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As a low-density, high-strength material with high energy release potential, Al/Ep cast metal braided tubes have a wide range of application prospects in the combatant shell, which is one of the most important means to realize the integrated destructive effect of kill and blast. In this paper, Al/Ep composites with mass ratios of 3:7, 4:6 and 5:5 were prepared, and the intrinsic model of Al/Ep was established by studying its quasi-static and dynamic mechanical properties. The Al/Ep cast three-dimensional braided metal skeletons were used to obtain the required cast braided tubes with different mass ratios, and the destruction behaviors of the tubes under axial and radial compressive loads were analyzed by a combination of experimental and numerical simulations. The results show that the addition of Al particles can significantly improve the elastic-plastic properties of Al/Ep composites, and the energy storage and absorption capacities are positively correlated with the ratio of the relative contents of Al powder. When the mass ratio of Al powder to epoxy resin is 5:5, the energy absorption of Al/Ep composites is 23.16 MJ/m3, which is optimal among similar specimens and much higher than that of pure epoxy resin materials (the energy absorption of epoxy resin is 9.63 MJ/m3). The strength of binary resin matrix composites is improved, and the intrinsic models of three kinds of different mass ratios of Al/Ep composites are obtained. The intrinsic models of various Al/Ep cast braided tubes with crushing force efficiency CFE, energy absorption capacity, and specific energy absorption SEA decreased with the ratio of mass occupied by the braided filaments.

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) for treating depression and to explore the role of brevican in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in modulating stress susceptibility and the antidepressant effects of EA in rats. Methods: Twenty-four Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were equally divided into three groups: green fluorescent protein (GFP) + control, GFP + chronic unpredicted mild stress (CUMS), and short-hairpin RNA targeting on brevican (shBcan) + CUMS. Another 24 SD rats were equally divided into CUMS + GFP, CUMS + GFP + EA, and CUMS + shBcan + EA groups. Behavioral tests were conducted to assess depression-like behavior. Western blot analysis was used to evaluate the expression of brevican, aggrecan, GLuA1, and PSD95 in mPFC subregions. Results: Behavioral parameter evaluation show that rats in the shBcan + CUMS group exhibited a significantly reduced sucrose preference (P = .0002) and increased immobility time (P = .0011) compared to those in rats in the GFP + CUMS group. Western blotting showed that brevican expression was significantly downregulated in the PrL of the shBcan + CUMS group compared with that in the GFP + CUMS group (P = .0192). Furthermore, compared to the CUMS + GFP + EA group, the CUMS + shBcan + EA group exhibited a significantly decreased sucrose preference (P = .0334), increased immobility time (P = .0465), and increased latency to food (P = .0261). In the CUMS + shBcan + EA group, the EA-induced brevican and PSD95 overexpression was reversed, compared with that in the CUMS + GFP + EA group (P = .0454 and P = .0198, respectively). Conclusion: EA exerts its antidepressant effects through the modulation of brevican expression in rats. Our findings highlight the important role for brevican in stress susceptibility, which could be a potential target for treating depression.

Abstract Background Early targeted antibiotic therapy is crucial for improving the prognosis of immunocompromised patients with severe respiratory infections (SRIs) in the intensive care unit (ICU). Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) has shown significant value in pathogen detection, but research on lower respiratory tract microorganisms remains limited. Methods This study enrolled 234 patients with SRIs in the ICU, and individuals were categorized into immunocompromised and immunocompetent groups. We compared the diagnostic performance of mNGS using bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) with conventional microbiological tests (CMTs) and analyzed the value of mNGS in immunocompromised patients with SRIs in the ICU. Results Among all patients, the pathogenic microorganism detection rate of mNGS was higher than that of CMTs (94.02% vs 66.67%, P 0.05; 42.67% vs 45.83%, P > 0.05). Conclusion mNGS shows significant value in detecting pathogens in immunocompromised patients with SRIs in ICU. For immunocompromised patients who respond poorly to empirical treatment, mNGS can provide an etiological basis, helping adjust antibiotic regimens more precisely and thereby improving patient prognosis.

Cotton is an important natural fiber crop worldwide which plays a vital role in our daily life. High yield is a constant goal of cotton breeding, and lint percentage (LP) is one of the important components of cotton fiber yield. A stable QTL controlling LP, qLPA01.1, was identified on chromosome A01 from Gossypium hirsutum introgressed lines with G. tomentosum chromosome segments in a previous study. To fine-map qLPA01.1, an F2 population with 986 individuals was established by crossing G. hirsutum cultivar CCRI35 with the chromosome segment substitution line HT_390. A high-resolution genetic map including 47 loci and spanning 56.98 cM was constructed in the QTL region, and qLPA01.1 was ultimately mapped into an interval corresponding to an ~80 kb genome region of chromosome A01 in the reference genome, which contained six annotated genes. Transcriptome data and sequence analysis revealed that S-acyltransferase protein 24 (GoPAT24) might be the target gene of qLPA01.1. This result provides the basis for cotton fiber yield improvement via marker-assisted selection (MAS) and further studies on the mechanism of cotton fiber development.

To address the gap in research on the mechanical properties of peanuts in the harvesting period, the mechanical properties of peanut seedling vines, pods, and peduncles were studied during the peanut harvesting period. The moisture content of peanut pods, peduncles, and seedling vines was measured, yielding values of 36.03%, 66.76%, and 77.95%, respectively. The tensile characteristic parameters between the pods and peduncles, peduncles and peduncles, and the seedling vines and peduncles during the harvesting period were determined using an electronic universal testing machine at three different loading speeds: 10 mm/min, 20 mm/min, and 30 mm/min. The test results indicated that the peduncle–peduncle, peduncle–pod, and peduncle–seedling vine detachment forces were 19.91 N, 17.41 N, and 8.62 N. The mechanical properties of peanuts during the harvesting period differed from those of peanuts that were excavated and sun-dried. Peanut-digging and turning machines should be designed based on the detachment force required to separate the peduncles from the pods, which, at a loading speed of 20 mm/min, is 17 N. This examination of the mechanical properties of peanuts during the harvesting period could have significant practical implications and a lasting influence on enhancing the efficiency and quality of peanut harvesting, refining harvesting machinery design, and advancing agricultural modernization.

Abstract Healthy lifestyle reduces the risk of inflammation-related diseases. This study assessed how lifestyle changes affect inflammatory cytokines over 2 months. Involving 179 apparently healthy participants recruited from community, collecting data on lifestyles (smoking, alcohol, BMI, daily activity, sleep, diet) and measured inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-17A, CRP, IL-8, IL-18, IFN-γ) plus pepsinogens (PG I, PG II) at the baseline and 2-month follow-up. The combined adverse lifestyle score is the sum of scores across six lifestyles, with higher scores indicating more adverse lifestyle factors. Use multiple linear regression and mixed linear models to analyze the relationship between the changes in lifestyle and inflammatory cytokines (follow-up values minus baseline values). For every 1-point increase in combined adverse lifestyle score, IL-17A increased by 0.98 (95% CI 0.23, 1.73) pg/mL, IFN-γ increased by 1.79 (95% CI 0.39, 3.18) pg/mL. Decreased changes in daily activity were associated with higher IL-17A (β = 1.83, 95% CI 0.53, 3.13) and IFN-γ (β = 2.59, 95% CI 0.9, 4.98). Excluding daily activity, changes in combined adverse lifestyle scores were not associated with changes in inflammatory cytokines. Lifestyle improvements at 2-month intervals may reduce TNF-α, IL-17A and IFN-γ, with daily activity making the greatest contribution.

Abstract Background Insulin resistance is linked to an increased risk of frailty, yet the comprehensive relationship between the triglyceride glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI), which reflects weight, and frailty, remains unclear. This relationship is investigated in this study. Methods Data from 9135 participants in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011–2020) were analysed. Baseline TyG-BMI, changes in the TyG-BMI and cumulative TyG-BMI between baseline and 2015, along with the frailty index (FI) over nine years, were calculated. Participants were grouped into different categories based on TyG-BMI changes using K-means clustering. FI trajectories were assessed using a group-based trajectory model. Logistic and Cox regression models were used to analyse the associations between the TyG-BMI and FI trajectory and frail incidence. Nonlinear relationships were explored using restricted cubic splines, and a linear mixed-effects model was used to evaluate FI development speed. Weighted quantile regression was used to identify the primary contributing factors. Results Four classes of changes in the TyG-BMI and two FI trajectories were identified. Individuals in the third (OR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.10–1.42) and fourth (OR = 1.83, 95% CI: 1.61–2.09) quartiles of baseline TyG-BMI, those with consistently second to highest (OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.32–1.70) and the highest (OR = 2.17, 95% CI: 1.84–2.56) TyG-BMI changes, and those in the third (OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.05–1.36) and fourth (OR = 1.94, 95% CI: 1.70–2.22) quartiles of the cumulative TyG-BMI had greater odds of experiencing a rapid FI trajectory. Higher frail risk was noted in those in the fourth quartile of baseline TyG-BMI (HR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.28–1.58), with consistently second to highest (HR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.12–1.34) and the highest TyG-BMI changes (HR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.42–1.77), and those in the third (HR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.00-1.21) and fourth quartile of cumulative TyG-BMI (HR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.33–1.60). Participants with persistently second-lowest to the highest TyG-BMI changes (β = 0.15, 0.38 and 0.76 respectively) and those experiencing the third to fourth cumulative TyG-BMI (β = 0.25 and 0.56, respectively) demonstrated accelerated FI progression. A U-shaped association was observed between TyG-BMI levels and both rapid FI trajectory and higher frail risk, with BMI being the primary factor. Conclusion A higher TyG-BMI is associated with the rapid development of FI trajectory and a greater frail risk. However, excessively low TyG-BMI levels also appear to contribute to frail development. Maintaining a healthy TyG-BMI, especially a healthy BMI, may help prevent or delay the frail onset.

Abstract Hair follicle (HF) regeneration during wound healing continues to present a significant clinical challenge. Dermal papilla cell-derived exosomes (DPC-Exos) hold immense potential for inducing HF neogenesis. However, the accurate role and underlying mechanisms of DPC-Exos in HF regeneration in wound healing remain to be fully explained. This study, represents the first analysis into the effects of DPC-Exos on fibroblasts during wound healing. Our findings demonstrated that DPC-Exos could stimulate the proliferation and migration of fibroblasts, more importantly, enhance the hair-inducing capacity of fibroblasts. Fibroblasts treated with DPC-Exos were capable of inducing HF neogenesis in nude mice when combined with neonatal mice epidermal cells. In addition, DPC-Exos accelerated wound re-epithelialization and promoted HF regeneration during the healing process. Treatment with DPC-Exos led to increased expression levels of the Wnt pathway transcription factors β-catenin and Lef1 in both fibroblasts and the dermis of skin wounds. Specifically, the application of a Wnt pathway inhibitor reduced the effects of DPC-Exos on fibroblasts and wound healing. Accordingly, these results offer evidence that DPC-Exos promote HF regeneration during wound healing by enhancing the hair-inducing capacity of fibroblasts and activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. This suggests that DPC-Exos may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for achieving regenerative wound healing.

Abstract The utilization of low-energy photons in light-driven reactions is an effective strategy for improving the efficiency of solar energy conversion. In nature, photosynthetic organisms use chlorophylls to harvest the red portion of sunlight, which ultimately drives the reduction of CO2. However, a molecular system that mimics such function is extremely rare in non-noble-metal catalysis. Here we report a series of synthetic fluorinated chlorins as biomimetic chromophores for CO2 reduction, which catalytically produces CO under both 630 nm and 730 nm light irradiation, with turnover numbers of 1790 and 510, respectively. Under appropriate conditions, the system lasts over 240 h and stays active under 1% concentration of CO2. Mechanistic studies reveal that chlorin and chlorinphlorin are two key intermediates in red-light-driven CO2 reduction, while corresponding porphyrin and bacteriochlorin are much less active forms of chromophores.

The new STF impregnated Kevlar fabric coated GFRP (glass fiber reinforced polymer) composite structure obtained by combining STF（shear thickening fluid） impregnated Kevlar fabric and GFRP can obtain strong energy absorption capacity with light weight compared with two separate structures, so it has strong impact resistance. In this paper, the experiments of STF impregnated Kevlar fabric, GFRP laminated plate and STF impregnated Kevlar fabric coating GFRP laminated structure were carried out, respectively. Based on reliable numerical simulation, the macroscopic damage and energy absorption characteristics of the same material in STF impregnated Kevlar fabric, GFRP laminated plate and STF impregnated Kevlar fabric coating GFRP laminated structure were analyzed. The results show that the GFRP laminate and the rear Kevlar fabric in the STF-impregnated Kevlar fabric coating GFRP laminate structure show a larger damage area than that of GFRP laminate and STF impregnated Kevlar fabric alone, and a larger deflection is generated during the process of impact. The increase of the number of layers of Kevlar fabric in the front and back of the laminate and the increase of the thickness of the laminate make the Kevlar fabric absorb more energy. If the energy absorption capacity of GFRP laminates is increased, the number of layers of the front Kevlar fabric can be reduced, the thickness of the laminates can be increased, and materials with greater strength can be added to the front ply of the laminates. However, increasing the thickness of GFRP laminates will reduce the lightweight requirements of laminated structures.

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are proteases that play a key role in chromosome structural modification and gene expression regulation, and the involvement of HDACs in cancer, the nervous system, and the metabolic and immune system has been well reviewed. Our understanding of the function of HDACs in the vascular system has recently progressed, and a significant variety of HDAC inhibitors have been shown to be effective in the treatment of vascular diseases. However, few reviews have focused on the role of HDACs in the vascular system. In this study, the role of HDACs in the regulation of the vascular system mainly involving endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells was discussed based on recent updates, and the role of HDACs in different vascular pathogenesis was summarized as well. Furthermore, the therapeutic effects and prospects of HDAC inhibitors were also addressed in this review.

PurposeInflammation is integral to the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degeneration, yet the role of systemic inflammatory markers in this process remains underexplored. This study aims to explore the association between the Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and the severity of disc degeneration.Patients and methodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on 375 patients diagnosed with lumbar disc degeneration between April 2018 and May 2021. All patients underwent a complete blood cell count examination. We applied the Pfirrmann grading system for cumulative disc grading, stratifying patients into two groups: a high-score group (cumulative grade > 17) and a low-score group (cumulative grade ≤ 17), based on the median cumulative grade. The association between the NLR and and the severity of disc degeneration was further analyzed using correlation analysis and logistic regression models. Furthermore, the predictive capacity of the NLR for lumbar disc degeneration was assessed using the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve.ResultsWe found a significant positive correlation between high NLR levels and severe disc degeneration. The high-score group exhibited a significantly higher NLR compared to the low-score group [2.63 (1.91–4.18) vs. 2.04 (1.38–2.74), respectively, p < 0.001]. Significant correlations were found between NLR and patient characteristics (including age, BMI, VAS, NSAIDs usage, hemoglobin) and the cumulative grading. Logistic regression analysis identified age and NLR as independent predictors of the severity of disc degeneration. The ROC curve analysis demonstrated a good predictive capability of NLR for lumbar disc degeneration.ConclusionNLR could serve as a promising biomarker for assessing the severity of lumbar disc degeneration and offer potential benefits in both early diagnosis and treatment strategies.

Elbow joint rehabilitation presents a formidable challenge, underscored by the joint’s complex biomechanics and high vulnerability to injuries and degenerative conditions. Despite the advancements in rehabilitative technology, current solutions such as rigid exoskeletons often fall short in providing the precision, flexibility, and customization needed for effective treatment. Although traditional robotic aids, such as rigid exoskeletons, help recover, they lack in providing sufficient flexibility, comfort, and easy customization with no need for complicated calculation and complex design considerations. The introduction of soft pneumatic muscles marks a significant development in the rehabilitation technologies field, offering distinct advantages and unique challenges when compared to conventional rigid systems. These flexible actuators closely mimic the elasticity of biological tissues, improving safety and interaction between humans and machines. Designed for individualized therapy, its versatility allows application in various rehabilitation scenarios, from clinical settings to home settings. The novelty of this approach lies in the development of biomechanically-compliant soft pneumatic muscles optimized for precise rotational control of the elbow joint, coupled with an advanced deep learning-based motion tracking system. This design overcomes limitations in force control, stability, and pressure requirements found in existing pneumatic-based systems, improving the safety and efficacy of elbow rehabilitation. In this study, the design, fabrication and systematic evaluation of a soft pneumatic muscle for elbow rehabilitation are presented. The device is designed to closely simulate the complex biomechanical movements of the elbow, with a primary focus on the rotational motions that are essential for controlling flexion and extension, as well as positioning the wrist during grasping tasks. Through the integration of precise geometric parameters, the actuator is capable of controlled flexion and extension, reflecting the natural kinematics of the elbow. Employing a rigorous methodology, the research integrates finite element analysis with empirical testing to refine the actuator’s performance. Under varying air pressures, the soft muscle demonstrated remarkable deformation along the X-axis (10–150 mm) and the Y-axis, indicative of its symmetrical rotational behavior, while maintaining minimal elongation along the Z-axis (0.003 mm max), and proper lifiting force under a maximum wight of 470 gm. highlighting the stability and targeted response of the device to pneumatic actuation. A specialized experimental apparatus comprising a 3D environment, a pneumatic circuit, a LabVIEW-based control system, and a deep learning algorithm was developed for accurate position estimation. The algorithm achieved a high predictive accuracy of 99.8% in spatial coordination tracking, indicating the precision of the system in monitoring and controlling the actuator’s motion.

Abstract Zintl phases typically exhibit low lattice thermal conductivity, which are extensively investigated as promising thermoelectric candidates. While the significance of Zintl anionic frameworks in electronic transport properties is widely recognized, their roles in thermal transport properties have often been overlooked. This study delves into KCdSb as a representative case, where the [CdSb4/4]− tetrahedrons not only impact charge transfer but also phonon transport. The phonon velocity and mean free path, are heavily influenced by the bonding distance and strength of the Zintl anions Cd and Sb, considering the three acoustic branches arising from their vibrations. Furthermore, the weakly bound Zintl cation K exhibits localized vibration behaviors, resulting in strong coupling between the high‐lying acoustic branch and the low‐lying optical branch, further impeding phonon diffusion. The calculations reveal that grain boundaries also contribute to the low lattice thermal conductivity of KCdSb through medium‐frequency phonon scattering. These combined factors create a glass‐like thermal transport behavior, which is advantageous for improving the thermoelectric merit of zT. Notably, a maximum zT of 0.6 is achieved for K0.84Na0.16CdSb at 712 K. The study offers both intrinsic and extrinsic strategies for developing high‐efficiency thermoelectric Zintl materials with extremely low lattice thermal conductivity.

Photocatalyzed alkylsulfonylation of unactivated alkenes using DABCO. (SO2)2 and thianthrenium salts via a distal heteroaryl migration process has been developed, which provides a new means of synthesizing a variety of valuable alkylsulfonyl-substituted compounds. These alkylsulfonyl radicals couple with unactivated alkenes to undergo efficient intermolecular reactions, followed by distal heteroaryl migration. This mild catalytic method is tolerant of functional groups and affords medicinally relevant alkylsulfonylated heterocycles.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating traumatic disease seriously impairing the quality of life in patients. Expectations to allow the hopeless central nervous system to repair itself after injury are unfeasible. Developing new approaches to regenerate the central nervous system is still the priority. Exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSC-Exo) have been proven to robustly quench the inflammatory response or oxidative stress and curb neuronal apoptosis and autophagy following SCI, which are the key processes to rescue damaged spinal cord neurons and restore their functions. Nonetheless, MSC-Exo in SCI received scant attention. In this review, we reviewed our previous work and other studies to summarize the roles of MSC-Exo in SCI and its underlying mechanisms. Furthermore, we also focus on the application of exosomes as drug carrier in SCI. In particular, it combs the advantages of exosomes as a drug carrier for SCI, imaging advantages, drug types, loading methods, etc., which provides the latest progress for exosomes in the treatment of SCI, especially drug carrier.

Metal magnetic memory (MMM) is an innovative, nondestructive testing method. It can detect both stress concentrations and macroscopic defects. The three-dimensional force-magnetic coupling model was established by the ANSYS simulation software, the evolution process of different defect depths was studied in detail, and the change of the signal characteristic was analyzed. The results showed that the variation trend and amplitude characteristic of MMM signals resulted in obvious differences among different defect types. Meanwhile, the impacts caused by the defect parameters and the type are complex, which cannot be decoupled or calculated by a certain formula. The accuracy of the simulation data was verified by experiments. To solve the classification prediction problem in MMM detection, the signal peak and valley Hp-v, the signal width W, the gradient Ky, and the peak energy Hy were selected as characteristic parameters to evaluate different defect types according to the change in the signal waveform. Finally, using these vectors as the input variables, the radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) pre-classification test model was established to realize the classification recognition of pit defects, crack defects, and porosity defects. The results show that the accuracy of the training and test sets, and it is feasible to use this model to complete the intelligent classification of defects.

Abstract Heat stress is one of the major abiotic stresses affecting the growth, sporulation, colonization and survival of Trichoderma viride. This study aimed to gain a better insight into the underlying mechanism governing the heat stress response of T. viride Tv-1511. We analysed the transcriptomic changes of Tv-1511 under normal and heat stress conditions using RNA sequencing. We observed that Tv-1511 regulates the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites through a complex network of signalling pathways. Additionally, it significantly activates the anti-oxidant defence system, heat shock proteins and stress-response-related transcription factors in response to heat stress. TvHSP70 was identified as a key gene, and transgenic Tv-1511 overexpressing TvHSP70 (TvHSP70-OE) was generated. We conducted an integrated morphological, physiological and molecular analyses of the TvHSP70-OE and wild-type strains. We observed that TvHSP70 over-expression significantly triggered the growth, anti-oxidant capacity, anti-fungal activity and growth-promoting ability of Tv-1511. Regarding anti-oxidant capacity, TvHSP70 primarily up-regulated genes involved in enzymatic and non-enzymatic anti-oxidant systems. In terms of anti-fungal activity, TvHSP70 primarily activated genes involved in the synthesis of enediyne, anti-fungal and aminoglycoside antibiotics. This study provides a comparative analysis of the functional significance and molecular mechanisms of HSP70 in Trichoderma. These findings provide a valuable foundation for further analyses.

Reports on the utilization of nitrogen compounds to trace oil and gas migration in oil-scarce regions are limited. This scarcity can be attributed to the lack of clarity regarding the effectiveness of nitrogen compound indices in oil-bearing sandstone extracts. To address this knowledge gap, two sets of experiments were designed, encompassing five extraction methods, to evaluate the validity of nitrogen compound indices. The results showed that as the extraction intensity increased, the ratios of 1-/4-methylcarbazole and 1, 8-/2, 7-dimethylcarbazole in the extracts gradually decreased but remained consistently elevated compared to the control oils. The benzocarbazole [a]/[c] ratio remained relatively stable and closely aligned with the control oils. Upon analysis, it was concluded that the observed variations could be attributed to the differing adsorption capacities of carbazole isomers. These differences lead to the fractionation of carbazole isomers between free and adsorbed hydrocarbons under surface conditions, as well as between the extracts and rocks during the extraction process. In comparison to 1-/4-methylcarbazole and 1, 8-/2, 7-dimethylcarbazole, the benzocarbazole [a]/[c] ratio is less susceptible to these two fractionations, with its variations primarily governed by migration fractionation. Additionally, the indicated direction of oil and gas migration aligns with geological realities. Therefore, the benzocarbazole [a]/[c] ratio can be considered an effective nitrogen compound index in oil-bearing sandstone extracts, suitable for oil migration tracing studies in oil-scarce regions.

In coastal lands, soil salinity greatly impedes crops growth and severely affects the agricultural productivity. Returning the crop straw and residual to soil was considered an important land reclamation method; however, the approach of straw return varied, including mulching (SM), burial (SB), and incorporation (SI). This study aimed to determine which approach was most effective to ameliorate coastal saline land and boost crop yield. Field experiments were conducted under different straw amelioration treatments on dry farming sunflowers (Helianthus annuus Linn.) in Bohai coastal land of Northern China. The results indicated that SM and SB changed the soil salt profile and significantly reduced the topsoil (0–0.2 m) salt content mainly by their direct effects on soil water transport, with little impacts on soil structure changes. Differently, SI significantly increased 21.8 % soil organic carbon and 52.3 % soil mean weight diameter in straw incorporated layer. The improvement on soil aggregates and porosity reduced 24.1–38.9 % of topsoil salt content, by limiting soil salt accumulation and promoting salt leaching. Furthermore, SI significantly boosted the sunflower fine root (d< 1.0 mm) growth and resulted in the highest sunflower yield (4.7 t/ha in 2020 and 4.6 t/ha in 2021) among those straw treatments. Compared to SM and SB, the net revenues of two-years sunflower cultivation under SI were improved by 40.68 % and 31.22 %, respectively. Therefore, it concluded that straw incorporation was more effective to reclaim coastal saline soil than straw mulching or burial. In addition, a back propagation artificial neural network model was developed to predict the dynamic of sunflower yield. This outcome provides an insight into the management of coastal farmland by establishing an easily desalinized and fertile topsoil profile structure.

Background: ACSS3 (acyl-CoA synthetase short-chain family member 3) is found in numerous tissues and is linked to tumor cell type development and metastasis. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis of ACSS3. The TCGA (Cancer Genome Atlas), CPTAC (Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium), and HPA databases were used to ascertain the connection between ACSS3 and various types of tumors. Genes in the TCGA database would be identified using cBioPortal queries, and their transcriptome expression would then be verified using GEO data. ACSS3 expression and cellular localization in various tumor tissues of most cancer types were analyzed using single-cell sequencing data from the TISCH database. According to HPA and CPTAC databases, we analyzed and evaluated protein expression levels. Predictive analysis based on precise survival data of ACSS3 expression levels for 26 cancer types predicted using the TCGA database. Furthermore, we investigated the relationship between ACSS3 and immune microenvironments in different tumor tissues using the TIMER and TISCH databases. CellMiner, GDSC, and CTRP data would clarify the relationship between ACSS3 and drug resistance and explore the chemicals that affect ACSS3 expression. The final part of our study explored and validated the role ACSS3 played in glioma proliferation, migration, and invasion. Results: ACSS3 is differentially expressed in various tumors and exhibits early diagnostic value. ACSS3 expression is associated with clinical features, and high ACSS expression anticipates a worse prognosis in multiple tumors and may impact drug sensitivity. The changes in the immunosuppressive microenvironment of gliomas are closely related to the upregulation of ACSS3. Conclusions: ACSS3 is a novel biomarker for forecasting different human cancer prognoses, as it can influence the biological process by modulating the immune microenvironment. ACSS3 is a critical prognostic factor for glioma and is related to its proliferation, migration, and invasion.

Surface electromyography (sEMG) plays a significant role in the everyday practice of clinic hand function rehabilitation. The materials and design of current typical clinic sEMG electrodes are rigid Ag/AgCl or flexible polyimide (PI) film, which cannot provide a stable interface between electrodes and skin for adequate long-term high-quality data. Thus, conformal, soft, breathable, wireless epidermal sEMG sensor systems have broad potential relevance to clinic rehabilitation settings. Herein, we demonstrate a stretchable epidermal sEMG sensor array system with optimized materials and structure strategies for hand gesture recognition and hand function rehabilitation. The optimized serpentine structures with marvelous stretchability and improved fill ratio, provide lower impedance and high-quality sEMG signals. Moreover, the easy-to-use airhole method further ensures stable and long-term contact with the skin for recording. In addition, integrated with a customized flexible wireless data acquisition system, the capability for real-time 8-channel sEMG monitoring is developed, and taking together with the CNN-based algorithm, the system can automatically and reliably realize the 7 kinds of hand gestures with an accuracy of 81.02%. Moreover, the low-cost yet high-performance epidermal sEMG sensor system demonstrated its conceptual feasibility in quantitatively evaluation of stroke patient’s hand and facilitating human-robot collaboration in hand rehabilitation by proof-of-the-concept clinical testing.

Summary: Apolipoprotein E (apoE) plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Microglia exhibit a substantial upregulation of apoE in AD-associated circumstances, despite astrocytes being the primary source of apoE expression and secretion in the brain. Although the role of astrocytic apoE in the brain has been extensively investigated, it remains unclear that whether and how apoE particles generated from astrocytes and microglia differ in biological characteristic and function. Here, we demonstrate the differences in size between apoE particles generated from microglia and astrocytes. Microglial apoE particles impair neurite growth and synapses, and promote neuronal senescence, whereas depletion of GPNMB (glycoprotein non-metastatic melanoma protein B) in microglial apoE particles mitigated these deleterious effects. In addition, human APOE4-expressing microglia are more neurotoxic than APOE3-bearing microglia. For the first time, these results offer concrete evidence that apoE particles produced by microglia are involved in neuronal senescence and toxicity.

Objectives: This study aimed to develop and validate a radiomics nomogram based on multiparameter MRI for preoperative differentiation of type II and type I endometrial carcinoma (EC). Methods: A total of 403 EC patients from two centers were retrospectively recruited (training cohort, 70 %; validation cohort, 30 %). Radiomics features were extracted from T2-weighted imaging, dynamic contrast-enhanced T1-weighted imaging at delayed phase(DCE4), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps. Following dimensionality reduction, radiomics models were developed by logistic regression (LR), random forest (RF), bootstrap aggregating (Bagging), support vector machine (SVM), artificial neural network (ANN), and naive bayes (NB) algorithms. The diagnostic performance of each radiomics model was evaluated using the ROC curve. A nomogram was constructed by incorporating the optimal radiomics signatures with significant clinical-radiological features and immunohistochemistry (IHC) markers obtained from preoperative curettage specimens. The diagnostic performance and clinical value of the nomogram were evaluated using ROC curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA). Results: Among the radiomics models, the NB model, developed from 12 radiomics features derived from ADC and DCE4 sequences, exhibited strong performance in both training and validation sets, with the AUC values of 0.927 and 0.869, respectively. The nomogram, incorporating the radiomics model with significant clinical-radiological features and IHC markers, demonstrated superior performance in both the training (AUC = 0.951) and the validation sets (AUC = 0.915). Additionally, it exhibited excellent calibration and clinical utility. Conclusions: The radiomics nomogram has great potential to differentiate type II from type I EC, which may be an effective tool to guide clinical decision-making for EC patients.

IntroductionMelatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is a molecule implicated in multiple biological functions, but exerts contrasting effects on plants owing to concentration differences. Hydroxyindole O-methyltransferase (HIOMT), which catalyzes the last step of melatonin synthesis, plays a crucial role in this context.MethodsTransgenic switchgrass overexpressing oHIOMT with different melatonin levels displayed distinct morphological changes in a concentration-dependent manner. In this study, we divided the transgenic switchgrass into two groups: melatonin-moderate transgenic (MMT) plants and melatonin-rich transgenic (MRT) plants. To determine the concentration-dependent effect of melatonin on switchgrass growth and stress resistance, we conducted comparative morphological, physiological, omics and molecular analyses between MMT, MRT and wild-type (WT) plants.ResultsWe found that oHIOMT overexpression, with moderate melatonin levels, was crucial in regulating switchgrass growth through changes in cell size rather than cell number. Moderate levels of melatonin were vital in regulating carbon fixation, stomatal development and chlorophyll metabolism. Regarding salt tolerance, melatonin with moderate levels activated numerous defense (e.g. morphological characteristics, anatomical structure, antioxidant enzymatic properties, non-enzymatic capacity and Na+/K+ homeostasis). Additionally, moderate levels of oHIOMT overexpression were sufficient to increase lignin content and alter monolignol compositions with an increase in the S/G lignin ratio.DiscussionTaken together, oHIOMT overexpression in switchgrass with different melatonin levels resulted in morphological, anatomical, physiological and molecular changes in a concentration-dependent manner, which characterized by stimulation at low doses and inhibition at high doses. Our study presents new ideas and clues for further research on the mechanisms of the concentration-dependent effect of melatonin.

ABSTRACT: Atrazine (ATR) is widely used worldwide as a commercial herbicide, Diaminochlorotriazine (DACT) is the main metabolite of ATR in the organism. Both of them disrupt the production of steroids and induce abnormal reproductive development. The granulosa cells (GCs) are important for growth and reproduction of animals. However, the toxicity of ATR on the GCs of birds is not well clarified. To evaluate the effect of the environmental pollutant ATR on bird GCs. The quail GCs were allotted into 7 groups, C (The medium of M199), A20 (20 µM ATR), A100 (100 µM ATR), A250 (250 µM ATR), D20 (20 µM DACT), D100 (100 µM DACT) and D200 (200 µM DACT). The results demonstrated that ATR reduced the viability of GCs, disrupted mitochondrial structure (including mitochondrial cristae fragmentation and the mitochondrial morphology disappearance) and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential. Meanwhile, ATR interfered with the expression of key factors in the steroid synthesis pathway, inducing the secretion of the sex hormones E2 and P in GCs. which in turn induced apoptosis. Furthermore, the Nrf2/ARE pathway as a potential target to ameliorate ATR-induced endocrine disruption in GCs for proper reproductive functions. Our research provides a new perspective for understanding the effects of ATR on reproductive functions in birds.

Mid-infrared (MIR) circularly polarized emission (CPE) is widely used in molecular sensing, information encryption, target detection, and optical communication. However, the generation and regulation of broadband MIR thermal emission with a large degree of circular polarization (DoCP) is still a major challenge. Here, we design a symmetry-broken chiral plasmonic metasurface consisting of asymmetric spilted-ring resonators (ASRRs) to emit broadband CPE with high purity in the MIR region of 3.4–5 μm. The simulated results show that the DoCPs at the wavelengths of 3.74 μm and 4.27 μm are 0.7 and 0.71, respectively, and the DoCP is higher than 0.5 in the wide wavelength ranges of 3.5–4.83 μm. According to the local Kirchhoff's law, the spin-dependent thermal emission originates from the strong inherent local chirality of the ASRR through the near-field distribution and the local emissivity density. Then, the effects of geometric parameters of meta-unit on the DoCP characteristics are studied in detail, which indicates that the geometric perturbation segments quantified by S result in the CPE regulation. Specifically, the DoCP decreases from 0.71 to 0 as the perturbation factor S increases from 0 to 5. Finally, we numerically demonstrate that the designed chiral plasmonic metasurface has potential applications in infrared circularly polarized light detection.

Considerable progress has been made in recent years to the development of sustainable polymers from bio-based feedstocks. In this study, 100% bio-based nylons were prepared via an integrated chemical and biological process from lignocellulose. These novel nylons were obtained by the melt polymerization of 3-propyladipic acid derived from lignin and 1,5-pentenediamine/1,4-butanediamine derived from carbohydrate sugar. Central to the concept is a three-step noble metal free catalytic chemical funnelling sequence (Raney Ni mediated reductive catalytic fractionation - reductive funnelling - oxidative funnelling), which allowed for obtaining a single component 3-propyladipic acid from lignin with high efficiency. The structural and thermodynamic properties of the obtained nylons have been systematically investigated, and thus obtained transparent bio-based nylons exhibited higher Mw (>32,000) and excellent thermal stability (Td5% > 265 °C). Considering their moderate Tg and good melt strength, these transparent bio-based nylons could serve as promising functional additives or temperature-responsive materials.

Highlights Compared with the traditional single-atom catalysts (SACs), the Mg SACs with axial displacement is accurately fabricated on the functional carbon nanotubes. The electronic spin polarization modulates the spin density of MgPc, facilitating the LiPSs conversion kinetics in Li-S batteries. The MgPc@FCNT achieves ultra-low capacity decay rate under the high sulfur loading.

Abstract Background The enrichment of peri-cancerous adipose tissue is a distinctive feature of colorectal cancer (CRC), accelerating disease progression and worsening prognosis. The communication between tumor cells and adjacent adipocytes plays a crucial role in CRC advancement. However, the precise regulatory mechanisms are largely unknown. This study aims to explore the mechanism of migration and invasion inhibitory protein (MIIP) downregulation in the remodeling of tumor cell-adipocyte communication and its role in promoting CRC. Results MIIP expression was found to be decreased in CRC tissues and closely associated with adjacent adipocyte browning. In an in vitro co-culture model, adipocytes treated with MIIP-downregulated tumor supernatant exhibited aggravated browning and lipolysis. This finding was further confirmed in subcutaneously allografted mice co-injected with adipocytes and MIIP-downregulated murine CRC cells. Mechanistically, MIIP interacted with the critical lipid mobilization factor AZGP1 and regulated AZGP1’s glycosylation status by interfering with its association with STT3A. MIIP downregulation promoted N-glycosylation and over-secretion of AZGP1 in tumor cells. Subsequently, AZGP1 induced adipocyte browning and lipolysis through the cAMP-PKA pathway, releasing free fatty acids (FFAs) into the microenvironment. These FFAs served as the primary energy source, promoting CRC cell proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis resistance, accompanied by metabolic reprogramming. In a tumor-bearing mouse model, inhibition of β-adrenergic receptor or FFA uptake, combined with oxaliplatin, significantly improved therapeutic efficacy in CRC with abnormal MIIP expression. Conclusions Our data demonstrate that MIIP plays a regulatory role in the communication between CRC and neighboring adipose tissue by regulating AZGP1 N-glycosylation and secretion. MIIP reduction leads to AZGP1 oversecretion, resulting in adipose browning-induced CRC rapid progression and poor prognosis. Inhibition of β-adrenergic receptor or FFA uptake, combined with oxaliplatin, may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for CRC with aberrant MIIP expression.

Large Seebeck coefficients induced by high degeneracy of conduction band minimum, and low intrinsic lattice thermal conductivity originated from large lattice vibrational anharmonicity render Mg3Sb2 as a promising n-type thermoelectric material. Herein, we demonstrated unique concentration-dependent occupation behaviors of Cu in Mg3.4Sb1.5Bi0.49Te0.01 matrix, evidenced by structural characterization and transport property measurements. It is found that Cu atoms prefer to enter the interstitial lattice sites in Mg3Sb2 host with low doping level (Mg3.4Sb1.5Bi0.49Te0.01 + x% Cu, x

In view of the new service scenarios and the demand for high intelligence network in computing and network convergence (CNC), the concept of autonomous CNC (Auto-CNC) is elaborated, where intelligence was introduced into all the aspects of CNC, including resource integration, process automation, and system intelligence.The current research directions and remaining challenges of CNC were introduced, and three key features, i.e., intent-driven computing network, the autonomous system operation and the adaptive co-evolution of communication, computing intelligence, were summarized from the proposed Auto-CNC.Meanwhile, the reference architecture and key technologies of Auto-CNC were described, which were followed by several preliminary exploration cases.Finally, future research trends and technical advice were discussed and recommended.

The automated collection of plant phenotypic information has become a trend in breeding and smart agriculture. Four YOLOv8-based models were used to segment mature soybean plants placed in a simple background in a laboratory environment, identify pods, distinguish the number of soybeans in each pod, and obtain soybean phenotypes. The YOLOv8-Repvit model yielded the most optimal recognition results, with an R2 coefficient value of 0.96 for both pods and beans, and the RMSE values were 2.89 and 6.90, respectively. Moreover, a novel algorithm was devised to efficiently differentiate between the main stem and branches of soybean plants, called the midpoint coordinate algorithm (MCA). This was accomplished by linking the white pixels representing the stems in each column of the binary image to draw curves that represent the plant structure. The proposed method reduces computational time and spatial complexity in comparison to the A* algorithm, thereby providing an efficient and accurate approach for measuring the phenotypic characteristics of soybean plants. This research lays a technical foundation for obtaining the phenotypic data of densely overlapped and partitioned mature soybean plants under field conditions at harvest.

Coastal saline soils are an important soil resource that, when restored, can enhance arable land and preserve the natural ecology. With the aim of improving the use of coastal saline soils, we conducted a spot survey at Bohai coastal saline land to investigate the differences in soil properties between different vegetation types. The soil physical and chemical properties of various vegetation types, including Aeluropus sinensis, Imperata cylindrica, Tamarix chinensis, Lycium chinense, Hibiscus moscheutos, Helianthus annuus, Gossypium hirsutum, and Zea mays, were examined at two depth layers: 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm, and in two seasons, spring and autumn. The soil properties were compared with bare land as a control. The results indicated that the electrical conductivity, total soil salt content, sodium adsorption ratio, and bulk density of soils with vegetation cover were lower than those with bare land. On the other hand, soil pH, organic matter content, mean weight diameter, and saturated hydraulic conductivity were higher. The redundancy analysis results revealed a substantial positive correlation between soil pH, saturated hydraulic conductivity, water content, mean weight diameter, and organic matter content, as well as a significant positive correlation between soil electrical conductivity, total soil salt content, sodium adsorption ratio, and bulk density. Soil pH, saturated hydraulic conductivity, water content, mean weight diameter, organic matter content, and soil electrical conductivity, total soil salt content, sodium adsorption ratio, and bulk density were negatively correlated. The results of the structural equation model and variance decomposition showed that soil organic matter and bulk density were the key factors affecting the degree of soil salinization, and compared with their independent effects, their combined effect on soil salinization was greater. This study’s conclusions can provide a point of reference for further research on the mechanisms of soil improvement and desalinization in coastal saline land.

Abstract General movements (GMs) have been widely used for the early clinical evaluation of infant brain development, allowing immediate evaluation of potential development disorders and timely rehabilitation. The infants’ general movements can be captured digitally, but the lack of quantitative assessment and well‐trained clinical pediatricians presents an obstacle for many years to achieve wider deployment, especially in low‐resource settings. There is a high potential to explore wearable sensors for movement analysis due to outstanding privacy, low cost, and easy‐to‐use features. This work presents a sparse sensor network with soft wireless IMU devices (SWDs) for automatic early evaluation of general movements in infants. The sparse network consisting of only five sensor nodes (SWDs) with robust mechanical properties and excellent biocompatibility continuously and stably captures full‐body motion data. The proof‐of‐the‐concept clinical testing with 23 infants showcases outstanding performance in recognizing neonatal activities, confirming the reliability of the system. Taken together with a tiny machine learning algorithm, the system can automatically identify risky infants based on the GMs, with an accuracy of up to 100% (99.9%). The wearable sparse sensor network with an artificial intelligence‐based algorithm facilitates intelligent evaluation of infant brain development and early diagnosis of development disorders.

ABSTRACTTetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels & Gilg (TDG) has been recently planted in reclaimed lands in Zhejiang Province, China, to increase reclaimed land use. Winter cold stress seriously limits the growth and development of TDG and has become the bottleneck limiting the TDG planting industry. To investigate the defense mechanisms of TDG toward winter cold stress when grown on reclaimed land, a combined analysis of soil bacterial communities, metabolites, and physicochemical properties was conducted in this study. Significant differences were observed in the composition of soil bacterial communities, metabolites, and properties in soils of a cold-tolerant variety (A201201) compared with a cold-intolerant variety (B201810). The fresh weight (75.8% of tubers) and dry weight (73.6%) of A201201 were significantly higher than those of B201810. The 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of soil bacteria showed that Gp5 (25.3%), Gemmatimonas (19.6%), Subdivision3 (16.7%), Lacibacterium (11.9%), Gp4 (11.8%), Gp3 (10.4%), Gp6 (7.0%), and WPS-1 (1.2%) were less common, while Chryseolinea (10.6%) were more common in A201201 soils than B201810 soils. Furthermore, linear discriminant analysis of effect size identified 35 bacterial biomarker taxa for both treatments. Co-occurrence network analyses also showed that the structures of the bacterial communities were more complex and stable in A201201 soils compared to B201810 soils. In addition, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry analysis indicated the presence of significantly different metabolites in the two soil treatments, with 10 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) (8 significantly upregulated by 9.2%–391.3% and 2 significantly downregulated by 25.1%–73.4%) that belonged to lipids and lipid-like molecules, organic acids and derivatives, and benzenoids. The levels of those DEMs were significantly correlated with the relative abundances of nine bacterial genera. Also, redundancy discriminant analysis revealed that the main factors affecting changes in the bacterial community composition were available potassium (AK), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), alkaline hydrolysis nitrogen (AHN), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (AP), and soil organic matter (SOM). The main factors affecting changes in the metabolite profiles were AK, MBC, MBN, AHN, pH, SOM, TN, and AP. Overall, this study provides new insights into the TDG defense mechanisms involved in winter cold stress responses when grown on reclaimed land and practical guidelines for achieving optimal TDG production.IMPORTANCEChina has been undergoing rapid urbanization, and land reclamation is regarded as a viable option to balance occupation and compensation. In general, the quality of reclaimed land cannot meet plant or even cultivation requirements due to poor soil fertility and high gravel content. However, Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels & Gilg (TDG), extensively used in Chinese herbal medicine, can grow well in stony soils with few nutrients. So, to increase reclaimed land use, TDG has been cultivated on reclaimed lands in Zhejiang Province, China, recently. However, the artificial cultivation of TDG is often limited by winter cold stress. The aim of this study was to find out how TDG on reclaimed land deal with winter cold stress by looking at the bacterial communities, metabolites, and physicochemical properties of the soil, thereby guiding production in practice.

Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) is a rare and severe cardiopulmonary disease with a challenging prognosis, and its underlying pathogenesis remains elusive. A comprehensive understanding of IPAH is crucial to unveil potential diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets. In this study, we investigated cellular heterogeneity and molecular pathology in IPAH using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis. Our scRNA-seq results revealed significant alterations in three crucial signaling pathways in IPAH: the hypoxia pathway, TGF β pathway, and ROS pathway, primarily attributed to changes in gene expression within arterial endothelial cells. Moreover, through bulk RNA sequencing analysis, we identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) enriched in GO and KEGG pathways, implicated in regulating cell adhesion and oxidative phosphorylation in IPAH lungs. Similarly, DEGs-enriched pathways in IPAH arterial endothelial cells were also identified. By integrating DEGs from three IPAH datasets and applying protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis, we identified 12 candidate biomarkers. Subsequent validation in two additional PAH datasets led us to highlight five potential biomarkers (CTNNB1, MAPK3, ITGB1, HSP90AA1, and DDX5) with promising diagnostic significance for IPAH. Furthermore, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) confirmed significant differences in the expression of these five genes in pulmonary arterial endothelial cells from PAH mice. In conclusion, our findings shed light on the pivotal role of arterial endothelial cells in the development of IPAH. Furthermore, the integration of single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing datasets allowed us to pinpoint novel candidate biomarkers for the diagnosis of IPAH. This work opens up new avenues for research and potential therapeutic interventions in IPAH management.

A green and straightforward electrosynthesis of substituted indoles has been developed through dehydration and intramolecular dehydrogenative C–N bond-forming radical cross-coupling from 1-(2-aminophenyl)alcohols under metal, iodine and oxidant-free conditions. This electrochemical indole synthesis strategy has an excellent functional group, water and air tolerance. And, a possible cyclization process was proposed based on the radical-trapping, intermediate verification, cyclic voltammetry, EPR and control experiments.

Sugar–sugar glycosyltransferases play important roles in constructing complex and bioactive saponins. Here, we characterized a series of UDP-glycosyltransferases responsible for biosynthesizing the branched sugar chain of bioactive steroidal saponins from a widely known medicinal plant Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis. Among them, a 2′-O-rhamnosyltransferase and three 6′-O-glucosyltrasferases catalyzed a cascade of glycosylation to produce steroidal diglycosides and triglycosides, respectively. These UDP-glycosyltransferases showed astonishing substrate promiscuity, resulting in the generation of a panel of 24 terpenoid glycosides including 15 previously undescribed compounds. A mutant library containing 44 variants was constructed based on the identification of critical residues by molecular docking simulations and protein model alignments, and a mutant UGT91AH1Y187A with increased catalytic efficiency was obtained. The steroidal saponins exhibited remarkable antifungal activity against four widespread strains of human pathogenic fungi attributed to ergosterol-dependent damage of fungal cell membranes, and 2′-O-rhamnosylation appeared to correlate with strong antifungal effects. The findings elucidated the biosynthetic machinery for their production of steroidal saponins and revealed their potential as new antifungal agents.

In urban metro construction, shield tunneling often needs to pass through building and bridge pile foundations, potentially affecting the stability of existing structures. Therefore, accurately assessing the impact of shield tunneling on bridges and buildings is crucial. This study presents a comprehensive prediction method combining numerical simulation and empirical formulas, taking the underpass project of the Shijiazhuang–Wuhan High-Speed Railway Bridge by Zhengzhou Metro Line 5 as a case study. Three-dimensional numerical model calculations were performed using finite element software to analyze the displacement and stress changes of buildings and tunnel structures at different construction stages, revealing the deformation patterns of buildings adjacent to the tunnel during shield tunneling. In particular, the ground settlement caused by twin-tunnel excavation was compared with Peck’s empirical formula to verify the reliability of the numerical simulation. The results show that twin-tunnel excavation exacerbates the horizontal displacement, uplift, and settlement of the ground, with maximum deformation rates increasing by 7.10%, 20%, and 11.4%, respectively. Comparing the ground deformation results of Peck’s empirical formulas with numerical calculations revealed similar trends in the settlement curves, with a maximum deviation of 6.67%. It can be concluded that using Peck’s empirical formula to calculate ground deformation characteristics complements the limitations of numerical simulations, making the assessment results more reliable. The findings of this study demonstrate that integrating numerical simulation with empirical formulas significantly enhances the reliability of deformation predictions in complex tunneling scenarios. This research not only offers a comprehensive safety assessment method for shield tunneling construction but also provides valuable guidance for the design and construction of similar projects, serving as a theoretical reference for future engineering endeavors.

LiDAR-unmanned aerial system (LiDAR-UAS) technology can accurately and efficiently obtain detailed and accurate three-dimensional spatial information of objects. The classification of objects in estuarine areas is highly important for management, planning, and ecosystem protection. Owing to the presence of slopes in estuarine areas, distinguishing between dense vegetation (lawns and trees) on slopes and the ground at the tops of slopes is difficult. In addition, the imbalance in the number of point clouds also poses a challenge for accurate classification directly from point cloud data. A multifeature-assisted and multilayer fused neural network (MLF-PointNet++) is proposed for LiDAR-UAS point cloud classification in estuarine areas. First, the 3D shape features that characterize the geometric characteristics of targets and the visible-band difference vegetation index (VDVI) that can characterize vegetation distribution are used as auxiliary features to enhance the distinguishability of dense vegetation (lawns and trees) on slopes and the ground at the tops of slopes. Second, to enhance the extraction of target spatial information and contextual relationships, the feature vectors output by different layers of set abstraction in the PointNet++ model are fused to form a combined feature vector that integrates low and high-level information. Finally, the focal loss function is adopted as the loss function in the MLF-PointNet++ model to reduce the effect of imbalance in the number of point clouds in each category on the classification accuracy. A classification evaluation was conducted using LiDAR-UAS data from the Moshui River estuarine area in Qingdao, China. The experimental results revealed that MLF-PointNet++ had an overall accuracy (OA), mean intersection over union (mIOU), kappa coefficient, precision, recall, and F1-score of 0.976, 0.913, 0.960, 0.953, 0.953, and 0.953, respectively, for object classification in the three representative areas, which were better than the corresponding values for the classification methods of random forest, BP neural network, Naive Bayes, PointNet, PointNet++, and RandLA-Net. The study results provide effective methodological support for the classification of objects in estuarine areas and offer a scientific basis for the sustainable development of these areas.

Soil heavy metal contamination in urban land can affect biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and the health of city residents. Visible and near-infrared (Vis-NIR) spectroscopy is fast, inexpensive, non-destructive, and environmentally friendly compared to traditional methods of monitoring soil Cu, a common heavy metal found in urban soils. However, there has been limited research on using spatially nearby samples to build the Cu estimation model. Our study aims to investigate how spatially nearby samples influence the Cu estimation model. In our study, we collected 250 topsoil samples (0–20 cm) from China’s third-largest city and analyzed their spectra (350–2500 nm). For each unknown validation sample, we selected its spatially nearby samples to construct the Cu estimation model. The results showed that compared to the traditional method (Rp2 = 0.75, RMSEP = 8.56, RPD = 1.73), incorporating nearby samples greatly improved the model (Rp2 = 0.93, RMSEP = 4.02, RPD = 3.89). As the number of nearby samples increased, the performance of the Cu estimation model followed an inverted U-shaped curve—initially increasing and then declining. The optimal number of nearby samples is 125 (62.5% of the total), and the mean distance between validation and calibration samples is 17 km. Therefore, we conclude that using nearby samples significantly enhances the Cu estimation model. The optimal number of nearby samples should strike a balance, covering a moderate area without there being too few or too many.

Urbanization and population concentration in China’s major cities drive high land utilization demands, affecting nearby bridges during underground construction. Foundation pit construction alters the internal forces, deformation, and displacement of bridge piles. To understand these impacts and assess excavation support rationality, a case study was conducted on an ultra-deep foundation pit near an elevated ring road bridge in Wuhan. Considering the engineering geological conditions of the project site, construction sequence, and traffic load on the bridge, a three-dimensional finite element model was established to simulate the impact of foundation pit excavation on the elevated structure. And through an analysis of tracked monitoring data from the construction site, comparisons were also made with the simulation results. The findings of this case study indicated that throughout the entire construction phase of the foundation pit, the maximum horizontal and vertical displacements of the bridge foundation structure caused by the construction are 2.98 mm and −1.75 mm, respectively; the maximum change rate of the bending moment in the bridge structure due to the foundation pit construction is 6.3%, while the change in the axial forces is small, and completely within the safety control standards for bridge structure displacement. By analyzing the monitoring data over three stages within one year after the completion of the foundation pit, it is shown that the bridge structure gradually tends to stabilize. Additionally, due to soil consolidation, its displacement shows uniform rebound and tends to stabilize. The research findings provide valuable reference points for the design and construction of similar deep foundation pit projects.

Heavy metal contamination in urban land has become a serious environmental problem in large cities. Visible and near-infrared spectroscopy (vis-NIR) has emerged as a promising method for monitoring copper (Cu), which is one of the heavy metals. When using vis-NIR spectroscopy, it is crucial to consider sample similarity. However, there is limited research on studying sample similarities and determining their relative importance. In this study, we compared three types of similarities: spectral, compositional, and spatial similarities. We collected 250 topsoil samples (0–20 cm) from Shenzhen City in southwest China and analyzed their vis-NIR spectroscopy data (350–2500 nm). For each type of similarity, we divided the samples into five groups and constructed Cu measurement models. The results showed that compositional similarity exhibited the best performance (Rp2 = 0.92, RPD = 3.57) and significantly outperformed the other two types of similarity. Spatial similarity (Rp2 = 0.73, RPD = 1.88) performed slightly better than spectral similarity (Rp2 = 0.71, RPD = 1.85). Therefore, we concluded that the ranking of the Cu measurement model’s performance was as follows: compositional similarity > spatial similarity > spectral similarity. Furthermore, it is challenging to maintain high levels of similarity across all three aspects simultaneously.

Bionic prosthetic hands hold the potential to replicate the functionality of human hands. The use of bionic limbs can assist amputees in performing everyday activities. This article systematically reviews the research progress on bionic prostheses, with a focus on control mechanisms, sensory feedback integration, and mechanical design innovations. It emphasizes the use of bioelectrical signals, such as electromyography (EMG), for prosthetic control and discusses the application of machine learning algorithms to enhance the accuracy of gesture recognition. Additionally, the paper explores advancements in sensory feedback technologies, including tactile, visual, and auditory modalities, which enhance user interaction by providing essential environmental feedback. The mechanical design of prosthetic hands is also examined, with particular attention to achieving a balance between dexterity, weight, and durability. Our contribution consists of compiling current research trends and identifying key areas for future development, including the enhancement of control system integration and improving the aesthetic and functional resemblance of prostheses to natural limbs. This work aims to inform and inspire ongoing research that seeks to refine the utility and accessibility of prosthetic hands for amputees, emphasizing user-centric innovations.

The study determined the impacts of dietary fermented residues’ (FBR) inclusion on growth, nutrient utilization, carcass characteristics, and meat properties in fattening pigs. Seventy-two robust pigs were randomly assigned to two experimental groups (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire, thirty-six pigs each). Each group was subjected to a 52-day trial, during which they received either a corn–soybean meal-based diet or diet enhanced with a 10% addition of FBR. Consequently, adding 10% FBR caused a significant decrease in the digestive utilization of crude dietary components in fattening pigs (p < 0.05) but showed no significant impact on the growth performance. Additionally, FBR inclusion increased the marbling scores (p < 0.05) and total antioxidant functions (p < 0.05) of muscle tissues, indicating improved meat quality. Gender affected backfat depth, with barrows showing thicker backfat depth. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 10% FBR in finishing pigs influenced the meat quality by improving the marbling score and antioxidant performance while reducing digestibility without compromising growth performance.

Bursaphelenchus mucronatus is the sibling species of B. xylophilus, which causes pine wilt disease. Sex pheromone-mediated mating behavior underlies the development of B. xylophilus populations. The study of the molecular mechanism of sex pheromone receptor genes is vital for the control of B. xylophilus. The pivotal role of the 5-HT receptor ser-1 in Caenorhabditis elegans’s mating has been demonstrated, but there is little known in B. mucronatus and B. xylophilus. In our study, the molecular features and biological functions of Bmu-ser-1 are explored. qPCR results showed that Bmu-ser-1 was expressed at all ages, especially at J2 and J4, with significantly high expression. Notably, the expression levels in males were significantly higher than that in females. The results of in situ hybridization suggest that the Bmu-ser-1 gene was expressed at the site of the digestive system during the embryonic stage, the whole body during the J2 stage, and mainly at the end of the germinal primordium during the J3 stage, as well as centrally in the vulva of females and in the gonads and tail of males during the J4 and adult stages. The RNAi results indicate a significant decrease in hatchability and stagnation at the J1 stage after interference. Treated J2 had reduced motility and stunted growth. Males after interference showed mismatch and females showed spawning difficulties. Sexual arousal experiments further validated Bmu-ser-1 as a receptor gene for males receiving female sex pheromones. Collectively, our findings strongly suggest that the Bmu-ser-1 gene has a classical role, the control of nematode growth; and a novel role involved in mating. The study on the molecular mechanisms of growth and reproduction in B. mucronatus could provide a reference for understanding the population expansion and disease epidemics of B. xylophilus.

Bursaphelenchus xylophilus is a dangerous quarantine pest that causes extensive damage to pine ecosystems worldwide. Cyclobutrifluram, a succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI), is a novel nematicide introduced by Syngenta in 2013. However, the nematocidal effect of cyclobutrifluram against plant-parasitic nematodes remains underexplored. Therefore, here, we aim to address this knowledge gap by evaluating the toxicity, effects, and mode of action of cyclobutrifluram on B. xylophilus. The result shows that cyclobutrifluram is the most effective agent, with an LC50 value of 0.1078 mg·L−1. At an LC20 dose, it significantly reduced the population size to 10.40 × 103 ± 737.56—approximately 1/23 that of the control group. This notable impact may stem from the agent’s ability to diminish egg-laying and hatching rates, as well as to impede the nematodes’ development. In addition, it has also performed well in the prevention of pine wilt disease, significantly reducing the incidence in greenhouses and in the field. SDH consists of a transmembrane assembly composed of four protein subunits (SDHA to SDHD). Four sdh genes were characterized and proved by RNAi to regulate the spawning capacity, locomotion ability, and body size of B. xylophilus. The mortality of nematodes treated with sdhc-dsRNA significantly decreased upon cyclobutrifluram application. Molecular docking further confirmed that SDHC, a cytochrome-binding protein, is the target. In conclusion, cyclobutrifluram has a good potential for trunk injection against B. xylophilus. This study provides valuable information for the screening and application of effective agents in controlling and preventing PWD in forests.

Excavation in foundation pits can result in serious issues for nearby tunnel structures like deformation, differential settlement, and seepage damage, which profoundly impact project timelines and potentially endanger life and property safety. Therefore, it is imperative to investigate these impacts before and after construction and to facilitate timely adjustments of construction measures and reinforcement where possible. In this study, a foundation pit construction project near a rail transit line is employed as a case to comprehensive study the impact of on-site deep foundation pit excavation on adjacent rail transit structures by numerical simulation. A three-dimensional finite-element model of the foundation pit based on site geological characteristics and construction procedures is established to study the excavation and maintenance processes. Through analysis of key parameters including soil deformation, displacement, shear force, and bending moment of the tunnel structures, the designed protective structure is found to have effectively mitigated soil deformation, ensuring the stability of the foundation pit. As excavation progresses, lateral soil deformation and vertical uplift gradually increase but remain within specified control values. During various excavation stages, the maximum displacement of the tunnel structure gradually increases, with the increase rates of maximum settlement being 29.09%, 20.51%, and 6.45%, respectively. This indicates a gradual enhancement of the stability of the tunnel structure. Additionally, excavation of the foundation pit has a significant impact on the bending moment distribution of the tunnel structure but does not affect the axial force and shear force of the tunnel structure. The findings of this study offer crucial scientific insights for evaluating the safety and stability of construction near tunnel structures.

In healthy older adults, the immune system generally preserves its response and contributes to a long, healthy lifespan. However, rapid deterioration in immune regulation can lead to chronic inflammation, termed inflammaging, which accelerates pathological aging and diminishes the quality of life in older adults with frailty. A significant limitation in current aging research is the predominant focus on comparisons between young and older populations, often overlooking the differences between healthy older adults and those experiencing pathological aging. Our study elucidates the intricate immunological dynamics of the CD4/Treg axis in frail older adults compared to comparable age-matched healthy older adults. By utilizing publicly available RNA sequencing and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) data from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), we identified a specific Treg cell subset and transcriptional landscape contributing to the dysregulation of CD4+ T-cell responses. We explored the molecular mechanisms underpinning Treg dysfunction, revealing that Tregs from frail older adults exhibit reduced mitochondrial protein levels, impairing mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. This impairment is driven by the TNF/NF-kappa B pathway, leading to cumulative inflammation. Further, we gained a deeper understanding of the CD4/Treg axis by predicting the effects of gene perturbations on cellular signaling networks. Collectively, these findings highlight the age-related relationship between mitochondrial dysfunction in the CD4/Treg axis and its role in accelerating aging and frailty in older adults. Targeting Treg dysfunction offers a critical basis for developing tailored therapeutic strategies aimed at improving the quality of life in older adults.