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Zuo-Huan Meng,1,* Wen-Yuan Ma,1,* Ying Wang,2 Ya-Rong Li,2 Jing Zhang,3 Yin-Fang Liu,4 Xin-Ke Zhao,5,6 Chun-He Da6 1Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Baiyin, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Pharmacy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Baiyin, People’s Republic of China; 3Nutrition Department, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Baiyin, People’s Republic of China; 4Respiratory Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Baiyin, People’s Republic of China; 5Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, People’s Republic of China; 6The Third Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Baiyin, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Zuo-Huan Meng, Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Baiyin, 730900, People’s Republic of China, Tel +8609438813373, Email 441390739@qq.com Chun-He Da, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Baiyin, 730900, People’s Republic of China, Tel +8609438810612, Email dachunhedch@outlook.comBackground: “Pneumonia Prevention No.1” belongs to ‘traditional Chinese medicine prescription for prevention of viral pneumonia and influenza’ was urgently formulated by Notice on Printing the Novel Coronavirus Diagnosis and Treatment Scheme for COVID-19 (Trial Version 3) and Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment Scheme for COVID-19 in Hubei Province (Trial). Because the prescription drug has the bidirectional regulation function of human immune function, moderate improvement of immune function can effectively resist virus invasion, while excessive immune function will produce immune overresponse. Excessive immune response will aggravate the condition of patients with COVID-19, resulting in the death of severe patients.Methods: Twenty medical workers aged 20– 60 years old, who had no immune disease, no current disease and healthy physical examination, were selected as participants. The participants took Hubei “Pneumonia Prevention No.1” decoction, one dosage each day, twice a day, for 7 consecutive days. With the before-after control method, blood samples were collected from the median cubital veins before and after medication. Immunoglobulin IgA, IgG and IgM were measured by immunoturbidimetry, and T lymphocyte subsets CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD4/CD8 were measured by flow cytometry. The changes of indexes before and after medication were compared with SPPS 13.0 statistical software. The data were expressed by (mean ± standard deviation). T-test was adopted, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant (P < 0.05).Results: The results of this study show that in healthy participants, the immunoglobulin and T lymphocyte subsets did not differ significantly before and after drug administration (P > 0.05).Conclusion: Under normal drug administration circumstances, “Pneumonia Prevention No. 1” had no significant regulating effect on the immune system in a healthy population and did not increase the immune system capacity beyond a reasonable range. It is safe to be used as a prophylactic measure in healthy populations.Keywords: “Pneumonia Prevention No. 1”, healthy population, immunoglobulin, T lymphocyte, safe medication

Abstract Background For patients with pneumonia, the rapid detection of pathogens is still a major global problem in clinical practice because traditional diagnostic techniques for infection are time-consuming and insensitive. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) is a novel technique that has the potential to improve pathogen diagnosis. This study aimed to investigate the microbiological diagnostic ability of mNGS compared with conventional culture and to determine the optimal time to test patients for pneumonia. Methods A prospective study using data from June 2020 to June 2021 was performed at a tertiary teaching hospital in China. We included 56 patients from all adult patients with a clinical diagnosis of pneumonia. Blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples were taken for simultaneous mNGS and conventional culture testing. Results All 56 patients underwent both conventional culture and mNGS. Of these patients, 37 were diagnosed with severe pneumonia and 17 were diagnosed with non-severe pneumonia. The top three pathogenic bacteria detected by mNGS were Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Enterococcus faecium was detected more frequently in the non-severe pneumonia group (4 vs. 0, p

In this study, the thermal deformation behavior of Cu–Ti–Zr(-Mg) alloys were investigated by Gleeble-1500D. The two alloys were deformed at 700–900 °C with 0.003–10 s−1 strain rate. The intrinsic equations of the two alloys were constructed and calculated thermal activation energies, which indicates that it is improved from 325.67 kJ/mol to 344.03 kJ/mol after Mg addition. The result showed that the hot working area of Cu–Ti–Zr alloy is greatly extended after Mg addition, and rheological instability area is reduced. The morphology of the alloys was observed to analyze thermal behavior. It revealed that Mg elements inhibited the occurrence of dynamic recrystallization and shifted the texture types in the alloys by characterization of EBSD. TEM results showed that the phases during hot deformation in Cu–Ti–Zr–Mg are Cu4Ti and Cu10Zr7, which are in a semi-coherent relationship with the Cu matrix.

Introduction: The interplay between influential factors and the incidence of subthreshold depression (SD) in young adults remains poorly understood. Objectives: This study sought to understand the dietary habits, gut microbiota composition, etc. among individuals with SD in young adults and to investigate their association with SD occurrence. Methods: Employing a cross-sectional approach, 178 individuals with SD, aged 18–32 years, were matched with 114 healthy counterparts. SD status was evaluated using the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), Zung Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Beck Depression Inventory 2nd version (BDI-II), the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scales of Depression (HAMD-17), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Metagenomic sequencing was utilized to identify fecal microbial profiles. Dietary patterns were discerned via factor analysis of a 25-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Logistic regression analysis and mediation analysis were performed to explore the potential links between gut microbiota, dietary patterns, and incident SD. Results: Data on dietary habits were available for 292 participants (mean [SD] age, 22.1 [2.9] years; 216 [73.9 %] female). Logistic regression analysis revealed that dietary patterns Ⅰ (odds ratio [OR], 0.34; 95 % CI, 0.15–0.75) and IV (OR, 0.39; 95 % CI, 0.17–0.86 and OR, 0.39; 95 % CI, 0.18–0.84) were associated with reduced risk of SD. Distinct microbial profiles were observed in young adults with SD, marked by increased microbial diversity and taxonomic alterations. Moreover, mediation analysis suggested Veillonella atypica as a potential mediator linking SDS or BDI-II scores with a healthy dietary pattern rich in bean products, coarse grains, nuts, fruits, mushrooms, and potatoes (β = 0.25, 95 % CI: 0.02–0.78 and β = 0.18, 95 % CI: 0.01–0.54). Conclusions: Our findings highlight the complex interplay between dietary patterns, gut microbiota, and the risk of developing SD in young adults, underscoring the potential for dietary interventions and microbiome modulation in mental health promotion.

The sink strength of developing ovaries in wheat determines the grain weight potential. The period from booting to the grain setting stage is critical for ovary growth and development and potential sink capacity determination. However, the underlying regulatory mechanism during this period by which the wheat plant balances and coordinates the floret number and ovary/grain weight under water stress has not been clarified. Therefore, we designed two irrigation treatments of W0 (no seasonal irrigation) and W1 (additional 75 mm of irrigation at the jointing stage) and analyzed the responses of the ovary/grain weight to water stress at the phenotypic, metabolomic, and transcriptomic levels. The results showed that the W0 irrigation treatment reduced the soil water content, plant height, and green area of the flag leaf, thus reducing grain number, especially for the inferior grains. However, it improved the grain weight of the superior and inferior grains as well as average grain weight at maturity, while the average ovary/grain weight and volume during –3 to 10 days after anthesis (DAA) also increased. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that the genes involved in both sucrose metabolism and phytohormone signal transduction were prominently accelerated by the W0 treatment, accompanied by greater enzymatic activities of soluble acid invertase (SAI) and sucrose synthase (Sus) and elevated abscisic acid (ABA) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) levels. Thus, the sucrose content decreased, while the glucose and fructose contents increased. In addition, several TaTPP genes (especially TaTPP-6) were down-regulated and the IAA biosynthesis genes TaTAR1 and TaTAR2 were up-regulated under the W0 treatment before anthesis, which further increased the IAA level. Collectively, water stress reduced the growth of vegetative organs and eliminated most of the inferior grains, but increased the ABA and IAA levels of the surviving ovaries/grains, promoting the enzymatic activity of Sus and degrading sucrose into glucose and fructose. As a result, the strong sucrose utilization ability, the enhanced enzymatic activity of SAI and the ABA- and IAA-mediated signaling jointly increased the weight and volume of the surviving ovaries/grains, and ultimately achieved the trade-off between ovary/grain weight and number in wheat under water stress.

Low temperatures and icing in winter are significant factors that severely affect highway safety and traffic mobility. To enhance the precision and reliability of real-time winter road surface temperature (RST) prediction, a short-term prediction model is developed that harnesses both feature selection and deep learning. Leveraging meteorological data from a mountain highway in Yunnan, China, the key environmental variables affecting road surface temperature were first extracted using a random forest (RF) model for feature selection. These features were then combined with RST data to construct multiple groups of input variable combinations for the prediction model. A short-term prediction model with a 10-minute update frequency was built using a long short-term memory neural network (LSTM), namely RF-LSTM. The best input variable combination and preset parameters for the prediction model were determined through comparative testing with prevalent machine learning models, and the transferability of the prediction model was verified. The results showed that the best input variable combination for the RF-LSTM prediction model was road surface temperature and air temperature. The model recognised that the short-term RST was affected by long and short-term memory characteristics within a two-hour timeframe. When compared to the RF model, backpropagation (BP) neural network model and the standard LSTM model, the proposed model reduces prediction errors by 59.15%, 31.10% and 20.26%, respectively, while the prediction accuracy is 99.13% within an error margin of ±0.5℃. On the verification dataset, the proposed model maintains its time transferability with an average prediction absolute error of 0.0478. In all, the proposed model not only achieves a higher level of precision in real-time RST predictions but also ensures a more consistent and reliable performance under the challenging conditions of high altitude and mountainous terrain, offering enhanced support for traffic safety and road maintenance decision-making.

Abstract Synchronous stability is crucial for the safety and operation of AC power systems. However, most of the current researches focused on the stability of grid‐connected converters, and that of renewable equipment still lacked. In this article, the impact of the additional inertia control (AIC) on the permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) is studied. It is found that with the AIC, the machine‐side converter dynamics of the PMSG cannot be ignored, and the system dominant dynamics shifts from the electromagnetic to electromechanical timescales. This article develops a simplified model for the single‐PMSG infinite‐bus system with the AIC within the electromechanical timescale, and reveals the transient synchronization stability mechanism from three aspects: the machine‐network interface, transient dominant variable, and interaction between the synchronization loop and the power imbalance loop. Finally, this article analyzes the swing characteristics of the PMSG system, and uncovers the relationship between the energy transmission and synchronization. These findings are supported by wide experimental verification and can provide the deeper physical insight and theoretical basis for the transient synchronous stability analysis of renewable‐dominated new‐type power systems.

In this paper, the strong earthquake risk of the Kangding-Moxi fault, located within the Xianshuihe fault zone in western Sichuan, is analyzed and discussed. The fault at the apex of the third arc extrusion structural belt extends from western Sichuan to eastern Yunnan. This area is characterized by high stress concentration, substantial left-lateral slip, and a vertical differential movement between the two sides of the fault ranging from 1000 to 2000 meters. It is one of the most seismically active regions within the continental plate. The Xianshuihe fault zone is a left-lateral strike-slip fault zone with high seismicity and earthquake recurrence in China. Over the nearly 300 years since 1725, two periods of seismicity have repeatedly occurred on the Xianshuihe fault zone, with recurrence intervals of 100 to 200 years. The Kangding-Moxi fault was the site of a major earthquake, with a magnitude of 7¾, in 1786. It has been 237 years since that event, and the fault has been in a relatively quiet phase of energy accumulation. However, recent earthquakes have become active. Following the MS6.8 Moxi earthquake in Luding, Sichuan Province in September 2022, medium and small earthquakes with M

Abstract The impact of various organic amendments on soil organic carbon (SOC) have rarely been reported. To address this, a laboratory experiment was designed to scrutinize the effects of different amendments on soil carbon fractions, microbial communities, and the underlying interactive mechanisms. The experiment encompassed a no-amendment control (CK), as well as treatments with corn straw (CS), tobacco stalks (TS), and peanut shell biochar (PB). Over a 70-day incubation, the SOC in plots amended with CS, TS, and PB displayed significant boosts of 13.9%, 17.5%, and 44.8%, respectively, compared to the CK. For soil carbon fractions, amendments with PB, TS, and CS led to a dramatic rise in particulate organic carbon (POC) of 27.4%, 20.2%, and 105.7%, respectively, in contrast to the CK plots. Mantel analysis and structural Equation Modeling uncovered strong interrelationships among the cbbL, cbbM, Bacteroidota, TOC, and POC. Organic amendments enhance soil carbon fractions, modulating the microbial community by increasing Bacteroidetes abundance and suppressing Acidobacteria richness, thereby influencing the abundance of key carbon cycle genes such as cbbL and cbbM. These results suggest that the addition of peanut shell biochar significantly boosted TOC and key carbon fractions, enhancing carbon content and soil fertility.

Abstract Large-scale and continuous conformational changes in the RNA self-folding process present significant challenges for structural studies, often requiring trade-offs between resolution and observational scope. Here, we utilize individual-particle cryo-electron tomography (IPET) to examine the post-transcriptional self-folding process of designed RNA origami 6-helix bundle with a clasp helix (6HBC). By avoiding selection, classification, averaging, or chemical fixation and optimizing cryo-ET data acquisition parameters, we reconstruct 120 three-dimensional (3D) density maps from 120 individual particles at an electron dose of no more than 168 e–Å−2, achieving averaged resolutions ranging from 23 to 35 Å, as estimated by Fourier shell correlation (FSC) at 0.5. Each map allows us to identify distinct RNA helices and determine a unique tertiary structure. Statistical analysis of these 120 structures confirms two reported conformations and reveals a range of kinetically trapped, intermediate, and highly compacted states, demonstrating a maturation folding landscape likely driven by helix-helix compaction interactions.

Abstract This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which PLD2 controls apoptosis and edema in pancreatic cells via the Nrf2/NF-κB pathway. AR42J rat pancreatic cells were treated with 10 nM mitomycin to create an in vitro pancreatitis model (model group), with a control group receiving phosphate-buffered saline. Cells were transfected with a PLD2 overexpression plasmid using Lipofectamine 3000, forming the PLD2 overexpression group. PLD2 protein expression was assessed by Western blotting, and TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 levels were measured by RT-qPCR. Nrf2/NF-κB protein expressions were also analyzed. Apoptosis and necrosis were evaluated using Annexin V-FITC/PI staining and the LDH release test. Cell edema was assessed by cell volume, ion content, and membrane damage. Western blotting was used to analyze pan-apoptosis-related proteins. PLD2 expression was lower in the model group compared to controls (P

Abstract Objective Chondrosarcoma (CHS) is resistant to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy and currently lacks effective treatment options when in advanced stages. Accordingly, this research investigated the mechanism of RNF2/CBX7 in CHS to drive the development of molecularly targeted drugs for CHS. Methods RNF2 and CBX7 levels were detected in CHS cells and tissues. RNF2 and CBX7 expression was modulated through cell transfection to examine their effects on cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and angiogenesis. The correlation between RNF2 and CBX7 levels was determined, and the ubiquitination level of CBX7 was tested. Protein synthesis was blocked in RNF2-knockdown/overexpressing cells with CHX to assess the effect of RNF2 on CBX7 stability. JJ012 cells transfected with LV-sh-RNF2 were subcutaneously injected into nu/nu nude mice to ascertain the action of RNF2 in the growth and metastasis of CHS. Results RNF2 was highly expressed in CHS cells and tissues. RNF2 knockdown curbed CHS cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis while promoting apoptosis. RNF2 knockdown in JJ012 cells upregulated CBX7 protein levels and reduced CBX7 ubiquitination, whilst RNF2 had no effect on CBX7 mRNA expression. CBX7 knockdown partially nullified the repressing effects of RNF2 knockdown on CHS cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis, and CBX7 overexpression partially abolished the promotional effects of RNF2 overexpression. LV-sh-RNF2 prominently restricted tumor growth and weight and declined lung metastatic nodules and Ki-67-positive cells in mice. Conclusion RNF2 fosters CHS progression by elevating CBX7 degradation via the ubiquitination pathway.

Abstract Background Pancreatic cancer is a malignant tumor of the digestive tract with a high mortality rate. Erianin has antitumor activity, but the regulatory targets and mechanism of action in pancreatic cancer are unclear. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-pancreatic cancer activity of Erianin and explore its underlying mechanisms. Methods A network pharmacology approach was used to investigate the mechanism of action of Erianin in pancreatic cancer cells. Cell proliferation was analyzed using CCK8, colony-formation, and EdU proliferation assays. Cell migration was evaluated through wound healing and transwell assays, as well as determination of the protein expression levels of EMT markers and β-catenin. Apoptosis and the cell cycle were measured using flow cytometry and JC-1 staining, respectively. The protein expression levels of p-Rb, CyclinB1, P21, Cleaved-PARP, and Cleaved-Caspase3 were assessed using western blotting. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and bioinformatics analyses were performed to elucidate the mechanism underlying the action of Erianin in pancreatic cancer. Western blotting was used to examine the expression levels of key proteins in the AKT, JNK, and p38 MAPK signaling pathways. Molecular docking and CETSA were used to test hypotheses. The tumor-suppressive ability of Erianin in vivo was assessed using a tumor-bearing assay in nude mice. Results Network pharmacology revealed that Erianin inhibited pancreatic cancer through multiple pathways. Erianin significantly inhibited pancreatic cancer cell proliferation and migration while promoting intracellular ROS and inducing apoptosis. Mechanistically, Erianin inhibited pancreatic cancer cell proliferation by regulating the AKT/FOXO1 and ASK1/JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathways. In vivo experiments showed that Erianin inhibited subcutaneous tumor growth and promoted tumor tissue apoptosis in nude mice. Conclusions The component-target-pathway network revealed that Erianin exerted anti-cancer effects through multiple components, targets, and pathways. Erianin inhibited the proliferation and migration of pancreatic cancer cells and induced apoptosis through the AKT/FOXO1 and ASK1/JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathways. These results indicate that Erianin is a promising agent for pancreatic cancer treatment.

Abstract This study examined the effects of cold plasma (CP) treatment on the physicochemical properties and sensory quality of black whole wheat flour (BWWF). Various factors including nutrient composition, color, amino acids, aroma, particle size, microstructure, antioxidant activity, and water migration were analyzed before and after CP treatment. The findings revealed that CP treatment had a minimal impact on the baseline nutrient composition of BWWF, but significantly improved its free amino acid profile, enhancing its nutritional value. The treated BWWF had an improved surface color, appeared brighter and yellower, and gave off a pleasant mellow aroma, while removing unpleasant flavor. The total phenolic content of BWWF increased while the flavonoid and anthocyanin content decreased after the treatment. CP-treated BWWF underwent aggregation cross-linking in the microstructure, and the content of bound water decreased, but the stability increased. In conclusion, CP treatment had great potential to improve the physicochemical properties and sensory quality of BWWF.

Abstract Objective Early identification of modifiable risk factors is crucial for the prevention of constipation. This study systematically investigated the relationship between genetically predicted modifiable risk factors and constipation. Methods The inverse variance weighting (IVW) method was employed as the primary analytical approach. For similar exposure indicators, the multivariate Mendelian randomization (MVMR) method was used to adjust for potential biases in univariate MR analysis. The robustness of the results was further evaluated using the MR-Egger intercept test, Cochran’s Q test, and leave-one-out analysis. Bonferroni correction was applied to reduce the false positive rate in the results. Results The IVW analysis indicated a significant causal association between genetically predicted gastroesophageal reflux disease [OR (95% CI) = 1.192 (1.079–1.315), P = 0.0005], atorvastatin use [OR (95% CI) = 16.995 (3.327–86.816), P = 0.0007], and constipation. Additionally, there was a potential causal association between education level [OR (95% CI) = 0.859 (0.767–0.964), P = 0.009], major depressive disorder [OR (95% CI) = 1.206 (1.041–1.399), P = 0.013], hypothyroidism [OR (95% CI) = 2.299 (1.327–3.985), P = 0.003], and aspirin use [OR (95% CI) = 4.872 (1.174–20.221), P = 0.029] with constipation. No causal associations were found for the other included indicators. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated the absence of evidence for heterogeneity and pleiotropy in any positive results. Conclusion This study identified several risk factors that could be targeted for the prevention of constipation, offering valuable insights for public health policies.

Abstract Biomarkers are not only of significant importance for cancer diagnosis and selection of treatment plans but also recently increasingly used for the evaluation of malignancy development and tumor heterogeneity. Large-size tumors from clinical patients can be unique and valuable sources for the study of cancer progression, particularly to the extent of intratumoral heterogeneity. In the present study, we obtained a series of post-surgery puncture samples from a breast cancer patient with a 4 × 3.5 × 2 cm tumor in its original size. Immunohistochemistry for Ki-67, COX-2, and CA IX was performed and the expression levels within the breast cancer tumor mass were evaluated in the reconstructed 3D models. To further evaluate the intratumoral heterogeneity, we performed high throughput whole transcriptome sequencing of 12 samples from different spatial positions within the tumor tissue. Comparing the reconstructed 3D distribution of biomarkers with projected tumor growth models, asymmetric and heterogeneous expansion of tumor mass was found to be possibly influenced by factors such as blood supply, inflammation and/or hypoxia stimulations, as suggested from the correlation between the results of Ki-67 and CA IX or COX-2 staining. Furthermore, high-throughput RNA sequencing data provided additional information for profiling the intratumoral heterogeneity and expanded the understanding of cancer progression. Digital technology for medical imaging once properly integrated with molecular pathology examinations will become particularly helpful in dissecting out in-depth information for precision medicine. We prospect that this approach, facilitated by rapidly advancing artificial intelligence, could provide new insights for clinical decision-making in the future. Strategies for the continuous development from the present study for better performance and application were discussed.

Abstract Natural beauty evaluation is an important branch of geography and landscape studies and has profound impact on the protection and sustainable development of World Heritage sites (WHs). However, systematic literature reviews in this field are insufficient. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed 262 relevant studies in the Web of Science and CNKI databases published since 1982, systematically reviewed the research progress in the field of natural beauty evaluation, analyzed the current main research methods, theoretical frameworks, and application practices, and explored their specific implications for the World Heritage karst sites (WHKs). The following observations were made. (1) The number of publications has been increasing year by year, reaching its peak in 2019, indicating increasing research interest in this field. (2) The research content covers five aspects: theory, evaluation indicators, methods, technology, and World Heritage value. The proportion of research on technology integration (33.94%) and evaluation methods (28.05%) is the highest, accounting for 61.99% of the total, and indicating a positive inclination toward innovation and development of research methods. (3) Methodology tends toward interdisciplinary collaboration, and evaluation methods have gradually shifted from a single qualitative description to quantitative, diversified, and interdisciplinary comprehensive evaluation. The combination of traditional and emerging technologies such as SD method, SBE method, AHP method, neuroscience, and UGC data has increased, breaking through time and space constraints and expanding data sources. (4) In future studies, the assessment of natural beauty should concentrate on aesthetic preferences across diverse cultural contexts, develop a concept of global localization, and enhance evaluators' aesthetic perception through multisensory integration. Simultaneously utilizing UGC data to balance the authority of evaluation standards and the inclusiveness of evaluation systems, developing quantifiable indicators, and improving quantitative research in analogy methods; Finally, a karst landscape aesthetic evaluation model is constructed from both global and local perspectives, providing scientific reference for the formation of a unified evaluation system.

Abstract The Eastern Mausoleum of Qin State is a significant component of the Qin Dynasty's royal tombs, reflecting the social development level during the Warring States period (475 BC ~ 221 BC) in China. At the onset of our investigation, we mapped the site's boundaries utilizing Corona satellite imagery and employed the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalized Difference Moisture Index (NDMI) to identify archaeological features. Additionally, this study is the first to propose the use of thermal infrared band data from the SDGSAT-1 satellite to explore thermal archaeological traces, demonstrating their viability for archaeological site analysis. Subsequently, electromagnetic (EM) prospection was utilized to validate the presence of an ancient burial chamber passage. Landscape monitoring and analysis of the No.1 Mausoleum were performed using Corona and Google Earth images, revealing the accuracy of the Geomancy Theory of Chinese mausoleums through dynamic remote sensing of surface changes. Furthermore, our employment of space-to-ground observational modalities and resultant Digital Elevation Models (DEM) have been used to provided new insights into the application of Remote Sensing (RS) and Geomancy in archaeology, thereby emphasizing the pivotal role of site selection in heritage preservation. This research underscores the promise of synergistic space-ground observations in both exploiting the archaeological riches of cultural heritage sites and ensuring the enduring conservation of these irreplaceable patrimonial assets.

Abstract Weiyang Palace, the royal palace of the Western Han Dynasty, is a part of the Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor on the World Heritage list. The south palace wall of Weiyang Palace is a well-preserved earthen heritage site within the palace, but it is undergoing continuous deterioration due to the influence of vegetation and external environmental factors. This study pioneers the integration of high-resolution three-dimensional LiDAR scanning with multi-source data analysis, including unprecedented on-site botanical surveys, to explore the subtle effects of different vegetation types on the structural integrity of the south palace wall. Through contour line analysis and facade grid analysis, we extracted the deterioration locations of typical sections of the earthen heritage sites. And we classified the overlying vegetation types on the wall using an object-oriented classification algorithm. Our findings reveal a complex interaction between vegetation and earthen structures: paper mulberry exhibits protective qualities against erosion, while Ziziphus jujuba significantly exacerbates structural vulnerabilities. The methodologies applied in this study for extracting deterioration at earthen heritage sites and integrating multi-source spatial data can serve as a technical application model for monitoring and analyzing the driving forces of earthen heritage sites along the entire Silk Road network, thereby better guiding the conservation of earthen heritage sites.

Abstract Growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a (GHS-R1a), also known as the ghrelin receptor, is an important nutrient sensor and metabolic regulator in both humans and rodents. Increased GHS-R1a expression is observed in the hippocampus of both Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients and AD model mice. However, the causal relationship between GHS-R1a elevation in the hippocampus and AD memory deficits remains uncertain. Here, we find that increasing GHS-R1a expression in dCA1 pyramidal neurons impairs hippocampus-dependent memory formation, which is abolished by local administration of the endogenous antagonist LEAP2. GHS-R1a elevation in dCA1 pyramidal neurons suppresses excitability and blocks memory allocation in these neurons. Chemogenetic activation of those high GHS-R1a neurons during training rescues GHS-R1a overexpression-induced memory impairment. Moreover, we demonstrate that increasing GHS-R1a expression in dCA1 pyramidal neurons hampers these neurons’ ability to encode spatial memory and reduces engram size in the dCA1 region. Finally, we show that GHS-R1a deletion mitigates spatial memory deficits in APP/PS1 mice with increased GHS-R1a expression in the hippocampus. Our findings reveal a negative, causal relationship between hippocampal GHS-R1a expression and memory encoding, and suggest that blocking the abnormal increase in GHS-R1a activity/expression may be a promising approach to improve memory and treat cognitive decline in AD.

Abstract. Background:. Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants are the key populations in neonatology, wherein morbidity and mortality remain major challenges. The study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics of VLBW infants. Methods:. A retrospective cohort study was conducted in West China Second Hospital between January 2016 and December 2021. Neonates with a birth weight of

Abstract Background Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a major tumor that seriously threatens the health of the head and neck or mucosal system. It is manifested as a malignant phenotype of high metastasis and invasion caused by squamous cell transformation in the tissue area. Therefore, it is necessary to search for a biomarker that can systematically correlate and reflect the prognosis of HNSCC based on the characteristics of head and neck tumors. Methods Based on TCGA-HNSCC data, R software was used to analyze gene expression, correlation, Venn diagram, immune invasive and immunosuppressive phenotypes respectively. The intrinsic effect of ITGA5 on the malignant phenotype of HNSCC cells was verified by cell experiments. Immunohistochemical images from The Human Protein Atlas (THPA) database display the differences in the expression of related proteins in HNSCC tissues. Based on functional enrichment and correlation analysis, the prognostic value of ITGA5 for HNSCC was explored, and the expression level of ITGA5 may affect the chemotherapy of targeting the PI3K-AKT. Results In this study, the target gene ITGA5 may be identified as a valuable prognostic marker for HNSCC. The results of enrichment analysis showed that ITGA5 was mainly involved in the dynamic process of extracellular matrix, which may affect the migration or metastasis of tumor cells. Meanwhile, ITGA5 may be closely related to the infiltration of M2 macrophages, and its secretory phenotypes TGFB1, PDGFA and PDGFB may affect the immunosuppressive phenotypes of tumor cells, which reflects the systemic influence of ITGA5 in HNSCC. In addition, the expression levels of ITGA5 were negatively correlated with the efficacy of targeting PI3K-AKT chemotherapy. Conclusion ITGA5 can be used as a potential marker to systematically associate with prognosis of HNSCC, which may be associated with HNSCC malignant phenotype, immunosuppression and chemotherapy resistance.

Abstract Objective To develop and validate a machine learning model for predicting mortality-associated prognostic factors in order to reduce in-hospital mortality rates among HIV/AIDS patients with Cryptococcus infection in Guangxi, China. Methods This retrospective prognostic study included HIV/AIDS patients with cryptococcosis in the Fourth People’s Hospital of Nanning from October 2011 to June 2019. Clinical features were extracted and used to train ten machine learning models, including Logistic Regression, KNN, DT, RF, Adaboost, Xgboost, LightGBM, Catboost, SVM, and NBM, to predict the outcome of HIV patients with cryptococcosis infection. The sensitivity, specificity, AUC, and F1 value were applied to assess model performance in both the testing and training sets. The optimal model was selected and interpreted. Results A total of 396 patients were included in the study. The average in-hospital mortality of HIV/AIDS patients with cryptococcosis was 12.9% from 2012 to 2019. After feature screening, 20 clinical features were selected for model construction, accounting for 93.8%, including ART, Electrolyte disorder, Anemia, and 17 laboratory tests. The RF model (AUC 0.9787, Sensitivity 0.9535, Specificity 0.8889, F1 0.7455) and the SVM model (AUC 0.9286, Sensitivity 0.7907, Specificity 0.9786, F1 0.8293) had excellent performance. The SHAP analysis showed that the primary risk factors for prognosis prediction were identified as BUN/CREA, Electrolyte disorder, NEUT%, Urea, and IBIL. Conclusions RF and SVM machine learning models have shown promising predictive abilities for the prognosis of hospitalized HIV/AIDS patients with cryptococcosis, which can aid clinical assessment and treatment decisions for patient prognosis.

Abstract African swine fever (ASF) is a devastating disease caused by African swine fever virus (ASFV) and leads to significant economic losses in the pig farming industry. Given the absence of an effective vaccine or treatment, the mortality rate of ASF is alarmingly close to 100%. Consequently, the ability to rapidly and accurately detect ASFV on site and promptly identify infected pigs is critical for controlling the spread of this pandemic. The dynamics of the ASF virus load and antibody response necessitate the adoption of various detection strategies at different stages of infection, a topic that has received limited attention to date. This review offers detailed guidance for choosing appropriate ASF diagnostic techniques tailored to the clinical manifestations observed from the acute to chronic phases, including asymptomatic cases. We comprehensively summarize and evaluate the latest advancements in ASFV detection methods, such as CRISPR-based diagnostics, biosensors, and microfluidics. Additionally, we address the challenges of false negatives or positives due to ASF variants or the use of injected live attenuated vaccines. This review provides an exhaustive list of diagnostic tests suitable for detecting each stage of symptoms and potential target genes for developing new detection methods. In conclusion, we highlight the current challenges and future directions in ASFV detection, underscoring the need for continued research and innovation in this field.

ABSTRACT: High-yield dairy cows typically undergo intense cellular metabolism, leading to oxidative stress in their mammary tissues. Our study found that compared with ordinary cows, these high-yield cows had significantly elevated levels of H2O2, lipoperoxidase, and total antioxidant capacity in their blood. This increased oxidative stress is associated with heightened expression of genes such as GCLC, GCLM, and SIRT1 and proteins such as SIRT1 in the mammary tissue of high-yield cows. We stimulated MAC-T cells with H2O2 at a concentration equal to the average H2O2 level in the serum of ethically high-yielding cows, as detected by an assay kit. Our observations revealed that short-term exposure (12 h) to H2O2 upregulated the expression of the SIRT1 gene and SIRT1 protein. It also increased gene expression for SOD2, CAT, GCLC, GCLM, PGC-1α, and NQO1, elevated the phosphorylation of AMPK, and enhanced protein expression of PGC-1α, NQO1, Nrf2, and HO-1, as well as reduced the phosphorylation of NF-κB. Additionally, short-term H2O2 stimulation resulted in increased total antioxidant capacity and levels of superoxide dismutase, glutathione, and catalase in the mammary epithelial cells of dairy cows. In contrast, prolonged exposure to H2O2 (24 h) yielded opposite results, indicating reduced antioxidant capacity. Further investigation showed that the SIRT1 inhibitor EX 527 could reverse the enhanced cellular antioxidant capacity triggered by short-term oxidative stress. However, it is crucial to note that although 12 h of H2O2 stimulation improved antioxidant capacity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels inside the cell gradually increased over time, suggesting greater damage under long-term stimulation. Conversely, the SIRT1 activator SRT 2104 could reverse the reduced cellular antioxidant capacity caused by long-term oxidative stress and significantly inhibit the accumulation of ROS and MDA. Notably, SRT 2104 demonstrated similar effects in MAC-T cells during lactation. In summary, SIRT1 plays a crucial role in regulating the antioxidant capacity of mammary epithelial cells in dairy cows. This discovery provides valuable insights into the antioxidant mechanisms of mammary cells, which can serve as a theoretical foundation for future mammary health strategies.

Abstract Background Shoulder pain and disability from rotator cuff tears remain challenging clinical problem despite advancements in surgical techniques and materials. To advance our understanding of injury progression and develop effective therapeutics using tissue engineering and regenerative medicine approaches, it is crucial to develop and utilize animal models that closely resemble the anatomy and display the pathophysiology of the human rotator cuff. Among various animal models, the rabbit shoulder defect model is particularly favored due to its similarity to human rotator cuff pathology. However, a standardized protocol for creating a massive rotator cuff defect in the rabbits is not well defined. Therefore, the objective of our study was to establish a robust and reproducible model of a rotator cuff defect to evaluate the regenerative efficacy of scaffolds. Results In our study, we successfully developed a rabbit model with a massive supraspinatus tendon defect that closely resembles the common rotator cuff injuries observed in humans. This defect involved a complete transection of the tendon, spanning 10 mm in length and encompassing its full thickness and width. To ensure stable scaffolding, we employed an innovative bridging suture technique that utilized a modified Mason-Allen suture as a structural support. Moreover, to assess the therapeutic effectiveness of the model, we utilized different scaffolds, including a bovine tendon extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffold and a commercial acellular dermal matrix (ADM) scaffold. Throughout the observation period, no scaffold damage was observed. Notably, comprehensive histological analysis demonstrated that the regenerative tissue in the tendon ECM scaffold group exhibited an organized and aligned fiber structure, indicating tendon-like tissue regeneration while the tissue in the ADM group showed comparatively less organization. Conclusions This study presents a comprehensive description of the implemented procedures for the development of a highly reproducible animal model that induces massive segmental defects in rotator cuff tendons. This protocol can be universally implemented with alternative scaffolds to investigate extensive tendon defects and evaluate the efficacy of regenerative treatments. The application of our animal model offers a standardized and reproducible platform, enabling researchers to systematically evaluate, compare, and optimize scaffold designs. This approach holds significant importance in advancing the development of tissue engineering strategies for effectively repairing extensive tendon defects.

Cotton breeding for the development of early-maturing varieties is an effective way to improve multiple cropping indexes and alleviate the conflict between grains and cotton in the cultivated fields in China. In the present study, we aimed to identify upland cotton quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and candidate genes related to early-maturity traits, including whole growth period (WGP), flowering timing (FT), node of the first fruiting branch (NFFB), height of the node of the first fruiting branch (HNFFB), and plant height (PH). An early-maturing variety, CCRI50, and a late-maturing variety, Guoxinmian 11, were crossed to obtain biparental populations. These populations were used to map QTLs for the early-maturity traits for two years (2020 and 2021). With BSA-seq analysis based on the data of population 2020, the candidate regions related to early maturity were found to be located on chromosome D03. We then developed 22 polymorphic insertions or deletions (InDel) markers to further narrow down the candidate regions, resulting in the detection of five and four QTLs in the 2020 and 2021 populations, respectively. According to the results of QTL mapping, two candidate regions (InDel_G286-InDel_G144 and InDel_G24-InDel_G43) were detected. In these regions, three genes (GH_D03G0451, GH_D03G0649, and GH_D03G1180) have non-synonymous mutations in their exons and one gene (GH_D03G0450) has SNP variations in the upstream sequence between CCRI50 and Guoxinmian 11. These four genes also showed dominant expression in the floral organs. The expression levels of GH_D03G0451, GH_D03G0649 and GH_D03G1180 were significantly higher in CCRI50 than in Guoxinmian 11 during the bud differentiation stages, while GH_D03G0450 showed the opposite trend. Further functional verification of GH_D03G0451 indicated that the GH_D03G0451-silenced plants showed a delay in the flowering time. The results suggest that these are the candidate genes for cotton early maturity, and they may be used for breeding early-maturity cotton varieties.

The COVID19 pandemic, the economic crisis, and geopolitical concerns are weighing on the entire human life. Living in the era of change and uncertainty, as a second language (L2) educator and researcher, I start to think about and work on the new meaning of L2 education. In this paper, I propose a resilient-whole framework with the goal of transforming L2 curriculum into a more reactive, adaptive, diverse and inclusive, and sustainable one that possesses the power of cultivating L2 learners’ mind–body–world alignment throughout their language learning processes. A resilient mind, namely, the ability to navigate life, adapt to change, and learn through adversity, is considered to be essential to L2 learners’ success, not only in the academic fields but also in their future career and life. With a focus on resiliency, this paper demonstrates how L2 curriculum at the college level could achieve the goal by adopting a content-based language instructional approach to course design and teaching. Specifically, resiliency is discussed from the perspectives of content-language unit design, tasks, and projects for online teaching and learning, internal and external collaborations, assessment rubrics, and student advising. It is through tightening all these aspects together, with resiliency permeating into everyday practices, that the L2 classroom is further enriched and strengthened in the era of change. This article was published open access under a CC BY-ND licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/.

Abstract Background Maple is an important ornamental plant in China. With the increasing use of maple trees in landscaping, a symptom of shoot dieback has been observed in Henan province, China. Results In this study, 28 Diaporthe isolates were obtained from symptomatic shoots of maple trees between 2020 and 2023. Phylogenetic analyses based on five loci (ITS, TEF, CAL, HIS and TUB) coupled with morphology of 12 representative isolates identified three known species (D. eres, D. pescicola and D. spinosa) and one new species, namely D. pseudoacerina sp. nov. Koch’s postulates confirmed that all these species were pathogenic. Additionally, D. pseudoacerina was able to infect China wingnut (Pterocarya stenoptera), pear (Pyrus sp.), and black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia). This study marks the first report of Diaporthe spinosa and D. pescicola pathogens infecting maple trees. Conclusions These findings enhance the existing knowledge of the taxonomy and host diversity of Diaporthe species as, while also providing valuable information for managing of maple shoot dieback in Henan Province, China.

Abstract Background Carotid artery dissection is an important cause of stroke. However, the predictors of ischemic stroke in patients with carotid artery dissection are controversial. The study aimed to analyze the predictors of ischemic stroke in patients with carotid artery dissection through retrospective medical records. Methods Data of discharged patients diagnosed with carotid artery dissection during 2019–2023 were retrospectively collected. Based on the occurrence of ischemic stroke, the patients were divided into the ischemic stroke or non-ischemic stroke groups. Based on the results of univariate analyses, variables with an associated P value

Abstract Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW), which supplies the lower limb of the thermohaline circulation, originates from dense shelf water (DSW) forming in Antarctic polynyas. Here, combining a long mooring record of DSW measurements with numerical simulations and satellite data, we show that significant correlation exists between interannual variability of DSW production in the Ross Sea polynyas, where DSW contributes between 20–40% of the global AABW production, and the Southern Annular Mode (SAM). The correlation is largest when the Amundsen Sea Low (ASL) is weakened and shifted east of the Ross Sea. During positive SAM phases, enhanced offshore winds and lower air temperatures over the western Ross Sea increase sea ice production and promote DSW formation, with the opposite response during negative SAM phases. These processes ultimately modulate AABW thickness in the open ocean. A projected positive shift of the SAM and eastward displacement of the ASL thus has implications for the future of DSW and AABW formation.

Abstract The planarian Schmidtea mediterranea is being studied as a model species for regeneration, but the assembly of planarian genomes remains challenging. Here, we report a high-quality haplotype-phased, chromosome-scale genome assembly of the sexual S2 strain of S. mediterranea and high-quality chromosome-scale assemblies of its three close relatives, S. polychroa, S. nova, and S. lugubris. Using hybrid gene annotations and optimized ATAC-seq and ChIP-seq protocols for regulatory element annotation, we provide valuable genome resources for the planarian research community and a first comparative perspective on planarian genome evolution. Our analyses reveal substantial divergence in protein-coding sequences and regulatory regions but considerable conservation within promoter and enhancer annotations. We also find frequent retrotransposon-associated chromosomal inversions and interchromosomal translocations within the genus Schmidtea and, remarkably, independent and nearly complete losses of ancestral metazoan synteny in Schmidtea and two other flatworm groups. Overall, our results suggest that platyhelminth genomes can evolve without syntenic constraints.

Abstract Recent advances in cancer research have highlighted the pivotal role of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) in modulating immune responses, particularly in breast cancer (BRCA). Here, we performed an integrated analysis of bulk transcriptome data from over 6000 BRCA samples using biological network-based computational strategies and machine learning (ML) methods, and identified LGALS2 as a key marker within TLSs. Single-cell sequencing and spatial transcriptomics uncover the role of LGALS2 in TLS-associated dendritic cells (DCs) stimulation and reveal the complexity of the tumor microenvironment (TME) at both the macro and micro levels. Elevated LGALS2 expression correlates with prolonged survival, which is associated with a robust immune response marked by diverse immune cell infiltration and active anti-tumor pathways leading to a ‘hot’ tumor microenvironment. The colocalization of LGALS2 with TLS-associated DCs and its role in immune activation in BRCA were confirmed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and in vivo validation analyses. The identification of LGALS2 as a key factor in BRCA not only highlights its therapeutic potential in novel TLS-directed immunotherapy but also opens new avenues in patient stratification and treatment selection, ultimately improving clinical management.

For titanium alloy parts prepared by selective laser melting (SLM), post-treatment operation is usually utilized to meet the needed surface accuracy and dimensional tolerances. However, the heat treatment process and anisotropy of different surfaces of SLMed titanium alloy can directly affect its machinability. In this study, the anisotropic machinability of SLMed TC4 before and after heat treatment was comprehensively compared by the milling force, surface quality, top-burr and work hardening. The results indicate that the milling force and work hardening degree of top surface of SLMed TC4 material are larger than those of side surface, and top surface the presents the better surface quality and smaller top-burr. It exhibits obvious anisotropic machinability in micro-milling. After heat treatment, the anisotropic machinability between different surfaces of SLMed TC4 materials were significantly reduced. The average surface roughness difference rate of top and side surfaces decreased from 10.08% to 2.79%, and the total average top-burr size difference rate decreased from 19.53% to 9.99%. The difference rate of milling force and work hardening degree of the top and side surfaces both showed a decreasing trend. This work demonstrates that the anisotropic machinability of SLMed TC4 material in micro-milling can be effectively mitigated by the heat treatment process.

Abstract Lower-grade gliomas (LGGs), despite their generally indolent clinical course, are characterized by invasive growth patterns and genetic heterogeneity, which can lead to malignant transformation, underscoring the need for improved prognostic markers and therapeutic strategies. This study utilized single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and bulk RNA-seq to identify a novel cell type, referred to as "Prol," characterized by increased proliferation and linked to a poor prognosis in patients with LGG, particularly under the context of immunotherapy interventions. A signature, termed the Prol signature, was constructed based on marker genes specific to the Prol cell type, utilizing an artificial intelligence (AI) network that integrates traditional regression, machine learning, and deep learning algorithms. This signature demonstrated enhanced predictive accuracy for LGG prognosis compared to existing models and showed pan-cancer prognostic potential. The mRNA expression of the key gene PTTG1 from the Prol signature was further validated through quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Our findings not only provide novel insights into the molecular and cellular mechanisms of LGG but also offer a promising avenue for the development of targeted biomarkers and therapeutic interventions.

Abstract Background Emotional labor is an essential component of nursing practice and is important for Generation Z nursing students born from the mid-1990s to early 2010s. They will become the backbone of the nursing workforce but present more emotional regulation problems. Studies on emotional labor are limited to clinical nurses and influencing factors at the individual level. The impacts of external systems on emotional labor of nursing students have not been explored. This study aimed to quantify the relationship between early clinical exposure and emotional labor and test the moderating effect of family structure on the relationship. Methods The cross-sectional study recruited 467 nursing students using convenience sampling from seven colleges and universities in mainland China. An e-survey created on WJX.CN was used to collect data in January 2023. Emotional labor (surface acting and deep acting) was measured with the Emotional Labor scale. Early clinical exposure (exposure or not and times of exposure) and family structure (nuclear family, extended family, and single-parent family) were assessed with self-reported questions. Descriptive statistics and the linear mixed-effects modeling were used to do the analyses. Results The mean scores of surface acting and deep acting were 26.66 ± 5.66 and 13.90 ± 2.40, respectively. A significant difference in scores of surface acting was not observed for exposure or not, whereas such a significant difference was found for times of exposure. Nursing students from extended families demonstrated significantly lower scores on surface acting while exposed to clinical practice compared with those from nuclear families. Family structure moderated the relationship between times of exposure and surface acting of nursing students when exposed to clinical practice for one time, but the significance disappeared when the times of exposure increased. No significant findings of early clinical exposure on deep acting were observed. Conclusions Early clinical exposure influenced emotional labor, and students from extended families were more likely to get benefits from early clinical exposure. Studies are needed to help students from nuclear families get comparable benefits on emotional labor as those from extended families, and improve deep acting by early clinical exposure.

Abstract Background Thoracoscopic-guided thoracic paravertebral nerve block (TG-TPVB) and thoracoscopic-guided intercostal nerve block (TG-INB) are two postoperative analgesia technology for thoracic surgery. This study aims to compared the analgesic effect of TG-TPVB and TG-INB after uniportal video-asssited thoracic surgery (UniVATS). Methods Fifty-eight patients were randomly allocated to the TG-TPVB group and the TG-INB group. The surgical time of nerve block, the visual analog scale (VAS) scores, the consumption of sufentanil and the number of patient-controlled intravenous analgesic (PCIA) presses within 24 h after surgery, the incidence of adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. Results The VAS scores were significantly lower during rest and coughing at 2, 6, 12, and 24 h in the TG-TPVB group than in the TG-INB group (P

Abstract Background Obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) have become urgent worldwide health problems, predisposing patients to unfavorable myocardial status and thyroid dysfunction. Low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) and time-restricted eating (TRE) have been confirmed to be effective methods for weight management and improving MetS, but their effects on the myocardium and thyroid are unclear. Methods We conducted a secondary analysis in a randomized clinical diet-induced weight-loss trial. Participants (N = 169) diagnosed with MetS were randomized to the LCD group, the 8 h TRE group, or the combination of the LCD and TRE group for 3 months. Myocardial enzymes and thyroid function were tested before and after the intervention. Pearson’s or Spearman’s correlation was assessed between functions of the myocardium and thyroid and cardiometabolic parameters at baseline. Results A total of 162 participants who began the trial were included in the intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis, and 57 participants who adhered to their assigned protocol were involved in the per-protocol (PP) analysis. Relative to baseline, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase MB, hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, and free triiodothyronine (FT3) declined, and free thyroxine (FT4) increased after all 3 interventions (both analyses). Creatine kinase (CK) decreased only in the TRE (− 18 [44] U/L, P

Abstract Emergent superconductivity at the LaAlO3/KTaO3 interfaces exhibits a mysterious dependence on the KTaO3 crystallographic orientations. Here by soft X-ray angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we directly resolve the electronic structure of the LaAlO3/KTaO3 interfacial superconductors and the non-superconducting counterpart. We find that the mobile electrons that contribute to the interfacial superconductivity show strong k ⊥ dispersion. Comparing the superconducting and non-superconducting interfaces, the quasi-three-dimensional electron gas with over 5.5 nm spatial distribution ubiquitously exists and shows similar orbital occupations. The signature of electron-phonon coupling is observed and intriguingly dependent on the interfacial orientations. Remarkably, the stronger electron-phonon coupling signature correlates with the higher superconducting transition temperature. Our observations help scrutinize the theories on the orientation-dependent superconductivity and offer a plausible and straightforward explanation. The interfacial orientation effect that can modify the electron-phonon coupling strength over several nanometers sheds light on the applications of oxide interfaces in general.

The study aimed to assess the effects of dietary black soldier fly oil (BSFO) on the growth performance, flesh quality, and health status of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Six iso-nitrogenous and isolipid diets were formulated by substituting fish oil and soybean oil (1/2, wt/wt) with BSFO in percentages of 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100%, respectively. The diets were fed to 960 fish (initial body weight = 16.5 g) in four replicates for 8 weeks. Indicators related to growth performance, body composition, hematology, flesh quality, expression of genes related to inflammatory cytokines and apoptosis, and the response of fish to Aeromonas veronii challenge were analyzed. The results showed that the weight gain rate was numerically improved in all BSFO substitution groups, ranging from 9.3% to 44.0% compared to the control group. The highest survival rate and the lowest hepatosomatic index and condition factor were observed in the BFSO20 group. In terms of flesh quality, the water-holding capacity of the dorsal muscle was elevated with higher levels of dietary BSFO. However, significant changes in texture properties (cohesiveness, gluing, and chewiness) were observed in the BSFO20 group (P

In-situ experimental observation cannot be an effective method in the impact process of metal cavitation erosion, and the impact damage energy prediction theory has not been established based on a detailed mathematical and physical model. Research has shown that the metal material can be regarded as a sensor to reflect the impact parameters. Soft metal materials such as industrial pure copper with a single α-phase microstructure can be a suitable sensor to detect cavitation erosion effects, revealing the impact behaviors of the cavitation jet through the depth, width and spatial distribution of cavitation pits on the surface. In this scenario, volume loss of cavitation pits on a macro/mesoscale are obtained by three-dimensional surface measurement. A coupled fluid-solid simulation model calculating the impact damage energy on a macro/mesoscale is established based on the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) and the Crystal Plasticity Finite Element Method (CPFEM). Python programming is used to set the trajectory of SPH particles to determine the macro cavitation flow field. IFEM methods were used to construct the prediction theory of cavitation impact energy in a relatively simple exponential equation, establishing the quantitative relationship between cavitation impact damage energy and measured volume of cavitation pits. Compared with conventional measurement and simulation, the present multiscale approaches are assumed as a further step advancement towards calculating the impact damage energy of cavitation water jet.

[Objective] The summer rainfall intensity in the desert steppe is strong and concentrated, and the harm of hydraulic erosion is serious. It is of great significance for soil and water conservation in this area to clarify the process of runoff and sediment yield, as well as the law of nutrient transport. [Methods] The experiment is based on natural rainfall observation data and artificial rainfall simulation methods, studying the runoff and sediment production processes, nutrient transport patterns in the desert steppe area, and investigating the impact of vegetation on runoff and sediment production through different vegetation treatments. [Results] (1) Different vegetation treatments had different effects on soil and water conservation. Among the three different treatments, the soil and water conservation effect of natural grassland the best, and the runoff reduction rate and sediment reduction rate were 11.37% and 49.67%, respectively. (2) The process of runoff and sediment production would change the material composition of surface soil, make the surface soil coarse-grained, and also affect soil nutrients. After rainfall, the sand content increased by 5.97%~15.71%, and the soil available N, P and organic matter decreased by 40.84%, 27.08%, 33.49%, respectively. (3) The runoff and sediment yield increased with the increase of slope and rainfall intensity, and the power function can better fit the relationship between rainfall duration and runoff and sediment yield. With the increase of rainfall intensity, the peak runoff yield increased by 6.70 L on average when the slope was 5°~25°. When the rainfall intensity is 0.6~2.0 mm/L, the inflection point of the sediment yield increase rate will appear between the slope of 15°~20°. [Conclusion] The research results can provide a theoretical reference for the comprehensive prevention and control of soil and water loss in desert steppe areas, which is helpful in improving the ecological environment of desert steppe regions and carrying out soil and water conservation efforts in this area.

In the global context of climate change and frequent occurrence of extreme temperature variations, the impact of harsh climates on the outdoor thermal environment in remote, cold, mountainous villages is particularly pronounced, leading to many negative effects. The geoorphology of the village sites and their building layouts are important factors affecting the outdoor thermal environment. Therefore, exploring the spatiotemporal characteristics of these factors is significant for optimizing village construction and improving living environments. In this study, taking Fangjialiang Village in a cold mountainous area as an example, we analysed the outdoor thermal environment from a spatiotemporal perspective through comprehensive field investigations and measurements. The findings obtained are summarized as follows: (1) Landform elements were limited by boundary and azimuth constraints (difference in time temperature decay rate between the valley interior and valley edge area: ΔK = 0.48°C/m). (2) The temperature inversion phenomenon in the valley was significant (the average rate of temperature increase with elevation was 0.037°C/m). (3) The vertical distribution of the temperature was more susceptible to the influence of the difference in elevation inside the village (ρ≈–0.48). The average rate of temperature decrease with elevation is 0.489°C/m. (4) A compact building layout could sustainably weaken the effects of topographic elements (e.g. the average temperature sequenced as: closed internal courtyard (Avg = 14.60°C)> semi-open horizontal village street (Avg = 13.58°C)> fully open space (Avg = 13.11°C)). Therefore, the results of the study further revealed the coordinated relationship between the natural environment and rural settlements, proved the integrated effects of village siting and building layout, and provided useful insights for the construction and living environment optimization of mountain villages.

Abstract Background CLDN is a core component of tight junctions (TJs). Abnormal expressions of CLDNs are commonly detected in various types of tumors. CLDNs are of interest as a potential therapeutic target. CLDNs are closely associated with most cancers of epithelial origin, especially when CLDN7 promotes cancer cell metastasis, such as in gastric, cervical, and ovarian cancers.Its expression and prognosis in breast cancer (BC) remain unknown.The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression pattern of CLDN7 and related immune factors in BC and shed light on a better therapeutic avenue for BC patients. Method The cBioPortal, GEPIA, and TCGA databases were used to comprehensively assess the expression of CLDN7 in BC. The Kaplan-Meier Plotter (KMP) database was applied to examine the relationship among the CLDN7 overexpression (OE), prognosis, and overall survival (OS) of BC patients. Immunohistochemical staining was performed on 92 BC tissue samples and 20 benign breast tumors to verify the expression level of CLDN-7 protein and its correlation with clinicopathological features and prognosis. TIMER2.0 was used to analyze the correlation between the CLDN7 OE and immune gene activation using BC-related transcriptomic data. Enrichment analyses of CLDN7-related immune pathways were conducted using online databases. The risk of expression of CLDN7-related immune genes was assessed and differentially expressed (DE) genes were included in the construction of the risk prognosis nomogram. Results Both database analysis and clinical sample validation results showed that CLDN7 was significantly overexpressed (OE) in BC, and the OE was correlated with poor DFS in BC patients (p

This is an article in the field of ceramics and composites. In this article, the effects of IOT and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber (PF) on the compressive strength, four-point flexural strength, flexural toughness, pore structure of cement-based composites were studied and discussed in detail. The conversion relationship between compressive strength and four-point flexural strength was established. The results showed that the incorporation of IOT had an enhanced effect on the mechanical properties, and this enhanced effect showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing with the increase in the substitution rate of IOT. However, when PF was added, the mechanical properties under the combined effect of PF and IOT were further improved and showed good toughness. In addition, the internal pores of the matrix with IOT substitution rate of 40% and PF were obviously reduced. Thus, it was concluded that the cement-based composite material had good mechanical properties when the 40% IOT was combined with PF.

Abstract Diagnosing liver lesions is crucial for treatment choices and patient outcomes. This study develops an automatic diagnosis system for liver lesions using multiphase enhanced computed tomography (CT). A total of 4039 patients from six data centers are enrolled to develop Liver Lesion Network (LiLNet). LiLNet identifies focal liver lesions, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), metastatic tumors (MET), focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH), hemangioma (HEM), and cysts (CYST). Validated in four external centers and clinically verified in two hospitals, LiLNet achieves an accuracy (ACC) of 94.7% and an area under the curve (AUC) of 97.2% for benign and malignant tumors. For HCC, ICC, and MET, the ACC is 88.7% with an AUC of 95.6%. For FNH, HEM, and CYST, the ACC is 88.6% with an AUC of 95.9%. LiLNet can aid in clinical diagnosis, especially in regions with a shortage of radiologists.

Highlights Oxygen-vacancy-rich SiC@MoO3 nanocomposite with strong reflection loss (− 50.49 dB at 1.27 mm thickness) and broadband absorption band (8.72 GHz at 2.68 mm thickness) were constructed via in situ etching strategy. The presence of oxygen vacancy leads to an increased conductive loss and defect-induced dipole polarization, which plays significant role in attenuating the incident electromagnetic wave.

Abstract Background Postoperative liver metastasis significantly impacts the prognosis of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (panNET) patients after R0 resection. Combining computational pathology and deep learning radiomics can enhance the detection of postoperative liver metastasis in panNET patients. Methods Clinical data, pathology slides, and radiographic images were collected from 163 panNET patients post-R0 resection at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center (FUSCC) and FUSCC Pathology Consultation Center. Digital image analysis and deep learning identified liver metastasis-related features in Ki67-stained whole slide images (WSIs) and enhanced CT scans to create a nomogram. The model’s performance was validated in both internal and external test cohorts. Results Multivariate logistic regression identified nerve infiltration as an independent risk factor for liver metastasis (p