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The identification and quantification of aeolian sand contributions are essential for understanding the formation of dune fields and mechanisms of modern surface processes. In the present study, we take aeolian sand in the Otindag dune field (hereafter, often referred to as, simply, Otindag) as the research object. The dune field’s immediate source is quantitatively identified based on heavy minerals and the Conservativeness Index (CI), Consensus Ranking (CR), and the Consistent Tracer Selection (CTS) method. The primary source area of the aeolian sand was found to be from the northwestern, upwind area of the Otindag (59 ± 14%), followed by the Yinshan Mountain (17 ± 10%) and the lake basin (23 ± 12%). The proposed sediment transport model elucidates that sediments from the upwind of the Otindag are directly transported from the northwest to the Otindag, where they are deposited. Materials from the southern Yinshan Mountains are carried by rivers to the southern edge of the Otindag, where they are subsequently transported by wind and ultimately deposited. The lake deposits within the Otindag also contribute to the aeolian sand supply under the influence of wind. This study demonstrates that the fingerprinting techniques of CI, CR, and CTS serve as successful strategies for conducting quantitative provenance research in dune fields.

Abstract Background Schwannomas are benign tumors deriving from the sheath of cranial and peripheral nerves. The vagus nerve is comprised of a complex neuro-endocrine-immune network that maintains homeostasis, most tracts of it play a role in parasympathetic activity. We present an example of a rare cervical vagal schwannoma case accompanied by arrhythmia. Case presentation A 35-year-old female patient with a left cervical vagus schwannoma and ventricular arrhythmia underwent schwannoma resection in the operating room. The patient’s suppressed heart rate increased after tumor removal, and the cardiac rhythm returned to normal postoperatively. Pathological examination demonstrated the diagnosis of schwannoma. Conclusions This case explains the link between the vagus nerve and the cardiovascular system, proving that a damaged cervical vagus nerve can inhibit the heart rate and lead to arrhythmias, and eventually requiring surgical intervention.

Saphenous vein bypass grafting is an effective technique used to treat peripheral arterial disease (PAD). However, restenosis is the major clinical challenge for the graft vessel among people with PAD postoperation. We hypothesize that there is a common culprit behind arterial occlusion and graft restenosis. To investigate this hypothesis, we found TGF-β, a gene specifically upregulated in PAD arteries, by bioinformatics analysis. TGF-β has a wide range of biological activities and plays an important role in vascular remodeling. We discuss the molecular pathway of TGF-β and elucidate its mechanism in vascular remodeling and intimal hyperplasia, including EMT, extracellular matrix deposition, and fibrosis, which are the important pathways contributing to stenosis. Additionally, we present a case report of a patient with graft restenosis linked to the TGF-β pathway. Finally, we discuss the potential applications of targeting the TGF-β pathway in the clinic to improve the long-term patency of vein grafts.

Brachial aneurysms are a rare disease, accounting for 0.5% of peripheral aneurysms. Using a long-term axillary crutch may be associated with arterial injury and induce upper extremity aneurysm formation. A 67-year-old woman had a history of using a long-term underarm crutch due to polio disease. Physical examination revealed edema of the left upper limb, pulseless of the brachial artery, and disappearance of distal radial pulse. The imaging examination revealed a brachial arterial aneurysm in the left upper limb, along with thrombosis. The aneurysm and mural thrombus were excised. The great saphenous vein graft was inserted to reconstruct occluded artery blood supply; the left brachial and radial arteries pulsed well after operation. This case report suggests that long-term use of axillary support for patients should be done with caution. Regular follow-up of upper extremity vascular morphology should be done. Timely anticoagulant therapy to prevent thrombosis and surgical resection of aneurysms are effective strategies for resolving complications.

Dunes composed of granular materials are present in deserts and other environments, such as subaqueous environments and environments on other planets, with very different time and length scales for their evolution. In arid regions, barchans (transverse dunes) develop under a unimodal wind regime, and are oriented perpendicular to the sand transport direction, whereas linear (longitudinal) dunes develop under a bimodal wind regime and are oriented parallel to the sand transport direction. However, field survey results cannot be explained solely by the wind because barchans and linear dunes can coexist under the same wind regime. Here, we investigated China’s Qaidam Basin, where barchans and linear dunes coexist. We measured dune morphology, analyzed wind data, and quantified the sand supply (equivalent sand thickness) to describe their development environment, and focused on the effect of sand supply to explore the combined effects of wind regime and sand supply on the coexistence of barchans and linear dunes. In our study area, barchans and linear dunes had low heights. The wind regime was narrowly bimodal, with low directional variability. The sand supply was limited (low equivalent sand thickness), but was greater for barchan chains than for barchans, and linear dunes had the smallest supply; the equivalent sand thickness in the linear dune areas was half that in barchan areas and one-quarter that in barchan chain areas. Except in the presence of topographical barriers and cohesive sediments, a unimodal or bimodal wind regime with an acute angle allows barchans and linear dunes to coexist under a low sand supply. The linear dunes and the barchans migrated along the resultant drift direction. Though we studied aeolian dunes, these findings will increase our understanding of these similar bedforms that develop in other planetary environments (e.g., Mars).

Raked linear dunes are a rare dune type, but the mechanisms for growth have not been constrained. Here, the authors show that a tridirectional wind regime is required to enable this extremely rare dune type to develop, where the raked pattern may develop preferentially on the leeward side.

Endothelial cells (ECs) lining the blood vessels serve a variety of functions and play a central role in the homeostasis of the circulatory system. Since the ductus arteriosus (DA) has different arterial characteristics from its connecting vessels, we hypothesized that ECs of the DA exhibited a unique gene profile involved in the regulation of DA-specific morphology and function. Using a fluorescence-activated cell sorter, we isolated ECs from pooled tissues from the DA or the descending aorta of Wistar rat fetuses at full-term of gestation (F group) or neonates 30 minutes after birth (N group). Using anti-CD31 and anti-CD45 antibodies as cell surface markers for ECs and hematopoietic derived cells, respectively, cDNAs from the CD31-positive and CD45-negative cells were hybridized to the Affymetrix GeneChip® Rat Gene 1.0 ST Array. Among 26,469 gene-level probe sets, 82 genes in the F group and 81 genes in the N group were expressed at higher levels in DA ECs than in aortic ECs (p2.0). In addition to well-known endothelium-enriched genes such as Tgfb2 and Vegfa, novel DA endothelium-dominant genes including Slc38a1, Capn6, and Lrat were discovered. Enrichment analysis using GeneGo MetaCore software showed that DA endothelium-related biological processes were involved in morphogenesis and development. We identified many overlapping genes in each process including neural crest-related genes (Hoxa1, Hoxa4, and Hand2, etc) and the second heart field-related genes (Tbx1, Isl1, and Fgf10, etc). Moreover, we found that regulation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, cell adhesion, and retinol metabolism are the active pathways involved in the network via potential interactions with many of the identified genes to form DA-specific endothelia. In conclusion, the present study uncovered several significant differences of the transcriptional profile between the DA and aortic ECs. Newly identified DA endothelium-dominant genes may play an important role in DA-specific functional and morphologic characteristics.

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 Single‐image dehazing is a highly challenging ill‐posed task in the field of computer vision. To address this, a new image dehazing model with feature attention, named feature attention gated context aggregation network (FAGCA‐Net), is proposed to tackle the issues of incomplete or over‐dehazing caused by the original model's inability to handle non‐uniform haze density distributions. A feature attention module that combines channel attention and spatial attention is introduced. Additionally, the authors propose a new extended attention convolutional block, which not only addresses the grid artefacts caused by the extended convolution but also provides added flexibility in handling different types of feature information. At the same time, in addition to the input image itself, incorporating the dark channel and edge channel of the image as the final input of the model is helpful for the model learning process. To demonstrate the robustness of the new model, it is applied to two completely different dehazing datasets, and it achieves significant dehazing performance improvement over the original model. Finally, to verify the effectiveness of the model in practical production processes, the authors apply it as an image preprocessing step to a set of UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) images of foreign objects. The result shows that the UAV images after being processed by FAGCA‐Net for haze removal have a better impact on subsequent usage.

Many empirical and analytical methods have been proposed to predict fracturing pressure in cohesive soils. Most of them take into account three to four specific influencing factors and rely on the assumption of a failure mode. In this study, a novel data-mining approach based on the XGBoost algorithm is investigated for predicting fracture initiation in cohesive soils. This has the advantage of handling multiple influencing factors simultaneously, without pre-determining a failure mode. A dataset of 416 samples consisting of 14 distinct features was herein collected from past studies, and used for developing a regressor and a classifier model for fracturing pressure prediction and failure mode classification respectively. The results show that the intrinsic characteristics of the soil govern the failure mode while the fracturing pressure is more sensitive to the stress state. The XGBoost-based model was also tested against conventional approaches, as well as a similar machine learning algorithm namely random forest model. Additionally, several large-scale triaxial fracturing tests and an in-situ case study were carried out to further verify the generalization ability and applicability of the proposed data mining approach, and the results indicate a superior performance of the XGBoost model.

Abstract The advancement of lightweight protective armors holds critical importance for enhancing the maneuverability and combat capabilities of helicopters. Leveraging insights from bionics, it provides a new idea for high-performance armor design. In this study, a new type of composite armor was designed by referring to the structural characteristics of hard phase-protection, soft phase-buffering of unitization armadillo shell. Through the numerical study, the anti-ballistic performance of armor with varying thickness ratios of the dense ceramic layer to the interpenetrating layer is obtained, and the influence of different structures of armor on the anti-ballistic performance is analyzed. The results show that compared with the traditional laminated composite armor, the Al2O3/Al biomimetic composite armor not only improves the separation phenomenon caused by wave impedance mismatch, but also greatly improves the speed drop in resisting high-speed and penetrating bullets. When the thickness ratio is 2:1, the armor has higher ballistic protection performance.

Abstract Germline pathogenic TP53 variants predispose individuals to a high lifetime risk of developing multiple cancers and are the hallmark feature of Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS). Our group has previously shown that LFS patients harbor shorter plasma cell-free DNA fragmentation; independent of cancer status. To understand the functional underpinning of cfDNA fragmentation in LFS, we conducted a fragmentomic analysis of 199 cfDNA samples from 82 TP53 mutation carriers and 30 healthy TP53-wildtype controls. We find that LFS individuals exhibit an increased prevalence of A/T nucleotides at fragment ends, dysregulated nucleosome positioning at p53 binding sites, and loci-specific changes in chromatin accessibility at development-associated transcription factor binding sites and at cancer-associated open chromatin regions. Machine learning classification resulted in robust differentiation between TP53 mutant versus wildtype cfDNA samples (AUC-ROC = 0.710–1.000) and intra-patient longitudinal analysis of ctDNA fragmentation signal enabled early cancer detection. These results suggest that cfDNA fragmentation may be a useful diagnostic tool in LFS patients and provides an important baseline for cancer early detection.

Pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm (pNEN) is the most common neuroendocrine tumor in the digestive system. The heterogeneity of pNEN makes it difficult to summarize diagnostic and therapeutic strategies only based on clinical experience. Over the past 20 years, basic research on pNEN has been well developed, which in turn has promoted its theoretical system and diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, significantly improving the therapeutic efficacy of pNEN. In this paper, we review the development of basic research on pNEN in recent years and discuss its role in clinical diagnosis and treatment. On the one hand, the development of basic research can further reveal the nature of the differential biological behavior of pNEN and provide clinical reference; on the other hand, reference to the migratory basic research results in other tumor fields is also conducive to improving the clinical diagnosis and treatment level of pNEN.

Abstract Background High-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection is an important factor for the development of cervical cancer. HPV18 is the second most common HR-HPV after HPV16. Methods In this study, MEGA11 software was used to analyze the variation and phylogenetic tree of HPV18 E6-E7 and L1 genes. The selective pressure to E6, E7 and L1 genes was estimated using pamlX. In addition, the B cell epitopes of L1 amino acid sequences and T cell epitopes of E6-E7 amino acid sequences in HPV18 were predicted by ABCpred server and IEDB website, respectively. Results A total of 9 single nucleotide variants were found in E6-E7 sequences, of which 2 were nonsynonymous variants and 7 were synonymous variants. Twenty single nucleotide variants were identified in L1 sequence, including 11 nonsynonymous variants and 9 synonymous variants. Phylogenetic analysis showed that E6-E7 and L1 sequences were all distributed in A lineage. In HPV18 E6, E7 and L1 sequences, no positively selected site was found. The nonconservative substitution R545C in L1 affected hypothetical B cell epitope. Two nonconservative substitutions, S82A in E6, and R53Q in E7, impacted multiple hypothetical T cell epitopes. Conclusion The sequence variation data of HPV18 may lay a foundation for the virus diagnosis, further study of cervical cancer and vaccine design in central China.

Abstract The rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex Adr. de Juss.) Muell. Arg., is the sole plant worldwide utilized for the commercial production of natural rubber. Following years of breeding, there exists a wide array of germplasm differentiation in rubber trees. The exploration of diversity and population structure within rubber tree germplasm resources, alongside the establishment of core germplasm resources, is instrumental in elucidating the genetic background and facilitating the effective utilization and management of these resources. By employing SNP molecular marker technology, 195 rubber tree resources were amplified, their genetic diversity analyzed, and a fingerprint map was subsequently constructed. Through this process, the cold-resistant core germplasm of rubber trees was identified. The results revealed that the PIC, He, and pi values ranged from 0.0905 to 0.3750, 0.095 to 0.5000, and 0.0953 to 0.5013, respectively. Both group structure analysis and cluster analysis delineated the accessions into two groups, signifying a simple group structure. A core germplasm bank was established with a sampling ratio of 10%, comprising 21 accessions divided into two populations. Population G1 consists of 20 accessions, while population G2 comprises 1 accession. The research findings have led to the creation of a molecular database that is anticipated to contribute to the management and subsequent breeding applications of rubber tree accessions.

Abstract Uncaria rhynchophylla is an important traditional herbal medicine in China, and the yield and quality of Uncaria rhynchophylla can be improved by suitable soil conditioners because of changing the soil properties. In this paper, Uncaria rhynchophylla associated alkaloids and soil microbial communities were investigated. The field experiment was set up with the following control group: (M1, no soil conditioner) and different soil conditioner treatment groups (M2, biomass ash; M3, water retention agent; M4, biochar; M5, lime powder and M6, malic acid). The results showed that M2 significantly increased the fresh and dry weight and the contents of isorhynchophylline, corynoxeine, isocorynoxeine, and total alkaloids. Acidobacteria, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Chloroflexi were major bacterial phyla. Correlation analysis showed that fresh and dry weight was significantly positively correlated with Acidobacteria, while alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, phosphatase activity, fresh and dry weight, corynoxeine, and isocorynoxeine were significantly negatively correlated with Chloroflexi. The application of soil conditioner M2 increased the abundance of Acidobacteria and decreased the abundance of Chloroflexi, which contributed to improving the soil nutrient content, yield, and quality of Uncaria rhynchophylla. In summary, biomass ash may be a better choice of soil conditioner in Uncaria rhynchophylla growing areas.

Introduction Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the prevalent critical illnesses encountered in clinical practice, often resulting in a spectrum of consciousness disorders among survivors. Prolonged states of impaired consciousness can significantly elevate the susceptibility to complications such as urinary tract infections and pulmonary issues, consequently leading to a compromised prognosis and substantially impacting the quality of life for affected individuals. Clinical studies have reported that median nerve electrical stimulation (MNES) may have a therapeutic effect in the treatment of disorders of consciousness (DOC). We plan to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of MNES in the management of DOC subsequent to TBI.Methods and analysis We will conduct a comprehensive literature search in the following electronic databases: Web of Science, Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library, China Biology Medicine, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan Fang Database and Chinese Scientific Journal Database. The search will be performed from the inception of the databases until 30 September 2024. Furthermore, we will search for relevant ongoing trials in the International Clinical Trial Registry Platform, ClinicalTrials.gov and China Clinical Trial Registry. Grey literature will also be sourced from reputable sources like GreyNet International, Open Grey and Google Scholar. We will include eligible randomised controlled trials. The primary outcome of interest will be the assessment of consciousness disorder severity. To ensure rigour and consistency, two independent reviewers will screen the studies for inclusion, extract relevant data and assess the risk of bias. Any discrepancies will be resolved through discussion or consultation with a third reviewer. The quality of evidence will be evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. Data synthesis and meta-analysis will be conducted using STATA 15.1 software.Ethics and dissemination This systematic review and meta-analysis do not involve the collection or use of any individual patient data, thereby obviating the necessity for ethical review. The research findings will be disseminated through publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals.PROSPERO registration number CRD42024533359.

Abstract The VCPIP1‐P97/VCP (Valosin‐Containing Protein) complex is required for post‐mitotic Golgi cisternae reassembly and maintenance in interphase. However, the organization and mechanism of this complex in regulating Golgi membrane fusion is still elusive. Here, the cryo‐electron microscopy (cryo‐EM) structures of the human VCPIP1‐P97/VCP complex are presented. These studies reveal that three independent VCPIP1 molecules sit over the C‐terminal substrate exit tunnel formed by P97/VCP homo‐hexamer, resulting in an unusual C3 to C6 symmetric barrel architecture. The UFD1 (unknown function domain 1) from VCPIP1, but not the N‐terminal OTU domain and the C‐terminal UBL domain, docks to the two adjacent D2 domains of P97/VCP, allosterically causing the cofactors binding domain‐NTDs (N‐terminal domains) of P97/VCP in a “UP” and D1 domain in an ATPase competent conformation. Conversely, VCPIP1 bound P97/VCP hexamer favors the binding of P47, and thus the intact SNARE complex, promoting Golgi membrane fusion. These studies not only reveal the unexpected organization of humanVCPIP1‐P97/VCP complex, but also provide new insights into the mechanism of VCPIP1‐P97/VCP mediated Golgi apparatus reassembly, which is a fundamental cellular event for protein and lipid processing.

BackgroundCurrently developed molecular markers can predict the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy and screen beneficiaries to some extent, but they are not stable enough. Therefore, there is an urgent need for discovering novel biomarkers. At the same time, sex factor plays a vital role in the response to immunotherapy, so it is particularly important to identify sex-related molecular indicators.MethodsWe integrated a pan-cancer cohort consisting of 2348 cancer patients who received immune checkpoint inhibitors and targeted sequencing. Using somatic mutation profiles, we identified mutational signatures, molecular subtypes, and frequently mutated genes, and analyzed their relationships with immunotherapeutic outcomes. We also explored sex disparities of determined biomarkers in response to treatments.ResultsWe found that male patients exhibited better immunotherapy outcomes and higher tumor mutational burden. A total of seven mutational signatures were identified, among which signatures 1 and 3 were associated with worse immunotherapy outcomes, while signatures 2 and 6 correlated with better outcomes. Gender-based analysis revealed that mutational signature 1 continued to show a worse immunotherapy outcome in female patients, whereas signature 6 demonstrated a better outcome in male patients. Based on mutational activities, we identified four potential molecular subtypes with gender differences and relevance to treatment outcomes. PI3K-AKT, RAS signaling pathways, and 68 significantly mutated genes were identified to be associated with immunotherapy outcomes, with nine genes (i.e., ATM, ATRX, DOT1L, EP300, EPHB1, NOTCH1, PBRM1, RBM10, and SETD2) exhibiting gender differences. Finally, we discovered co-mutated gene pairs and TP53 p.R282W mutations related to treatment outcomes, highlighting their gender-specific differences.ConclusionThis study identified several molecular biomarkers related to cancer immunotherapy outcomes in terms of mutational signatures, molecular subtypes, and mutated genes, and explored their gender-relatedness in order to provide clues and basis for clinical treatment efficacy evaluation and patient selection.

BackgroundCell death mechanisms are integral to the pathogenesis of breast cancer (BC), with ATP-induced cell death (AICD) attracting increasing attention due to its distinctive specificity and potential therapeutic applications.MethodsThis study employed genomic methodologies to investigate the correlation between drug sensitivity and types of AICD in BC. Initially, data from TCGA were utilized to construct a prognostic model and classification system for AICD. Subsequently, a series of bioinformatics analyses assessed the prognostic and clinical significance of this model within the context of BC.ResultsAnalysis revealed a cohort of 18 genes associated with AICD, exhibiting prognostic relevance. Survival analyses indicated that overall survival rates were significantly lower in high-risk populations compared to their low-risk counterparts. Furthermore, prognostic indicators linked to AICD demonstrated high accuracy in predicting survival outcomes in BC. Immunological assessments indicated heightened expression of anti-tumor infiltrating immune cells and immune checkpoint molecules in low-risk populations, correlating with various anti-tumor immune functions. Ultimately, a comprehensive prognostic model related to AICD was developed through univariate analysis, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), and multivariate Cox regression analysis. As Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentration increased, the viability of BC cells exhibited a general decline at each time point. Notably, ATP diminished the mitochondrial membrane potential in BC cells while enhancing it in normal breast epithelial cells. Additionally, ATP inhibited the migration of BC cells and promoted their apoptosis. ATP also stimulated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in MCF-10A cells, with implications for the immune response in BC cells. Compared to the control group, expression levels of CLIC6, SLC1A1, and CEMIP were significantly reduced in the ATP intervention group, whereas ANO6 expression was elevated. ANO6, CEMIP, and CLIC6 share genetic variants with BC, while SLC1A1 does not exhibit genetic causal variation with the disease.ConclusionA valuable prognostic model associated with AICD has been established, capable of accurately predicting BC prognosis. The induction of cell death by ATP appears to play a protective role in BC progression. These findings carry significant implications for the implementation of personalized and tailored treatment strategies for BC patients.

This work investigated non-standard HIP cycles for PBF-L Ti-6Al-4V and characterized microstructure and tensile properties to compare between material that originated from the same build. For 920°C, faster cooling rates (100°C/min, 2000°C/min) were found to promote bi-lamellar α microstructure, while the 2000°C/min cooling rate improved the strength. For HIP with lower temperature (800°C, 200 MPa), coarsening was minimized resulting in strength improvement. The slow cooling rate (12°C/min) showed the highest strength as faster rates increased the amount of orthorhombic martensite (α″). For HIP with higher temperature (1050°C), the as-built crystallographic texture was reduced and equiaxed prior-β grain morphology resulted, leading to more isotropic tensile properties. However, the cooling rate (2000°C/min) was not enough to prevent formation of grain boundary α, which reduced strength and elongation. Machine learning was carried out on the dataset via Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to reduce the dimensionality of the parameters and microstructural features.

The CuO–Bi2O3/MgAl2O4 catalyst was synthesized via one-pot synthesis and used to catalyze formaldehyde (HCHO) ethynylation. Coprecipitation using Cu2+, Bi3+, Mg2+, and Al3+ nitrates and NaOH generated Cu and Bi oxides and spinel MgAl2O4 phase. The catalyst precursor was calcined at 450 °C. The catalytic performance of CuO–Bi2O3/MgAl2O4 in the synthesis of 1,4-butynediol via HCHO ethynylation was investigated. The presence of a new spinel phase enhanced the acid–base properties on the catalyst surface and prevented the aggregation of CuO particles. These properties resulted in improved CuO dispersion during calcination and CuO particle growth suppression, affording smaller CuO crystals. The MgAl2O4 support facilitated the reduction of Cu2+ to Cu+ and formation of abundant active species during the reaction. The catalyst exhibited abundant weakly basic, fewer strongly basic, and least acidic sites, which facilitated the adsorption of HCHO and acetylene. The catalytic performance of CuO–Bi2O3/MgAl2O4 demonstrated 97 % conversion and 80 % selectivity after the online monitoring of the ethynylation reaction for 6 h. The leaching of Cu during the reaction, as analyzed by inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy, was extremely low. Moreover, conversion and selectivity did not substantially change after eight cycles. In addition, the catalyst exhibited superior activity and long-term stability in the ethynylation reaction.

A proof-of-concept on-beam tuning-fork-enhanced photoacoustic sensor based on an open-closed single-tube acoustic-microresonator (AmR) was proposed and investigated for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. Due to the high acoustic amplification effect, the open-closed AmR improved the detection sensitivity by 54 times with respect to the bare tuning fork (TF). Compared to traditional dual-tube/single-tube on-beam spectrophone configuration, the developed approach significantly facilitates the laser beam alignment and reduces the sensor size and gas consumption. A 6.6 kHz low-frequency custom aluminum alloy TF was employed as the acoustic transducer to detect the photoacoustic signal. The vibration of TF was measured by a fiber-optic Fabry-Pérot (FP) interferometer (FPI). The modulation depth, tube length and laser power were experimentally optimized and evaluated in detail. An acetylene (C2H2) 1σ minimum detection limit (MDL) of 6.3 ppb was obtained with a high laser power of ∼ 500 mW, corresponding to a normalized noise equivalent absorption (NNEA) coefficient of 6.5 × 10−9 cm−1 W/Hz1/2. The compact spectrophone size and all-fiber measurement method can make the PAS-based sensor have great application prospects in dissolved gases detection in transformer oil, remote gas detection, space-limited gas detection, and etc.

Abstract Application of aqueous zinc metal batteries (AZMBs) in large‐scale new energy systems (NESs) is challenging owing to the growth of dendrites and frequent side reactions. Here, this study proposes the use of Panthenol (PB) as an electrolyte additive in AZMBs to achieve highly reversible zinc plating/stripping processes and suppressed side reactions. The PB structure is rich in polar groups, which led to the formation of a strong hydrogen bonding network of PB−H2O, while the PB molecule also builds a multi‐coordination solvated structure, which inhibits water activity and reduces side reactions. Simultaneously, PB and OTF− decomposition, in situ formation of SEI layer with stable organic‐inorganic hybrid ZnF2‐ZnS interphase on Zn anode electrode, can inhibit water penetration into Zn and homogenize the Zn2+ plating. The effect of the thickness of the SEI layer on the deposition of Zn ions in the battery is also investigated. Hence, this comprehensive regulation strategy contributes to a long cycle life of 2300 h for Zn//Zn cells assembled with electrolytes containing PB additives. And the assembled Zn//NH4V4O10 pouch cells with homemade modules exhibit stable cycling performance and high capacity retention. Therefore, the proposed electrolyte modification strategy provides new ideas for AZMBs and other metal batteries.

Abstract Developing novel lead‐free ferroelectric materials is crucial for next‐generation microelectronic technologies that are energy efficient and environment friendly. However, materials discovery and property optimization are typically time‐consuming due to the limited throughput of traditional synthesis methods. In this work, we use a high‐throughput combinatorial synthesis approach to fabricate lead‐free ferroelectric superlattices and solid solutions of (Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3 (BCT) and Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3 (BZT) phases with continuous variation of composition and layer thickness. High‐resolution x‐ray diffraction (XRD) and analytical scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) demonstrate high film quality and well‐controlled compositional gradients. Ferroelectric and dielectric property measurements identify the “optimal property point” achieved at the composition of 48BZT–52BCT. Displacement vector maps reveal that ferroelectric domain sizes are tunable by varying {BCT–BZT}N superlattice geometry. This high‐throughput synthesis approach can be applied to many other material systems to expedite new materials discovery and properties optimization, allowing for the exploration of a large area of phase space within a single growth.

ObjectiveThis study analyzed the prevalence, epidemiological characteristics and risk factors of birth defects among livebirths in central China, aiming to provide evidences for the prevention of birth defects and government Decision-makings.MethodsBirth data from China’s Hubei Province between 2015 and 2022 were collected, including basic information of the livebirths, the mothers and the fathers, as well as information about delivery and each prenatal examination. The livebirths prevalence of birth defects was calculated and the trends were mapped. The basic characteristics of birth defects were evaluated by the difference analysis between case and health groups. Univariate and multivariate Poisson regression was performed to examine the independent risk factors for birth defects.ResultsAmong 43,568 livebirths, 166 livebirths were born with birth defects, resulted in a total prevalence rate of 3.81 per 1,000 livebirths, showing a remarkable uptrend from 0.41per 1,000 livebirths in 2015 to 9.23 per 1,000 livebirths in 2022. The peak of the prevalence was in January and February. Congenital malformation of the musculoskeletal system was the main type of birth defect in central China livebirths, followed by cleft lip and cleft palate. Overall, newborns with birth defect had significantly earlier delivery gestational age, poorer health and higher proportion of infants with low birth weight than healthy births. The gender of livebirths, excess weight at delivery (≥80 kg) of mothers, more than 2 times of gravidity or parity of mothers, and advanced paternal age (≥40 years) were independent risk factors for birth defects (or specific birth defects).ConclusionThe livebirths prevalence of birth defects shows increasing trend in central China, which deserves the attention of the government and would-be parents. Elevated paternal age, excess maternal weight, gravidity and parity should be considered when planning their families.

G-quadruplex is a high-level structure composed of folded DNA or RNA rich in tandem repeats of guanine (G). In recent years, G-quadruplex is widely used in various fields due to its unique structural properties. This article briefly introduces the structural properties of G-quadruplex, and provides a brief introduction to the research on DNA and RNA G-quadruplex in various detection and medical fields. It is hoped that this can provide some help to readers who want to understand G-quadruplex.

Extensive research has been conducted on the structures and preparation methods of ceramic/metal composites to achieve materials with superior strength and toughness. Among these, the triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) structure stands out due to its remarkable advantages. In this study, we employed SLA additive manufacturing to fabricate a Gyroid-structured ceramic skeleton, and utilized metal infiltration to prepare interpenetrating Al2O3/Al composites. A comparison was made between the compressive properties of Al2O3/Al interpenetrating composites with Gyroid curved surface structure and those with honeycomb structure. The experimental outcomes indicate that compressive failure in both structural composites primarily occurs at the bond interface between the ceramic framework and the metal. These composites exhibit brittle fracture and experience shear failure. Furthermore, the compressive failure mechanism involves a mixed fracture composed of cleavage and micropore polymerization fractures. Gyroid curved structural composites exhibit lower local stress concentration due to their smooth and regular topology, rendering them with higher strength and ductility compared to honeycomb structural composites. The ultimate compressive strength of the Gyroid curved composite is 264 MPa, representing a 3.8-fold increase over the honeycomb structure.

Abstract Background Rose (Rosa hybrida) is a globally recognized ornamental plant whose growth and distribution are strongly limited by drought stress. The role of Mediator, a multiprotein complex crucial for RNA polymerase II-driven transcription, has been elucidated in drought stress responses in plants. However, its physiological function and regulatory mechanism in horticultural crop species remain elusive. Results In this study, we identified a Tail module subunit of Mediator, RhMED15a-like, in rose. Drought stress, as well as treatment with methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and abscisic acid (ABA), significantly suppressed the transcript level of RhMED15a-like. Overexpressing RhMED15a-like markedly bolstered the osmotic stress tolerance of Arabidopsis, as evidenced by increased germination rate, root length, and fresh weight. In contrast, the silencing of RhMED15a-like through virus induced gene silencing in rose resulted in elevated malondialdehyde accumulation, exacerbated leaf wilting, reduced survival rate, and downregulated expression of drought-responsive genes during drought stress. Additionally, using RNA-seq, we identified 972 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between tobacco rattle virus (TRV)-RhMED15a-like plants and TRV controls. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed that some DEGs were predominantly associated with terms related to the oxidative stress response, such as ‘response to reactive oxygen species’ and ‘peroxisome’. Furthermore, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment highlighted pathways related to ‘plant hormone signal transduction’, in which the majority of DEGs in the jasmonate (JA) and ABA signalling pathways were induced in TRV-RhMED15a-like plants. Conclusion Our findings underscore the pivotal role of the Mediator subunit RhMED15a-like in the ability of rose to withstand drought stress, probably by controlling the transcript levels of drought-responsive genes and signalling pathway elements of stress-related hormones, providing a solid foundation for future research into the molecular mechanisms underlying drought tolerance in rose.

Abstract In order to obtain high yield pomelo peel pectin with better physicochemical properties, four pectin extraction methods, including hot acid extraction (HAE), microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), ultrasound-assisted extraction, and enzymatic assisted extraction (EAE) were compared. MAE led to the highest pectin yield (20.43%), and the lowest pectin recovery was found for EAE (11.94%). The physicochemical properties of pomelo peel pectin obtained by different methods were also significantly different. Pectin samples obtained by MAE had the highest methoxyl content (8.35%), galacturonic acid content (71.36%), and showed a higher apparent viscosity, thermal and emulsion stability. The pectin extracted by EAE showed the highest total phenolic content (12.86%) and lowest particle size (843.69 nm), showing higher DPPH and ABTS scavenging activities than other extract methods. The pectin extracted by HAE had the highest particle size (966.12 nm) and degree of esterification (55.67%). However, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy showed that no significant difference occurred among the different methods in the chemical structure of the extracted pectin. This study provides a theoretical basis for the industrial production of pomelo peel pectin.

Abstract Crop wild relatives offer natural variations of disease resistance for crop improvement. Here, we report the isolation of broad-spectrum powdery mildew resistance gene Pm36, originated from wild emmer wheat, that encodes a tandem kinase with a transmembrane domain (WTK7-TM) through the combination of map-based cloning, PacBio SMRT long-read genome sequencing, mutagenesis, and transformation. Mutagenesis assay reveals that the two kinase domains and the transmembrane domain of WTK7-TM are critical for the powdery mildew resistance function. Consistently, in vitro phosphorylation assay shows that two kinase domains are indispensable for the kinase activity of WTK7-TM. Haplotype analysis uncovers that Pm36 is an orphan gene only present in a few wild emmer wheat, indicating its single ancient origin and potential contribution to the current wheat gene pool. Overall, our findings not only provide a powdery mildew resistance gene with great potential in wheat breeding but also sheds light into the mechanism underlying broad-spectrum resistance.

This study aims to apply multivariate analysis algorithms for modeling the same spectra, for simultaneous determination of pymetrozine and carbendazim residues in apple. To mitigate the impact of competitive adsorption, SERS spectra are obtained from mixed solutions of pymetrozine and carbendazim at varying concentration ratios, which are then utilized for modeling. Results suggest that the PLSR model based on full-band SNV processed spectra shows the best performance for predicting pymetrozine and carbendazim contents, with R2 p of 0.9751 and 0.9779, RMSEP of 0.0492 and 0.5531 mg/L, RPD of 6.4297 and 6.8246, respectively. This model yielded R2 p of 0.9644 and 0.9671, RMSEP of 0.0747 and 0.8247 mg/L, RPD of 5.3857 and 5.6066 for pymetrozine and carbendazim in apple, respectively. The findings suggest that the proposed approach is suitable for simultaneous detection of pymetrozine and carbendazim in apples, offering a novel avenue for monitoring food safety.

This paper proposes a novel microcone-curved resonant photoacoustic cell (MCR-PAC) for highly sensitive trace gas detection. The MCR-PAC features with microcone-curved resonant region and cylindrical buffer chamber, which dominates the photoacoustic signal amplification. By introducing the hyperbolic eccentricity as a new optimization dimension, the quality factor of the MCR-PAC is remarkably strengthened to enhance the acoustic pressure amplitude. At an eccentricity value of 5, the volume of the photoacoustic resonant cavity is approximately 0.23 cm3. Targeting trace acetylene, the system achieves a minimum detection limit of 1.41 ppb with an integration time of 290 s, corresponding normalized noise equivalent absorption coefficient is 1.88×10−9 W·cm−1·Hz−1/2. Compared to the traditional T-type PAC, the overall performance of MCR-PAC has been enhanced nearly fourfold. With its compact millimeter-scale dimensions and high sensitivity, the MCR-PAC demonstrates extensive potential for application in environmental monitoring and breath diagnostics.

Food, water, and energy (FWE) are foundational resources that sustain human well-being and societal advancement. The examination of climate change effects on FWE resources is imperative, particularly in regions abundant in natural resources but ecologically fragile. In this context, we investigated the spatiotemporal changes of FWE resources in China’s western frontiers, where both resource wealth and climate vulnerability are critical. This study proposes an innovative approach to comprehensively analyze the dynamics of food production, surface water, and solar energy from 2010 to 2021 by integrating easily accessible and widely applicable variables, and utilizing remote sensing and statistical data within a sustainable development framework. The results show that: (1) both crop yield and cropland area display an upward trend; (2) the expansion of overall surface water area in Xinjiang is mainly driven by changes in precipitation and temperature, while in Xizang, such a relationship is not evident; (3) Xinjiang and Xizang have advantages in solar photovoltaic (PV) development due to their abundant solar resources. Our results suggest that such spatiotemporal dynamics in food production, surface water and solar energy resources can intuitively reflect the sustainable development status of FWE resources in China’s western frontiers.

ABSTRACTST11 is the most common lineage among carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) infections in Asia. Diverse morphotypes resulting from genetic mutations are associated with significant differences in microbial characteristics among K. pneumoniae isolates. Here, we investigated the genetic determinants and critical characteristics associated with distinct morphotypes of ST11 CRKP. An ST11-KL47 CRKP isolate carrying a pLVPK-like virulence plasmid was isolated from a patient with a bloodstream infection; the isolate had the “mcsw” morphotype. Two distinct morphotypes (“ntrd” and “msdw”) were derived from this strain during in vitro passage. Whole genome sequencing was used to identify mutations that cause the distinct morphotypes of ST11 CRKP. Transmission electron microscopy, antimicrobial susceptibility tests, growth assays, biofilm formation, virulence assays, membrane permeability assays, and RNA-seq analysis were used to investigate the specific characteristics associated with different morphotypes of ST11 CRKP. Compared with the parental mcsw morphotype, the ntrd morphotype resulted from mutation of genes involved in capsular polysaccharide biosynthesis (wza, wzc, and wbaP), a result validated by gene knockout experiments. This morphotype showed capsule deficiency and lower virulence potential, but higher biofilm production. By contrast, the msdw morphotype displayed competition deficiency and increased susceptibility to chlorhexidine and polymyxin B. Further analyses indicated that these characteristics were caused by interruption of the sigma factor gene rpoN by insertion mutations and deletion of the rpoN gene, which attenuated membrane integrity presumably by downregulating the phage shock protein operon. These data expand current understanding of genetic, virulence, and antimicrobial resistance characteristics associated with distinct morphotypes in ST11 CRKP.

ABSTRACTThe escalation of antibiotic resistance and the diminishing antimicrobial pipeline have emerged as significant threats to public health. The ESKAPE pathogens – Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp. – were initially identified as critical multidrug-resistant bacteria, demanding urgently effective therapies. Despite the introduction of various new antibiotics and antibiotic adjuvants, such as innovative β-lactamase inhibitors, these organisms continue to pose substantial therapeutic challenges. People’s Republic of China, as a country facing a severe bacterial resistance situation, has undergone a series of changes and findings in recent years in terms of the prevalence, transmission characteristics and resistance mechanisms of antibiotic resistant bacteria. The increasing levels of population mobility have not only shaped the unique characteristics of antibiotic resistance prevalence and transmission within People’s Republic of China but have also indirectly reflected global patterns of antibiotic-resistant dissemination. What’s more, as a vast nation, People’s Republic of China exhibits significant variations in the levels of antibiotic resistance and the prevalence characteristics of antibiotic resistant bacteria across different provinces and regions. In this review, we examine the current epidemiology and characteristics of this important group of bacterial pathogens, delving into relevant mechanisms of resistance to recently introduced antibiotics that impact their clinical utility in China.

Abstract Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a clinically challenging cancer with a dismal overall prognosis. NSD2 is an H3K36‐specific di‐methyltransferase that has been reported to play a crucial role in promoting tumorigenesis. Here, the study demonstrates that NSD2 acts as a putative tumor suppressor in Kras‐driven pancreatic tumorigenesis. NSD2 restrains the mice from inflammation and Kras‐induced ductal metaplasia, while NSD2 loss facilitates pancreatic tumorigenesis. Mechanistically, NSD2‐mediated H3K36me2 promotes the expression of IκBα, which inhibits the phosphorylation of p65 and NF‐κB nuclear translocation. More importantly, NSD2 interacts with the DNA binding domain of p65, attenuating NF‐κB transcriptional activity. Furthermore, inhibition of NF‐κB signaling relieves the symptoms of Nsd2‐deficient mice and sensitizes Nsd2‐null PDAC to gemcitabine. Clinically, NSD2 expression decreased in PDAC patients and negatively correlated to nuclear p65 expression. Together, the study reveals the important tumor suppressor role of NSD2 and multiple mechanisms by which NSD2 suppresses both p65 phosphorylation and downstream transcriptional activity during pancreatic tumorigenesis. This study opens therapeutic opportunities for PDAC patients with NSD2 low/loss by combined treatment with gemcitabine and NF‐κBi.