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AIM: To prepare a novel functionalized upconversion nanomaterial UCNPs-PEG-Tf through an improved method and observe its specific imaging phenomenon to choroidal melanoma cells(OCM-1).METHODS: NaYF4:Yb/Er(Up-conversion nanoparticles, UCNPs)was Prepared and plasma was treated to carboxylate the surface; then amino polyethylene glycol and transferrin(Tf)were respectively loaded to prepare UCNPs-PEG-Tf. Characterized them accordingly, its biocompatibility was tested accordingly, and the specific fluorescence phenomenon of OCM-1 was detected by fluorescence spectrophotometer and inverted fluorescence microscopy.RESULTS: Characterization confirmed successful synthesis of UCNPs, UCNPs-PEG, and further loading of Tf to form UCNPs-PEG-Tf. UCNPs-PEG-Tf showed excellent biocompatibility and emitted significant green fluorescence. Under the same conditions, fluorescence intensity measurement and observations from the inverted fluorescence microscope both demonstrated its significant specificity in imaging to OCM-1 cells.CONCLUSION: The synthesized novel functionalized UCNPs-PEG-Tf nanocomposite showed good biocompatibility and achieve specific imaging to OCM-1 cells.

In this paper, the AWS A5.28 E120C–K4 metal powder-cored wire with the addition of 1% CeO2 was developed to match the strength and toughness of ultra-high strength steel deposited metal. The influence mechanism of ultrasonic amplitude on the microstructure, inclusion and mechanical properties of deposited metal by wire arc additive manufacturing was investigated by optical microscopy, electron microscopy and mechanical testing. The results show that with the increase of ultrasonic amplitude from 0 μm to 50 μm and 100 μm. The segregation of TiC–CeAlO3 and Ce2O2S composite rare earth composite inclusions in the deposited metal at the grain boundary is reduced, and they are dispersed on the austenite grain boundary. The ultrasonic cavitation and cooling effects are more pronounced, more high melting point non-metallic oxides are formed, which provide nucleation sites for the solidification of subsequent welds, and the weld grains are refined. The nucleation sites of acicular ferrite are further increased, the multiphase segmentation structure is more obvious, and the impact toughness is further improved. The ultrasonic amplitude of 100 μm was applied compared with that of 0 μm, the average inclusion size of deposited metal is reduced by approximately 23.4%. The tensile strength, yield strength and impact toughness of the deposited metal increased from (793 MPa, 700 MPa, 55.8J) to (870 MPa, 796 MPa, 73.2J). Therefore, the applied ultrasonic amplitude has a positive effect on optimising the microstructure and inclusion size of the deposited metal in wire arc additive manufacturing of ultra-high strength steel, as well as improving the mechanical properties.

Hyperspectral target detection technology is becoming more and more important in remote sensing. Most of the traditional methods of target sensing using spectral information treat hyperspectral image as 2-D matrix regardless of the structure information of hyperspectral image, resulting in insufficient separation of target and background and limited detection accuracy. In order to better utilize the hyperspectral intrinsic structural information, this article proposes a hyperspectral target sensing approach based on tensor adaptive reconstruction cascaded with global and local feature fusion (TRGLF). First, the Tucker decomposition and reconstruction method is utilized to alleviate the influence of noise and other elements in the complex background hyperspectral, which can maintain the intrinsic structural features of the data and improve the background and target separation. The principal components of the factor matrix are determined by a logarithmic singular value summation strategy, and then the energy difference between the spectra to be measured and the previous spectra is calculated to fine-tune the principal components and obtain more appropriate principal component values. Second, on the basis of reconstructed data, a global and local spatial spectral fusion method is adopted to obtain the target of interest. This includes using globally constrained energy minimization to obtain the target of interest and using local differential sensing to further obtain the target boundary. The detection performed on four realistically acquired hyperspectral water surface datasets demonstrate the excellent detection performance of the proposed target detection method.

ABSTRACT The variability and unpredictability of wind power generation present significant challenges for grid management and planning. Enhancing the accuracy of wind power forecasting is crucial for improving the reliability of renewable energy systems. To enhance the accuracy of temporal wind power predictions, the IVMD–DCInformer–HSSA framework has been introduced. Initially, the original wind power data is decomposed into multiple intrinsic mode function (IMF) components using the improved variational mode decomposition (IVMD) technique. Subsequently, the Sparrow search algorithm (HSSA) is employed to optimize the parameters of the enhanced Informer deep neural network, which are then integrated into the improved Informer model. The predictions of each IMF component resulting from the IVMD decomposition are then combined to generate the final prediction outcome. The experimental results show that the R‐squared value of the proposed combined model is increased to 0.9903, and the accuracy is increased by 1%–3% compared with other models, which has a good prediction effect.

Abstract The quiver Yangians were originally defined for the quiver and superpotential from string theory on general toric Calabi-Yau threefolds, and serve as BPS algebras of these systems. Their characters reproduce the unrefined BPS indices, which are related to classical Donaldson-Thomas (DT) invariants. We generalize this construction in two directions. First, we show that this definition extends to arbitrary quivers with potentials. Second, we explore how one can refine the characters of the quiver Yangian to incorporate the refined BPS indices, which are related to motivic DT invariants. We focus on two main classes of quivers: the BPS quivers of 4D N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2 theories and the quivers from the knot-quiver correspondence. The entire construction allows for straightforward generalizations to trigonometric, elliptic, and generalized cohomologies.

Abstract Objective Dystonic posturing (DP) is a common semiology in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). We aimed to explore cerebellar gradient alterations in functional connectivity in TLE patients with and without DP. Methods Resting‐state functional MRI data were obtained in 60 TLE patients and 32 matched healthy controls. Patients were further divided into two groups: TLE with DP (TLE + DP, 31 patients) and TLE without DP (TLP‐DP, 29 patients). We explored functional gradient alterations in the cerebellum based on cerebellar–cerebral functional connectivity and combined with independent component analysis to evaluate cerebellar–cerebral functional integration and reveal the contribution of the motor components to the gradient. Results There were no obvious differences in clinical features and postoperative seizure outcomes between TLE + DP and TLE‐DP patients. Patients and controls all showed a clear unimodal‐to‐transmodal gradient transition in the cerebellum, while TLE patients demonstrated an extended principal gradient in functional connectivity compared to healthy controls, which was more limited in TLE + DP patients. Gradient alterations were more widespread in TLE‐DP patients, involving bilateral cerebellum, while gradient alterations in TLE + DP patients were limited in the cerebellum ipsilateral to the seizure focus. In addition, more cerebellar motor components contributed to the gradient alterations in TLE + DP patients, mainly in ipsilateral cerebellum. Significance Extended cerebellar principal gradients in functional connectivity revealed excessive functional segregation between unimodal and transmodal systems in TLE. The functional connectivity gradients were more limited in TLE + DP patients. Functional connectivity in TLE patients with dystonic posturing involved more contribution of cerebellar motor function to ipsilateral cerebellar gradient. Plain Language Summary Dystonic posturing contralateral to epileptic focus is a common symptom in temporal lobe epilepsy, and the cerebellum may be involved in its generation. In this study, we found cerebellar gradients alterations in functional connectivity in temporal lobe epilepsy patients with and without contralateral dystonic posturing. In particular, we found that TLE patients with dystonic posturing may have more limited cerebellar gradient in functional connectivity, involving more contribution of cerebellar motor function to ipsilateral cerebellar gradient. Our study suggests a close relationship between ipsilateral cerebellum and contralateral dystonic posturing.

Abstract Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of perampanel (PER) as primary monotherapy in patients aged 4–18 years old with epilepsy. Methods A single‐center, prospective, observational study was conducted from October 2021 to October 2023, to evaluate PER monotherapy's efficacy and safety as initial therapy for pediatric epilepsy. Changes in seizure frequency, safety, and retention rate were observed at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after initiating PER primary monotherapy. Results A total of 124 children aged 4–15 years (mean age = 8.25 ± 2.50 years) were included in the Analysis Sets. The retention rates at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months were 88.71% (110/124), 84.68% (105/124), 78.26% (90/115), and 71.58% (68/95), respectively. Seizure freedom rates at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months were 85.45%, 79.09%, 76.24%, and 75.31%, respectively. The responder rates (≥50% but 0.05) but associated with duration of treatment (p = 0.001) and maintenance dose (p = 0.022). Additionally, 124 patients were included in the safety analysis set. The overall adverse event rate was 38.71% (48/124), with irritability (19 cases, 15.32%) and dizziness (18 cases, 14.52%) being the most common adverse effects. One patient discontinued PER monotherapy within 1 month due to unbearable itching of the skin. Significance PER monotherapy as the primary anti‐seizure medication (ASM) for pediatric epilepsy demonstrates high efficacy and safety in real‐world clinical treatment. Patients who respond well to this drug and adhere to long‐term treatment can achieve favorable seizure control. Furthermore, patients achieving seizure freedom with a relatively lower dose can opt for the same dose as the maintenance dose. Plain Language Summary This study provided the efficacy and safety of PER monotherapy as the primary ASM for Chinese pediatric epilepsy. In total, 124 patients took part. The seizure freedom rates were over 70% at different observation points (OPs), along with a retention rate of 71.58% at the 12‐month OP. Most of adverse effects observed were mild to moderate.

Abstract Under global warming, summer precipitation over East China was projected to increase by current state-of-the-art climate models, but a large inter-model spread exists. Here we try to reduce the projection uncertainty by imposing constraints. Our procedure consists of first decomposing the projected future precipitation into inter-model principal components. The two leading modes (region-wide uniform monopole and north-south dipole, accounting for 55% of variability), by emergent constraints, are then linked to the simulation of historical precipitation in the northwest Pacific and the tropical Pacific (constraining areas). This allows us to reduce the uncertainties by 23% and obtain a smaller increase of projected precipitation in East China, relative to previous multi-model ensemble projections. Quasi-uniform increases, although weak, are obtained for the first mode, while the second mode shows a contrast pattern with a decrease in the south and an increase in the north, which both contribute to the spatial structure of constrainted projection. It is also shown that the emergent relations of both modes are physically consistent, with an enhancement of future zonal land-sea thermal contrast and a La Niña-like pattern, respectively. The use of emergent constraints inspires more confidence in the future regional precipitation projection and helps policymakers and stakeholders adjust their management policies.

Abstract Depression-anxiety comorbidity is commonly attributed to the occurrence of specific symptoms bridging the two disorders. However, the significant heterogeneity of most bridging symptoms presents challenges for psychopathological interpretation and clinical applicability. Here, we conceptually established a common bridging factor (cb factor) to characterize a general structure of these bridging symptoms, analogous to the general psychopathological p factor. We identified a cb factor from 12 bridging symptoms in depression-anxiety comorbidity network. Moreover, this cb factor could be predicted using edge-centric connectomes with robust generalizability, and was characterized by connectome patterns in attention and frontoparietal networks. In an independent twin cohort, we found that these patterns were moderately heritable, and identified their genetic connectome-transcriptional markers that were associated with the neurobiological enrichment of vasculature and cerebellar development, particularly during late-childhood-to-young-adulthood periods. Our findings revealed a general factor of bridging symptoms and its neurobiological architectures, which enriched neurogenetic understanding of depression-anxiety comorbidity.

Purpose: In this study, we aimed to validate and compare three scoring systems based on biparametric magnetic resonance imaging (bpMRI) for the detection of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) in biopsy-naïve patients. Method: In this study, we included patients who underwent MRI examinations between January 2018 and December 2022, with MRI-targeted fusion biopsy (MRGB) as the reference standard. The MRI findings were categorized using three bpMRI-based scorings, in all of them the diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) was the dominant sequence for peripheral zone (PZ) and T2-weighed imaging (T2WI) was the dominant sequence for transition zone (TZ). We also used the Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System version (PI-RADS) v2.1 to evaluate each lesion. For each scoring, we calculated the sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), positive predictive value (PPV), and area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves (AUC). Results: The calculated AUC for three bpMRI-based scorings were 83.2% (95% CI 78.8%–87.6%), 85.0% (95% CI 80.8%–89.3%), 82.9% (95% CI 78.4%–87.5%), and 86.0% (95% CI 81.8%–90.1%), respectively. Scoring 2 exhibited significantly superior performance than scoring 1 (P = 0.01) and scoring 3 (P

Purpose: Our previous study in 2009 concluded that glutamine may shorten the length of hospital stay (LOS) in patients with severe burns. Recent large-scale studies have suggested a decline in the effectiveness of glutamine in treating patients with severe burns over the last decade. Therefore, we conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to update the status of glutamine uses in patients with severe burns. Methods: We retrieved related literature prior to December 2022 from the PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, SinoMed, Wanfang, and CNKI databases. Terms such as glutamine, enteral and burn were linked for searching. Adults patients with severe burns were included and non-randomized controlled trials were excluded. Data from studies that compared enteral glutamine for severe burns with a control group were extracted. The primary outcomes of mortality and infectious morbidities were pooled and analyzed. The modified Jadad scale and Cochrane collaboration's tool were used to assess the risk of bias in RCTs, and the Review Manager 5.4 was used to pool and analyze the data. Results: Six randomized controlled trials involving 1398 patients were included in the analysis. There were no significant differences in overall mortality (risk ratio (RR) = 0.37; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.06 − 2.37; p = 0.300) or infectious morbidities (RR = 0.73; 95% CI: 0.41 − 1.31; p = 0.290). The incidence of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome was similar between the 2 groups (RR = 0.27; 95% CI: 0.03 − 2.24; p = 0.220). The LOS (mean difference (MD) = -8.97; 95% CI: -15.22 to -2.71; p = 0.005) and LOS/total burn surface area (MD = -0.27; 95% CI: -0.54 to 0.00; p = 0.050) decreased in the enteral glutamine group. The incidence of wound infection was significantly reduced (RR = 0.42; 95% CI: 0.16 − 1.06; p = 0.070). Conclusion: Compared to the control group, enteral glutamine administration may not improve the mortality, although it may be associated with a shorter LOS, a lower LOS/total burn surface area ratio, and may reduce the risk of wound infection in patients with severe burns.

Nickel-based superalloys exhibit excellent high strength and thermal fatigue resistance at 650 ℃, making them widely used for manufacturing elevated-temperature components such as turbine blades for aero-engines. Laser-powder bed fusion (L-PBF) is a rapidly developing metal additive manufacturing technology that is increasingly important for producing nickel-based superalloy products. The design and service life of aero-engine turbine blades typically require more than 107 load cycles. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate the very-high-cycle fatigue characteristics of L-PBF nickel-based superalloys at increased temperatures. Internal failure is a common elevated-temperature fatigue mode of L-PBF nickel-based superalloys that is currently not well understood. To address this issue, first, axial fatigue tests with stress ratios of −1 and 0.1 are conducted at 650 ℃. Specifically, partial typical internal failure fractures at a stress ratio of 0.1 are selected as the focus of this study. Second, scanning electron microscopy and ultra-depth field microscopy are employed to observe the 2D and 3D morphology of the fatigue fracture surfaces and analyze the crack nucleation areas and growth paths. The results show that irrespective of the presence of defects, the emergence and aggregation of numerous facets occur in the “facetted cracking area (FCA),” a typical internal failure characteristic of L-PBF nickel-based superalloys. Measurements indicate that the size of these facets leading to cracking is comparable to that of large grains and correlates with variations in grain orientation. Therefore, internal failures are categorized into two modes of cracking: “defect-assisted faceted cracking” and “non-defect-assisted faceted cracking.” Third, the FCA exhibiting typical internal failure fractures is sectioned and subjected to electron backscatter diffraction analysis to observe surface and subsurface crystallographic features related to crack nucleation and growth behavior. The analysis reveals that microcracks mainly originate from large grains with softer orientations, propagate through slips, expand along the direction of maximum shear stress, and ultimately form a perforated fracture pattern. Fourth, subsurface microcrack features beneath the FCA are examined via focused ion beam milling and imaging. Transmission electron microscopy is then employed to observe slip bands and dislocation structures near the microcracks. The results confirm that the fatigue deformation mechanism of facets at 650 ℃ is mainly controlled by a combination of anti-phase boundary shearing, precipitate bypassing, and stacking fault shearing. This mechanism is especially evident under stress concentration effects induced by cracks or defects. Finally, according to the definition of the crack tip stress intensity factor, a crack nucleation life prediction method that accounts for the characteristics of faceted cracks is proposed. The predicted results align well with the experimental findings.

Background: One of the key obstacles to the healing of diabetic wound is the persistence of active inflammation. We previously demonstrated the potential of cell-free fat extract (CEFFE) to promote the healing of diabetic wounds, and annexin A5 (A5) is a crucial anti-inflammatory protein within CEFFE. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of A5 in diabetic wounds. Methods: A5 was loaded into GelMA hydrogels and applied to skin wounds of diabetic mice in vivo. The diabetic wounds with the treatment of GelMA-A5 were observed for 14 days and evaluated by histological analysis. Accessment of inflammation regulation were conducted through anti-CD68 staining, anti-CD86 and anti-CD206 staining, and qRT-PCR of wound tissue. In presence of A5, macrophages stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vitro, and detected through qRT-PCR, flow cytometry, and immunocytofluorescence staining. Besides, epithelial cells were co-cultured with A5 for epithelialization regulation by CCK-8 assay and cell migration assay. Results: A5 could promote diabetic wound healing and regulate inflammations by promoting the transition of macrophages from M1 to M2 phenotype. In vitro experiments demonstrated that A5 exerted a significant effect on reducing pro-inflammatory factors and inhibiting the polarization of macrophages from M0 toward M1 phenotype. A5 significantly promoted the migration of epithelial cells. Conclusion: Annexin A5 has a significant impact on the regulation of macrophage inflammation and promotion of epithelialization.

Stem cells (SCs) play a crucial role in tissue repair, regeneration, and maintaining physiological homeostasis. Exercise mobilizes and enhances the function of SCs. This review examines the effects of acute and chronic aerobic and resistance exercise on the population of SCs in healthy and diseased individuals across different age groups. Both acute intense exercise and moderate regular training increase circulating precursor cells CD34+ and, in particular, the subset of angiogenic progenitor cells (APCs) CD34+/KDR+. Conversely, chronic exercise training has conflicting effects on circulating CD34+ cells and their function, which are likely influenced by exercise dosage, the health status of the participants, and the methodologies employed. While acute activity promotes transient mobilization, regular exercise often leads to an increased number of progenitors and more sustainable functionality. Short interventions lasting 10–21 days mobilize CD34+/KDR + APCs in sedentary elderly individuals, indicating the inherent capacity of the body to rapidly activate tissue-reparative SCs during activity. However, further investigation is needed to determine the optimal exercise regimens for enhancing SC mobilization, elucidating the underlying mechanisms, and establishing functional benefits for health and disease prevention. Current evidence supports the integration of intense exercise with chronic training in exercise protocols aimed at activating the inherent regenerative potential through SC mobilization. The physical activity promotes endogenous repair processes, and research on exercise protocols that effectively mobilize SCs can provide innovative guidelines designed for lifelong tissue regeneration. An artificial neural network (ANN) was developed to estimate the effects of modifying elderly individuals and implementing chronic resistance exercise on stem cell mobilization and its impact on individuals and exercise. The network's predictions were validated using linear regression and found to be acceptable compared to experimental results.

Spermiation is the process that releases mature spermatids from Sertoli cells into the lumen of the seminiferous tubule. Tubulobulbar complexes (TBCs) are elaborate cytoskeleton-related structures that are indispensable for spermiation. Despite well-defined ultrastructural events, the molecular regulation of TBCs during spermiation remains largely unknown. Here, we show that autophagy is active in TBC regions, and impaired autophagy in Sertoli cells affects spermiation. Further studies demonstrated that many TBC components bound to LC3 and could be selectively degraded through the autophagy-lysosome pathway. Perturbed autophagy impaired the degradation of some TBC components in Sertoli cells, such as VCL and CTTN, and led to the accumulation of TBC components surrounding the spermatid head, which may be associated with the sperm-releasing defect. Together, our results reveal that autophagy is essential for the TBC components degradation in mouse Sertoli cells and define a functional role of autophagy during spermiation.

Abstract Osteoporosis, a metabolic disorder, remains challenging to treat due to limited understanding of its underlying mechanism. The annual cycle of “cyclic physiological osteoporosis (CPO)” and its full reversal in male deer represents a unique natural model for studying this condition. Deer antlers, weighing up to 25 kg/pair, derive over 60% of their mineral contents from deer skeleton during mineralization. Based on the literature, we propose to divide CPO and its reversal into two phases: Phase I (approximately 115 days): from hard antler casting to the end of antler linear growth, marked by simultaneous robust antler ossification and CPO development; and Phase II (up to 165 days): from end of Phase I to the onset of antler skin shedding, characterized by complete antler mineralization and CPO reversal. This review analyzes the paradoxical occurrence of robust antler ossification and skeleton CPO within the same endocrine microenvironment during phase I; total antler mineralization and full reversal of deer skeleton CPO in phase II. Furthermore, we will discuss potential insights for osteoporosis treatment using deer materials from the period of Phase II. Our goal is to identify novel substances and therapies that could be applied in clinical setting to effectively treat osteoporosis.

Abstract To evaluate the distribution of metastases after radiotherapy using 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT). 67 patients with 501 new metastases revealed by 18F-FDG PET/CT after radiotherapy were included in this retrospective study. The metastases were divided into radiation area (RA) and non-radiation area (NRA), based on their locations inside or outside the radiation exposure field. Patients were divided into two groups based on the comparison of lesions number between RA and NRA: group A (NRA ≤ RA) and group B(NRA > RA). The distribution characteristics of metastases and their relationship with clinical data were analyzed. 67 patients were included in the study. A total of 501 lesions were detected: 122 in RA and 379 in NRA. 28 patients resulted in group A and 39 in group B. Patients with lesion number (LN) ≤ 5 were primarily assigned to Group A (56.1%, 23/41), whereas those with LN > 5 were primarily assigned to Group B (80.8%, 21/26). A statistically significant difference in lesion count was observed between the two groups (χ2 = 8.809, P = 0.003).Among 19 patients with RA = 0, 17 had LN ≤ 5 and 2 had LN > 5. In contrast, among 25 patients with NRA = 0, 10 had LN ≤ 5 and 15 had LN > 5. A significant difference was noted between patients with RA = 0 and those with NRA = 0 (χ2 = 4.728, P = 0.030). An notable characteristic in the distribution of metastases following radiotherapy is their tendency to occur outside the irradiation area. This indicated that the radiotherapy exposure area acquires a certain tumor growth inhibitory effect, potentially lasting over time. Based on these observations, there may be potential for developing novel preventive irradiation techniques.

Abstract Big Data Analysis from the worldwide field shows that lost circulation is a common phenomenon in drilling and the success ratio of remedial treatment for lost circulation is low. It is not only because of these complexities of the formation, but also because of the poor performances of the lost-circulation materials (LCM) and technologies. This paper proposes a new method in plugging, which is based on a particular physical method for lost circulation controlling and plugging while drilling. This method is different from these traditional treatments, which only use chemical methods. When pore-permeable and fractured leakage formations are encountered while drilling, We can use this new hydraulic tool, the drilling fluid will have a diffluence at a constant rate from the jet of the hydraulic tool which is installed on the drilling pipe and the fluid laden with particles can be injected into the natural or induced fractures of the borehole wall which may lead to lost circulation. Combined with the corresponding drilling fluids which have been tested in the laboratory, the additives such as ground marble, ground nutshells, and graphite in the drilling fluid are quickly pushed into the fractures because of the differential pressure provide by the hydraulic tool, then form a firm seal at the mouth of the fractures which could isolate fluid pressure in the wellbore and prevent effective pressure communication to interfere the extension of the fracture. What’s more, according to the stress cage theory, when these sealing particles which prop the fracture open, act as wedges to compress the rock around the wellbore, the hoop stress could be increased, so that the wellbore pressure containment (WPC) could be improved. Since the annular flow may have some interference with the side nozzle jet, this paper also numerically simulates the flow field of the annular air section through the fluid simulation software Fluent, and the simulation results show that the interference of the annular flow on the jet is very weak and basically has no effect. In addition, through the oilfield field test, it is known that this new physical plugging method has good plugging effect, and it can obviously improve the pressure-bearing capacity of the formation, which has great popularization value.

Abstract We aimed to differentiate and evaluate the clinical imaging features of pulmonary cryptococcosis with different therapeutic responses. The clinical imaging data of 70 patients with PC (complete response PC 37 cases and incomplete response PC 33 cases) were collected and compared to determine the independent risk factors for different therapeutic responses, and their diagnostic performances were verified by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Compared with complete response PC, incomplete response PC was more common with immunosuppression (10.8% vs. 45.5%, P = 0.001), intermediate progress (8.1% vs. 39.4%, P = 0.002), bilateral distribution (21.6% vs. 78.8%, P

Abstract Background Several blood proteins might be associated with the development of colorectal cancer (CRC), but many studies on this topic are often biased. By using genetic variation data, which is less influenced by environmental factors, we can better determine the causal relationship between specific blood proteins and the occurrence of colorectal cancer. Methods Data from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on blood proteins, encompassing 1,478 proteins, and colorectal cancer (CRC) GWAS data, covering 637,693 subjects, were collected and organized. Additionally, GWAS data for obesity, diabetes mellitus (DM), and smoking were obtained for further analysis. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) significantly associated with the exposure factors (blood proteins) were selected to ensure their independence from other confounding factors and outcomes (CRC onset), and that they only affected outcomes through blood proteins. The causal effects of Mendelian Randomization (MR) were primarily estimated using the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method, with other methods serving as supplementary approaches. The Cochran's Q-test assessed heterogeneity among SNP estimates; the MR Egger method evaluated pleiotropy; and the leave-one-out test examined the sensitivity of individual SNPs. Obesity, DM, and smoking were included in the multivariate MR analysis. Result A total of 31 SNPs and 8 blood protein exposure factors were identified, specifically TNFRSF16 (4 SNPs), RNF8 (4 SNPs), MRM3 (4 SNPs), ST6GALNAC1 (4 SNPs), TIE1 (4 SNPs), CBP (4 SNPs), DNAJB9 (4 SNPs), and EDN2 (3 SNPs). The IVW results showed a significant causal relationship between all 8 exposure factors and colorectal cancer (P

Abstract Objective This study aims to investigate the biocompatibility and pharmacokinetic characteristics of polyvinyl pyrrolidone-modified selenium nanoparticles (PVP-Se NPs). Understanding the biosafety of PVP-Se NPs is crucial due to their potential applications in mitigating oxidative stress-related diseases and improving drug delivery systems. Methods Selenium nanoparticles were prepared using a sodium selenite solution, followed by PVP modification. Particle size analysis was conducted using dynamic light scattering (DLS), and particle morphology was observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Different concentrations of PVP-Se NPs were intraperitoneally injected into SD rats, and the survival rate was observed. Liver and kidney tissues, urine, feces, and blood samples were collected at the highest safe dose, and the concentration of selenium ions was measured. Results The average particle size of PVP-Se NPs was 278.4 ± 124.8 nm, exhibiting a semi-spherical shape. The maximum safe dose of PVP-Se NPs for intraperitoneal injection in rats was approximately 320 µg/kg. At this dose, the content of PVP-Se NPs significantly increased in the liver and kidney tissues from day 1 to day 3, in urine and feces during the first 8 h, and in blood during the first 2 h, followed by a gradual decrease. Conclusion When administered at a safe dose, PVP-Se NPs do not damage liver and kidney tissues and can be eliminated from the body through liver and kidney metabolism without accumulation.

Abstract Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy, while promising for cancer treatment, faces challenges like unexpected side effects and limited objective responses. Here, we develop an in vivo gene-editing strategy for improving ICB cancer therapy in a lastingly effective manner. The approach uses a conductive hydrogel-based electroporation system to enable nucleofection of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1) targeted CRISPR-Cas9 DNAs into T-cells directly within the lymph nodes, and subsequently produces PD1-deficient T-cells to combat tumor growth, metastasis and recurrence in different melanoma models in mice. Following in vivo gene editing, animals show enhanced cellular and humoral immune responses along with multi-fold increases of effector T-cells infiltration to the solid tumors, preventing tumor recurrence and prolonging their survival. These findings provide a proof-of-concept for direct in vivo T-cell engineering via localized gene-editing for enhanced cancer immunotherapy, and also unlock the possibilities of using this method to treat more complex human diseases.

[Introduction] Accurate calculation of the hydrodynamic coefficients for floating structures and the investigation of the flow field distribution around floating bodies on the marine free surface are essential for improving the engineering design and application of marine structures. [Method] This study utilized the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach and the Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) method and considered the effects of viscosity and free surface interactions on the hydrodynamic behavior of floating structures. By employing the dynamic mesh technique, this study simulated the periodic movements of simplified three-dimensional (3D) shapes: spheres, cylinders, and cubes, which were representative of complex marine structures. The volume of fluid (VOF) method was leveraged to accurately track the nonlinear behavior of the free surface. In this analysis, the added mass and damping coefficients for the fundamental modes of motion (surge, heave, and roll) were calculated across a spectrum of frequencies, facilitating the fast determination of hydrodynamic forces and moments exerted on floating structures. [Result] The results of this study are not only consistent with the results of the 3D potential flow theory but also further reflect the role of viscosity. This method can be used for precise calculation of the hydrodynamic coefficients of floating structures and for describing the flow field of such structures in motion on a free surface. [Conclusion] The methodology presented goes beyond the traditional potential flow approach.

Abstract Bloodstream infections are globally occurring life-threatening diseases that impose significant societal and economic burdens. This study explored the red cell distribution width (RDW) to albumin ratio (RAR), a novel index derived from RDW, to investigate its relationship with prognosis of bacteremia using propensity score matching (PSM). This retrospective observational cohort study included patients with bacteremia admitted to Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital’s intensive care units from June 2019 to December 2022. PSM was performed to adjust for confounding factors. The relationship between RAR and mortality was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves, multivariate, and Kaplan–Meier analyses. A total of 411 patients were included. The RAR threshold of 5.824% /g/dL was determined by maximizing the Youden index; the study population was divided into two groups based on this cutoff value. After PSM, 125 pairs of score-matched patients were generated. Using logistic regression analysis, patients with RAR ≥ 5.824% /g/dL exhibited significantly higher mortality than did those with RAR ＜ 5.824% /g/dL in the entire cohort (OR = 3.926, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.408–6.400, p

Abstract Roof breaking is the root cause of rock burst and mine earthquake. However, the classical “thin plate theory” and “thick plate theory” cannot fully reveal the mechanical mechanism of the influence of roof thickness-span ratio on the fracture mode. In this paper, based on the cohesive element technology, the mechanical behavior of cohesive element failure was studied according to the maximum nominal stress criterion and BK fracture criterion, and the fracture mechanical behavior of roofs with different thicknesses fixed on four sides under uniform load was numerically simulated. The fracture pattern and the maximum principal stress evolution laws of roofs with different thicknesses were obtained. The results show that there are three fracture modes of the plates with different thickness: pure tensile fracture mode at the bottom surface, mixed fracture mode around the “X” shape crack, and pure shear fracture mode along the long edge boundary. The crack morphology of thin plate is the transverse “O−X” type, and the crack morphology of thick plate is the “O−❋” type. With the increase of thickness, the tensile-shear mixed failure mode gradually changes from the tensile dominant to the shear dominant.

Abstract Wild species of crops serve as a valuable germplasm resource for breeding of modern cultivars. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a vital global staple food. However, research on genome evolution and diversity of wild rice species remains limited. Here, we present nearly complete genomes of 13 representative wild rice species. By integrating with four previously published genomes for pangenome analysis, a total of 101,723 gene families are identified across the genus, including 9834 (9.67%) core gene families. Additionally, 63,881 gene families absent in cultivated rice species but present in wild rice species are discovered. Extensive structural rearrangements, sub-genomes exchanges, widespread allelic variations, and regulatory sequence variations are observed in wild rice species. Interestingly, expanded but less diverse disease resistance genes in the genomes of cultivated rice, likely due to the loss of some resistance genes and the fixing and amplification of genes encoding resistance genes to specific diseases during domestication and artificial selection. This study not only reveals natural variations valuable for gene-level studies and breeding selection but also enhances our understanding on rice evolution and domestication.

Abstract Background For older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD), physical activity is now recognized as an effective means to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. However, this population often exhibits lower levels of physical activity. This study aimed to establish physical activity promoting indicators system for older adults with SCD, providing comprehensive targets for interventions and promoting relevant policies. Method A modified Delphi technique was used to seek opinions from experts about what should be used and prioritised as indicators of promoting physical activity in older adults with SCD. Expert consultations were conducted from January to March 2024. Data were analyzed using SPSS 27.0 and Excel software. Descriptive statistics were used for expert demographics, while coefficients were calculated to assess expert authority (Cr), and coordination (Kendall’s W). Weights for indicators were determined through the order diagram. Results Based on a literature review and the Wuli-Shili-Renli system framework, we initially identified 59 indicators, comprising primary (3 dimensions), secondary (11 items), and tertiary (45 items) indicators. Fifteen expert panelists were invited to participate in the study. Of these, 11 out of 18 completed round 1 (61.1% response rate), all 11 completed round 2 (100.0% response rate), and all 11 completed the third and final round (100.0% response rate). Ultimately, consensus was reached on 3 primary, 9 secondary, and 44 tertiary indicators. The order diagram determined weights for primary indicators as follows: foundational system (0.4242), operational system (0.2879), and personnel system (0.2879). Conclusion The system of 56 physical activity-promoting indicators constructed for older adults with SCD through the Delphi method provides theoretical support for policy formulation and allocation of funds to comprehensively promote physical activity behaviors among this population.

Permanent magnetic material Ce magnets are a sufficiently attractive energy material due to its cost-effective and environmental friendliness. Grain boundary diffusion processing of Ce magnets with high Ce content presents a challenge: a limited diffusion depth of heavy rare earths. We proposed a strategy for efficient utilization of heavy rare earth Tb in Ce magnets with high Ce content. Consequently, a rather encouraging coercivity of 16.37 kOe and a maximum energy product of 38.77 MGOe are reached by Tb diffusion in Ce magnets where Ce accounts for 40% of total rare earths. Diffusion source alloys containing Pr are designed using first-principles calculations. The Pr synergistic diffusion on the diffusion detail of elemental Tb is analyzed. The ability of Tb to enter the main phase is reduced due to the addition of Pr combined with the significant diffusion coefficient of Pr, which contributes to the enhancement of coercivity and thermal stability for diffused Ce magnet. Ce magnets remain cost-effective after diffusion of heavy rare earth Tb, which will shed light on the broadened application for Ce magnets in wind power generation, industrial motors, and medical robots.

Abstract A large scale of distributed photovoltaics is accessed through a low voltage distribution network in a single‐phase or two‐phase, which causes three‐phase unbalance and over‐voltage problems. These problems can be solved by using a voltage source converter to realize AC/DC interconnection and flexible power transfer between lines. How to utilize the characteristics of voltage source converters to optimize the power qualities, and fully promote distributed PV systems consumption in low voltage distribution network is an important research point. This paper proposes a power regulation model of VSC. The goal of this model is to adjust and optimize over‐voltage and three‐phase unbalance problems. By constructing a voltage‐power sensitivity calculation model for a three‐phase four‐wire system and integrating different control modes and adjustment capabilities of voltage source converters, a control strategy based on voltage source converters is proposed to address three‐phase unbalance and over‐voltage issues. Finally, the simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy.

Abstract Objective The single‐center retrospective cohort study investigated underlying pathogenic mechanisms and clinical significance of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and hippocampal sclerosis (TLE‐HS), in the presence/absence of gray–white matter abnormalities (usually called “blurring”; GMB) in ipsilateral temporopolar region (TPR) on MRI. Methods The study involved 105 patients with unilateral TLE‐HS (60 GMB+ and 45 GMB−) who underwent standard anterior temporal lobectomy, along with 61 healthy controls. Resected specimens were examined under light microscope. With combined T1‐weighted and DTI data, we quantitatively compared large‐scale morphometric features and exacted diffusion parameters of ipsilateral TPR‐related superficial and deep white matter (WM) by atlas‐based segmentation. Along‐tract analysis was added to detect heterogeneous microstructural alterations at various points along deep WM tracts, which were categorized into inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF), uncinate fasciculus (UF), and temporal cingulum. Results Comparable seizure semiology and postoperative seizure outcome were found, while the GMB+ group had significantly higher rate of HS Type 1 and history of febrile seizures, contrasting with significantly lower proportion of interictal contralateral epileptiform discharges, HS Type 2, and increased wasteosomes in hippocampal specimens. Similar morphometric features but greater WM atrophy with more diffusion abnormalities of superficial WM was observed adjacent to ipsilateral TPR in the GMB+ group. Moreover, microstructural alterations resulting from temporopolar GMB were more localized in temporal cingulum while evenly and widely distributed along ILF and UF. Interpretation Temporopolar GMB could signify more severe and widespread microstructural damage of white matter rather than a focal cortical lesion in TLE‐HS, affecting selection of surgical procedures.

Abstract Objectives Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide. Four types of RNA modification writers (m6A, m1A, A-I editing, and APA) are widely involved in tumorigenesis and the TME. We aimed to comprehensively explore the role of the four RNA modification writers in the progression and immune microenvironment of HNSCC. Materials and methods We first obtained transcription profile data and transcriptional variation of the four types of RNA modification writers from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. HNSCC patients in TCGA dataset were divided into different clusters based on the four types of RNA modification writers. Univariate Cox and Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analyses were performed to conduct a Writer-score scoring system, which was successfully verified in the GSE65858 dataset and our clinical sample dataset. Finally, we evaluated the relationship between different RNA modification clusters (Writer-score) and immunological characteristics of HNSCC. Results Two different RNA modification clusters (A and B) were obtained. These RNA modification clusters (Writer-score) were strongly associated with immunological characteristics (immunomodulators, cancer immunity cycles, infiltrating immune cells (TIICs), inhibitory immune checkpoints, and T cell inflamed score (TIS)) of HNSCC. Conclusions This study identified two different RNA modification clusters and explored the potential relationship between RNA modification clusters (Writer-score) and immunological characteristics, offering a new theoretical basis for precision immunotherapy in patients with HNSCC.

Abstract To assess the accuracy of a nomogram for predicting the risk of lower-extremity amputation (LEA) in individuals with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). We retrospectively analyzed data from 144 patients with DFUs at the Department of Orthopedics of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, collected between January 2020 and December 2023. Univariate analysis determined primary predictive factors for amputation, followed by single and multifactor logistic regression analyses to indentify independent factors. These were utilized to develop a prediction model using R4.3.3, and a nomogram was created. Its performance was verified using receiver operating characteristic (ROC), corrected calibration, and clinical decision curves. Twelve primary predictive factors were identified from 20 variables, including age, Wagner grades, peripheral angiopathy of diabetes (PAD), chronic kidney disease(CKD), C-reactive protein(CRP) and the number of blood sugar abnormalities(BSA) etc. Multivariate logical regression analysis illustrated that Wagner grades, PAD, CRP, CKD, and the number of BSA were independent risk factors. The area under the curve (AUC) of the ROC curve was 0.967, and the revised calibration curve of the nomogram demonstrated strong fitting ability. This prediction model is a valuable tool for screening LEA risk and preventing DFU from progressing into amputation.

Abstract Objective To compare the performance of [18F]FDG and [18F]FAPI-04 in PET/CT evaluation for liver cancer lesions, with a further exploration of the associations between PET semiquantitative data and immunohistochemical markers to liver cancer. Methods Patients with suspected malignant liver lesions (MLL) underwent [18F]FDG and [18F]FAPI-04 PET/CT scanning. Liver lesions were visually classified as positive or negative based on their uptake level exceeding that of adjacent normal liver tissue. SUVmax and tumor-to-background ratio (TBR) were recorded for semi-quantitative analysis. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of each tracer were determined using pathological findings as the gold standard. Furthermore, immunohistochemical analysis provided the molecular characteristics of all MLLs. Comprehensive analysis explored correlations between these molecular markers and PET semiquantitative parameters (SUVmax andTBR) to identify potential associations. Results The study enrolled 44 patients, with 39 confirmed cases of MLL, comprising 28 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) and 11 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas (ICC). For MLL detection, [18F]FAPI-04 and [18F]FDG exhibited sensitivities of 84.6% (33/39) and 76.9% (30/39), specificitiesy of 60% (3/5) and 100%(5/5), and accuracy of 81.8% (36/44) and 79.5%(35/44). Across all liver lesions, [18F]FAPI-04 significantly surpassed [18F]FDG in SUVmax(10.54 ± 6.72 VS. 7.68 ± 6.79) and TBR(4.35 ± 3.78 Vs. 3.17 ± 3.05). Notably, [18F]FAPI-04 displayed markebly elevated SUVmax in benign liver lesions (BLLs) (P = 0.032), HCCs (P = 0.005), and ICCs (P = 0.011). Lesions with hepatocyte negativity (P = 0.023), CD34 negativity(P = 0.044), and high Ki67 expression (> 30%) (P = 0.001) had higher SUVmax on [18F]FAPI-04. Additionally, ARG-1-negative lesions demonstrated higher TBR on [18F]FAPI-04 than ARG-1-positive lesions(P = 0.018). No significant SUVmax/TBR differences were observed with [18F]FDG based on these markers. A linear relationship was identified between Ki67 scores and SUVmax of [18F]FAPI-04 (R = 0.603, P

Abstract Though several anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies approved for monotherapy in microsatellite instability-high or mismatch repair-deficient unresectable/metastatic solid tumors, novel immunotherapy with better anti-tumor activity is needed in clinic. In this single-arm, multicenter, pivotal, phase II study, patients received iparomlimab (a novel humanized anti-PD-1 mAb, 200 mg or 3 mg/kg for patients with body weight

Abstract Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), a stroke subtype associated with high mortality, is closely linked to neuroinflammation. Phloretin, a naturally occurring flavonoid abundant in fruits, possesses anti-inflammatory properties. However, its specific role in SAH remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the potential role of phloretin in SAH. We established in vitro and in vivo SAH models to assess the effects of phloretin. Subsequently, utilizing SAH-related public datasets from the GEO database, we identified key genes associated with SAH and investigated the potential mechanism of action of phloretin. Our findings reveal that phloretin significantly improves prognostic outcomes and mitigates inflammation in SAH mice. Moreover, our results suggest that phloretin mitigates neuroinflammation by inhibiting the TLR2/MYD88/NF-κB pathway.

Abstract Background Utilizing the SEER database, we developed a competing risk model along with a nomogram designed for the early identification of colon cancer-specific mortality (CSM) risk. Methods Clinical and pathological information, along with other significant data, were obtained from the SEER database. Patients were randomly divided into a training set and a validation set. We investigated the independent factors affecting CSM among colon cancer patients using univariate and multivariate analyses within a competing risk framework, ultimately developing a predictive tool for CSM in colon cancer. Results Involving 40,261 individuals diagnosed with colon cancer, our study included 10,397 deaths directly due to the disease and an additional 5,828 from other causes. We used a competing risk model to predict cancer-specific mortality (CSM) in these patients. For the training dataset, the model’s area under the curve (AUC) for predicting 1-, 3-, and 5-year cancer-specific survival (CSS) was 0.835 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.826 to 0.844), 0.849 (95% CI 0.843 to 0.855), and 0.843 (95% CI 0.836 to 0.850), respectively. In the validation group, the AUC values for the same time periods were 0.846 (95% CI 0.833 to 0.860), 0.853 (95% CI 0.843 to 0.862), and 0.846 (95% CI 0.835 to 0.856), respectively. In comparison, traditional survival analysis yielded higher cumulative CSM rates over time than those provided by our competing risk approach. Conclusion We created a competitive risk assessment model along with a predictive tool designed to estimate CSM in patients with colon cancer. This nomogram demonstrates high accuracy and reliability, aiding medical professionals in making clinical decisions and developing patient follow-up plans.

Abstract Unleashing the land sector’s potential for climate mitigation requires purpose-driven changes in land management. However, contributions of past management changes to the current global and regional carbon cycles remain unclear. Here, we use vegetation modelling to reveal how a portfolio of ecological restoration policies has impacted China’s terrestrial carbon balance through developing counterfactual ‘no-policy’ scenarios. Pursuing conventional policies and assuming no changes in climate or atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) since 1980 would have led China’s land sector to be a carbon source of 0.11 Pg C yr−1 for 2001–2020, in stark contrast to a sink of 175.9 Tg C yr−1 in reality. About 72.7% of this difference can be attributed to land management changes, including afforestation and reforestation (49.0%), reduced wood extraction (21.8%), fire prevention and suppression (1.6%) and grassland grazing exclusion (0.3%). The remaining 27.3% come from changes in atmospheric CO2 (42.2%) and climate (−14.9%). Our results underscore the potential of active land management in achieving ‘carbon-neutrality’ in China.

Abstract Background Investigate the safety and efficacy of preoperative atomization inhalation of indocyanine green (ICG) solution in precise lesion resection of pediatric thoracoscopic intralobar pulmonary sequestration. Methods A multicenter 1:1 matched case-control study was adopted, to compare the safety and efficacy of the ICG group (preoperative atomization inhalation of 0.5 mg/kg ICG solution) with traditional group (no preoperative atomization inhalation of ICG solution). The baseline, intraoperative, and postoperative recovery conditions of the two groups were observed. Outpatient follow-up visits were conducted 3 to 6 months after surgery, including lung CT scans and pulmonary ventilation function tests. Results 134 patients were included in the study. The ICG group included 67 patients, and the traditional surgery group included 67 patients matched at a ratio of 1:1 according to age and lesion location. There were no reports of deaths or adverse reactions. The postoperative chest drainage tube indwelling time [(53.19 ± 8.15) hours vs. (73.25 ± 15.51) hours, P

Abstract Oncogenic RET alteration is an important, tissue-agnostic therapeutic target across diverse cancers. We conducted a first-in-human phase 1 study on SY-5007, a potent and selective RET inhibitor, in patients with RET-altered solid tumors. Primary endpoints were safety, maximum tolerated dose (MTD), and recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D). Secondary endpoints included pharmacokinetics and preliminary anti-tumor activity. A total of 122 patients were enrolled (17 in dose-escalation phase and 105 in dose-expansion phase), including 91 with non-small cell lung cancer, 23 with medullary thyroid cancer, 7 with papillary thyroid cancer and 1 with gastric cancer. Treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were reported in 96.7% of patients, with the most common grade ≥ 3 TRAEs being hypertension (22.1%), diarrhea (16.4%), hypertriglyceridemia (6.6%), and neutropenia (6.6%). The exposure to SY-5007 was dose proportional. Among the 116 efficacy-evaluable patients, the overall objective response rate (ORR) was 57.8%, with 70.0% in treatment-naïve patients and 51.3% in previously treated patients. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 21.1 months. Efficacy was observed regardless of tumor types and previous therapies. Biomarker analysis of 61 patients with circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)-detectable RET alterations showed an ORR of 57.4% and median PFS of 13.8 months. Rapid ctDNA clearance of RET alteration correlated with faster responses and improved outcomes. In relapsed patients, off-target induced resistance was observed in 57.1% (12/21), with no on-target RET alterations identified. In conclusion, SY-5007 was well-tolerated and showed promising efficacy in patients with RET-altered solid tumors. Serial ctDNA monitoring may unveil treatment response and potential resistance mechanisms (NCT05278364).

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the application value of fractional bolus injection of a contrast agent combined with double-layer detector spectral CT 50 keV virtual monoenergetic imaging (VMI) in combined imaging of computed tomography urography (CTU) and aortic CT angiography (CTA). Methods: The experimental group included 32 patients who underwent spectral CTU with a Philips IQon dual-layer detector at Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, between March and April 2024. Using fractional bolus injection of a contrast agent and bolus tracking technology, the conventional 120 kVp mixed energy image was reconstructed after scanning for group A1; the 50 keV VMI obtained by spectral reconstruction was group A2. The control group included 32 patients who underwent CTU examination between December 2023 and March 2024 using the same equipment, and the contrast agent split bolus and group injection tracking techniques were used. After scanning, the conventional 120 kVp mixed energy image was reconstructed for group B. The objective evaluation included the CT value, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the abdominal aorta and bilateral renal arteries, which were compared among the three groups. The Kruskal–Wallis and Nemenyi tests were used to compare the average CT values of the initial, middle, and lower parts of the ureter. Wilcoxon test was used to compare the effective radiation dose between the experimental and control groups. Subjective evaluation was performed by two senior radiologists on the three groups of CTU and CTA images using the 4- and 3-point methods, respectively. The consistency of the subjective scores of the two radiologists was analyzed using the Kappa test. Results: Among the objective evaluation indices, there were statistically significant differences among groups A2, A1, and B. There was a significant difference in the SNR of the bilateral renal arteries between groups A1 and B. The effective radiation dose of the experimental group was 15.1% lower than that of the control group, which was significantly different. There was no significant difference in the subjective evaluation of the CTA and CTU images among the three groups. The consistency of the CTA and CTU image scoring results between the two physicians was excellent and good, respectively. Conclusion: If CTU examination was performed by fractional injection of a contrast agent, fusion images of the urinary system and aorta were obtained, which not only had a clear anatomical relationship and the same image quality, but also reduced the effective radiation dose. The 50keV virtual monoenergetic image obtained by spectral reconstruction optimizes the image quality of CTU and CTA and has clinical value.

Abstract Background Sepsis-induced myocardial injury (SIMI) is a severe complication of sepsis, contributing significantly to mortality. Mitochondrial dysfunction and dysregulated autophagy are implicated in SIMI pathogenesis. Long non-coding RNA MALAT1 has been associated with various diseases, including sepsis, but its role in SIMI remains unclear. Objective This study aimed to investigate the role of lncRNA MALAT1 in SIMI, specifically in the regulation of mitochondrial autophagy. Methods A sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy model was established in mice, and the cardiac tissues were analyzed. The expression of lncRNA MALAT1 was modulated and its effects on mitochondrial autophagy, myocardial injury, inflammation, and apoptosis were assessed. Furthermore, the interaction between MALAT1 and miR-146a was explored, as well as the involvement of the TLR4/NF-kB/MAPK signaling pathway. Results Activation of mitochondrial autophagy by urolithin A (UA) alleviated SIMI, inflammation, and cardiac dysfunction. Downregulation of MALAT1 enhanced mitochondrial autophagy, stabilized the mitochondrial membrane potential, and inhibited mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, leading to improved cell viability and reduced myocardial injury. Furthermore, MALAT1 interacted with miR-146a, and their modulation influenced mitochondrial autophagy, myocardial injury, and inflammation. The TLR4/NF-kB/MAPK signaling pathway was implicated in these processes. Conclusion Our findings suggest that lncRNA MALAT1 plays a crucial role in SIMI by modulating miR-146a-mediated mitochondrial autophagy and the TLR4/NF-kB/MAPK signaling pathway. These results provide new insights into the pathogenesis of SIMI and potential therapeutic targets.

Abstract Inhaled delivery of messenger RNA (mRNA) using lipid nanoparticle (LNP) holds immense promise for treating pulmonary diseases or serving as a mucosal vaccine. However, the unsatisfactory delivery efficacy caused by the disintegration and aggregation of LNP during nebulization represents a major obstacle. To address this, we develop a charge-assisted stabilization (CAS) strategy aimed at inducing electrostatic repulsions among LNPs to enhance their colloidal stability. By optimizing the surface charges using a peptide-lipid conjugate, the leading CAS-LNP demonstrates exceptional stability during nebulization, resulting in efficient pulmonary mRNA delivery in mouse, dog, and pig. Inhaled CAS-LNP primarily transfect dendritic cells, triggering robust mucosal and systemic immune responses. We demonstrate the efficacy of inhaled CAS-LNP as a vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant and as a cancer vaccine to inhibit lung metastasis. Our findings illustrate the design principles of nebulized LNPs, paving the way of developing inhaled mRNA vaccines and therapeutics.

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) have gained increasing attention over the decades, owing to their distinctive properties. Electrodeposition stands out as a cost-effective and convenient method for producing diverse types of HEAs. However, there's little attention paid to fabricating ceramic-enhanced HEA composites. In this study, NiFeCoCu/Si3N4 HEA nanocomposites were electro-co-deposited in an aqueous solution with varying loadings of Si3N4 nanoparticles and current densities. The morphological, elemental, and phase-structure characteristics were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The Vickers-microhardness measurements, reciprocal wear, and electrochemical tests were conducted to evaluate the physical and anti-corrosion performance of the composite coatings. The findings indicate that the incorporation of Si3N4 nanoparticles not only changes the surface morphologies, compositions, and textures of the HEA matrix but also significantly enhances both the wear and anti-corrosion performance in artificial water by refining the microstructures and reducing the defects of the composite coatings. The HEA-3 g/L-Si3N4-40 mA/cm2 and HEA-6 g/L-Si3N4-40 mA/cm2 composite coatings demonstrate the best wear performance and anti-corrosion properties among the samples investigated, respectively. The present study shows a significant improvement in the mechanical and anti-corrosion properties of HEA coatings by incorporation of Si3N4 nanoparticles, which is a very promising approach for the surface protection of engineering materials used in corrosive and frictional-working conditions.

The methods of deep seismic sounding (DSS) and dense nodal array (DNA) are based on the same observation systems and instruments. DSS offers advantages in constructing velocity models of the crust and upper mantle, whereas DNA is used to build crustal geometric models. Combining DSS and DNA can effectively enhance the deep earth exploration techniques. This study provides an example of such integration. We applied the teleseismic receiver function imaging method to the continuously recorded data from the DSS profile L1 and constructed a crustal geometric structure model for the Pearl River Delta. The study revealed the following characteristics of the crustal structure and fault zone: (1) the crustal thickness is 28–30 km, thinning gradually southeast of the Wuchuan-Sihui fault; (2) the average crustal VP/VS is ~1.73 near the Wuchuan-Sihui fault, but < 1.70 in other segments; and (3) a low-velocity zone exists in the upper to middle crust, horizontally separated by the Enping-Kaiping fault zone. These results suggest that the crust of the Pearl River Delta region has undergone significant thinning. The low average crustal VP/VS and lower crustal VP indicate that this is mainly caused by the lower crust thinning. We propose that the Wuchuan-Sihui and Enping-Kaiping faults dip eastward into the deep crust and may penetrate the Moho. The formation and evolution of these faults are controlled by thermal uplift and the southeastern extension of the lithospheric mantle. Joint exploration using DSS and DNA provides multi-parameter and multi-scale constraints on the crust and upper mantle structures, offering significant insights into the interface properties, fault extension, and melt flow distribution. The combined DSS and DNA techniques has broad applications in deep structural probing and mineral resource exploration.

Hydraulic fracturing is a widely used technique for increasing the permeability of coal seams. Its impact on the production capacity of coalbed methane(CBM) wells is significant. This paper makes detailed observations on the exposed coal seams and fracture distribution of 5 CBM wells in Tunlan block of Xishan coalfield, and studies the distribution characteristics of coal structure, microfractures, quartz sand and coal fine by using stereoscopic microscope, scanning electron microscope, and micro CT. The fracturing effect and influencing factors of CBM wells are analysed by combining regional geostress and hydraulic fracturing construction parameters. The research results indicate that the macroscopic fractures morphology produced by hydraulic fracturing are complex and diverse, including horizontal, vertical, X and T-shaped fractures. The degree of coal body fragmentation increases with distance from the CBM well. The coal body closer to the CBM well is mainly composed of fragmented and granular coal, while the coal body further away is mainly composed of undeformed coal with primary fractures. The quartz sands are mainly deposited in horizontal fractures, with only a small amount in T-shaped fractures. Quartz sand rubs, collides, and embeds strongly with the coal fracture surface. The fracturing fluid is then superimposed to fracture the coal body, resulting in a large amount of coal fines. This causes the coal fines to wrap around the quartz sand and block the fractures. The coal fines within the macroscopic fracture are primarily a result of the fracturing of the coal body, the flushing of the coal body by fracturing fluid, and the friction between the quartz sand and the fracture surface during hydraulic fracturing. Coal fine generation in micro-fractures during coal body fracturing. Coal fines and quartz sand accumulate in the fractures, creating enormous resistance to the carrying fluid and preventing the quartz sand from migrating to the far end of the CBM well. The magnitude and direction of the geostress, as well as the strength of the coal seam roof and floor, are important factors that influence the opening and direction of the hydraulic fracturing fractures. The low viscosity of the carrying fluid cannot suspend quartz sand, and the accumulation of quartz sand and coal fine can block the fractures, easy to cause quartz sand and coal fine to aggregate and block fractures.

Growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible 45b (GADD45b) was initially discovered to be involved in processes such as cell cycle arrest, differentiation and apoptosis. It is an important signal regulatory molecule in cells, responsible for signal transduction under various physiological or environmental stimuli. The GADD45b gene belongs to the GADD45 gene family. This gene is commonly expressed in human and fetal tissues, but the expression is tissue-specific, with high expression in the liver and bone marrow. The GADD45b protein is a small, evolutionarily conserved acidic protein distributed in both the cytoplasm and nucleus. Research has shown that GADD45b is closely associated with signaling pathways such as p38/MAPK and TGFβ/Smad3, and it has functions including improving tissue fibrosis and inflammation progression, inhibiting cell autophagy, and enhancing neural function recovery. GADD45b plays a significant role in tumors, innate immunity, neurological diseases, and disorders of hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism. The incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing year by year in China and has become a serious public health issue in the country. Disorders in hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism are major causes of NAFLD. Multiple studies have shown that GADD45b gene and protein exhibit abnormal expression in liver diseases with hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism disorders. Previous research has found that GADD45b can increase the stability of the FoxO1 protein in hepatocytes, and enhance the expression of PGC1a, thereby promoting hepatic gluconeogenesis. Additionally, GADD45b can inhibit fatty acid transport in hepatocytes by binding to FABP1 and reduce hepatic steatosis by interacting with HSP72 protein. Therefore, the roles of GADD45b in promoting hepatic gluconeogenesis, inhibiting fatty acid transport, and reducing steatosis may form the basis for research into treatments for hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism disorders and liver diseases. This paper reviews the characteristics and functions of the GADD45b protein, as well as recent advances in the study of hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism and liver diseases, aiming to provide reference for further GADD45b research.

The preparation of dense Si3N4-based ceramics has attracted great attention because of the achievable improvements in their mechanical properties and high-temperature oxidation resistance. In this work, advanced dense boron-containing α/β-Si3N4/Si monoliths were prepared via a high pressure‒high temperature technique in which polymer-derived amorphous SiBN powders were used as raw materials. The crystallization behavior and phase transformation of the polymer-derived amorphous samples were studied in the temperature range from 1400 to 1800 °C. The results demonstrate that the incorporation of boron in the Si3N4 matrix suppresses the phase transformation from α-Si3N4 to β-Si3N4. Furthermore, the mechanical properties of the as-prepared samples were measured, and the maximum hardness and fracture toughness of boron-rich SiBN samples reached 14.8 GPa and 7.96 MPa·m1/2, respectively. The hardness of the obtained boron-rich SiBN samples is stable up to 300 °C. In addition, the oxidation behavior of the samples prepared at 1400 and 1600 °C was investigated at 1400 °C for 50 h. The results show that the incorporation of boron significantly improved the oxidation resistance of the samples because of the formation of borosilicate/cristobalite. This work provides guidance for the synthesis of boron-containing α/β-Si3N4-based ceramics with excellent mechanical properties and oxidation resistance.

LTE-Unlicensed (LTE-U) network is a type of cellular communication network operating the unlicensed spectrum. Offloading cellular traffic to WiFi or Device-to-Device (D2D) network can lead to interference among them. Applying Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) technology in Cellular Base Station (CBS) and WiFi Access Point (WAP) can effectively reduce interference among D2D, WiFi and cellular networks. To our best knowledge, there is still no literature to explicitly study the characteristics of the traffic offloading in the Multiple-User MIMO (MU-MIMO) enabled network coexisting with D2D and WiFi networks. In this article, we thoroughly investigate the impact of D2D communication and MU-MIMO enabled WAP and CBS on the performance of the LTE-U network. More specifically, we derive the expressions of the downlink rates for cellular users, D2D users, and WiFi users with incomplete Channel State Information (CSI) feedback, and we validate our analysis through Monte-Carlo simulation. Numerous results illustrate the following conclusions. (i) Increasing the number of WiFi users, the length of CSI feedback, and the quantity of D2D pairs that reuse the channel with a single cellular user can increase the total throughput of the heterogeneous network. (ii) The total throughput decreases when more than two users are offloaded to D2D pairs, and increases as the number of offloaded users increases when less than six users are offloaded to WiFi network. (iii) Simultaneously offloading traffic to D2D pairs and WiFi network can obtain higher total throughput than offloading traffic to only one of them.

Bladder cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in the urinary system. There are a large number of bladder cancer patients globally, concentrated in the middle-aged and old-aged population, and some of them are first diagnosed with muscle invasive bladder cancer or metastatic bladder cancer, with a poor prognosis. In China, bladder cancer has become one of the most important tumors of the urinary system, with its incidence and mortality increasing year by year. The susceptibility of bladder cancer is affected by a combination of environmental and genetic factors, similar to the global trend. Smoking is considered to be one of the most important environmental risk factors for bladder cancer, which is closely related to the pathogenesis of bladder cancer and is one of the major public health problems in China. In terms of genetics, previous studies have shown that polymorphisms in cell cycle regulatory genes, tumor angiogenesis regulatory genes, DNA damage repair genes, and carcinogen metabolism enzyme regulatory genes can significantly affect the risk of bladder cancer in individuals. In recent years, with the development of environmental genomics research, the joint effect of smoking and gene variants on the susceptibility to bladder cancer has also received widespread attention. Exploring the joint effects will help to identify potential susceptibility biomarkers of bladder cancer and provide an important theoretical basis for its prevention and control. In this review, the joint effects of smoking and gene variants on bladder cancer susceptibility were elaborated.

Abstract A conditional generative adversarial network (CGAN) framework is proposed to address the issue of incomplete circular synthetic aperture radar (CSAR) azimuthal information due to motion errors. Specifically, the authors propose a novel CGAN architecture that can control the azimuth angle for arbitrary angle generation, capable of complementing missing CSAR sub‐aperture information. The network incorporates angular labels for various scenarios and integrates a dynamic region‐aware convolution (DRconv) module. Additionally, to counteract the common challenge of mode collapse in GAN training, a mode seeking regularisation technique is innovativrly introduced into the authors’ loss function. The efficacy of the proposed network is rigorously tested using both the MSTAR dataset and an X‐band SAR dataset. The results demonstrate that the authors’ network can generate high‐fidelity SAR images with controllable azimuths, closely resembling authentic images. Furthermore, the proposed method excels in complementing missing CSAR sub‐aperture information, effectively supplying the lost angular information due to motion errors. A new technical approach for SAR image generation is not only offered but it also has the potential to significantly expand SAR datasets. This advancement is expected to enhance the quality and utility of SAR imagery in applications such as surveillance, reconnaissance, and environmental monitoring.