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Abstract Background Ischemic stroke belongs to “apoplexy” and its pathogenesis is characterized by qi deficiency and blood stasis combining with phlegm-damp clouding orifices. Buqi-Huoxue-Tongnao decoction (BHTD) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula for qi deficiency, blood stasis and phlegm obstruction syndrome. However, its efficacy and potential mechanism on ischemic stroke are still unclear. This study aims to investigate the protective effect and potential mechanism of BHTD against ischemic stroke. Materials and methods Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) surgery was carried out to establish an ischemic stroke model in rats. Subsequently, the rats were gavaged with different doses of BHTD (2.59, 5.175, 10.35 g/kg) for 14 days. The protective effects of BHTD on the brain and gut were evaluated by neurological function scores, cerebral infarction area, levels of brain injury markers (S-100B, NGB), indicators of gut permeability (FD-4) and bacterial translocation (DAO, LPS, D-lactate), and tight junction proteins (Occludin, Claudin-1, ZO-1) in brain and colon. 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metabolomic analysis were utilized to analyze the effects on gut microecology and screen for marker metabolites to explore potential mechanisms of BHTD protection against ischemic stroke. Results BHTD could effectively mitigate brain impairment, including reducing neurological damage, decreasing cerebral infarction and repairing the blood–brain barrier, and BHTD showed the best effect at the dose of 10.35 g/kg. Moreover, BHTD reversed gut injury induced by ischemic stroke, as evidenced by decreased intestinal permeability, reduced intestinal bacterial translocation, and enhanced intestinal barrier integrity. In addition, BHTD rescued gut microbiota dysbiosis by increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria, including Turicibacter and Faecalibaculum. Transplantation of the gut microbiota remodeled by BHTD into ischemic stroke rats recapitulated the protective effects of BHTD. Especially, BHTD upregulated tryptophan metabolism, which promoted gut microbiota to produce more indole lactic acid (ILA). Notably, supplementation with ILA by gavage could alleviate stroke injury, which suggested that driving the production of ILA in the gut might be a novel treatment for ischemic stroke. Conclusion BHTD could increase gut microbiota-derived indole lactic acid to attenuate ischemic stroke via the gut-brain axis. Our current finding provides evidence that traditional Chinese medicine can ameliorate central diseases through regulating the gut microbiology.

The development of conductive coatings has significant implications for microelectronics and electrochemistry. However, conductive coatings may exhibit different electrochemical properties when prepared on different substrate materials. This research explores the comparative performance of graphene, graphene oxide (GO), and silver nanoparticle (Ag NP) composites as conductive coatings on diverse substrate materials, including polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and glass. The study employed various preparation methods, such as mixing conductive materials with substrate materials and preparing copolymer composite materials. The conductive coating approach was found to be the most straightforward and convenient, with broader development prospects and fewer restrictive conditions. The results indicate that the distinct surface characteristics of the substrate materials influence the conductive properties of coating materials. Consequently, results show that graphene exhibits the highest conductivity on all three substrates, while GO is more conductive than Ag NPs on PMMA and PDMS but less conductive than Ag NPs on glass. That offers valuable insights into the selection of substrate materials and coating materials for the preparation of conductive materials.

This study explores the use of silicon carbide to strengthen CoCrFeNi high-entropy alloys (HEAs) with face-centered cubic structure. CoCrFeNi(SiC)x (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3) HEAs were prepared through laser metal deposition. The effects of different contents of SiC particles on the microstructure and mechanical properties of CoCrFeNi HEA were investigated. The results indicate that the addition of SiC particles led to the formation of the Cr7C3 phase, which refined the grain size and shifted the grain orientation from to . With the further addition of SiC, the amount of Cr7C3 phase increased, and β-SiC particles appeared. The Cr7C3 phase increased the average hardness of specimens from 191.71 HV to 403.86 HV. Tensile tests showed that the 10 at.% SiC specimens exhibited a yield strength of 534.00 MPa, an ultimate tensile strength of 799.67 MPa, and an elongation of 8.17%, hence optimizing the combination of ultimate tensile strength and elongation. The improvement in mechanical properties is mainly attributed to the refinement of grain boundaries and enhancement of dislocation density.

Abstract After underground coal mining, rocks are often subjected to tensile damage by the interaction of dynamic and static loadings. The process of rock fracture development under dynamic and static loadings will be released in the form of acoustic energy to form an acoustic signal. In addition, the acoustic signals in dynamic loading differ from that in static loading. Therefore, this study conducted three-point bending experiments with continuous dynamic loading and dynamic–static coupling loading on semi-circular red sandstone specimens. The acoustic signals during red sandstone specimens’ tensile damage were monitored in real-time. The results show that red sandstone’s tensile strength and deformation are enhanced under dynamic–static coupling loading. The red sandstone has a more effective acoustic emission hit rate, energy rate, and r during tensile damage under continuous dynamic loading. In dynamic loading, macroscopic fractures are developed in red sandstone, which has few acoustic emission events but releases strong acoustic signals. In static loading, the pores inside the red sandstone are compacted, the rock particles are rearranged, and the tiny fractures are closed, and its acoustic emission events are many but low in energy. In addition, the rock particles in the front area of the static loading fracture are tightly cemented, which increases the difficulty of separating the rock particles in the front area of the fracture under dynamic loading. Then weakening the red sandstone fracture development process and suppressing its acoustic signals. The research results provide more insight into the differences in tensile damage processes in red sandstone under the interaction of dynamic and static loadings.

Abstract Purpose The present study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and lung function impairment in young people diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Patients and methods We retrospectively enrolled patients with COPD who underwent symptom assessment and comprehensive pulmonary function tests at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University between August 2017 and March 2022. The patients were categorized into two groups based on age: a young COPD group (aged 20–50 years) and an old COPD group (aged > 50 years). Results A total of 1282 patients with COPD were included in the study, with 76 young COPD patients and 1206 old COPD patients. Young COPD patients exhibited a higher likelihood of being asymptomatic, lower rates of smoking, and a lower smoking index compared to old COPD patients. Although young COPD patients had higher median post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s (post-BD FEV1) (1.4 vs.1.2 L, P = 0.019), diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) (7.2 vs. 4.6, P 120%) between two groups. Surprisingly, the prevalence of reduced DLCO was found to be 71.1% in young COPD, although lower than in old COPD (85.2%). Conclusion Young COPD showed fewer respiratory symptoms, yet displayed a similar severity distribution by GOLD categories. Furthermore, a majority of them demonstrated lung hyperinflation and reduced DLCO. These results underscore the importance of a comprehensive assessment of lung function in young COPD patients.

Accurate prediction of rockburst proneness is one of challenges for assessing the rockburst risk and selecting effective control measures. This study aims to assess rockburst proneness by considering the energy characteristics and qualitative information during rock failure. Several representative rock types in cylindrical and cuboidal sample shapes were tested under uniaxial compression conditions and the failure progress was detected by a high-speed camera. The far-field ejection mass ratio (FEMR) was determined considering the qualitative failure information of the rock samples. The peak-strength energy impact index and the residual elastic energy index were used to quantitatively evaluate the rockburst proneness of both cylindrical and cuboidal samples. Further, the performance of these two indices was analyzed by comparing their estimates with the FEMR. The results show that the accuracy of the residual elastic energy index is significantly higher than that of the peak-strength energy impact index. The residual elastic energy index and the FEMR are in good agreement for both cylindrical and cuboidal rock materials. This is because these two indices can essentially reflect the common energy release mechanism characterized by the mass, ejection velocity, and ejection distance of rock fragments. It suggests that both the FEMR and the residual elastic energy index can be used to accurately measure the rockburst proneness of cylindrical and cuboidal samples based on uniaxial compression test.

Abstract Utilizing 32 previously identified S ribonuclease (S-RNase) gene sequences and abundant citrus resources, this study designed specific primers for 10 S-RNase genes. A total of 32 pairs of primers were used to analyze the self-incompatibility genotypes (S-genotypes) of 241 citrus resources, encompassing 105 mandarins, 47 pummelos, 69 oranges, and 20 lemons and citrons. These results provide theoretical guidance for parent selection in production and breeding programs. Among the 215 samples analyzed, two normal S-genotypes were identified, while no S-genotypes were detected in three samples. Notably, 21 samples, primarily citrons, exhibited amplification of only one S-genotype. Additionally, two pummelo samples showed amplification of three S-genotypes each. The integration of S-genotype and selfing phenotype identification revealed five newly discovered self-compatible mutated materials: Changsha ‘Shatian’ pummelo, large-fruited red pummelo, slender leaf ‘Mangshanyegan’, ‘Shatangju’, and W. Murcott. These findings provide valuable resources for investigating the self-compatibility mechanism in citrus.

Abstract The integration of radials into covalent organic frameworks (COFs) would have a profound effect on their applications in spin devices since such radical arrays can offer scientists an additional dimension to manipulate electron spins and maximize the function of organic optoelectrical devices. However, such realization (especially reversible radicals) is very challenging. In this article, using a fluorene‐based benzoquinone‐derived monomer (M) as the building unit, we successfully synthesized a boroxine‐linked COF (named CityU‐3), whose crystallinity and chemical composition were confirmed by powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier‐transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy, solid‐state 13C cross‐polarization magic‐angle‐spinning (CP/MAS) NMR, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Interestingly, CityU‐3 can be converted into its radical form by treating with BF3·Et2O, which is associated with a color change from red to black, and vice versa upon heating. The as‐formed radicals have been confirmed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. It is worth pointing out that the cycles between radical formation and disappearance would not affect its crystallinity and structure. The reversible COF radicals would have great applications in organic spin devices.

Abstract Several hematologic traits have been suggested to potentially contribute to the formation and rupture of intracranial aneurysms (IA). The purpose of this study is to explore the causal association between hematologic traits and the risk of IA. To explore the causal association between hematologic traits and the risk of IA, we employed two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Two independent summary-level GWAS data were used for preliminary and replicated MR analyses. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was employed as the primary method in the MR analyses. The stabilities of the results were further confirmed by a meta-analysis. In the preliminary MR analysis, hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration (p = 0.0047), basophil count (p = 0.0219) had a suggestive inverse causal relationship with the risk of aneurysm-associated subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). The monocyte percentage of white cells (p = 0.00956) was suggestively positively causally correlated with the risk of aSAH. In the replicated MR analysis, only the monocyte percentage of white cells (p = 0.00297) remained consistent with the MR results in the preliminary analysis. The hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, and basophil count no longer showed significant causal relationship (p > 0.05). Meta-analysis results further confirmed that only the MR result of monocyte percentage of white cells reached significance in the random effect model and fixed effect model. None of the 25 hematologic traits was causally associated with the risk of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (uIA). This study revealed a suggestive positive association between the monocyte percentage of white cells and the risk of aSAH. This finding contributes to a better understanding that monocytes/macrophages could participate in the risk of aSAH.

Abstract Group 1 elements exhibit the lowest electronegativity values in the Periodic Table. The chemical reduction of Group 1 metal cations M+ to M(0) is extremely challenging. Common tetraaryl borates demonstrate limited redox properties and are prone to decomposition upon oxidation. In this study, by employing simple yet versatile bipyridines as ligands, we synthesized a series of redox-active borate anions characterized by NMR and X-ray single-crystal diffraction. Notably, the borate anion can realize the reduction of Li+, generating elemental lithium metal and boron radical, thereby demonstrating its potent reducing ability. Furthermore, it can serve as a powerful two-electron-reducing reagent and be readily applied in various reductive homo-coupling reactions and Birch reduction of acridine. Additionally, this borate anion demonstrates its catalytic ability in the selective two-electron reduction of CO2 into CO.

Abstract Pain, a comorbidity of anxiety disorders, causes substantial clinical, social, and economic burdens. Emerging evidence suggests that propofol, the most commonly used general anesthetic, may regulate psychological disorders; however, its role in pain‐associated anxiety is not yet described. This study investigates the therapeutic potential of a single dose of propofol (100 mg kg−1) in alleviating pain‐associated anxiety and examines the underlying neural mechanisms. In acute and chronic pain models, propofol decreased anxiety‐like behaviors in the elevated plus maze (EPM) and open field (OF) tests. Propofol also reduced the serum levels of stress‐related hormones including corticosterone, corticotropin‐releasing hormone (CRH), and norepinephrine. Fiber photometry recordings indicated that the calcium signaling activity of CRH neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVNCRH) is reduced after propofol treatment. Interestingly, artificially activating PVNCRH neurons through chemogenetics interfered with the anxiety‐reducing effects of propofol. Electrophysiological recordings indicated that propofol decreases the activity of PVNCRH neurons by increasing spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs). Further, reducing the levels of γ‐aminobutyric acid type A receptor β3 (GABAAβ3) subunits in PVNCRH neurons diminished the anxiety‐relieving effects of propofol. In conclusion, this study provides a mechanistic and preclinical rationale to treat pain‐associated anxiety‐like behaviors using a single dose of propofol.

With the accelerated advancement of the construction of new-type power systems and the increasing intensity of grid investment， power grid enterprises have to explore more rational and efficient investment strategies to achieve optimal comprehensive benefits. To this end， taking into account the economic， social， environmental， and safety dimensions and optimizing the comprehensive benefits of grid project investments， a study on investment portfolio strategies is conducted. Firstly， the Shapley value method is applied to allocate the proportions of various benefit functions， revealing the characteristics of different benefit indicators. Secondly， given the key constraints such as investment capacity and load demand， an optimal model for grid project investment portfolios is developed， and the global harmony search algorithm （GHSA） is employed for solution finding. Finally， a case study is constructed to investigate the investment portfolio strategy. The results demonstrate that the proposed approach can assist decision-makers in formulating optimal investment strategies in the new situation.

Abstract Glioblastoma is a highly aggressive and malignant type of brain cancer that originates from glial cells in the brain, with a median survival time of 15 months and a 5-year survival rate of less than 5%. Regulated cell death (RCD) is the autonomous and orderly cell death under genetic control, controlled by precise signaling pathways and molecularly defined effector mechanisms, modulated by pharmacological or genetic interventions, and plays a key role in maintaining homeostasis of the internal environment. The comprehensive and systemic landscape of the RCD in glioma is not fully investigated and explored. After collecting 18 RCD-related signatures from the opening literature, we comprehensively explored the RCD landscape, integrating the multi-omics data, including large-scale bulk data, single-cell level data, glioma cell lines, and proteome level data. We also provided a machine learning framework for screening the potentially therapeutic candidates. Here, based on bulk and single-cell sequencing samples, we explored RCD-related phenotypes, investigated the profile of the RCD, and developed an RCD gene pair scoring system, named RCD.GP signature, showing a reliable and robust performance in predicting the prognosis of glioblastoma. Using the machine learning framework consisting of Lasso, RSF, XgBoost, Enet, CoxBoost and Boruta, we identified seven RCD genes as potential therapeutic targets in glioma and verified that the SLC43A3 highly expressed in glioma grades and glioma cell lines through qRT-PCR. Our study provided comprehensive insights into the RCD roles in glioma, developed a robust RCD gene pair signature for predicting the prognosis of glioma patients, constructed a machine learning framework for screening the core candidates and identified the SLC43A3 as an oncogenic role and a prediction biomarker in glioblastoma.

Abstract Background In the context of increasing population aging, ongoing drug-resistant pathogens and the COVID-19 epidemic, the changes in the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with pneumonia remain unclear. This study aimed to assess the trends in hospitalization, case fatality, comorbidities, and isolated pathogens of pneumonia-related adult inpatients in Guangzhou during the last decade. Methods We retrospectively enrolled hospitalized adults who had doctor-diagnosed pneumonia in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2022. A natural language processing system was applied to automatically extract the clinical data from electronic health records. We evaluated the proportion of pneumonia-related hospitalizations in total hospitalizations, pneumonia-related in-hospital case fatality, comorbidities, and species of isolated pathogens during the last decade. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to assess predictors for patients with prolonged length of stay (LOS). Results A total of 38,870 cases were finally included in this study, with 70% males, median age of 64 (53, 73) years and median LOS of 7.9 (5.1, 12.8) days. Although the number of pneumonia-related hospitalizations showed an upward trend, the proportion of pneumonia-related hospitalizations decreased from 199.6 per 1000 inpatients in 2013 to 123.4 per 1000 in 2021, and the case fatality decreased from 50.2 per 1000 in 2013 to 23.9 per 1000 in 2022 (all P

ObjectivesIn order to make the energy in the degaussing coil feed back to the degaussing power supply and improve the energy utilization rate, a degaussing power supply control strategy is proposed with a hybrid supercapacitor and lithium battery power supply.MethodsAfter studying the electrical characteristics of the degaussing coil under strong coupling conditions, the hybrid power supply system is introduced. The change of the degaussing coil current is divided into three stages: rising, holding and falling (energy feedback). In different stages of degaussing coil current change, the opening and closing of the corresponding switches are controlled. The simulation is carried out using Matlab/Simulink, and the simulation results are analyzed to verify the feasibility of the energy feedback control strategy based on the hybrid power supply system.ResultsThe analysis and simulation results show that the total current flowing through each degaussing coil can quickly rise to and stabilize near the standard value, the overshoot is small and the energy supplied to the degaussing coil can also be fed back into the supercapacitor.ConclusionThe proposed degaussing system with a hybrid power supply can feed back the energy in the degaussing coil to the supercapacitor, thereby reducing the energy loss of the whole degaussing system.

Rock bursts are among the most severe and unpredictable hazards encountered in deep rock engineering, posing substantial threats to both construction safety and project progress. This study provides a comprehensive investigation into how moisture infiltration influences the propensity for rock bursts, aiming to establish new theoretical foundations and practical methods for their prevention. Through the analysis of meticulous laboratory mechanical experiments and sophisticated numerical simulations, we analyzed the variations in the physical and mechanical properties of rocks under different moisture conditions, with a particular focus on strength, brittleness, and energy release characteristics. The findings reveal that moisture infiltration significantly diminishes rock strength and reduces the likelihood of brittle fractures, thereby effectively mitigating the risk of rock bursts. Additionally, further research indicates that in high-moisture environments, the marked reduction in rock burst tendency is attributed to increased rock toughness and the suppression of crack propagation. This study advocates for the implementation of moisture control measures as a pre-treatment strategy for deep rock masses. This innovative approach presents a viable and effective solution to enhance engineering safety and improve construction efficiency, offering a practical method for managing rock burst risks in challenging environments.

Abstract Ceramic aerogels are highly efficient, lightweight, and chemically stable thermal insulation materials but their application is hindered by their brittleness and low strength. Flexible nanostructure-assembled compressible aerogels have been developed to overcome the brittleness but they still show low strength, leading to insufficient load-bearing capacity. Here we designed and fabricated a laminated SiC-SiOx nanowire aerogel that exhibits reversible compressibility, recoverable buckling deformation, ductile tensile deformation, and simultaneous high strength of up to an order of magnitude larger than other ceramic aerogels. The aerogel also shows good thermal stability ranging from −196 °C in liquid nitrogen to above 1200 °C in butane blow torch, and good thermal insulation performance with a thermal conductivity of 39.3 ± 0.4 mW m−1 K−1. These integrated properties make the aerogel a promising candidate for mechanically robust and highly efficient flexible thermal insulation materials.

Abstract Heart rhythm complexity (HRC), a subtype of heart rate variability (HRV), is an important tool to investigate cardiovascular disease. In this study, we aimed to analyze serial changes in HRV and HRC metrics in patients with inferior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) within 1 year postinfarct and explore the association between HRC and postinfarct left ventricular (LV) systolic impairment. We prospectively enrolled 33 inferior STEMI patients and 74 control subjects and analyzed traditional linear HRV and HRC metrics in both groups, including detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) and multiscale entropy (MSE). We also analyzed follow-up postinfarct echocardiography for 1 year. The STEMI group had significantly lower standard deviation of RR interval (SDNN), and DFAα2 within 7 days postinfarct (acute stage) comparing to control subjects. LF power was consistently higher in STEMI group during follow up. The MSE scale 5 was higher at acute stage comparing to control subjects and had a trend of decrease during 1-year postinfarct. The MSE area under scale 1–5 showed persistently lower than control subjects and progressively decreased during 1-year postinfarct. To predict long-term postinfarct LV systolic impairment, the slope between MSE scale 1 to 5 (slope 1–5) had the best predictive value. MSE slope 1–5 also increased the predictive ability of the linear HRV metrics in both the net reclassification index and integrated discrimination index models. In conclusion, HRC and LV contractility decreased 1 year postinfarct in inferior STEMI patients, and MSE slope 1–5 was a good predictor of postinfarct LV systolic impairment.

With the development of aerospace technology, the Mach number of aircraft continues to increase, which puts forward higher performance requirements for high-temperature wave-transparent materials. Silicon nitrides have excellent mechanical properties, high-temperature stability, and oxidation resistance, but their brittleness and high dielectric constant impede their practical applications. Herein, by employing a template-assisted precursor pyrolysis method, we prepared a class of Si3N4@SiO2 nanowire aerogels (Si3N4@SiO2 NWAGs) that are assembled by Si3N4@SiO2 nanowires with diameters ranging from 386 to 631 nm. Si3N4@SiO2 NWAGs have low density of 12–31 mg∙cm−3, specific surface area of 4.13 m2∙g−1, and average pore size of 68.9 μm. Mechanical properties characterization shows that the aerogels exhibit reversible compressibility from 60% compressive strain and good fatigue resistance even when being compressed 100 times at set strain of 20%. The aerogels also show good thermal insulation performance (0.032 W·m−1∙K−1 at room temperature), ablation resistance (butane blow torch), and high-temperature stability (maximum service temperature in air over 1200 ℃). The dielectric constant and loss of the aerogels are 1.02–1.06 and 4.3×10−5–1.4×10−3 at room temperature, respectively. The combination of good mechanical, thermal, and dielectric properties makes Si3N4@SiO2 NWAGs promising ultralight wave-transparent and thermally insulating materials for applications at high temperatures.

In laser shock processing (LSP) of aero-engine blades, overlap marks due to spot overlapping cause irregular surface morphology that becomes a source of cracks under fatigue behaviors. This reduces the beneficial effect of compressive residual stress induced by LSP and undermines fatigue performance of blades. In this paper, laser shock imprinting (LSI) is proposed to improve fatigue performance of aero-engine blades. In this process, a layer of contact film with micro-grooves is placed between the absorption layer and the workpiece (blade) of the LSP. By using the double action of laser shock wave and micro-grooves in contact film, blade surface morphology is transformed towards the direction conducive to improve its fatigue performance. Using ABAQUS software, Johnson-Cook model and Fabbro model were considered to study the plastic rheological behavior of blade surface material induced by LSI. Effect of process parameters namely, peak pressure, impact number and spot overlapping ratio on residual stress and micro-plastic deformation of blade surface were studied. Simulation results showed that under the action of laser shock wave, blade surface material flowed into micro-grooves in contact film via extrusion plastic deformation. This resulted in micro-bulge morphology having geometrically specific arrangement on blade surface, which achieved accurate control of micro-plastic deformation on blade surface. Increase in peak pressure and impact number increase the surface micro-bulges height. However, increase in peak pressure lowers the stress difference between bulging edge and non-bulge zones. It was found that 33% spot overlapping impact resulted in more uniform surface micro-bulge morphology on blade surface.