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Abstract Protein kinases are key signaling nodes that regulate fundamental biological and disease processes. Illuminating kinase signaling from multiple angles can provide deeper insights into disease mechanisms and improve therapeutic targeting. While fluorescent biosensors are powerful tools for visualizing live-cell kinase activity dynamics in real time, new molecular tools are needed that enable recording of transient signaling activities for post hoc analysis and targeted manipulation. Here, we develop a light-gated kinase activity coupled transcriptional integrator (KINACT) that converts dynamic kinase signals into “permanent” fluorescent marks. KINACT enables robust monitoring of kinase activity across scales, accurately recording subcellular PKA activity, highlighting PKA activity distribution in 3D cultures, and identifying PKA activators and inhibitors in high-throughput screens. We further leverage the ability of KINACT to drive signaling effector expression to allow feedback manipulation of the balance of Gαs R201C-induced PKA and ERK activation and dissect the mechanisms of oncogenic G protein signaling.

Abstract Background Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive motor neuron disease that leads to multiple organ dysfunction. The advent of disease-modifying treatments makes the early diagnosis of SMA critical. Health information literacy is vital for obtaining, understanding, screening, and using health information. Considering the importance of early diagnosis and the challenges in obtaining accurate information on patients with SMA, this cross-sectional study assessed health information literacy among children with SMA and their caregivers in China. Methods Interviews with the caregivers of 10 patients with SMA were conducted by neurologists specializing in SMA. A questionnaire for evaluating the level of health information literacy was further developed among 145 children with SMA aged 10.0–120.0 months, with the average age of 81.9 months, and their caregivers. Parameters, such as the age at the onset of the first symptom and time from recognition of the first symptom to diagnosis, were examined. Health information literacy was measured using four dimensions: cognition, search, evaluation, and application. Results The average time from the first symptom to first medical consultation was 4.8 months, and that from the first symptom to diagnosis was 10.8 months. There is a significant delay from the onset of the initial symptoms to a definitive diagnosis. Thirty-five (24%) patients had poor while 26 (18%) had high health information literacy. The overall score for health information literacy was 69; the scores for health information cognition and application were 90 and 84, respectively. The scores for evaluation (61) and search (57) were low. Medical personnel were considered the most professional and credible sources of information. Additionally, search engines and patient organizations were the other two most important sources of health literacy. Conclusion Patients with SMA and their caregivers had low levels of health information literacy. SMA information visibility and standardization need to be improved. Medical personnel with experience in the diagnosis and treatment of SMA and media should aim to share knowledge and increase the quality of life of those with SMA.

A massive market penetration of electric vehicles (EVs) associated with nonnegligible energy consumption and environmental issues has imposed a big challenge on evaluating electrical power distribution and related transportation facilities improvement in response to the large-scale EV charging service need. Strategical deployment of EV charging stations including location and determination of number of slow charging stations and fast charging stations has become an emerging concern and one of the most pressing needs in planning. This paper conducts a comprehensive survey of EV charging demand and distribution models with consideration of realistic driver behaviors impacts. This is currently a shortage in academic literature, but indeed has drawn practical attention in the strategic planning process. To address the need, this paper presents an in-depth literature review of relevant studies that have identified different types of EV charging facilities, needs or concerns that are considered into EV charging demand and distribution modeling, alongside critical impacting factor identification, mathematical relationships of the contributing factors and EV charging demand and distribution modeling. Key findings from the current literature are summarized with strategies for optimized plan of charging station deployments (i.e., location and related number of charging station), in an attempt to provide a valuable reference for interested readers.

Abstract Background Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are a unique group of microorganisms that sense and navigate through the geomagnetic field by biomineralizing magnetic nanoparticles. MTB from the phylum Nitrospirota (previously known as Nitrospirae) thrive in diverse aquatic ecosystems. They are of great interest due to their production of hundreds of magnetite (Fe3O4) magnetosome nanoparticles per cell, which far exceeds that of other MTB. The morphological, phylogenetic, and genomic diversity of Nitrospirota MTB have been extensively studied. However, the metabolism and ecophysiology of Nitrospirota MTB are largely unknown due to the lack of cultivation techniques. Methods Here, we established a method to link the morphological, genomic, and metabolic investigations of an uncultured Nitrospirota MTB population (named LHC-1) at the single-cell level using nanoscale secondary-ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) in combination with rRNA-based in situ hybridization and target-specific mini-metagenomics. Results We magnetically separated LHC-1 from a freshwater lake and reconstructed the draft genome of LHC-1 using genome-resolved mini-metagenomics. We found that 10 LHC-1 cells were sufficient as a template to obtain a high-quality draft genome. Genomic analysis revealed that LHC-1 has the potential for CO2 fixation and NO3 − reduction, which was further characterized at the single-cell level by combining stable-isotope incubations and NanoSIMS analyses over time. Additionally, the NanoSIMS results revealed specific element distributions in LHC-1, and that the heterogeneity of CO2 and NO3 − metabolisms among different LHC-1 cells increased with incubation time. Conclusions To our knowledge, this study provides the first metabolic measurements of individual Nitrospirota MTB cells to decipher their ecophysiological traits. The procedure constructed in this study provides a promising strategy to simultaneously investigate the morphology, genome, and ecophysiology of uncultured microbes in natural environments. Video Abstract

Abstract Background Asthma is a common non-communicable disease in children, and airway inflammation is the main pathological change of asthma. Tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) can cause systematic inflammation and oxidative stress, which may further aggravate the progression of asthma. Dietary antioxidants can relieve the inflammation and oxidative stress in human body. This study aims to assess the effect of overall antioxidant capacity of dietary intake, evaluating by dietary antioxidant quality score (DAQS), in the association between TSE and childhood asthma. Methods Data of this cross-sectional study were extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) 2007–2018. DAQS was calculated based on the daily dietary intake of selenium, zinc, magnesium, vitamin A, C and E. TSE was measured by serum cotinine concentration. The weighted univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were employed to evaluate the role of DAQS in the association between TSE and asthma among children and adolescents. Subgroup analysis was conducted to further evaluate the association based on gender. Results Totally 11,026 children and adolescents were included, of whom 1,244 (11.28%) had asthma. After adjusted all covariates, TSE was associated with the high odds of childhood asthma (OR = 1.26, 95%CI = 1.05–1.52). Among children exposed to tobacco smoke, those with higher DAQS level (OR = 1.15, 95%CI: 0.88–1.50) had a reduced risk of asthma compared with those children with lower DAQS level (OR = 1.43, 1.08–1.89), especially among girls (OR = 1.42, 95%CI: 0.93–2.17). Conclusion High DAQS may have a moderating effect on asthma in children; that is, the higher DAQS, the lower the odds of asthma in children who exposed to tobacco smoke. Our study provides a reference for developing more targeted strategies for prevention and treatment of asthma in children.

Abstract The emulation of tactile sensory nerves to achieve advanced sensory functions in robotics with artificial intelligence is of great interest. However, such devices remain bulky and lack reliable competence to functionalize further synaptic devices with proprioceptive feedback. Here, we report an artificial organic afferent nerve with low operating bias (−0.6 V) achieved by integrating a pressure-activated organic electrochemical synaptic transistor and artificial mechanoreceptors. The dendritic integration function for neurorobotics is achieved to perceive directional movement of object, further reducing the control complexity by exploiting the distributed and parallel networks. An intelligent robot assembled with artificial afferent nerve, coupled with a closed-loop feedback program is demonstrated to rapidly implement slip recognition and prevention actions upon occurrence of object slippage. The spatiotemporal features of tactile patterns are well differentiated with a high recognition accuracy after processing spike-encoded signals with deep learning model. This work represents a breakthrough in mimicking synaptic behaviors, which is essential for next-generation intelligent neurorobotics and low-power biomimetic electronics.

Abstract Background Several studies have explored the potential link between gut microbiota and breast cancer; nevertheless, the causal relationship between gut microbiota and breast cancer remains unclear. Methods We utilized summary statistics from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of the gut microbiome from the MiBioGen project with summary data from GWAS on breast cancer from the FinnGen consortium and the IEU database, with the IEU data sourced from the Biobank Japan. Preliminary statistical analyses were conducted using inverse variance weighting (IVW), supplemented by various sensitivity analysis methods, including MR-Egger regression, weighted median, weighted mode, simple median, and simple mode, to ensure the robustness of our findings. Heterogeneity and pleiotropy were assessed to avoid misleading conclusions caused by unconsidered confounders or non-specific effects of genetic variants, ensuring that the results reflect a genuine causal relationship. Results In European populations, four types of gut microbiota were associated with breast cancer. The genus Erysipelatoclostridium was positively associated with the risk of breast cancer, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.21 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.083–1.358), false discovery rate (FDR) = 0.0039. The class Coriobacteriia, order Coriobacteriales, and family Coriobacteriaceae, which belong to the same phylogenetic system, showed a consistent inversely association with breast cancer risk, with an OR of 0.757 (95% CI 0.616–0.930), FDR = 0.0281. In East Asian populations, three types of gut microbiota were related to breast cancer. The Eubacterium ruminantium group was positively associated with breast cancer risk, with an OR of 1.259 (95% CI 1.056–1.499), FDR = 0.0497. The families Porphyromonadaceae and Ruminococcaceae were inversely associated with breast cancer risk, with ORs of 0.304 (95% CI 0.155–0.596), FDR = 0.0005, and 0.674 (95% CI 0.508–0.895), FDR = 0.03173, respectively. However, these two taxa had limited instrumental variables, restricting the statistical power and potentially affecting the interpretation of the results. Conclusion This MR analysis demonstrated a probable causal link between specific gut microbiota and breast cancer. This study, through Mendelian randomization analysis comparing European and East Asian populations, reveals that gut microbiota may influence breast cancer risk differently across populations, providing potential directions for developing targeted prevention and treatment methods.

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is a vital non-destructive testing (NDT) technology that can be employed for detecting the backfill grouting of shield tunnels. To achieve intelligent analysis of GPR data and overcome the subjectivity of traditional data processing methods, the CatBoost & BO-TPE model was constructed for regressing the grouting thickness based on GPR waveforms. A full-scale model test and corresponding numerical simulations were carried out to collect GPR data at 400 and 900 MHz, with known backfill grouting thickness. The model test helps address the limitation of not knowing the grout body condition in actual field detection. The data were then used to create machine learning datasets. The method of feature selection was proposed based on the analysis of feature importance and the electromagnetic (EM) propagation law in mediums. The research shows that: (1) the CatBoost & BO-TPE model exhibited outstanding performance in both experimental and numerical data, achieving R2 values of 0.9760, 0.8971, 0.8808, and 0.5437 for numerical data and test data at 400 and 900 MHz. It outperformed extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) and random forest (RF) in terms of performance in the backfill grouting thickness regression; (2) compared with the full-waveform GPR data, the feature selection method proposed in this paper can promote the performance of the model. The selected features within the 5–30 ns of the A-scan can yield the best performance for the model; (3) compared to GPR data at 900 MHz, GPR data at 400 MHz exhibited better performance in the CatBoost & BO-TPE model. This indicates that the results of the machine learning model can provide feedback for the selection of GPR parameters; (4) the application results of the trained CatBoost & BO-TPE model in engineering are in line with the patterns observed through traditional processing methods, yet they demonstrate a more quantitative and objective nature compared to the traditional method.

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the value of low-dose dual-input computed tomography perfusion (CTP) imaging in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant pulmonary ground-glass opacity nodules (GGO). A retrospective study was conducted in patients with GGO who underwent CTP in our hospital from January 2021 to October 2023. All nodules were confirmed via pathological analysis or disappeared during follow-up. Postprocessing analysis was conducted using the dual-input perfusion mode (pulmonary artery and bronchial artery) of the body perfusion software to measure the perfusion parameters of the pulmonary GGOs. A total of 101 patients with pulmonary GGOs were enrolled in this study, including 43 benign and 58 malignant nodules. The dose length product of the CTP (348 mGy.cm) was

Abstract Increasing demand for bio-interfaced human-machine interfaces propels the development of organic neuromorphic electronics with small form factors leveraging both ionic and electronic processes. Ion-based organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) showing anti-ambipolarity (OFF-ON-OFF states) reduce the complexity and size of bio-realistic Hodgkin-Huxley(HH) spiking circuits and logic circuits. However, limited stable anti-ambipolar organic materials prevent the design of integrated, tunable, and multifunctional neuromorphic and logic-based systems. In this work, a general approach for tuning anti-ambipolar characteristics is presented through assembly of a p-n bilayer in a vertical OECT (vOECT) architecture. The vertical OECT design reduces device footprint, while the bilayer material tuning controls the anti-ambipolarity characteristics, allowing control of the device’s on and off threshold voltages, and peak position, while reducing size thereby enabling tunable threshold spiking neurons and logic gates. Combining these components, a mimic of the retinal pathway reproducing the wavelength and light intensity encoding of horizontal cells to spiking retinal ganglion cells is demonstrated. This work enables further incorporation of conformable and adaptive OECT electronics into biointegrated devices featuring sensory coding through parallel processing for diverse artificial intelligence and computing applications.

Objective: Cerebral arteriovenous malformation during pregnancy is rare but lethal disease that usually present with new-onset seizures and headaches mimicking eclampsia. We report a rare case of cerebral arteriovenous malformation with abrupt seizures in the third trimester. Case Report: A 28-year-old primipara was brought to our emergency department at 32 6/7 weeks of gestation with new-onset acute seizures and hypertension. Owing to neurological deterioration, the patient underwent emergency cesarean delivery. However, 24 h after cesarean delivery and eclampsia treatment, the seizures worsened. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed unruptured arteriovenous malformation of the right frontal lobe. Subsequently, intraarterial embolization was performed. The patient was discharged 5 days after surgery without neurological sequelae or obstetric complications. Conclusion: This case report highlights the differential diagnoses of sudden new-onset seizures in late pregnancy for obstetricians and emergency medicine physicians. Lethal cerebral diseases, apart from eclampsia, should be considered during pregnancy.

Abstract Background The aberrant expression of phosphofructokinase-platelet (PFKP) plays a crucial role in the development of various human cancers by modifying diverse biological functions. However, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying the role of PFKP in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are not fully elucidated. Methods We assessed the expression levels of PFKP and c-Myc in tumor and adjacent normal tissues from 120 HNSCC patients. A series of in vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to explore the impact of the feedback loop between PFKP and c-Myc on HNSCC progression. Additionally, we explored the therapeutic effects of targeting PFKP and c-Myc in HNSCC using Patient-Derived Organoids (PDO), Cell Line-Derived Xenografts, and Patients-Derived Xenografts. Results Our findings indicated that PFKP is frequently upregulated in HNSCC tissues and cell lines, correlating with poor prognosis. Our in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate that elevated PFKP facilitates cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis in HNSCC. Mechanistically, PFKP increases the ERK-mediated stability of c-Myc, thereby driving progression of HNSCC. Moreover, c-Myc stimulates PFKP expression at the transcriptional level, thus forming a positive feedback loop between PFKP and c-Myc. Additionally, our multiple models demonstrate that co-targeting PFKP and c-Myc triggers synergistic anti-tumor effects in HNSCC. Conclusion Our study demonstrates the critical role of the PFKP/c-Myc positive feedback loop in driving HNSCC progression and suggests that simultaneously targeting PFKP and c-Myc may be a novel and effective therapeutic strategy for HNSCC.

Abstract Background In tumor treatment, protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been extensively utilized. However, the efficacy of TKI is significantly compromised by drug resistance. Consequently, finding an effective solution to overcome TKI resistance becomes crucial. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are a group of highly active molecules that play important roles in targeted cancer therapy including TKI targeted therapy. In this review, we concentrate on the ROS-associated mechanisms of TKI lethality in tumors and strategies for regulating ROS to reverse TKI resistance in cancer. Main body Elevated ROS levels often manifest during TKI therapy in cancers, potentially causing organelle damage and cell death, which are critical to the success of TKIs in eradicating cancer cells. However, it is noteworthy that cancer cells might initiate resistance pathways to shield themselves from ROS-induced damage, leading to TKI resistance. Addressing this challenge involves blocking these resistance pathways, for instance, the NRF2-KEAP1 axis and protective autophagy, to promote ROS accumulation in cells, thereby resensitizing drug-resistant cancer cells to TKIs. Additional effective approaches inducing ROS generation within drug-resistant cells and providing exogenous ROS stimulation. Conclusion ROS play pivotal roles in the eradication of tumor cells by TKI. Harnessing the accumulation of ROS to overcome TKI resistance is an effective and widely applicable approach. Graphical Abstract

Introduction: Tendon-derived stem cells (TDSCs) play a critical role in tendon repair. N5-methylcytosine (m5C) is a key regulator of cellular processes such as differentiation. This study aimed to investigate the impact of m5C on TDSC differentiation and the underlying mechanism. Methods: TDSCs were isolated from rats and identified, and a tendon injury rat model was generated. Tenogenic differentiation in vitro was evaluated using Sirius red staining and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, while that in vivo was assessed using immunohistochemistry and hematoxylin‒eosin staining. m5C methylation was analyzed using methylated RNA immunoprecipitation, dual-luciferase reporter assay, and RNA stability assay. Results: The results showed that m5C levels and NSUN2 expression were increased in TDSCs after tenogenic differentiation. Knockdown of NSUN2 inhibited m5C methylation of KLF2 and decreased its stability, which was recognized by YBX1. Moreover, interfering with KLF2 suppressed tenogenic differentiation of TDSCs, which could be abrogated by KLF2 overexpression. Additionally, TDSCs after NSUN2 overexpression contributed to ameliorating tendon injury in vivo. In conclusion, NSUN2 promotes tenogenic differentiation of TDSCs via m5C methylation of KLF2 and accelerates tendon repair. Conclusions: The findings suggest that overexpression of NSUN2 can stimulate the differentiation ability of TDSCs, which can be used in the treatment of tendinopathy.

Abstract The ability to confine and guide wave makes topological physics a promising platform for large local field enhancement and strong scattering immunity, which enables efficient nonlinear processes. In this research, we employ a mirror-stacking approach to achieve resonance through two distinct frequency localized states (LSs) in one-dimensional topological circuits, introducing a novel method for validating topological states to facilitate harmonic enhancement. Experimental results reveal that the harmonic wave power increases significantly, by two orders of magnitude, when both the fundamental and harmonic waves are in LSs, in contrast to cases where only one wave is localized. The conversion efficiency is 15.7 times that when the fundamental wave is in a localized state and the harmonic is in a transmission mode. This method, leveraging double-resonance in topological LSs, not only advances harmonic generation in topolectrical circuits but also opens up possibilities for innovative applications in the broader field of photonic technology.

Shale oil and gas resources mainly exist in the pore and fracture system. Quantitative characterization of pore development characteristics and gas-bearing properties is crucial for shale reservoir evaluation. The pore development of shale reservoir exhibits strong complexity and heterogeneity, and research on pore development characteristics of coal measure shale lags behind that of marine shale reservoir. Hence, it is urgent to investigate the pore heterogeneity characteristics of coal-bearing shale and its influence on gas bearing properties. Therefore, the coal-bearing Cretaceous Nenjiang shales from the Songyuan area of the Songliao Basin were selected as the research object in this study. Through total organic carbon (TOC) analysis, X-ray diffraction experiments, porosity analysis, nitrogen adsorption–desorption experiments, and methane isothermal adsorption experiments, the characteristics of pore structure, heterogeneity, and gas bearing properties of coal-bearing shale were analyzed. The influence of rock and mineral components on pore structure and heterogeneity characteristics, the relationship between pore structure characteristics and fractal characteristics, and the effects of pore structure and heterogeneity on gas bearing properties were also discussed. The results show that: (1) The organic matter abundance of the shale in the Nenjiang Formation does not change significantly (the average TOC content is 2.38%). Ink bottle-shaped pores are mostly developed, and the Nenjiang shale is rich in clay minerals (average content 55.6%), with slit-shaped pores mostly developed. The pore surface of shale exhibits obvious fractal characteristics, with average fractal dimensions D1 and D2 of 2.54 and 2.74, respectively, indicating that the internal structure is more complex than the surface structure. (2) The enrichment of organic carbon increases the specific surface area by affecting the development of micropores and pores, consequently increasing the fractal dimension of pores. Similarly, the development of clay minerals increases the number of mesopores and macropores, thereby increasing the fractal dimension of pores. (3) Small pores develop larger specific surface areas, which increases the complexity and heterogeneity of the pore structure. This promotes remarkable fractal characteristics, expands the adsorption sites, and improves the adsorption capacity. This work will provide a scientific theoretical basis for the comprehensive evaluation of coal-bearing shale reservoirs and research on shale gas reservoir formation theory.

Abstract Factor-dependent termination uses molecular motors to remodel transcription machineries, but the associated mechanisms, especially in eukaryotes, are poorly understood. Here we use single-molecule fluorescence assays to characterize in real time the composition and the catalytic states of Saccharomyces cerevisiae transcription termination complexes remodeled by Sen1 helicase. We confirm that Sen1 takes the RNA transcript as its substrate and translocates along it by hydrolyzing multiple ATPs to form an intermediate with a stalled RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcription elongation complex (TEC). We show that this intermediate dissociates upon hydrolysis of a single ATP leading to dissociation of Sen1 and RNA, after which Sen1 remains bound to the RNA. We find that Pol II ends up in a variety of states: dissociating from the DNA substrate, which is facilitated by transcription bubble rewinding, being retained to the DNA substrate, or diffusing along the DNA substrate. Our results provide a complete quantitative framework for understanding the mechanism of Sen1-dependent transcription termination in eukaryotes.

The Bostrichidae is a small family of Coleoptera, with up to 600 described species all over the world. Almost 90 species of the family have been recorded in China at present and several new species of powder-post beetles have been described in recent years. Since the 1940s, the family Bostrichidae has become a neglected group in the taxonomy research of the Chinese mainland compared with its extensive territorial and super complex ecological diversity. Thus, there is need for more field specimen collection and in-depth taxonomic study.In this study, two powder-post beetles species Trogoxylon spinifrons (Lesne, 1910) and Minthea bivestita Lesne, 1937, are recorded for the first time from China. New provincial distribution records of another 18 Bostrichidae also listed.

Abstract Background Hepatitis B virus (HBV) integrates into human chromosomes and can lead to genomic instability and hepatocarcinogenesis. Current tools for HBV integration site detection lack accuracy and stability. Results This study proposes a deep learning-based method, named ViroISDC, for detecting integration sites. ViroISDC generates corresponding grammar rules and encodes the characteristics of the language data to predict integration sites accurately. Compared with Lumpy, Pindel, Seeksv, and SurVirus, ViroISDC exhibits better overall performance and is less sensitive to sequencing depth and integration sequence length, displaying good reliability, stability, and generality. Further downstream analysis of integrated sites detected by ViroISDC reveals the integration patterns and features of HBV. It is observed that HBV integration exhibits specific chromosomal preferences and tends to integrate into cancerous tissue. Moreover, HBV integration frequency was higher in males than females, and high-frequency integration sites were more likely to be present on hepatocarcinogenesis- and anti-cancer-related genes, validating the reliability of the ViroISDC. Conclusions ViroISDC pipeline exhibits superior precision, stability, and reliability across various datasets when compared to similar software. It is invaluable in exploring HBV infection in the human body, holding significant implications for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis assessment of HCC.

Abstract The Intelligent Evaluation System for Calligraphy Characters (IESCC) is used for teaching calligraphy, and users can learn calligraphy through the modifications given by the system. Chinese character skeleton extraction is an important step in the intelligent evaluation algorithm of calligraphic characters. The skeletons of Chinese characters extracted by traditional refinement algorithms are prone to redundant branches and deformed skeletons, which can lead to skeleton extraction results that do not conform to the topology of the original character. In this study, the focus lies on hard‐pen regular script, and skeleton repair and extraction are performed for these characters. According to the writing characteristics of regular script, the redundant burs are removed and the deformation zone of the thinned skeleton is detected, and then the idea of first splitting is used, then restructuring, to propose a skeleton extraction algorithm based on stroke characterization and ambiguous zone detection for hard‐pen regular script, referred to as SCAD. First, a thinning algorithm is used to extract the skeleton of Chinese characters and remove redundant pixels. By analyzing the stroke characteristics of regular script, the burrs are classified and different conditions are set to detect and remove the burrs. Then the ambiguous zones are detected according to the different kinds of junction points. Then, curvature, stroke width and direction deviation are used to analyze the continuity of stroke segments, and the decision function is used to classify the stroke segments. Finally, the stroke segments with optimal pairings were compensated by interpolation according to the direction trend. This concludes the skeleton extraction. Skeleton extraction is performed on 1000 sample characters, and the SCAD algorithm can extract the skeleton of Chinese characters with an accuracy of up to 98.37%. It is proved that the SCAD method proposed here is a practical and effective method to extract the skeleton of hard‐pen regular script.

Abstract Background This study reported height prediction and longitudinal growth changes in Chinese pediatric patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) during and after treatment and their associations with outcomes. Methods Changes in 88 children with AML in percentages according to the growth percentile curve for Chinese boys/girls aged 2–18/0–2 years for body mass index (BMI), height, and weight from the time of diagnosis to 2 years off therapy were evaluated. The outcomes of AML were compared among patients with different BMI levels. Results The proportion of underweight children (weight 75th percentile) after 2 years of drug withdrawal. Unhealthy BMI at the initial diagnosis and during intensive chemotherapy leads to poorer outcomes. For height, all patients were in the range of genetic height predicted based on their parents’ height at final follow-up. Conclusions Physicians should pay more attention to the changes in height and weight of children with AML at these crucial treatment stages and intervene in time.

Abstract In this study, we sought to investigate the mechanisms of action of miR-195-5p in the osteogenic differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), and thereby provide novel insights and a reference for the targeted therapy of arterial media calcification. VSMC differentiation was induced using sodium β-glycerophosphate, and we investigated the effects of transfecting cells with miR-195-5p mimics, vectors overexpressing Smad7, and the Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibitor (KYA1797K) on VSMC differentiation by determining cell viability and apoptosis, and the mRNA and protein expression of factors associated with osteogenic differentiation and the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. The results revealed that miR-195-5p mimics enhanced the osteogenic differentiation of VSMCs induced by β-glycerophosphate, whereas the overexpression of Smad7 reversed this phenomenon. In addition, KYA1797K was found to promote the effects of Smad7 overexpression. In conclusion, by targeting, Smad7, miR-195-5p promotes the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. and thus the osteogenic differentiation of VSMCs. These findings will provide a reference for elucidating the mechanisms whereby miR-195-5p regulates osteogenic differentiation.

Abstract Background The anti-aging protein Klotho plays a protective role in kidney disease, but its potential as a biomarker for chronic kidney disease (CKD) is controversial. Additionally, the main pathways through which Klotho exerts its effects on CKD remain unclear. Therefore, we used bioinformatics and clinical data analysis to determine its role in CKD. Results We analyzed the transcriptomic and clinical data from the Nephroseq v5 database and found that the Klotho gene was mainly expressed in the tubulointerstitium, and its expression was significantly positively correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and negatively correlated with blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in CKD. We further found that Klotho gene expression was mainly negatively associated with inflammatory response and positively associated with lipid metabolism in CKD tubulointerstitium by analyzing two large sample-size CKD tubulointerstitial transcriptome datasets. By analyzing 10-year clinical data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2016, we also found that Klotho negatively correlated with inflammatory biomarkers and triglyceride and positively correlated with eGFR in the CKD population. Mediation analysis showed that Klotho could improve renal function in the general population by modulating the inflammatory response and lipid metabolism, while in the CKD population, it primarily manifested by mediating the inflammatory response. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis showed that the optimal concentration range for Klotho to exert its biological function was around 1000 pg/ml. Kaplan–Meier curves showed that lower cumulative hazards of all-cause mortality in participants with higher levels of Klotho. We also demonstrated that Klotho could reduce cellular inflammatory response and improve cellular lipid metabolism by establishing an in vitro model similar to CKD. Conclusions Our results suggest that Klotho exerts protection in CKD, which may be mainly related to the regulation of inflammatory response and lipid metabolism, and it can serve as a potential biomarker for CKD.

Abstract Background The dysregulated mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling plays a critical role in ferroptosis resistance and tumorigenesis. However, the precise underlying mechanisms still need to be fully understood. Methods Endoplasmic reticulum oxidoreductase 1 alpha (ERO1α) expression in mTORC1-activated mouse embryonic fibroblasts, cancer cells, and laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) clinical samples was examined by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT–PCR), western blotting, immunofluorescence (IF), and immunohistochemistry. Extensive in vitro and in vivo experiments were carried out to determine the role of ERO1α and its downstream target, member 11 of the solute carrier family 7 (SLC7A11), in mTORC1-mediated cell proliferation, angiogenesis, ferroptosis resistance, and tumor growth. The regulatory mechanism of ERO1α on SLC7A11 was investigated via RNA-sequencing, a cytokine array, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, qRT–PCR, western blotting, IF, a luciferase reporter assay, and a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. The combined therapeutic effect of ERO1α inhibition and the ferroptosis inducer imidazole ketone erastin (IKE) on mTORC1-activated cells was evaluated using cell line-derived xenografts, LSCC organoids, and LSCC patient-derived xenograft models. Results ERO1α is a functional downstream target of mTORC1. Elevated ERO1α induced ferroptosis resistance and exerted pro-oncogenic roles in mTORC1-activated cells via upregulation of SLC7A11. Mechanically, ERO1α stimulated the transcription of SLC7A11 by activating the interleukin-6 (IL-6)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway. Moreover, ERO1α inhibition combined with treatment using the ferroptosis inducer IKE exhibited synergistic antitumor effects on mTORC1-activated tumors. Conclusions The ERO1α/IL-6/STAT3/SLC7A11 pathway is crucial for mTORC1-mediated ferroptosis resistance and tumor growth, and combining ERO1α inhibition with ferroptosis inducers is a novel and effective treatment for mTORC1-related tumors.

Benzovindiflupyr is a succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor fungicide that targets mitochondrial function for disease control. In this study, we investigated the adsorption–desorption and leaching behavior of benzovindiflupyr in eight soil types using the batch equilibrium method and the soil column leaching method. A Freundlich model (r2 > 0.9959) was used to better characterize the adsorption-desorption process in eight soil types, with adsorption coefficients (KF-ads) ranging from 2.303 to 17.886. KF-ads was significantly and positively correlated (p < 0.05) with the organic carbon content. High temperatures and increased initial pH of aqueous solutions led to a decrease in benzovindiflupyr adsorption in the soil. The adsorption was also influenced by factors such as ionic strength, humic acid, surfactant type, microplastic type, and particle size and concentration. Moreover, benzovindiflupyr exhibited low leachability in all four soils selected, but different leaching solutions affected the risk of benzovindiflupyr migration to groundwater. Overall, this study provides insights into the adsorption characteristics of benzovindiflupyr in different soils and provides key information for environmental risk assessment.

Lidah merupakan bagian dari organ muscular yang memiliki peran penting dalam sistem oral (mulut) dan maksilofasial (rahang, leher, dan wajah). Dengan melakukan latihan gerakan lidah bisa membantu terapi pasien dengan penyakit tertentu, seperti sleep apnea. Pada penelitian ini akan dirancang dan dikembangkan aplikasi LTL berbasis Android dan Web, dengan menggunakan alat LTL yang telah dirancang oleh Novie, dkk. Aplikasi berbasis Android di rancang untuk dapat membantu memonitor hasil keluaran sensor FSR dari alat LTL dari sisi pengguna dan aplikasi berbasis Web dirancang untuk memantau kemajuan dari proses LTL yang telah dilakukan dari sisi tenaga medis. Jenis gerakan latihan lidah yang digunakan pada penelitian ini adalah Tongue Slide-1, Tongue Slide-2, dan Tongue Press. Pada aplikasi Android akan ditunjukkan data identitas pasien, data hasil pembacaan tekanan lidah, dan data repetisi gerakan. Desain aplikasi Android LTL yang telah berhasil direalisasikan, menyajikan fitur-fitur untuk membatnu kegiatan pematauan hasil pembacaan latihan tekanan lidah. Hasil pengujian subjektif tampilan dan kemudahan aplikasi android LTL dan web LTL, mendapatkan penilaian yang baik, karena semua penilaian nilainya berada pada indeks 86.3%-92,5%. Sedangkan dari hasil skenario percobaan untuk Pengujian Sistem LTL, bahwa rata-rata tekanan lidah dari seluruh responden yang dilakukan dalam dua kali percobaan untuk gerakan tongue press, gerakan tongue slide-1 dan gerakan tongue slide-2, diatas batas ambang yang ditetapkan yaitu diatas 500 gf. Penelitian lanjutan untuk skenario percobaan dan penggunaan aplikasi ini bisa diterapkan untuk pasien sebenarnya.

IntroductionNegative oxygen ions are produced by plants through photosynthesis, utilizing "tip discharge" or the photoelectric effect, which has various functions such as sterilization, dust removal, and delaying aging. With global warming, high temperatures may affect the ability of Phalaenopsis aphrodite Rchb. f. to produce negative oxygen ions. P. aphrodite is commonly used in modern landscape planning and forest greening.MethodsIn this study, P. aphrodite was selected as the research object. By artificially simulating the climate, the control group (CK) and the high temperature stress group (HS) were set up in the experiment.ResultsThe study found that compared with the control group, the ability of P. aphrodite to produce negative oxygen ions significantly decreased when exposed to high temperature stress. Meanwhile, under high temperature stress treatment, peroxidase content increased by 102%, and proline content significantly increased by 35%.DiscussionRedundancy analysis results indicated a significant correlation between the root endophytic microbial community of P. aphrodite and negative oxygen ions, as well as physiological indicators. Under high temperature stress, P. aphrodite may affect the regulation of physiological indicators by modifying the composition of root endophytic microbial communities, thereby influencing the ability to release negative oxygen ions.

Typhoon-induced debris flows pose a significant threat to the southeastern coastal regions of China. The existing typhoon-induced debris flow warning models, however, are largely limited in the refinement of their rainfall thresholds and in their lack of integration with geological factors. This study proposes a typhoon-induced debris flow warning model based on refined rainfall thresholds by integrating them with geological factors. Firstly, based on the characteristic rainfall of 159 debris flows in seven typhoon rainstorms between 1999 and 2019, the rainfall thresholds of debris flow under different geological conditions were obtained. Close relationships were noticed between rainfall thresholds and the number and density of debris flow disasters. The deterministic coefficient method (DCM) and sensitivity index were used to derive the weights of the geological factors, and the geological groups of the rock masses and vegetation type were the most important geological factors for debris flows. Finally, a typhoon-induced debris flow warning model was constructed, and refined rainfall thresholds were obtained. Due to different geological backgrounds, there were significant differences in the warning rainfall thresholds for debris flow disasters in different regions of the study area. The ROC indicator showed the high accuracy of this debris flow warning model. This research provides a scientific basis for the early warning and prediction of debris flows in typhoon-prone area of China.

Summary: The Streptomyces antibiotic regulatory proteins (SARPs) are ubiquitously distributed transcription activators in Streptomyces and control antibiotics biosynthesis and morphological differentiation. However, the molecular mechanism behind SARP-dependent transcription initiation remains elusive. We here solve the cryo-EM structure of an AfsR-loading RNA polymerase (RNAP)-promoter intermediate complex (AfsR-RPi) including the Streptomyces coelicolor RNAP, a large SARP member AfsR, and its target promoter DNA that retains the upstream portion straight. The structure reveals that one dimeric N-terminal AfsR-SARP domain (AfsR-SARP) specifically engages with the same face of the AfsR-binding sites by the conserved DNA-binding domains (DBDs), replacing σHrdBR4 to bind the suboptimal −35 element, and shortens the spacer between the −10 and −35 elements. Notably, the AfsR-SARPs also recruit RNAP through extensively interacting with its conserved domains (β flap, σHrdBR4, and αCTD). Thus, these macromolecular snapshots support a general model and provide valuable clues for SARP-dependent transcription activation in Streptomyces.

Through the method of three-dimensional numerical simulation, the rotating detonation combustion characteristics of kerosene-fueled scramjets in the range of Ma＝3~7 were studied. In the flight condition of Ma=3, due to the poor effect of fuel atomization and evaporation, the detonation combustion of kerosene fuel cannot be realized. In the flight conditions of Ma＝4, 5, 6, with the increase of Mach number, the number of wave heads increases gradually, which are single-wave, three-wave, and five-wave modes, respectively. However, the propagation speed gradually decreases. In the scramjet mode, the liquid fuel has a good effect of atomization and evaporation. Nevertheless, kerosene vapor remains in the flow field to varying degrees and is discharged from the combustion chamber without participating in the reaction. In the flight condition of Ma＝7, the flow field will burn in a stationary detonation mode because the incoming flow is close to CJ velocity.

Abstract Self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) employed in inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have achieved groundbreaking progress in device efficiency and stability for both single‐junction and tandem configurations, owing to their distinctive and versatile ability to manipulate chemical and physical interface properties. In this regard, we present a comprehensive review of recent research advancements concerning SAMs in inverted perovskite single‐junction and tandem solar cells, where the prevailing challenges and future development prospects in the applications of SAMs are emphasized. We thoroughly examine the mechanistic roles of diverse SAMs in energy‐level regulation, interface modification, defect passivation, and charge transportation. This is achieved by understanding how interfacial molecular interactions can be finely tuned to mitigate charge recombination losses in inverted PSCs. Through this comprehensive review, we aim to provide valuable insights and references for further investigation and utilization of SAMs in inverted perovskite single‐junction and tandem solar cells.

Abstract Recently, machine learning methods, including reservoir computing (RC), have been tremendously successful in predicting complex dynamics in many fields. However, a present challenge lies in pushing for the limit of prediction accuracy while maintaining the low complexity of the model. Here, we design a data-driven, model-free framework named higher-order Granger reservoir computing (HoGRC), which owns two major missions: The first is to infer the higher-order structures incorporating the idea of Granger causality with the RC, and, simultaneously, the second is to realize multi-step prediction by feeding the time series and the inferred higher-order information into HoGRC. We demonstrate the efficacy and robustness of the HoGRC using several representative systems, including the classical chaotic systems, the network dynamical systems, and the UK power grid system. In the era of machine learning and complex systems, we anticipate a broad application of the HoGRC framework in structure inference and dynamics prediction.

Abstract Reservoir computing originates in the early 2000s, the core idea being to utilize dynamical systems as reservoirs (nonlinear generalizations of standard bases) to adaptively learn spatiotemporal features and hidden patterns in complex time series. Shown to have the potential of achieving higher-precision prediction in chaotic systems, those pioneering works led to a great amount of interest and follow-ups in the community of nonlinear dynamics and complex systems. To unlock the full capabilities of reservoir computing towards a fast, lightweight, and significantly more interpretable learning framework for temporal dynamical systems, substantially more research is needed. This Perspective intends to elucidate the parallel progress of mathematical theory, algorithm design and experimental realizations of reservoir computing, and identify emerging opportunities as well as existing challenges for large-scale industrial adoption of reservoir computing, together with a few ideas and viewpoints on how some of those challenges might be resolved with joint efforts by academic and industrial researchers across multiple disciplines.

Abstract Background Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. The sex differences in the occurrence and fatality rates of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), along with its association with estrogen dependence, suggest that estrogen receptors (ERs) contribute to the development of NSCLC. However, the influence of G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER1) on NSCLC remains to be determined. Escape from ferroptosis is one of the hallmarks of tumor discovered in recent years. In this context, the present study evaluated whether GPER1 promotes NSCLC progression by preventing ferroptosis, and the underlying mechanism through which GPER1 protects against ferroptosis was also explored. Methods The effects of GPER1 on the cytotoxicity of H2O2, the ferroptosis inducer RSL3, and Erastin were assessed using the CCK8 assay and plate cloning. Lipid peroxidation levels were measured based on the levels of MDA and BODIPY™581/591C11. GPER1 overexpression and knockdown were performed and G1 was used, and the expression of SCD1 and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling factors was measured. Immunofluorescence analysis and immunohistochemistry were performed on paired specimens to measure the correlation between the expression of GPER1 and SCD1 in NSCLC tissues. The effect of GPER1 on the cytotoxicity of cisplatin was measured in vitro using the CCK8 assay and in vivo using xenograft tumor models. Results GPER1 and G1 alleviated the cytotoxicity of H2O2, reduced sensitivity to RSL3, and impaired lipid peroxidation in NSCLC tissues. In addition, GPER1 and G1 promoted the protein and mRNA expression of SCD1 and the activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling. GPER1 and SCD1 expression were elevated and positively correlated in NSCLC tissues, and high GPER1 expression predicted a poor prognosis. GPER1 knockdown enhanced the antitumor activity of cisplatin in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion GPER1 prevents ferroptosis in NSCLC by promoting the activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling, thereby inducing SCD1 expression. Therefore, treatments targeting GPER1 combined with cisplatin would exhibit better antitumor effects. Graphical Abstract

This paper proposes a coordinated frequency control scheme for emergency frequency regulation of isolated power systems with a high penetration of wind power. The proposed frequency control strategy is based on the novel nonlinear regulator theory, which takes advantage of nonlinearity of doubly fed induction generators (DFIGs) and generators to regulate the frequency of the power system. Frequency deviations and power imbalances are used to design nonlinear feedback controllers that achieve the reserve power distribution between generators and DFIGs, in various wind speed scenarios. The effectiveness and dynamic performance of the proposed nonlinear coordinated frequency control method are validated through simulations in an actual isolated power grid.

Stochastic electricity markets have drawn attention due to fast increase of renewable penetrations. This results in two issues: one is to reduce uplift payments arising from non-convexity under renewable uncertainties, and the other one is to allocate reserve costs based on renewable uncertainties. To resolve the first issue, a convex hull pricing method for stochastic electricity markets is proposed. The dual variables of system-wide constraints in a chance-constrained unit commitment model are shown to reduce expected uplift payments, together with developing a linear program to efficiently calculate such prices. To resolve the second issue, an allocation method is proposed to allocate reserve costs to each renewable power plant by explicitly investigating how renewable uncertainties of each renewable power plant affect reserve costs. The proposed methods are validated in a 24-period 3-unit test example and a 24-period 48-unit utility example.

Abstract Mitochondrial metabolism has been shown to play a key role in immune cell survival and function, but mitochondrial creatine kinase 2 (CKMT2) has been relatively little studied about tumor immunity. We aimed to explore the prognostic value of CKMT2 in 33 cancer types and investigate its potential immune function. We used a range of bioinformatics approaches to explore the potential carcinogenic role of CKMT2 in multiple cancers. CKMT2 was lowly expressed in 14 tumor tissues and highly expressed in 4 tumor tissues. Immunohistochemical assays showed overexpression of CKMT2 in colon cancer and rectal cancer. CKMT2 overexpression was positively correlated with the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma and prostate cancer. CKMT2 overexpression is mainly enriched in the adaptive immune system and immune regulatory pathways of immunoglobulins. Seven cancers were positively correlated with low CKMT2 expression in tumor microenvironment analysis. Among the five cancers, low expression of CKMT2 resulted in better immunotherapy treatment outcomes. There was a strong correlation between CKMT2 and most immune-related genes in specific cancer types. CKMT2 plays an important role in tumorigenesis and cancer immunity and can be used as a prognostic biomarker and potential target for cancer immunotherapy.

Abstract Prospective evidence regarding the combination of programmed cell death (PD)−1 and angiogenesis inhibitors in treating locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC) is limited. In this multicenter, randomized, phase 2 trial (NCT04195828), patients with gastric adenocarcinoma (clinical T2-4N + M0) were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive neoadjuvant camrelizumab and apatinib combined with nab-paclitaxel plus S-1 (CA-SAP) or chemotherapy SAP alone (SAP) for 3 cycles. The primary endpoint was the major pathological response (MPR), defined as

Abstract Background Lung cancer is a highly prevalent malignancy worldwide and is associated with high mortality rates. While the involvement of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the development of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) has been established, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Methods In this study, we utilized data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to identify differentially expressed endoplasmic reticulum stress-related genes (ERSRGs) between LUAD and normal tissues. We performed various bioinformatics analyses to investigate the biological functions of these ERSRGs. Using LASSO analysis and multivariate stepwise regression, we constructed a novel prognostic model based on the ERSRGs. We further validated the performance of the model using two independent datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Additionally, we conducted functional enrichment analysis, immune checkpoint analysis, and immune infiltration analysis and drug sensitivity analysis of LUAD patients to explore the potential biological function of the model. Furthermore, we conducted a battery of experiments to verify the expression of ERSRGs in a real-world cohort. Results We identified 106 ERSRGs associated with LUAD, which allowed us to classify LUAD patients into two subtypes based on gene expression differences. Using six prognostic genes (NUPR1, RHBDD2, VCP, BAK1, EIF2AK3, MBTPS2), we constructed a prognostic model that exhibited excellent predictive performance in the training dataset and was successfully validated in two independent external datasets. The risk score derived from this model emerged as an independent prognostic factor for LUAD. Confirmation of the linkage between this risk model and immune infiltration was affirmed through the utilization of Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), Gene Ontology (GO), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses. The q-PCR results verified significant differences in the expression of prognostic genes between cancer and paracancer tissues. Notably, the protein expression of NUPR1, as determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC), exhibited an opposite pattern compared to the mRNA expression patterns. Conclusion This study establishes a novel prognostic model for LUAD based on six ER stress-related genes, facilitating the prediction of LUAD prognosis. Additionally, NUPR1 was identified as a potential regulator of stress in LUAD.

With the trend of multiple energies or flexible demand in power systems, binary variables appear in system-wide constraints, which are the foundation of marginal pricing currently in markets. An appropriate pricing method incentivizes compliance of market participants; otherwise, compliance can be incentivized by paying discriminatory uplift payments which jeopardize transparency of markets. This paper proposes two theorems to examine whether the binary variables brought by multiple energies and flexible demand will impact compliance under marginal pricing. The first theorem shows sufficient conditions with which marginal pricing with fixed binary variables incentivizes compliance, while the second theorem shows sufficient conditions to require uplift payments. To improve transparency by reducing uplift payments under cases which fall into the second theorem, this paper further proposes a pricing method by combining 1) designed constraints to price binary variables in system-wide constraints, and 2) convex hull pricing to price binary variables in private constraints. Effectiveness of the proposed theorems and pricing method is verified in an electricity-gas case (consisting of the IEEE 30-bus system and the NGS 10-node system) and the IEEE 118-bus test system.

With deployment of measurement units, fitting static equivalent models of distribution networks (DNs) by linear regression has been recognized as an effective method in power flow analysis of a transmission network. Increasing volatility of measurements caused by variable distributed renewable energy sources makes it more difficult to accurately fit such equivalent models. To tackle this challenge, this letter proposes a novel data-driven method to improve equivalency accuracy of DNs with distributed energy resources. This letter provides a new perspective that an equivalent model can be regarded as a mapping from internal conditions and border voltages to border power injections. Such mapping can be established through 1) Koopman operator theory, and 2) physical features of power flow equations at the root node of a DN. Performance of the proposed method is demonstrated on the IEEE 33-bus and IEEE 136-bus test systems connected to a 661-bus utility system.

The solar insecticidal lamp (SIL) is an electronic device designed for physical pest control, widely utilized in orchards and farmland. Currently, the characteristic of the phototactic rhythm of pest is commonly ignored in the design of SILs, hindering pest control. This phenomenon is particularly evident in the prolonged turning on/offlamp, which leads to inefficient energy utilization due to the lack of adjustment for peak pest activity. To address this issue, four models based on the phototactic rhythm of pests are developed to adjust the insecticidal timing of SIL for precise pest control. These mathematical models are established considering the phototactic rhythm of four pests that exert the most significant impact on crops, namely Mythimna seperata, Helicoverpa armigera, Proxenus lepigone, and Cnaphalocrocis medinalis. The results indicate that mathematical modeling of the phototactic rhythm of the pest is valuable in capturing their nocturnal activity patterns. The proposed mathematical model can help to optimize the on/offtime of SIL for pest control. The integration of electronic devices, such as SIL in pest management represents a noteworthy advancement in agricultural electronics, contributing to the progress of smart and sustainable agriculture.

Purpose: We aimed to study the effects of aspirin intake for diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic macular edema (DME) in a cohort from northeastern China. Methods: Participants in the Fushun Diabetic Retinopathy Cohort Study were enrolled between July 2012 and May 2013. Fundus photographs of six fields were graded according to the modified Airlie House Classification system. The prevalence, incidence, progression, and regression of DR, as well as the prevalence/incidence of DME, were evaluated at baseline and during follow-up examinations after at least 1 year. Results: In total, 1370 patients were enrolled in the study, and 270 (19.7%) were taking aspirin. The prevalence of any DR in participants with and without aspirin intake was 47.4% and 44.9%, respectively (P = 0.46). The incidence of any DR in patients with and without aspirin intake was 9.2% and 8.3%, respectively (P = 0.74). In univariate regression, there was no association between aspirin intake and the prevalence of any DR and DME (odds ratios (OR), 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.93, 0.68–1.27 and 1.22, 0.79–1.88, respectively). Aspirin intake was not significantly associated with the prevalence and incidence of DME (OR, 95% CI: 1.22, 0.79–1.88 and 1.79, 0.62–5.17, respectively). Furthermore, aspirin intake was not significantly associated with DR progression or regression (OR, 95% CI: 1.04, 0.66–1.66 and 0.75, 0.52–1.09, respectively). Conclusion: Aspirin intake was not associated with the prevalence and incidence of any DR or DME in a northeastern Chinese population. Neither progression nor regression of DR revealed a significant association with aspirin intake.