Search

Objective This study aims to verify the protective effect of the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein1 (Keap1)–nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathways by studying the effect of plasmids containing Nrf2–small hairpin RNA (shRNA) interference down-regulation of Nrf2 on zearalenone (ZEA)–induced intestinal porcine epithelial cells (IPEC-J2) oxidative stress. Methods We constructed an IPEC-J2 model that interferes with Nrf2 expression, set blank (control), negative control group (Sh-control), positive control group (Sh-Nrf2), and added 10, 20, and 40 μmol/L ZEA experimental group (Sh-Nrf2+ZEA10, Sh-Nrf2+ZEA20, and Sh-Nrf2+ZEA40). Results The study results showed that, compared with the Sh-Nrf2 group, ZEA significantly increased the apoptosis rate of IPEC-J2 in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Compared with the Sh-Nrf2 group, the activities of total superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase and relative expressions of Keap1 at mRNA and protein level in the Sh-Nrf2+ZEA20 and Sh-Nrf2+ZEA40 groups were significantly reduced, the malondialdehyde level, and the fluorescence intensity around and within the nucleus of reactive oxygen species and Nrf2, and the relative expressions of Nrf2, quinone oxidoreductase 1, and hemeoxygenase 1 at mRNA and protein level significantly increased. Conclusion These results further prove that interfering with the expression of Nrf2 in IPEC-J2 cells affected the activation of the Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway and reduced the ability of cells to resist ZEA-induced oxidative stress. Therefore, the Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway had an important protective effect in ZEA-induced intestinal oxidative stress.

Abstract Introduction Psychotic depression (PD) is a highly debilitating disorder characterized by hallucinations and/or delusions accompanied by depression. A variety of neurotransmitters, hormones and corresponding receptors in the endocrine system are involved in the onset and progression of depression, and fasting blood glucose (FBG) can be an important indicator for monitoring the stability of the endocrine system. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between FBG and PD in a Chinese population with first-episode drug-naïve (FEDN) major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods In this study, 1718 outpatient individuals diagnosed with first-episode drug-naïve major depressive disorder (FEDN MDD) were included. The association between PD and FBG levels was identified through multivariable binary logistic regression analysis. To investigate potential non-linear relationships, a two-piecewise linear regression model was utilized. Additionally, interaction and stratified analyses were performed based on gender, educational background, marital status, presence of comorbid anxiety, and history of suicide attempt. Results Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that FBG was positively associated with the risk of PD in FEDN MDD patients (OR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.31 to 2.13; P

Abstract Green prevention and control technology (GPCT) represents an eco-friendly approach in agriculture, aimed at promoting sustainability by reducing farmers’ excessive use of chemical pesticides. Despite the Chinese government having made a large effort to promote the technology, the farmers’ utilization is still low in China, especially when no financial incentives are provided to farmers. This study took 642 farmer questionnaires in Hua county, China, to analyze the effect of information awareness on farmers’ adoption of GPCT. Our findings indicate that farmers’ information awareness is a significant factor in their decision to adopt GPCT. Furthermore, the underlying mechanisms of the influence of information awareness on farmers’ GPCT adoption have been studied. Mechanism analysis shows that farmers’ information awareness affects the adoption of GPCT mainly through social networks. Farmers’ environmental values significantly reinforce the positive influence of information awareness on GPCT adoption. In addition, the regression results from the sub-sample indicate that information awareness has a more pronounced marginal effect on GPCT adoption for farmers with long years of schooling and larger wheat cultivation areas. These results offer insights for promoting GPCT in developing nations.

Abstract The recent discovery of the persistence of long-range magnetic order when van der Waals magnets are thinned towards monolayers provides a tunable platform for engineering of novel magnetic structures and devices. Here, we study the evolution of the electronic structure of CrGeTe3 as a function of surface electron doping. From angle-resolved photoemission, we observe spectroscopic fingerprints that this electron doping drives a marked increase in T C, reaching values more than double that of the undoped material, in agreement with recent studies using electrostatic gating. Together with density functional theory calculations and Monte Carlo simulations, we show that, surprisingly, the increased T C is mediated by the population of spin-minority Cr t 2g states, forming a half-metallic 2D electron gas. This promotes a novel variant of double exchange, and unlocks a significant influence of Ge – which was previously thought to be electronically inert in this system – in mediating Cr-Cr exchange.

Abstract Biochar is well-accepted as a viable climate mitigation strategy to promote agricultural and environmental benefits such as soil carbon sequestration and crop productivity while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, its effects on soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) in field experiments have not yet been thoroughly explored. In this study, we collected 539 paired globally published observations to study the impacts of biochar on SMBC under field experiments. Our results suggested an overall positive impact of biochar (21.31%) on SMBC, varying widely with different climate conditions, soil types, biochar properties, and management practices. Biochar application exhibits significant impacts under climates with mean annual temperature (MAT) 400 g/kg resulted in an increase in SMBC. Low biochar total carbon (BTC) and high total nitrogen (BTN) positively affect the SMBC. Repeated application significantly increased the SMBC by 50.11%, and fresh biochar in the soil (≤ 6 months) enhanced SMBC compared to the single application and aged biochar. Biochar applied with nitrogen fertilizer (up to 300 kg/ha) and manure/compost showed significant improvements in SMBC, but co-application with straw resulted in a slight negative impact on the SMBC. The best-fit gradient boosting machines model, which had the lowest root mean square error, demonstrated the relative importance of various factors on biochar effectiveness: biochar, soil, climate, and nitrogen applications at 46.2%, 38.1%, 8.3%, and 7.4%, respectively. Soil clay proportion, BAP, nitrogen application, and MAT were the most critical variables for biochar impacts on SMBC. The results showed that biochar efficiency varies significantly in different climatic conditions, soil environments, field management practices, biochar properties, and feedstock types. Our meta-analysis of field experiments provides the first quantitative review of biochar impacts on SMBC, demonstrating its potential for rehabilitating nutrient-deprived soils and promoting sustainable land management. To improve the efficiency of biochar amendment, we call for long-term field experiments to measure SMBC across diverse agroecosystems. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Background No-tillage (NT) is a widely used field management to reduce soil erosion and degradation and is suggested to be beneficial for enhancing soil carbon (C) sequestration capacity. Nonetheless, the effects of NT on soil total carbon (TC) content in aeolian sandy soils are not extensively explored, and the underlying mechanisms are not clear. In our field experiments, the influence of NT and conventional tillage (CT) on sandy soil was studied. Methods We estimated the changes in soil TC in response to NT practice in a Cyperus esculentus L. field located at semi-arid Horqin sandy land, China. To unravel the underlying mechanisms, plant traits, soil properties and soil microbial characteristics were measured in parallel. The variations in soil bacterial community structure were investigated by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. The functionality of soil bacterial community was predicted based on OTU tables by using PICRUSt2. Results NT increased soil TC content in this sandy agroecosystem within a short-term experimental period, compared to CT. The underlying mechanisms might rely on three aspects. First, NT increased soil TC content through increasing photosynthesis and plant biomass, and thus, the plant-derived dissolved organic C. Second, NT increased the C immobilized in soil microbial biomass by increasing microbial C demands and C use efficiency. Third, NT increased the dominance of oligotrophic members in bacterial communities by decreasing available nutrient levels, which is associated with the recalcitrance and stability of the soil organic carbon. Conclusions The present study enriched our knowledge on the changes in the plant-soil-microbe continuum in response to NT in a semi-arid sandy agroecosystem. Still, this study provides a reference for modifying tillage practices to benefit crop yield as well as soil C sequestration.

Abstract A comprehensive understanding of the intrinsic piezoelectric anisotropy stemming from diverse chemical and physical factors is a key step for the rational design of highly anisotropic materials. We performed high-throughput calculations on tetragonal ABO3 perovskites to investigate the overall characteristics of their piezoelectricity and the interplay between lattice, displacement, polarization, and elasticity. Among the screened 123 types of perovskites, the structural tetragonality is naturally divided into two categories: normal tetragonal (c/a ratio 1.17), exhibiting distinct chemical features, ferroelectric, elastic, and piezoelectric properties. Charge analysis revealed the mechanisms underlying polarization saturation and piezoelectricity suppression in the super-tetragonal region, which also produces an inherent contradiction between high piezoelectric coefficient d 33 and large piezoelectric anisotropy ratio |d 33/d 31|. Both the polarization axis and elastic softness direction are strongly correlated to piezoelectric anisotropy, which jointly determines the direction of maximum longitudinal piezoelectric response d 33. The validity and deficiencies of the widely utilized |d 33/d 31| ratio for representing piezoelectric anisotropy were reevaluated.

Abstract Nighttime light data partially reflects the process of urban modernization and its reaction to urban scale, but its correlation with noise remains unclear, especially over a long-term time series, remains unclear. To address this gap, we examine 31 provincial capital cities and municipalities in China as the study area, utilizing noise monitoring data and nighttime light data to explore their relationship in urban areas from 2012 to 2021. The results show that: (1) During the study period, the regional environmental noise and night light index of 31 major cities exhibited a consistent upward trend, with the average equivalent sound level of environmental noise in most urban areas fluctuating between 50.1 dB (A) and 60.0 dB (A). The overall quality evaluation was average, indicating that the effectiveness of noise pollution prevention and control was difficult to sustain in the long term. (2) The driving factor affecting the change in environmental noise quality in urban areas is population density. (3) There is a significant correlation between different types of noise proportion and urban construction and development, with the closest correlation observed with the urban economy, urban built-up area, and urban construction land area. Cities with high levels of urbanization tend to have more vulnerable acoustic environments. (4) Industrial noise percentage of urban environmental noise has a significant positive impact on nighttime light data. This study provides valuable insights for promoting the coordinated development between urbanization and acoustic environment optimization, as well as fostering a healthy and sustainable living environment.

Abstract Background Patient-derived organoids (PDOs) represent a promising approach for replicating the characteristics of original tumors and facilitating drug testing for personalized treatments across diverse cancer types. However, clinical evidence regarding their application to esophageal cancer remains limited. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of implementing PDOs in clinical practice to benefit patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods Fresh surgical biopsies were obtained from patients with esophageal cancer for the establishment of PDOs. These PDOs were subsequently characterized through histological analysis. A customized drug panel, based on standard-of-care chemotherapy regimens, was applied to the PDOs. The resulting drug sensitivity profiles were then correlated with the clinical responses observed in individual patients undergoing actual treatment. Results A total of 34 PDOs were successfully established with a 61.8% success rate. The classification method based on chemotherapy sensitivity closely corresponded to clinical responses. The paclitaxel plus cisplatin (TP)-sensitive group demonstrated significantly longer progression-free survival (PFS) compared to the resistant groups, Hazard ratio (HR), 5.12; 95% confidence intervals (CI 0.58–44.71; p

Cavity ringdown spectroscopy (CRDS), relying on measuring the decay time of photons inside a high-finesse optical cavity, offers an important analytical tool for chemistry, physics, environmental science, and biology. Through the reflection of a slight amount of phase-coherent light back to the laser source, the resonant optical feedback approach effectively couples the laser beam into the optical cavity and achieves a high signal-to-noise ratio. However, the need for active phase-locking mechanisms complicates the spectroscopic system, limiting its primarily laboratory-based use. Here, we report how passive optical feedback can be implemented in a quantum cascade laser (QCL) based CRDS system to address this issue. Without using any phase-locking loops, we reflect a moderate amount of light (–18.2 dB) to a continuous-wave QCL simply using a fixed flat mirror, narrowing the QCL linewidth from 1.2 MHz to 170 kHz and significantly increasing the laser-cavity coupling efficiency. To validate the method’s feasibility and effectiveness, we measured the absorption line (P(18e), 2207.62 cm−1) of N2O in a Fabry–Perot cavity with a high finesse of ~52000 and an inter-mirror distance of 33 cm. This agile approach paves the way for revolutionizing existing analytical tools by offering compact and high-fidelity mid-infrared CRDS systems.

Introduction: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of adjunct systemic corticosteroid therapy in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with bacterial community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Method: We searched MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Library to identify randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published from the databases’ inception to February 2024. All RCTs evaluating the effect of systemic corticosteroids on mortality, compared to standard of care among adult bacterial CAP patients admitted to ICU were included. Bayesian meta-analysis was conducted in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. Independent authors reviewed each study for eligibility, extracted data and assessed risk of bias in duplicate, with discrepancies referred to senior reviewers. Results: A total of 6 RCTs comprising 1585 patients were included for analysis. In ICU patients with severe CAP who were treated with corticosteroids, there was no significant reduction in hospital mortality (risk ratio [RR] 0.70, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.39–1.14, certainty of evidence: ⊕⊕⊝⊝ low) or all-cause mortality (RR 0.68, 95% CI 0.34–1.22, ⊕⊕⊝⊝ low) compared with placebo. The use of corticosteroids showed a significant reduction in mechanical ventilation post-intervention (RR 0.58, 95% CI 0.37–0.86, ⊕⊕⊕⊕ high) compared with placebo. In a subgroup analysis of patients treated with hydrocortisone, hospital mortality was significantly reduced (RR 0.45, 95% CI 0.20–0.88, ⊕⊕⊝⊝ low) compared with placebo. There was no significant increase in gastrointestinal bleeding, secondary infections or hyperglycaemia in patients treated with corticosteroids. Conclusion: Corticosteroids significantly reduced mechanical ventilation requirements, and hydrocortisone significantly reduced hospital mortality. Further work is required to determine whether other corticosteroids reduce mortality among ICU patients with CAP.

Abstract Background The inverse relationship between serum Klotho levels and systemic inflammation, particularly C-reactive protein (CRP), has been suggested in limited studies. However, the association within a large and diverse population remains underexplored. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to investigate the association between serum Klotho levels and CRP among a nationally representative sample of the US population. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to assess this relationship while adjusting for relevant covariates. Stratified analysis with interaction, restricted cubic splines (RCS) were employed to support the research objectives. Results A total of 5901 participants had a mean age of 57.9 ± 11.0 years, with 49.4% of them being male and 50.6% of them being female. A negative association between serum Klotho and CRP was revealed in the fully adjusted model (β -0.26; 95% CI -0.41∼-0.11). When serum Klotho was taken as quartiles with Q1 as reference, the adjusted β that were lowest in Q4 were − 0.1 (95% CI -0.16∼-0.04, p-value = 0.002) in model 4, respectively. These statistics were robust in stratified analyses. Conclusion While our study demonstrates an inverse association between serum Klotho levels and CRP, suggesting a potential cardioprotective role of Klotho, it is important to note that our cross-sectional design does not permit the establishment of causality. Therefore, we cannot definitively conclude that increasing Klotho levels will directly reduce cardiovascular risk. Our findings do, however, highlight the need for further research to explore the potential of Klotho as a therapeutic target for cardiovascular health.

Abstract The electron transfer process (ETP) is able to avoid the redox cycling of catalysts by capturing electrons from contaminants directly. However, the ETP usually leads to the formation of oligomers and the reduction of oxidants to anions. Herein, the charge-confined Fe single-atom catalyst (Fe/SCN) with Fe-N3S1 configuration was designed to achieve ETP-mediated contaminant activation of the oxidant by limiting the number of electrons gained by the oxidant to generate 1O2. The Fe/SCN-activate periodate (PI) system shows excellent contaminant degradation performance due to the combination of ETP and 1O2. Experiments and DFT calculations show that the Fe/SCN-PI* complex with strong oxidizing ability triggers the ETP, while the charge-confined effect allows the single-electronic activation of PI to generate 1O2. In the Fe/SCN + PI system, the 100% selectivity dechlorination of ETP and the ring-opening of 1O2 avoid the generation of oligomers and realize the transformation of large-molecule contaminants into small-molecule biodegradable products. Furthermore, the Fe/SCN + PI system shows excellent anti-interference ability and application potential. This work pioneers the generation of active species using ETP’s electron to activate oxidants, which provides a perspective on the design of single-atom catalysts via the charge-confined effect.

In order to realize the unmanned mining of the fully mechanized mining face in the coal mine, instead of the staff to explore and monitor the dangerous mining environment, we designed a control system for a mining inspection device based on laser SLAM. To meet the requirements of low power consumption and rapid parallel processing, NVIDIA Jetson AGX was chosen as the main control module, and dual communication method of WiFi and LoRa was adopted to meet different data transmission needs. The core of the driving system employs the STM32F103C8T6 microcontroller to drive the brushless DC motor by receiving instructions from the main control module. The algorithm uses non-maximum suppression to extract fine feature to achieve local maximum search, so as to locate and identify the target more accurately. Prototype tests of the inspection device control system were conducted in two different experimental environments: an indoor laboratory setting and an underground coal mine comprehensive mining working face. The tests aimed to assess mapping clarity, precise positioning, and target recognition effectiveness. The experimental results show that the design has excellent performance in feature extraction and other algorithms, and has high positioning accuracy, which meets the needs of practical applications.

Abstract Background To compare the performance between one-slice two-dimensional (2D) and whole-volume three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT)-based radiomics models in the prediction of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) status in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods Two hundred twenty-four patients with ESCC (158 LVI-absent and 66 LVI-present) were enrolled in this retrospective study. The enrolled patients were randomly split into the training and testing sets with a 7:3 ratio. The 2D and 3D radiomics features were derived from the primary tumors’ 2D and 3D regions of interest (ROIs) using 1.0 mm thickness contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) images. The 2D and 3D radiomics features were screened using inter-/intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) analysis, Wilcoxon rank-sum test, Spearman correlation test, and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, and the radiomics models were built by multivariate logistic stepwise regression. The performance of 2D and 3D radiomics models was assessed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The actual clinical utility of the 2D and 3D radiomics models was evaluated by decision curve analysis (DCA). Results There were 753 radiomics features from 2D ROIs and 1130 radiomics features from 3D ROIs, and finally, 7 features were retained to construct 2D and 3D radiomics models, respectively. ROC analysis revealed that in both the training and testing sets, the 3D radiomics model exhibited higher AUC values than the 2D radiomics model (0.930 versus 0.852 and 0.897 versus 0.851, respectively). The 3D radiomics model showed higher accuracy than the 2D radiomics model in the training and testing sets (0.899 versus 0.728 and 0.788 versus 0.758, respectively). In addition, the 3D radiomics model has higher specificity and positive predictive value, while the 2D radiomics model has higher sensitivity and negative predictive value. The DCA indicated that the 3D radiomics model provided higher actual clinical utility regarding overall net benefit than the 2D radiomics model. Conclusions Both 2D and 3D radiomics features can be employed as potential biomarkers to predict the LVI in ESCC. The performance of the 3D radiomics model is better than that of the 2D radiomics model for the prediction of the LVI in ESCC.

Abstract Background The effect of omentum preservation (OP) on locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC) remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the long-term prognosis of LAGC patients with OP versus omentum resection (OR). Methods A comprehensive search of databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library was conducted up until February 2024. Statistical analysis was performed using Stata 12.0 software. The primary outcome was to assess the impact of OP on the long-term prognosis of patients with LAGC, including overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Results A total of six case-control studies were included, encompassing a cohort of 1897 patients. The OP group consisted of 844 patients, while the OR group comprised 1053 patients. The study results showed that the OS (HR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.58–0.90, P = 0.003) and 5-year RFS (HR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.63–0.99, P = 0.038) in the OP group were superior to those observed in the OR group. Subgroup analysis indicated that 5-year OS (HR = 0.64, P = 0.003) and 5-year RFS (HR = 0.69, P = 0.005) in the OP group were also better than those in the OR group in Korea. However, the subgroup analysis conducted on stage T3-T4 tumors revealed no statistically significant differences in OS (P = 0.083) and 5-year RFS (P = 0.173) between the two groups. Conclusion Compared with OR, OP shows non-inferiority in patients with LAGC and can be considered a potential treatment option for radical gastrectomy.

Background Diabetic bladder dysfunction (DBD) is a common urinary complication in diabetic patients, significantly affecting their overall well-being and quality of life, and placing a considerable burden on healthcare resources. Early prevention is crucial; however, the absence of a simple and effective tool to predict DBD onset remains a significant challenge. This study aims to identify risk factors for DBD in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to develop a predictive nomogram for clinical application. Methods This retrospective study included patients with T2DM treated at two hospitals. Data from patients treated at one hospital between January 2020 and August 2023 were used to create the training set, while data from patients treated at another hospital between March 2022 and October 2023 were used to create the validation set. Patients were classified into two groups based on the presence or absence of DBD: the DBD group and the non-DBD group. Significant factors identified via bivariate analysis (P < 0.05) were incorporated into multivariate logistic regression to construct a predictive model, and a corresponding nomogram was developed. The model’s performance was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration plots, decision curve analysis (DCA), and clinical impact plots (CIC), with validation performed through 1,000 bootstrap resamplings. Results A total of 1,010 participants were included in this study, with a DBD incidence rate of 38.81% (392/1,010). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified HbA1c, PCP-2h, DPN, TCO2, PAB, T-Bil, I-Bil, IgE, URBC, UI and UR as independent risk factors for DBD. A nomogram was constructed based on these factors. Both internal and external validations demonstrated the good predictive performance of the nomogram. The area under the curve (AUC) for the training and validation datasets was 0.897 and 0.862, respectively. The calibration curve showed a high degree of consistency. Results from DCA and CIC indicated that the prediction model had high clinical utility. Conclusions A predictive model and nomogram for DBD in T2DM patients were developed, demonstrating strong accuracy and clinical utility, aiding in early DBD risk assessment and intervention.

Abstract This multicenter, single‐arm, phase II clinical trial (NCT04034589) evaluated the efficacy and safety of pyrotinib combined with fulvestrant in patients with HR‐positive/HER2‐positive metastatic breast cancer who had experienced trastuzumab treatment failure. A total of 46 patients were enrolled, receiving pyrotinib orally once daily and fulvestrant intramuscularly on days 1 and 15 of cycle 1, followed by monthly doses on day 1. The primary endpoint was progression‐free survival (PFS), while secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and safety. The median PFS was 18.2 months (95% CI, 11.9–31.1) overall, 19.5 months (95% CI, 10.6–NA) for those receiving the combination as first‐line therapy, and 18.4 months (95% CI, 16.7–NA) for patients with brain metastases. Median OS was not reached, with a 3‐year OS rate of 75.2% (95% CI, 62.8–90.2%). The ORR was 32.5%, and the DCR was 97.5%. Responses were observed in patients with low tumor mutation burden and ZNF217 mutation. Importantly, no grade 4 or higher treatment‐related adverse events or deaths were reported, indicating a favorable safety profile. In conclusion, the combination of pyrotinib and fulvestrant demonstrated promising antitumor activity and acceptable safety in HR‐positive/HER2‐positive metastatic breast cancer patients.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory joint disease accompanied by energy depletion and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) offer great promise for the treatment of RA because they mostly have functions beyond being drug carriers. However, conventional nanomaterials become coated with a protein corona (PC) or lose their cargo prematurely in vivo, reducing their therapeutic efficacy. To avoid these problems, we loaded methotrexate (MTX) into hollow structured manganese dioxide nanoparticles (H-MnO2 NPs), then coated them with a ‘pseudo-corona’ of human serum albumin (HSA) at physiological concentrations to obtain HSA-MnO2@MTX NPs. Efficacy of MTX, MnO2@MTX, and HSA-MnO2@MTX NPs was compared in vitro and in vivo. Compared to MnO2@MTX, HSA-coated NPs were taken up better by lipopolysaccharide-activated RAW264.7 and were more effective at lowering levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and preventing ROS accumulation. HSA-MnO2@MTX NPs were also more efficient at blocking the proliferation and migration of fibroblast-like synoviocytes from rats with collagen-induced arthritis. In this rat model, HSA-MnO2@MTX NPs showed better biodistribution than other treatments, specifically targeting the ankle joint. Furthermore, HSA-MnO2@MTX NPs reduced swelling in the paw, regulated pro-inflammatory cytokine production, and limited cartilage degradation and signs of inflammation. These results establish the therapeutic potential of HSA-MnO2@MTX NPs against RA.

Abstract A response to the case report by Zhang et al. and supplement another case of giant peritoneal loose body discovered due to abdominal pain. A 68-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with abdominal pain. CT revealed an ovoid mass in the pelvis measuring approximately 11.5 × 8.6 × 7.4 cm. During laparotomy, yellowish-white mass was identified within the pelvis. Histological examination revealed that the mass was hyalinized fibrous connective tissue with focal calcification. We report an extremely rare and interesting case.

Abstract Improvements in the polarization of environmentally-friendly perovskite ferroelectrics have proved to be a challenging task in order to replace the toxic Pb-based counterparts. In contrast to common methods by complex chemical composition designs, we have formed Mn-inlaid antiphase boundaries in Mn-doped (K,Na)NbO3 thin films using pulsed laser deposition method. Here, we observed that mono- or bi-atomic layer of Mn has been identified to inlay along the antiphase boundaries to balance the charges originated from the deficiency of alkali ions and to induce the strain in the KNN films. Thus, rectangular saturated polarization-electric field hysteresis loops have been achieved, with a significantly improved twice remanent polarization of 114 μC/cm2 with an applied electric field of 606 kV/cm, which can be comparable to that of the typical Pb-based thin films. Moreover, we directly see the Mn occupation at the A-site of KNN perovskite structure using atomic-scale microstructure and composition analysis. The Mn-inlaid antiphase boundary can further enrich the understanding of perovskite crystal structure and give more possibilities for the design and optimization of perovskite materials.

Abstract Radiotherapy (RT) is a widely used treatment with strong therapeutic effects, but overcoming challenges related to hypoxia-induced tumor resistance and ineffective antitumor immune responses is crucial for optimal outcomes. In this study, we developed a versatile nanosystem using mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), R837, and a small quantity of manganese peroxide (Mn/ZnO2). The synthesized MSN@R837-Mn/ZnO2 nanoparticles exhibited precise tumor targeting and accumulation, controlled drug release under acidic conditions, and increased sensitivity in magnetic resonance imaging. These attributes collectively augmented the therapeutic efficacy of RT by alleviating hypoxia and immunosuppression. Tumor cells treated with RT combined with these nanoparticles displayed reduced oxidative stress, alleviated hypoxia, and normalized blood vessel formation. Notably, all mice in the RT + PD-1 + MSN@R837-Mn/ZnO2 group achieved complete tumor regression with extended survival. Safety assessments confirmed the absence of MSN@R837-Mn/ZnO2 toxicity, highlighting its potential as a promising approach with dual functionality for the diagnostic imaging and treatment of cancer.

Abstract Atomic clocks with higher frequency stability and accuracy than traditional space-borne atomic clocks are the cornerstone of long-term autonomous operation of space-time-frequency systems. We proposed a space cold atoms clock based on an intracavity cooling scheme, which captures cold atoms at the center of a microwave cavity and then executes in situ interactions between the cold atoms and microwaves. As a result of the microgravity environment in space, the cold atoms can interact with the microwaves for a longer time, which aids in realizing a high-precision atomic clock in space. This paper presents the overall design, operational characteristics, and reliability test results of the space atomic clock based on the intracavity cooling scheme designed for the operation onboard the China space station. In addition, the engineering prototype performance of the space cold atoms microwave clock is also presented. The ground test results for the clock show a fractional frequency stability of 1.1 × 10−12 τ−1/2 reaching 2.5 × 10−15 at 200,000 s, providing solid technical and data support for its future operation in orbit.

Abstract This article meticulously examines the transformation of educator roles in medical education against the backdrop of emerging large language models (LLMs). Traditionally, educators have played a crucial role in transmitting knowledge, training skills, and evaluating educational outcomes. However, the advent of LLMs such as Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer-4 has expanded and enriched these traditional roles by leveraging opportunities to enhance teaching efficiency, foster personalised learning, and optimise resource allocation. This has imbued traditional medical educator roles with new connotations. Concurrently, LLMs present challenges to medical education, such as ensuring the accuracy of information, reducing bias, minimizing student over-reliance, preventing patient privacy exposure and safeguarding data security, enhancing the cultivation of empathy, and maintaining academic integrity. In response, educators are called to adopt new roles including experts of information management, navigators of learning, guardians of academic integrity, and defenders of clinical practice. The article emphasises the enriched connotations and attributes of the medical teacher's role, underscoring their irreplaceable value in the AI-driven evolution of medical education. Educators are portrayed not just as users of advanced technology, but also as custodians of the essence of medical education.

ABSTRACT Aim To better understand the research status and demand of society on disaster‐related wound care. Design Scoping review. Methods A systematic search and screening was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, WHO Guidelines, Cochrane Library, ISI Web of Science, MEDLINE and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) Database, and 31 articles were selected from 244 articles for critique and synthesis. Results Existing disaster‐related wound care research lacks a systematic review. In numerous nations, the technology and administration of disaster‐related wound care for Emergency Medical Teams (EMT) are still nascent, the responsibilities are ambiguous, and there is a shortage of wound professionals. Current critical issues include the following: (1) inadequate strategies for enhanced orderly management of disaster‐related wounds, particularly in an emergency setting and (2) lack of associations and organisations responsible for promoting research and development of catastrophe‐related wound care proliferation strategies in disaster wound care. Conclusion There is still a lack of understanding regarding effective organisation and scientific implementation of disaster‐related wound care. More research should be carried out, focusing on the formulation of guidelines and continuous training, so as to promote the standardisation of disaster‐related wound care in the future.

Genomic structural variation (SV) refers to differences in gene sequences between individuals on a genomic scale. It is widely distributed in the genome, primarily in the form of insertions, deletions, duplications, inversions, and translocations. Due to its characterization by long segments and large coverage, SVs significantly impact the genetic characteristics and production performance of livestock, playing a crucial role in studying breed diversity, biological evolution, and disease correlation. Research on SVs contributes to an enhanced understanding of chromosome function and genetic characteristics and is important for understanding hereditary diseases mechanisms. In this article, we review the concept, classification, main formation mechanisms, detection methods, and advancement of research on SVs in the genomes of cattle, buffalo, equine, sheep, and goats, aiming to reveal the genetic basis of differences in phenotypic traits and adaptive genetic mechanisms through genomic research, which will provide a theoretical basis for better understanding and utilizing the genetic resources of herbivorous livestock.

Abstract Dogs interact with humans effectively and intimately. However, the neural underpinnings for such interspecies social communication are not understood. It is known that interbrain activity coupling, i.e., the synchronization of neural activity between individuals, represents the neural basis of social interactions. Here, previously unknown cross‐species interbrain activity coupling in interacting human–dog dyads is reported. By analyzing electroencephalography signals from both dogs and humans, it is found that mutual gaze and petting induce interbrain synchronization in the frontal and parietal regions of the human–dog dyads, respectively. The strength of the synchronization increases with growing familiarity of the human–dog dyad over five days, and the information flow analysis suggests that the human is the leader while the dog is the follower during human–dog interactions. Furthermore, dogs with Shank3 mutations, which represent a promising complementary animal model of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), show a loss of interbrain coupling and reduced attention during human–dog interactions. Such abnormalities are rescued by the psychedelic lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). The results reveal previously unknown interbrain synchronizations within an interacting human–dog dyad which may underlie the interspecies communication, and suggest a potential of LSD for the amelioration of social impairment in patients with ASD.

Structural disorder is common in metal‐halide perovskites and important for understanding the functional properties of these materials. First‐principles methods can address structure variation on the atomistic scale, but they are often limited by the lack of structure‐sampling schemes required to characterize the disorder. Herein, structural disorder in the benchmark inorganic halide perovskites CsPbI3 and CsPbBr3 is computationally studied in terms of the three octahedral‐tilting angles. The subsequent variations in energetics and properties are described by 3D potential‐energy surfaces (PESs) and property landscapes, delivered by Bayesian optimization as implemented in the Bayesian optimization structure search code sampling density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The rapid convergence of the PES with about 200 DFT data points in 3D searches demonstrates the power of active learning and strategic sampling with Bayesian optimization. Further analysis indicates that disorder grows with increasing temperature and reveals that the material bandgap at finite temperatures is a statistical mean over disordered structures.

The lipid and flavor in milk are key factors that affect its quality, which profiles during donkey lactation are not yet clear. In this study, the lipids and volatile compounds (VOCs) in donkey milk from stages of lactation were analyzed by using LC-MS and GC-IMS. A total of 1774 lipids were identified in donkey milk, spanning over 6 major categories and attributed to 30 subclasses. The 233 differentially expressed lipids were identified between donkey colostrum and mature milk, which participate in 20 metabolic pathways, including glycerophospholipid, linoleic acid, and sphingolipid. Additionally, 35 VOCs in donkey milk were identified, including 28.57% aldehydes, 28.57% ketones, 25.71% esters, and 8.57% alcohols. Of these VOCs, 15 were determined to be characteristic flavors in donkey milk, mainly including methyl 2-methylbutanoate, 2-pentanone, and butyl acetate. 11 significantly different VOCs were found between the groups. Acetone, 2-heptanone, and ethyl acetate-m were considered potential discriminatory markers.

Pecans (Carya illinoinensis), one of the most valuable native North American nut crops, are commonly propagated through grafting to preserve the desired characteristics from parent trees. Since successful cultivation of pecan trees relies on the interplay among scion varieties, rootstocks, and soil conditions, this study investigated the microbial change to communities in the soils and roots of southern (87MX5-1.7) and northern (Peruque) rootstocks in a rootstock test orchard. Both grafted with the ‘Pawnee’ scion cultivar. Bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA and fungal ITS were amplified from both roots and rhizosphere soils of the two 10-year-grafted trees, then sequenced and annotated into trophic and nutrient-related groups to characterize the rhizosphere microbiota. The Peruque roots had a higher relative abundance of saprotroph fungi, while 87MX5-1.7 exhibited higher levels of symbiotroph fungi and nitrogen fixation-related bacteria. Among them, the presence of symbiotroph fungi, particularly ectomycorrhizal fungi, notably differed between these two rootstocks, with a significantly higher presence observed in the root of 87MX5-1.7 compared to Peruque. This variation likely leads to divergent pathways of nutrient translocation: Peruque was in favor of multiple fungi (Russula and Inocybe) to gain nutrition, while 87MX5-1.7 preferred a specific domain of fungi (Tuber) and nitrogen fixation-related bacteria (Bradyrhizobia) to form beneficial symbiosis. Moreover, the presence of pathogens suggested a potential risk of Fusarium patch and snow molds in 87MX5-1.7, while canker and black foot disease pose threats in Peruque. The findings of this study suggest that rootstocks from different origins shape rhizosphere microbes differently, potentially affecting nutrient uptake and nut yield. Exploring rootstock-microbe combinations could provide insights into optimizing scion growth and ultimately increasing nut yield. By understanding how different rootstock-microbe interactions influence pecan tree development, growers can strategically select combinations that promote beneficial symbiotic relationships, enhancing nutrient uptake, disease resistance, and overall tree vigor.

Background The intermittent self-catheterization questionnaire (ISC-Q) is a valid and reliable tool to assess the quality of life (QOL) in patients with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) who engage in ISC. The aim of this research is to culturally adapt the ISC-Q and evaluate its psychometric properties within the Chinese patient population. Methods The cross-sectional research was meticulously conducted in two pivotal stages: initially, the focus was on cross-cultural adaptation, followed by an extensive phase of psychometric testing. This comprehensive analysis involved 405 Chinese patients with NLUTD who use ISC. Various analyses, including evaluations of the floor and ceiling effects, item analysis, content validity, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (EFA and CFA), assessments of convergent, discriminant, and criterion validity. Additionally, Cronbach’s alpha was utilized to determine internal consistency, and test-retest reliability was measured using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results No floor and ceiling effects were observed. The content validity index was 0.967. The EFA identified four factors, accounting for 64.953% of the total variance, and this four-factor structure was confirmed by the CFA. The fit indices in CFA were favorable, with χ2/df = 1.999, root mean square error of approximation = 0.070, comparative fit index = 0.916, Tucker–Lewis index = 0.900, goodness-of-fit index = 0.863, and incremental fit index = 0.917. The average variance extracted for the four factors ranged from 0.466 to 0.565, with composite reliability values ranging from 0.776 to 0.859. The ISC-Q showed a positive correlation with the intermittent self-catheterization acceptance questionnaire (r = 0.557, P < 0.001). The ICC overall Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the questionnaire was 0.821, and the for test-retest reliability was 0.951 (95% CI [0.900–0.976] P < 0.001). Conclusion The validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the ISC-Q have been verified, making it suitable for measuring the QOL in NLUTD patients who practice ISC.

Nitrogen oxides (NOx) are common pollutants emitted from stationary sources, such as industrial boilers and power plants, with significant adverse impacts on the environment and biosphere. The abatement of NOx from anthropic industrial processes requires reliable and sensitive monitoring systems. To address this challenge, we report a sensitive, robust, and compact quantum cascade laser (QCL)-based sensor to measure NO and NO2 emissions from industrial exhausts. This sensor uses two quantum cascade lasers, which take advantage of the intense absorption spectra of NO at 1929 cm−1 and NO2 at 1599 cm−1. A high-temperature multipass cell is designed to withstand harsh environments, which increases the light path length. The NOx concentrations are directly determined from the wavelength modulation spectroscopic model without the need for calibration. We conducted several laboratory experiments to evaluate the sensor's performance, with a focus on accuracy, sensitivity and selectivity. In the end, we showcased the field deployment of our sensor by continuously measuring NOx concentrations in a 2.8-MW gas-fired industrial boiler.

Donkey milk has attracted attention due to its distinctive nutritional composition and potential health advantages, particularly because of its whey protein content, which includes lysozyme, α-lactalbumin, lactoferrin, and β-lactoglobulin and vitamin C, among other components. These elements contribute to immunoregulatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, positioning donkey milk as a possible therapeutic option. In addition, due to the low levels of caseins, the casein-to-whey protein ratio, and the β-lactoglobulin content in donkey milk, it presents an optimal alternative for infant formula for individuals with cow’s milk allergies. Moreover, research into donkey milk’s potential for cancer prevention, diabetes management, and as a treatment for various diseases is ongoing, thanks to its bioactive peptides and components. Nevertheless, challenges such as its low production yield and the not fully understood mechanisms behind its potential therapeutic role necessitate more thorough investigation. This review consolidates the existing knowledge on the therapeutic possibilities of donkey milk, emphasizing its importance for human health and the need for more detailed studies to confirm its health benefits.

Abstract Metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) represents an impending global health challenge. Current management strategies often face setbacks, emphasizing the need for preclinical models that faithfully mimic the human disease and its comorbidities. The liver disease progression aggravation diet (LIDPAD), a diet‐induced murine model, extensively characterized under thermoneutral conditions and refined diets is introduced to ensure reproducibility and minimize species differences. LIDPAD recapitulates key phenotypic, genetic, and metabolic hallmarks of human MASLD, including multiorgan communications, and disease progression within 4 to 16 weeks. These findings reveal gut‐liver dysregulation as an early event and compensatory pancreatic islet hyperplasia, underscoring the gut‐pancreas axis in MASLD pathogenesis. A robust computational pipeline is also detailed for transcriptomic‐guided disease staging, validated against multiple harmonized human hepatic transcriptomic datasets, thereby enabling comparative studies between human and mouse models. This approach underscores the remarkable similarity of the LIDPAD model to human MASLD. The LIDPAD model fidelity to human MASLD is further confirmed by its responsiveness to dietary interventions, with improvements in metabolic profiles, liver histopathology, hepatic transcriptomes, and gut microbial diversity. These results, alongside the closely aligned changing disease‐associated molecular signatures between the human MASLD and LIDPAD model, affirm the model's relevance and potential for driving therapeutic development.

Blockchain-based cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoins, are increasingly popular. However, the decentralized and anonymous nature of these currencies can also be (ab)used for nefarious activities such as money laundering, thus reinforcing the importance of designing tools to effectively detect malicious transaction misbehaviors. In this paper, we propose TMAS, a transaction misbehavior analysis scheme for blockchain-based cryptocurrencies. Specifically, the proposed system includes ten features in the transaction graph, two heuristic money laundering models, and an analysis method for account linkage, which identifies accounts that are distinct but controlled by an identical entity. To evaluate the effectiveness of our proposed indicators and models, we analyze 100 million transactions and compute transaction features, and are able to identify a number of suspicious accounts. Moreover, the proposed methods can be applied to other cryptocurrencies, such as token-based cryptocurrencies (e.g., Bitcoins) and account-based cryptocurrencies (e.g., Ethereum).

Abstract Cervical cancer is a significant global health issue, its prevalence and prognosis highlighting the importance of early screening for effective prevention. This research aimed to create and validate an artificial intelligence cervical cancer screening (AICCS) system for grading cervical cytology. The AICCS system was trained and validated using various datasets, including retrospective, prospective, and randomized observational trial data, involving a total of 16,056 participants. It utilized two artificial intelligence (AI) models: one for detecting cells at the patch-level and another for classifying whole-slide image (WSIs). The AICCS consistently showed high accuracy in predicting cytology grades across different datasets. In the prospective assessment, it achieved an area under curve (AUC) of 0.947, a sensitivity of 0.946, a specificity of 0.890, and an accuracy of 0.892. Remarkably, the randomized observational trial revealed that the AICCS-assisted cytopathologists had a significantly higher AUC, specificity, and accuracy than cytopathologists alone, with a notable 13.3% enhancement in sensitivity. Thus, AICCS holds promise as an additional tool for accurate and efficient cervical cancer screening.

Research data infrastructures form the cornerstone in both cyber and physical spaces, driving the progression of the data-intensive scientific research paradigm. This opinion paper presents an overview of global research data infrastructure, drawing insights from national roadmaps and strategic documents related to research data infrastructure. It emphasizes the pivotal role of research data infrastructures by delineating four new missions aimed at positioning them at the core of the current scientific research and communication ecosystem. The four new missions of research data infrastructures are: (1) as a pioneer, to transcend the disciplinary border and address complex, cutting-edge scientific and social challenges with problem- and data-oriented insights; (2) as an architect, to establish a digital, intelligent, flexible research and knowledge services environment; (3) as a platform, to foster the high-end academic communication; (4) as a coordinator, to balance scientific openness with ethics needs.

Abstract Mitochondria are crucial organelles closely associated with cellular metabolism and function. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) encodes a variety of transcripts and proteins essential for cellular function. However, the interaction between the inner membrane (IM) and mtDNA remains elusive due to the limitations in spatiotemporal resolution offered by conventional microscopy and the absence of suitable in vivo probes specifically targeting the IM. Here, we have developed a novel fluorescence probe called HBmito Crimson, characterized by exceptional photostability, fluorogenicity within lipid membranes, and low saturation power. We successfully achieved over 500 frames of low-power stimulated emission depletion microscopy (STED) imaging to visualize the IM dynamics, with a spatial resolution of 40 nm. By utilizing dual-color imaging of the IM and mtDNA, it has been uncovered that mtDNA tends to habitat at mitochondrial tips or branch points, exhibiting an overall spatially uniform distribution. Notably, the dynamics of mitochondria are intricately associated with the positioning of mtDNA, and fusion consistently occurs in close proximity to mtDNA to minimize pressure during cristae remodeling. In healthy cells, >66% of the mitochondria are Class III (i.e., mitochondria >5 μm or with >12 cristae), while it dropped to

Abstract Background As a common psychological problem among older adults, fear of falling was found to have a wide range prevalence in different studies. However, the global prevalence of it was unknown and a lack of the large sample confirmed its risk factors. Objectives To report the global prevalence of fear of falling and to explore its risk factors among older adults for further developing precise interventions to systematically manage FOF. Design A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted by PRISMA guidelines. Methods Searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library and the manual search in August 20, 2022, updated to September 2, 2023. Observational studies published in English were included and two researchers independently screened and extracted the data. Fixed or random effects mode was used to estimate the pooled prevalence of and risk factors for fear of falling. Heterogeneity resources were analyzed by subgroup and sensitivity analysis. Publication bias was assessed through funnel plots, Egger’s test and Begg’s test. Results A total of the 153 studies with 200,033 participants from 38 countries worldwide were identified. The global prevalence of fear of falling was 49.60%, ranging from 6.96–90.34%. Subgroup analysis found the estimates pooled prevalence of it was higher in developing countries (53.40%) than in developed countries (46.7%), and higher in patients (52.20%) than in community residents (48.40%). In addition, twenty-eight risk factors were found a significant associations with fear of falling, mainly including demographic characteristics, physical function, chronic diseases and mental problems. Conclusion The global prevalence of FOF was high, especially in developing countries and in patients. Demographic characteristics, Physical function, chronic diseases and mental problems were a significant association with FOF. Policy-makers, health care providers and government officials should comprehensively evaluate these risk factors and formulate precise intervention measures to reduce FOF. Trial registration The study was registered in the International Database of Prospectively Registered Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO): CRD42022358031.

This is an article in the field of ceramics and composites. Methylene blue is a typical pollutant industrial wastewater.It will bring great harm to the water body if it is discharged arbitrarily without treatment. We prepared a kind of attapulgite/nano iron composite (DDBAC/ATP/nZVI), that the attapulgite was roasted, organic modified and then loaded with nano iron (nZVI) by liquid-phase reduction. The optimum preparation process is obtained: attapulgite raw soil is calcined at 300 ℃ for 1.5 h, 20 mmol/100 g benzalkonium chloride(DDBAC)is added, then ultrasonic is used for 20 min, and then nano iron is loaded by liquid-phase reduction method. The ratio of iron to soil is 1:3, KBH4 concentration is 0.25 mol/L and reaction time is 3 h. The XRD, FTRI, SEM, XPS, BET confirm that DDBAC and nano iron are successfully loaded on the surface of attapulgite. The maximum removal of methylene blue by DDBAC/ATP/nZVI is 114.94 mg/g, and the application performance of the DDBAC/ATP/nZVI remains stable within 60 days.

The achievable sensitivity level of photo-acoustic trace-gas sensors essentially depends on the performances of the acoustic transducer. In this work, the mechanical response of different silicon-based micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) is characterized, aiming at investigating both their mechanical properties, namely the resonance frequency and the quality factor, and the minimum detection limit (MDL) achievable when they are exploited as an acoustic-to-voltage transducer in a trace-gas photoacoustic setup. For this purpose, a 4.56µm Continuous-Wave (CW) quantum cascade laser (QCL) is used to excite a strong N2O roto-vibrational transition with a line strength of 2.14 × 10−19 cm/molecule, and the detection of MEMS oscillations is performed via an interferometric readout. As a general trend, the minimum detection limit decreases when the resonance frequency investigated increases, achieving a value of 15 parts per billion with a 3 dB cut-off lock-in bandwidth equal to 100 mHz, around 10 kHz.

Abstract In order to fulfill the complex cognitive behaviors in neuromorphic systems with reduced peripheral circuits, the reliable electronic synapses mimicked by single device that achieves diverse long‐term and short‐term plasticity are essential. Phase change random access memory (PCRAM) is of great potential for artificial synapses, which faces, however, difficulty to realize short‐term plasticity due to the long‐lasting resistance drift. This work reports the ruthenium‐doped Ge2Sb2Te5 (RuGST) based PCRAM, demonstrating a series of synaptic behaviors of short‐term potentiation, pair‐pulse facilitation, long‐term depression, and short‐term plasticity in the same single device. The optimized RuGST electronic synapse with the high transformation temperature of hexagonal phase >380°C, the outstanding endurance >108 cycles, the low resistance drift factor of 0.092, as well as the extremely high linearity with correlation coefficients of 0.999 and 0.976 in parts of potentiation and depression. Further investigations also go insight to mechanisms of Ru doping according to thorough microstructure characterization, revealing that Ru dopant is able to enter GST lattices thus changing and stabilizing atomic arrangement of GST. This leads to the short‐term plasticity realized by RuGST PCRAM. Eventually, the proposed RuGST electronic synapses performs a high accuracy of ~94.1% in a task of image recognition of CIFAR‐100 database using ResNet 101. This work promotes the development of PCRAM platforms for large‐scale neuromorphic systems.

The Double U-pipe ground heat exchanger, known for its simple process, cost-effectiveness, high heat exchange efficiency, and low thermal resistance, remains the predominant type of ground heat exchanger in today’s shallow geothermal energy development and utilization. In recent years, significant research has focused on the factors influencing heat transfer and the heat exchange performance of Double U-pipe ground heat exchangers through experimental testing methods. However, studies that integrate numerical simulation with in situ testing have been less common. Utilizing the cylindrical heat source model theory and the results of regional in situ thermal response tests, this paper develops a Double U-pipe ground heat transfer model by establishing physical, mathematical, and heat transfer geometric models. It evaluates the effects of varying inlet temperatures, flow rates, and initial ground temperatures on heat exchange efficiency under heating conditions. The results confirm the accuracy of the Double U-pipe ground heat exchanger model based on in situ testing. They indicate that increasing the temperature differential between the inlet and initial temperatures, raising the initial ground temperature, and moderately enhancing the flow rate can improve the system’s heat exchange efficiency.

Monolayer and few-layer CoPS3 have been successfully synthesized via an Au-assisted exfoliation technique, with their transport properties subsequently investigated by conductive atomic force microscopy. Rectification effects can be observed in CoPS3 nanosheets due to the Schottky junction formation at the Au/CoPS3 interface, especially in configurations comprising two or more layer flakes. The distinct transport properties between monolayer and few-layer samples demonstrate that the charge transport behavior in the vertical direction is associated with the van der Waals gap. The calculated electron affinity for CoPS3 is about 4.84 eV, as revealed by the thermionic emission model. The results obtained contribute to the knowledge base concerning the transport characteristics of ultrathin MPX3, facilitating further exploration of the transport behavior of these materials and their potential applications in novel electronic devices.

Background and aim: Zhilong Huoxue Tongyu (ZL) capsule is a classical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with satisfactory curative effects. Endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction plays an important role during myocardial fibrosis (MF). But the therapeutic effect of ZL capsule on EC dysfunction remains unknown in the development of MF. This study aims to investigate the effect of ZL capsule on EC dysfunction during MF in vivo. Experimental procedure: The model of MF is established in vivo by injecting isoproterenol for 14 days, simultaneously, we examined the therapeutic effect of ZL capsule on MF in vivo. An integrative approach combining biomarker examination, echocardiography and myocardial fibrosis condition using Hematoxylin-eosin staining, Masson staining, and Sirius red staining were performed to assess the efficacy of ZL capsule against MF. Subsequently, comprehensive immunofluorescence staining was performed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of ZL capsule on EC dysfunction. Results and conclusion: Prior to experiments, analysis of the published single-cell sequencing data was performed and it was discovered that EC dysfunction plays an important role. Further pharmacological results showed that ZL capsule could alleviate fibrosis injury and collagen fiber deposition. The mechanism investigation results showed that the endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) and MHC class-II (MHC-II) expression in EC were improved. In addition, ZL capsule can attenuate the inflammatory response during MF by intervening the activation of CD4+T cell mediated by EC. For the first time, we provided evidence that ZL capsule could improve MF by alleviating EC dysfunction via the regulation of EndMT and expression of MHC-II. Taxonomy (classification by evise): Myocardial fibrosis, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Traditional Medicine, Endothelium, dysfunction, Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition.

Abstract Photoacoustic dual-comb spectroscopy (DCS), converting spectral information in the optical frequency domain to the audio frequency domain via multi-heterodyne beating, enables background-free spectral measurements with high resolution and broad bandwidth. However, the detection sensitivity remains limited due to the low power of individual comb lines and the lack of broadband acoustic resonators. Here, we develop cavity-enhanced photoacoustic DCS, which overcomes these limitations by using a high-finesse optical cavity for the power amplification of dual-frequency combs and a broadband acoustic resonator with a flat-top frequency response. We demonstrate high-resolution spectroscopic measurements of trace amounts of C2H2, NH3 and CO in the entire telecommunications C-band. The method shows a minimum detection limit of 0.6 ppb C2H2 at the measurement time of 100 s, corresponding to the noise equivalent absorption coefficient of 7 × 10−10 cm−1. The proposed cavity-enhanced photoacoustic DCS may open new avenues for ultrasensitive, high-resolution, and multi-species gas detection with widespread applications.

Abstract Background To find a useful hypoxia non-invasive biomarker for evaluating early treatment response and prognosis to definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT) in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), using blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods The R2* values were obtained pre- and 2–3 weeks post-dCRT in 28 patients with ESCC using BOLD MRI. Independent samples t-test (normality) or Mann-Whitney U test (non-normality) was used to compare the differences of R2*-related parameters between the complete response (CR) and the non-CR groups. Diagnostic performance of parameters in predicting response was tested with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The 3-year overall survival (OS) was evaluated using Kaplan Meier curve, log rank test, and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. Results The post-R2*, ∆R2*, and ∆%R2* in the CR group were significantly higher than those in the non-CR group (P = 0.002, 0.003, and 0.006, respectively). The R2*-related parameters showed good prediction of tumor response, with AUC ranging from 0.813 to 0.829. The 3-year OS rate in patients with ∆R2* >-7.54 s− 1 or CR were significantly longer than those with ∆R2* ≤ -7.54 s− 1 (72.37% vs. 0.00%; Hazard ratio, HR = 0.196; 95% confidence interval, 95% CI = 0.047–0.807; P = 0.024) or non-CR (76.47% vs. 29.27%; HR = 0.238, 95% CI = 0.059–0.963; P = 0.044). Conclusions The preliminary results demonstrated that the R2* value might be a useful hypoxia non-invasive biomarker for assessing response and prognosis of ESCC treated with dCRT. BOLD MRI might be used as a potential tool for evaluating tumor oxygenation metabolism, which is routinely applied in clinical practice and beneficial to clinical decision-making. A large sample size was needed for further follow-up studies to confirm the findings.

Previous studies reported that DDB1 and CUL4 associated factor 7 (DCAF7) is associated with craniofacial, muscle, fat and bone growth and development. Therefore, the objective of this study was to explore genetic variation in the DCAF7 gene and its potential association with number of thoracolumbar vertebrae and carcass traits in Dezhou donkeys. Seven single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected by targeted sequencing and Sanger sequencing in the intron region of the DCAF7 gene in 406 Dezhou donkeys. The polymorphism at g.48991059 T > G was significantly associated with hide weight (P C, g.48985896 A > G, g.48987539 C > T, g.48988058 A > G and g.48992171 C > T sites were associated with number of thoracic vertebrae (P

Recently reported van der Waals layered honeycomb rare-earth chalcohalides REChX (RE = rare earth, Ch = chalcogen, and X = halogen) are considered to be promising Kitaev spin liquid (KSL) candidates. The high-quality single crystals of YbOCl, a representative member of the family with an effective spin of 1/2, are available now. The crystalline electric field (CEF) excitations in a rare-earth spin system are fundamentally important for understanding both finite-temperature and ground-state magnetism but remain unexplored in YbOCl so far. In this paper, we conduct a comprehensive Raman scattering study to unambiguously identify the CEF excitations in YbOCl and determine the CEF parameters and wave functions. Our Raman experiments further reveal the anomalous nonlinear CEF splitting under magnetic fields. We have grown single crystals of YbOCl, the nonmagnetic LuOCl, and the diluted magnetic Lu_{0.86}Yb_{0.14}OCl to make a completely comparative investigation. Polarized Raman spectra on the samples at 1.8 K allow us to clearly assign all the Raman-active phonon modes and explicitly identify the CEF excitations in YbOCl. The CEF excitations are further examined using temperature-dependent Raman measurements and careful symmetry analysis based on Raman tensors related to CEF excitations. By applying the CEF Hamiltonian to the experimentally determined CEF excitations, we extract the CEF parameters and eventually determine the CEF wave functions. The study experimentally pins down the CEF excitations in the Kitaev compound YbOCl and sets a foundation for understanding its finite-temperature magnetism and exploring the possible nontrivial spin ground state.