interaction of miR-200b and Kruppel like factor 6 (KLF6) was ensured by using luciferase reporter assay. Results Here, we obtained plasma-derived exosomes successfully, and proved that miR-200b was increased in the exosomes of ovarian cancer patients. Subsequently, our data showed that increasing of miR-200b could promote macrophage M2 polarization, but inhibit M1 polarization. miR-200b-overexpressed macrophages-conditioned medium notably enhanced the cell viability and invasion of ovarian cancer cells. Moreover, increasing of miR-200b inhibited KLF6 expression, while decreasing of miR-200b promoted KLF6 expression. Overexpression of KLF6 recused miR-200b-induced macrophage polarization toward M2, and the inhibitory effect of miR-200b on M1 polarization. Conclusions Overall, our results demonstrated that miR-200b was highly expressed in the plasma-derived exosome of ovarian cancer patients, and promoted the proliferation and invasion of ovarian cancer cells through inducing macrophage M2 polarization by suppressing KLF6 expression. Our results suggested that miR-200b might be a novel target for ovarian cancer treatment.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the etiological and bleeding risk factors of cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) and attempts to determine the clinical value of uterine artery embolization (UAE) combined with curettage, methotrexate (MTX) chemotherapy combined with curettage, and uterine curettage alone in terminating CSP. Materials and methods: A total of 154 patients with CSP and 155 patients with cicatricial uterus termination of pregnancy in the same period who were hospitalized in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from January 2013 to March 2020 were enrolled in this study. The clinical characteristics of the two groups were statistically analyzed, and CSP patients were divided into the UAE + uterine curettage group (n = 49), MTX + uterine curettage group (n = 33) and uterine curettage alone group (n = 72) according to different treatment methods. The scar thickness, intraoperative blood loss, time to resumption of menstruation and other indicators were compared and analyzed among the three groups. Results: The proportion of CSP patients with cesarean section time < 24 months and ≥ 60 months was significantly higher than that of pregnant women with scar uterus. In the MTX + curettage group, 2 cases had intraoperative blood loss of more than 200 mL where the gestational age was more than 10 weeks, in which they were given Foley’s catheter balloon compression hemostasis. In patients with simple uterine curettage, 6 cases had intraoperative blood loss of more than 200 mL with a gestational age of more than 8 weeks. Two cases were given emergency interventional treatment, while four underwent Foley catheter balloon compression hemostasis. The recovery time of β-hCG in the UAE + curettage group was shortest, which was found to be statistically significant. Furthermore, menopause time, blood β-hCG level and gestational sac diameter were found to be positively correlated with the amount of bleeding, while the thickness of the uterine scar was negatively correlated with the amount of bleeding. Conclusions: Gestational age, blood β-hCG level before treatment, gestational sac diameter and scar thickness were early warning indicators to evaluate the amount of bleeding in the treatment of CSP. UAE OR MTX pretreatment before cesarean section in CSP patients can significantly reduce intraoperative blood loss, and MTX + curettage is safe and effective for patients with abundant blood flow around the gestational sac with a gestational age of 8–10 weeks. However, in regard to CSP patients with a gestational age greater than 10 weeks and rich blood flow around the gestational sac, UAE pretreatment followed by termination of pregnancy is preferred. In case of hemorrhage during uterine curettage, the emergency intrauterine balloon compression can achieves adequate hemostasis.