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Abstract A series of fourth‐order bandpass filters (BPFs) with compact footprints, broad bandwidth, high selectivity, linear phase and notched response are proposed. The sketch of these BPFs is in accordance with the combination of the eighth‐mode substrate integrated waveguide (EMSIW) and dual‐mode microstrip line (DMML) resonators. The DMML resonator is constructed by means of metallic via‐holes and pad in the double‐layered structures. Among them, the DMML resonator can provide two transmission poles. Besides, the cross coupling is introduced through the vertical slot or fan‐shaped aperture in the dual‐layered substrates. The coupling schemes of the proposed BPFs can introduce two transmission zeros in the vicinity of operating passband, and the coupled scheme also exhibits a relatively flat in‐band group delay. Notched frequency responses have been obtained by exploiting the U‐shaped resonator and folded‐ring resonator embedded with the mixed EMSIW and DMML BPFs. To validate the conceptual design, the proposed BPFs are simulated, fabricated and measured. Both the simulation and measurement have reached to a satisfactory agreement.

Abstract Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy has greatly improved the prognosis of relapsed and refractory patients with large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL). Early identification and intervention of patients who may respond poorly to CAR-T cell therapy will help to improve the efficacy. Ninety patients from a Chinese cohort who received CAR-T cell therapy and underwent 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) scans at the screening stage (median time to infusion 53.5 days, range 27–176 days), 1 month and 3 months after CAR-T cell infusion were analyzed, with RNA-sequencing conducted on 47 patients at the screening stage. Patients with maximum diameter of the largest lesion (Dmax)

Abstract A single‐layered W band circularly polarised (CP) antenna array fed by a sequential feeding network using compact gap waveguides (GWs) with reduced pins is presented. The radiating element consists of a pair of cross slots and an open‐ended rectangular cavity integrated into the top metal plate of the GW. A sequential rotation network (SRN) consisting of hybrid groove gap waveguide (GGW) and ridge gap waveguide (RGW) structure is presented. Due to the fact that conventional GWs with multiple rows of pins occupy large lateral size, thus making them difficult to realise a single‐layered CP array fed by SRN. Compared with conventional GW with multiple rows of pins, compact GGW with a single row of pins is deployed here to make the presented SRN more compact, thus combining SRN and multiple CP radiators in the same layer. Particularly, a comprehensive investigation on the choice of the GGW groove depth is carried out. The groove depth is designed carefully such that the electric‐field energy is more confined along the GGW line, and less rows of pins are required. For proof‐of‐concept demonstration, the proposed array has been fabricated and measured, exhibiting an overlapped bandwidth of 10.64% (89–99 GHz) and a peak gain of 19.48 dBi at 94 GHz. It presents a promising candidate for W band wireless applications.

Plasmon-induced hot-electron transfer from metal nanostructures is being intensely pursed in current photocatalytic research, however it remains elusive whether molecular-like metal clusters with excitonic behavior can be used as light-harvesting materials in solar energy utilization such as photocatalytic methanol steam reforming. In this work, we report an atomically precise Cu13 cluster protected by dual ligands of thiolate and phosphine that can be viewed as the assembly of one top Cu atom and three Cu4 tetrahedra. The Cu13H10(SR)3(PR’3)7 (SR = 2,4-dichlorobenzenethiol, PR’3 = P(4-FC6H4)3) cluster can give rise to highly efficient light-driven activity for methanol steam reforming toward H2 production.

Abstract Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy has demonstrated promising efficacy in early trials for relapsed/refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). However, its efficacy in treating primary refractory DLBCL has not been comprehensively investigated, and the underlying resistance mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we report the outcomes of a phase I, open-label, single-arm clinical trial of relmacabtagene autoleucel (relma-cel), a CD19-targeted CAR-T cell product, with safety and efficacy as primary endpoints. Among the 12 enrolled patients, 8 experienced grade 4 hematologic toxicity of treatment-emergent adverse event. No grade ≥3 cytokine release syndrome or neurotoxicity occurred. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed an increase proportion of C1QB-expressing macrophages in patients with progressive disease before CAR-T cell therapy. Cholesterol efflux from M2 macrophages was found to inhibit CAR-T cells cytotoxicity by inducing an immunosuppressive state in CD8+ T cells, leading to their exhaustion. Possible interactions between macrophages and CD8+ T cells, mediating lipid metabolism (AFR1-FAS), immune checkpoint activation, and T cell exhaustion (LGALS9-HAVCR2, CD86-CTLA4, and NECTIN2-TIGIT) were enhanced during disease progression. These findings suggest that cholesterol efflux from macrophages may trigger CD8+ T cell exhaustion, providing a rationale for metabolic reprogramming to counteract CAR-T treatment failure. Chinadrugtrials.org.cn identifier: CTR20200376.

Abstract The authors extend the resonant modal theory (RMT) developed previously for a metal object to an arbitrary source region consisting of metals, dielectrics, or a combination of both. The influences of dielectrics on the fields are replaced by equivalent volume sources through the use of the compensation theorem in electromagnetic theory. The resonant frequencies can be determined by finding the roots of the determinant of the matrix resulted from the discretisation of the real homogeneous volume–surface integral equation derived from the requirement that the difference of stored field energies in the source region vanishes. As applications of the extended RMT, three examples have been investigated. The first example is a dielectric resonator antenna and is designed by exciting the first resonant mode of the composite structure in which the dielectric cylinder is combined with a conformal metallic strip. The second example is a dual‐band dielectric‐coated metallic wire antenna. The third example studies the resonant modes of a rectangular patch antenna.

IntroductionCitrus reticulata cv. ‘Chunhongtangju’ was mutated from Mandarin ‘Shatangju’, which has been identified as a new citrus variety. Mandarin ‘Chunhongtangju’ fruits were late-ripening for about two months than Mandarin ‘Shatangju’.MethodsTo understand the pericarp differential development mechanism in Mandarin ‘Shatangju’ (CK) and ‘Chunhongtangju’ (LM), hormones and transcriptome profiles of pericarps were performed in different development stages: Young fruit stage (CK1/LM1), Expansion and Turning color stage (CK2), Expansion stage (LM2), Turning color stage (LM3), and Maturity stage (CK3/LM4).ResultsIn this study, the development of LM was significantly slower, and the maturity was significantly delayed. At the same stage, most hormones in Mandarin ‘Chunhongtangju’ pericarps were higher than that in ‘Shatangju’ such as gibberellin A24, cis(+)-12-oxophytodienoic acid, and L-phenylalanine. The deficiency of hormones in late-maturing pericarps was mainly manifested in ABA, 12-OHJA, MeSAG, and ABA-GE. Differences in transcriptome profiles between the two citrus varieties are primarily observed in energy metabolism, signal transduction such as MAPK signaling pathway and plant hormone signaling, and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. After analyzing the hormones and transcriptome data, we found that the top genes and hormones, such as Cs_ont_5g020040 (transcription elongation factor, TFIIS), Cs_ont_7g021670 (BAG family molecular chaperone regulator 5, BAG5), Cs_ont_2g025760 (40S ribosomal protein S27, Rps27), 5-deoxystrigol, salicylic acid 2-O-β-glucosid, and gibberellin A24, contributed significantly to gene transcription and hormone synthesis.DiscussionThis study suggests that the variances of pericarp development between the two varieties are linked to variations in the transcription levels of genes associated with energy and secondary metabolism, signal transduction related genes. These findings expand our understanding of the complex transcriptional and hormonal regulatory hierarchy during pericarp development.

BackgroundFFBZL is composed of three herbs: Scutellaria barbata D. Don (SBD), Astragali Radix (AR), and Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort (CX). FFBZL has been reported to be effective in the treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, the molecular mechanism involved remains unclear. Based on network pharmacology combined with bioinformatics and molecular docking, the effect and molecular mechanism of action of FFBZL in treating OSCC were explored.Materials and methodsThis study employed an integrated approach using various databases and literature sources to identify the effective components of FFBZL, with a specific emphasis on screening active ingredients that align with traditional Chinese medicine principles. The TCMSP, ETCM, and SymMap databases were utilized to collect information on the active constituents and targets of FFBZL, while the PharmMapper database was used to predict targets. Key components were selected based on the degree value of the ‘active component−target’ network. Transcriptome data for OSCC samples were obtained from the TCGA and GEO databases. Differential gene expression analysis was conducted to identify targets associated with OSCC, and these targets were subsequently aligned with targets of the effective components of FFBZL to identify common targets. Subsequently, the STRING database was utilized to construct a protein‒protein interaction (PPI) network of these common targets, which was subsequently visualized using Cytoscape. Next, 71 targets were rescreened using the PPI network, and GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were performed; the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway was the top-ranking pathway related to cell apoptosis. Next, the expression of 19 genes enriched in the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway was analyzed using OSCC transcriptome data from the TCGA and GEO databases. The targets were subsequently mapped to the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway using the KEGG database, and the GSEA algorithm was used to assess the overall expression trend of the genes in this pathway. The 71 common targets were subsequently imported into the STRING database and visualized using Cytoscape. The DEGREE and MCC algorithms were used to select the corresponding targets within the PPI network. The intersection of these targets and the 19 targets mapped to the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway led to the identification of 6 key targets associated with cell apoptosis: GSK3B, PIK3CA, FN1, MET, SPP1, and MAPK3. Subsequently, the UALCAN database was utilized to analyze the expression levels and survival associations of the key genes related to cell apoptosis, and the transcriptome data from the GEO database were used to assess the correlations among the 6 key genes. Finally, molecular docking studies were conducted to explore the relationships between these targets and the active components with predicted associations.ResultsThis study identified six key components of FFBZL (quercetin, wogonin, carthamidin, scutellarein, senkyunolide K and astragalosidei: astragaloside I) as well as 820 potential target genes of these components. Intersection of these targets with those related to OSCC yielded 151 common targets. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that most of the top-ranked functions and pathways were associated with apoptosis, with the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway playing a critical role. Transcriptome analysis of data from the TCGA and GEO databases indicated that the genes enriched in the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway were strongly upregulated, and the GSEA algorithm indicated an overall upregulation trend for the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. By intersecting the targets with the 19 genes mapped to the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway using the DEGREE and MCC algorithms, six key targets related to cell apoptosis were identified. The mRNA and protein expression levels of most these targets in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma were higher than those in normal tissues. Survival analysis revealed that low expression of SPP1 and FN1 was associated with increased patient survival time. Additionally, the molecular docking results indicated strong binding potential between the six identified key components and the six key targets.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to explore the role of comprehensive vestibular rehabilitation based on virtual reality (VR) technology in residual symptoms after canalith repositioning procedure. METHODS: A total of 124 patients, who were diagnosed with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo from September 2020 to July 2023 and had residual symptoms 24 hours after the canalith repositioning procedure, were selected as the subjects. They were randomly divided into a normal control (NC) group, a Cawthorne–Cooksey exercise group (n=41), a Brandt–Daroff exercise group (n=41), and a VR group (n=42). The NC group received no intervention, the Cawthorne–Cooksey exercise group underwent Cawthorne–Cooksey exercise, the Brandt–Daroff exercise group was subjected to Brandt–Daroff exercise, and the VR group was given comprehensive vestibular rehabilitation based on VR technology. RESULTS: After treatment, the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and vestibular symptom index (VSI) scores of the virtual reality (VR), Cawthorne–Cooksey exercise, and Brandt–Daroff exercise groups were significantly lower than those of the NC group (P < .05). The scores of the VR group were lower than those of the Cawthorne–Cooksey exercise and Brandt–Daroff exercise groups (P < .05). The abnormality rates of ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (oVEMP) and cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMP) in VR, Cawthorne–Cooksey exercise, and Brandt–Daroff exercise groups were lower than those of the NC group (P < .05). The rates of the VR group were lower than those of the Cawthorne–Cooksey exercise and Brandt–Daroff exercise groups (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Comprehensive vestibular rehabilitation based on VR technology can cure the residual symptoms after the canalith repositioning procedure, reduce the abnormality rates of oVEMP and cVEMP, and reconstruct the balance ability

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of utilizing auxiliary steel plates in conjunction with autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy for the treatment of bone non-union following intramedullary fixation of long shaft fractures in the limbs. Methods From January 2020 to September 2022, 33 patients with non union after intramedullary fixation of long shaft fractures of the limbs admitted to the orthopedic trauma ward of the 960th Hospital of the PLA Jonit Logistics Support Force were selected as the research subjects, including 28 males and 5 females.The age range was 22 to 55 years, with an average of (37.2±6.7) years. The patients were divided into the experimental group (n=15) and the control group (n=18) in order of admission. All patients retained intramedullary fixation, and the fracture end was fixed with reconstruction steel plates. According to the random number table method, 15 cases in the experimental group were treated with autologous iliac bone transplantation combined with intraoperative and postoperative autologous PRP. The activated autologous PRP was fully fused with the patient′s autologous iliac bone during surgery and transplanted to the bone defect site.Ultrasound guidance was used to accurately locate the location. Autologous PRP was injected 10 mL/(person) occasion on the 14 th and 28 th day after surgery respectively. Eighteen cases in the control group received the treatment of autologous iliac bone transplantation at the bone defect site only. The clinical healing status of fractures between the two groups of patients were observed and compared. Results All 33 patients were followed up for a complete period of 9 to 30 months, with an average of (11.8±2.7) months. Compared with the control group, the clinical fracture healing time (months) was 5.25±1.18 vs 7.27±1.38 (P

Abstract A new multi‐band frequency response controlling method using groove loading technique on the narrow wall of an open‐ended waveguide is proposed by the authors. The feature of this scheme is a larger stopband spacing that is independent of the position of the loading structure. A tri‐band antenna is designed as an example to verify the effectiveness of the idea. Two notches are introduced, and the bandwidths, as well as stopband spacings, can be adjusted by independent parameters. The tri‐band prototype can be fabricated using 3D printing technology or machining technology. Reasonable agreement between the measured and simulated results of impedance and radiation characteristics have been achieved.

Abstract Background Macrophage-derived extracellular vesicle (macrophage-EV) is highly studied for its regulatory role in atherosclerosis (AS). Our current study tried to elucidate the possible role of macrophage-EV loaded with small interfering RNA against high-mobility group box 1 (siHMGB1) affecting atherosclerotic plaque formation. Methods In silico analysis was performed to find critical factors in mouse atherosclerotic plaque formation. EVs secreted by RAW 264.7 cells were collected by ultracentrifugation and characterized, followed by the preparation of macrophage-EV-loaded siHMGB1 (macrophage-EV/siHMGB1). ApoE−/− mice were used to construct an AS mouse model by a high-fat diet, followed by injection of macrophage-EV/siHMGB1 to assess the in vivo effect of macrophage-EV/siHMGB1 on AS mice. RAW264.7 cells were subjected to ox-LDL, LPS or macrophage-EV/siHMGB1 for analyzing the in vitro effect of macrophage-EV/siHMGB1 on macrophage pyrophosis and inflammation. Results In silico analysis found that HMGB1 was closely related to the development of AS. Macrophage-EV/siHMGB could inhibit the release of HMGB1 from macrophages to outside cells, and the reduced HMGB1 release could inhibit foam cell formation. Besides, macrophage-EV/siHMGB also inhibited the LPS-induced Caspase-11 activation, thus inhibiting macrophage pyroptosis and preventing atherosclerotic plaque formation. Conclusion Our results proved that macrophage-EV/siHMGB could inhibit foam cell formation and suppress macrophage pyroptosis, finally preventing atherosclerotic plaque formation in AS mice.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a prevalent condition, yet no specific treatment is available. Extensive research has revealed the pivotal role of lipid-related alterations in AKI. Lipid metabolism plays an essential role in the sustenance of the kidneys. In addition to their energy-supplying function, lipids contribute to the formation of renal biomembranes and the establishment of the renal microenvironment. Moreover, lipids or their metabolites actively participate in signal transduction, which governs various vital biological processes, such as proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, autophagy, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition. While previous studies have focused predominantly on abnormalities in lipid metabolism in chronic kidney disease, this review focuses on lipid metabolism anomalies in AKI. We explore the significance of lipid metabolism products as potential biomarkers for the early diagnosis and classification of AKI. Additionally, this review assesses current preclinical investigations on the modulation of lipid metabolism in the progression of AKI. Finally, on the basis of existing research, this review proposes future directions, highlights challenges, and presents novel targets and innovative ideas for the treatment of and intervention in AKI.

Abstract This letter presents a Ka‐band low‐cost microstrip line phase shifter based on liquid crystal (LC) technology. Furthermore, a sum‐difference beamforming antenna array based on the LC phase shifter is designed. The phase shifter is composed of two coaxial connectors, a metal base, an intermediate dielectric layer, a gradient metal sheet and a top glass layer. The simulated results show that a nearly 360° phase shift coverage can be achieved with the effective permittivity of LC varying from 2.5 to 3.5. The sum‐difference beam antenna array is composed of a circulator, a sum‐difference network, a one‐to‐eight power‐division network, eight liquid crystal phase shifters, and a serious fed antenna array. The simulation results show that the antenna array can achieve sum‐difference beam scanning range of ±30°. A prototype of LC phase shifter is fabricated and tested. The results show that the designed LC phase shifter can achieve a 360° phase coverage by applying a direct current (DC) voltage ranging from 0 to 12 V. Compared to traditional phase shifters, the proposed design offers a simple structure at a lower cost. When applied in the design of a sum‐difference beam antenna array, it can reduce the producing cost and enable integrated design.

BackgroundThe observational studies investigated the impact of migraine on Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). However, these findings were limited by confounding factors and reverse causation, leading to contradictory results.MethodsWe utilized Univariable Mendelian Randomization (UVMR) to explore the link between migraine (13,971 cases/470,627 controls) and AD risk (Bellenguez et al., 39,106 cases/46,828 controls; FinnGen, 111,471 cases/111,471 controls). Meta-analysis was performed for comprehensive synthesis. Employing Multivariable Mendelian Randomization (MVMR), we created models incorporating migraine and 35 potential AD risk factors, examining migraine’s independent impact on AD onset risk under considering these factors.ResultsThe meta-analysis of inverse variance weighted MR results, combining data from Bellenguez et al. (odds ratio (OR) [95% confidence interval (CI)]: 1.5717 [1.1868–2.0814], p = 0.0016) and FinnGen (OR [95% CI]: 1.2904 [0.5419–3.0730], p = 0.5646), provided evidence for a causal relationship between genetically predicted migraine and the heightened risk of AD occurrence (OR [95% CI]: 1.54 [1.18, 2.00], p

In this paper, a microwave absorption/transmission switchable frequency selective surface (A/T-SFSS) with enhanced multispectral functionality in the visible and infrared spectra is developed. By simply controlling the flowing liquid medium (pure water in this work), efficient manipulation of two opposite states, absorption and transmission, can be achieved in the microwave frequency band with a wide switchable bandwidth. When functioning as a wideband absorber, the proposed A/T-SFSS exhibits an absorption rate over 90% from 6.50 GHz to 10.48 GHz. Conversely, it can be employed as a transmitter with high selectivity, featuring a second-order passband with two transmission zeros at both sides and an impressive −1 dB transmission bandwidth ranging from 7.04 GHz to 8.47 GHz. The design also demonstrates stable responses under different polarizations and incident angles. Additionally, the proposed A/T-SFSS offers flexibility in tailoring the visible and infrared spectra by actively changing the color and temperature of aqueous solutions. The influences of electromagnetic (EM) parameters and liquid temperature variations on the microwave performance are also thoroughly investigated. Finally, experimental verification through free-space tests of scattering parameters, image analyses of grayscale histogram, and infrared radiation detected by thermal imager provides compelling evidence for the potential of the developed A/T-SFSS. The results demonstrate its remarkable capability to achieve switchable microwave functionality as well as active control of visible light and infrared spectra, which significantly contributes to the field by advancing the development of multifunctional and multispectral structures.

Abstract Lithium (Li) dendrite growth significantly deteriorates the performance and shortens the operation life of lithium metal batteries. Capturing the intricate dynamics of surface localized and rapid mass transport at the electrolyte–electrode interface of lithium metal is essential for the understanding of the dendrite growth process, and the evaluation of the solutions mitigating the dendrite growth issue. Here we demonstrate an approach based on an ultrasensitive tilted fiber Bragg grating (TFBG) sensor which is inserted close to the electrode surface in a working lithium metal battery, without disturbing its operation. Thanks to the superfine optical resonances of the TFBG, in situ and rapid monitoring of mass transport kinetics and lithium dendrite growth at the nanoscale interface of lithium anodes have been achieved. Reliable correlations between the performance of different natural/artificial solid electrolyte interphases (SEIs) and the time-resolved optical responses have been observed and quantified, enabling us to link the nanoscale ion and SEI behavior with the macroscopic battery performance. This new operando tool will provide additional capabilities for parametrization of the batteries’ electrochemistry and help identify the optimal interphases of lithium metal batteries to enhance battery performance and its safety.

To address the problem that traditional force control methods have difficulty obtaining stable forces during a robot massage, a robot force control algorithm based on residual reinforcement learning is proposed. An initial strategy of the robot massage force is first constructed with impedance control, but the massage force often fluctuates when the skin environment is unknown to the robot. A reinforcement learning algorithm is then used to analyze the relationship between the robot contact state and offset displacement and compensate for the residuals of the impedance controller. To speed up the search for the compensation strategy, a neural network is constructed to fit a dynamic model of reinforcement learning with the data from the initial strategy, which can simulate the contact between the robot and skin. Offline training in a simulated environment can reduce the number of actual interactions in reinforcement learning and improve the practicability of the algorithm; to integrate the two algorithms, the output of the residual reinforcement learning strategy is smoothed. The experimental results show that the robot force control algorithm based on residual reinforcement learning converges after approximately 80 offline iterations. The force error in the online experiment is basically within ±0.2 N.

Abstract A planar antenna with dual‐linearly polarised end‐fire radiation is proposed. A tapered double‐sided symmetrical spoof surface plasmon polariton (SSPP) transmission line (TL) with tilted unit cells is proposed. The SSPP TL can operate in two types of first high‐order modes: the first high‐order even mode and the first high‐order odd mode. A two‐port feeding structure is designed to feed the SSPP TL. When the signal is fed from port 1, the energy travels through the substrate integrated waveguide and eventually excites the even mode on the SSPP TL, leading to vertically polarised radiation. Conversely, when the signal is input from port 2, the energy travels through the stripline‐to‐slotline transition and eventually excites the odd mode on the SSPP TL, generating horizontally polarised radiation. According to the measured results, a 54.6% overlapping bandwidth is obtained. The horizontal and the vertical polarisations achieve a maximum gain of 14.7 and 12.2 dBi, respectively.

Phlorizin (PHL) is a natural compound with strong antioxidant properties mainly found in apples. In this paper, the interaction mechanism of PHL with pepsin and trypsin was comparatively evaluated by computer simulation, fluorescence spectra, circular dichroism (CD), and fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra at a molecular level. Fluorescence spectra showed that PHL quenches the pepsin/trypsin by static quenching. Thermodynamic parameters indicated that PHL binds to pepsin mainly through hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces, and that of trypsin was electrostatic forces. The ground state complexes PHL and protease have a moderate affinity of 105 L/mol PHL binds more strongly to trypsin than to pepsin. CD and FT-IR spectra results showed that pepsin/trypsin decreased the β-sheet content and slightly changed its secondary structure upon PHL. These experimental results are mutually verified with the predicted computer-aid simulation results. Upon PHL and trypsin binding, the antioxidant capacity of PHL was elevated. Nevertheless, the antioxidant capacity of PHL was decreased after binding to pepsin. This work elucidates the binding of PHL binding mechanisms to pepsin/trypsin and provides useful information for the digestion of PHL to improve the application of PHL in food processing.

Educational chatbots (ECs) can offer instructional feedback to enhance learning. However, the effect of metacognitive feedback on science education has not been fully explored. This study focuses on the effect of the EC with metacognitive feedback on students’ knowledge retention, transfer, and intrinsic motivation in the field of biology science. A between-group experimental design with 62 college students was conducted. Students in the experiment group received metacognitive feedback, whereas students in the control group received no feedback. The results of the ANCOVA test showed that students in the experiment group demonstrated better knowledge retention and transfer than those in the control group (F = 13.11, p = 0.001; F = 14.39, p < 0.001). Further, students in the experiment group reported more learning interest and higher perceived competence and value than those in the control group (F = 3.72, p = 0.001; F = 1.91, p = 0.009; F = 2.70, p = 0.004). In addition, correlation analysis revealed that perceived competence in the metacognitive feedback group was positively related to knowledge transfer (r = 0.39, p = 0.032). However, there was no significant difference in perceived pressure between both groups (p = 0.203). This study highlights the potential of the EC with metacognitive feedback for science learning.

Global biomass burning represents a significant source of carbon emissions, exerting a substantial influence on the global carbon cycle and climate change. As global carbon emissions become increasingly concerning, accurately quantifying the carbon emissions from biomass burning has emerged as a pivotal and challenging area of scientific research. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the primary monitoring techniques for carbon emissions from biomass burning, encompassing both bottom-up and top-down approaches. It examines the current status and limitations of these techniques in practice. The bottom-up method primarily employs terrestrial ecosystem models, emission inventory methods, and fire radiation power (FRP) techniques, which rely on the integration of fire activity data and emission factors to estimate carbon emissions. The top-down method employs atmospheric observation data and atmospheric chemical transport models to invert carbon emission fluxes. Both methods continue to face significant challenges, such as limited satellite resolution affecting data accuracy, uncertainties in emission factors in regions lacking ground validation, and difficulties in model optimization due to the complexity of atmospheric processes. In light of these considerations, this paper explores the prospective evolution of carbon emission monitoring technology for biomass burning, with a particular emphasis on the significance of high-precision estimation methodologies, technological advancements in satellite remote sensing, and the optimization of global emission inventories. This study aims to provide a forward-looking perspective on the evolution of carbon emission monitoring from biomass burning, offering a valuable reference point for related scientific research and policy formulation.

With the frequent occurrence of natural disasters and the acceleration of urbanization, it is necessary to carry out efficient evacuation, especially when earthquakes, fires, terrorist attacks, and other serious threats occur. However, due to factors such as small targets, complex posture, occlusion, and dense distribution, the current mainstream algorithms still have problems such as low precision and poor real-time performance in crowd person detection. Therefore, this paper proposes EAAnet, a crowd person detection algorithm. It is based on YOLOv5, with CBAM (Convolutional Block Attention Module) introduced into the backbone, BiFPN (Bidirectional Feature Pyramid Network) introduced into the neck, and combined with a loss function of CIoU_Loss to better predict the person number. The experimental results show that compared with other mainstream detection algorithms, EAAnet has achieved significant improvement in precision and real-time performance. The precision value of all categories was 78.6%, which was increased by 1.8. Among these, the categories of riders and partially visible person were increased by 4.6 and 0.8, respectively. At the same time, the parameter number of EAAnet is only 7.1M, with a calculation amount of 16.0G FLOPs. Therefore, it is proved that EAAnet has the ability of the efficient real-time detection of the crowd person and is feasible in the field of emergency management.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), these minute yet mighty cellular messengers are redefining our understanding of a spectrum of diseases, from cancer to cardiovascular ailments, neurodegenerative disorders, and even infectious diseases like HIV. Central to cellular communication, EVs emerge as both potent facilitators and insightful biomarkers in immune response and the trajectory of disease progression. This review ventures deep into the realm of EVs in HIV-unraveling their pivotal roles in diagnosis, disease mechanism unravelling, and therapeutic innovation. With a focus on HIV, we will highlights the transformative potential of EVs in both diagnosing and treating this formidable virus. Unveiling the intricate dance between EVs and HIV, the review aims to shed light on novel therapeutic strategies that could significantly benefit HIV therapy, potentially even leading to the eradication of HIV.

Abstract A new design of single‐layered balanced filtering crossover with high selectivity based on square patch resonator is proposed. Originated from the degenerate modes, that is, TM12 and TM21 on square patch resonators, the feasibility of intrinsic common‐mode (CM) suppression and channel isolation is conceived. For demonstration, a first‐order balanced crossover prototype is designed. Afterwards, to enhance selectivity, a square patch resonator is subtly divided into two identical parts and then introduced into the prototype. Hence, a balanced filtering crossover with a fifth‐order Chebyshev response is formed. Furthermore, stubs are deployed between adjacent patch resonators to introduce mixed couplings. Thus, two controllable transmission zeros are obtained, and better out‐of‐band suppression is achieved. Ultimately, the proposed crossover is fabricated and measured. High performance in terms of differential‐mode filtering response, in‐band CM suppression and channel isolation demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed method.

Abstract Unemployment is one of the biggest macroeconomic issues, and economists and policymakers have provided various options to tackle this menace. Financial inclusion and remittances are an important part of any economy and help increase the level of employment. However, despite extensive research, several gaps and issues in understanding the intricate relationship between financial inclusion, workers’ remittances, and the unemployment rate in Asian economies persist. This paper seeks to bridge these gaps and address the issues by examining the relationship between financial inclusion, workers’ remittances, and the unemployment rate in Asian economies using rigorous econometric methodologies, such as two-stage least squares (2SLS) and generalized method of moments (GMM) methods. The findings of 2SLS and GMM demonstrate that ATM, remittances, internet users, GDP, and financial globalization adversely influence the unemployment levels in Asia, Central Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, West & Middle East Asia, and South Asia in 2SLS and GMM models. However, the influence of inflation on the unemployment level is favourable in some regions. Therefore, it is important to give priority to policies that encourage financial inclusion, such as increasing underprivileged populations’ access to banking services, credit, and insurance. Moreover, reducing transaction costs, streamlining money transfers, and promoting formal remittance channels can boost remittances.

Abstract This paper proposes a new type of hybrid eighth‐mode substrate integrated waveguide (EMSIW) and microstrip line (MSL) bandpass filter (BPF) with mixed electric and magnetic coupling. Firstly, two second‐order EMSIW BPFs with mixed coupling and wide stopband performance are investigated. Then, in order to realise high‐order BPF with decent performance, half‐wavelength (λ/2) open‐circuited MSL resonators are employed in the hybrid BPFs design. In the end, two third‐order BPFs and a fourth‐order BPF are developed by combining the EMSIW and MSL resonators together. Extra transmission zeros can be introduced due to the cross couplings in the trisection and quadruplet topologies. For demonstration, the proposed prototypes are designed, fabricated and measured. Reasonable agreements can be achieved between the measurement and simulation. The proposed third‐order BPFs compete against the state of the art, exhibiting the competitive characteristics of the operating bandwidth, physical footprint and upper‐stopband rejection with less order. The proposed fourth‐order BPF features a compact size of 0.34 × 0.34λ0, a low insertion loss of 1 dB, a broad 3‐dB fractional bandwidth of 22.9% and an excellent lower‐stopband suppression.

Abstract Background Chronic pain conditions impose significant burdens worldwide. Pharmacological treatments like opioids have limitations. Non-invasive non-pharmacological therapies (NINPT) encompass diverse interventions including physical, psychological, complementary and alternative approaches, and other innovative techniques that provide analgesic options for chronic pain without medications. Main body This review elucidates the mechanisms of major NINPT modalities and synthesizes evidence for their clinical potential across chronic pain populations. NINPT leverages peripheral, spinal, and supraspinal mechanisms to restore normal pain processing and limit central sensitization. However, heterogeneity in treatment protocols and individual responses warrants optimization through precision medicine approaches. Conclusion Future adoption of NINPT requires addressing limitations in standardization and accessibility as well as synergistic combination with emerging therapies. Overall, this review highlights the promise of NINPT as a valuable complementary option ready for integration into contemporary pain medicine paradigms to improve patient care and outcomes.

Abstract Background Children of mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are more prone to acquire type 2 diabetes and obesity as adults. Due to this link, early intervention strategies that alter the gut microbiome may benefit the mother and kid long-term. This work uses metagenomic and transcriptome sequencing to investigate how probiotics affect gut microbiota dysbiosis and inflammation in GDM. Methods GDM and control metagenomic sequencing data were obtained from the SRA database. This metagenomic data helped us understand gut microbiota abundance and function. KEGG detected and extracted functional pathway genes. Transcriptome sequencing data evaluated GDM-related gene expression. Finally, GDM animal models were given probiotics orally to evaluate inflammatory response, regulatory immune cell fractions, and leptin protein levels. Results GDM patients had more Fusobacteria and Firmicutes, while healthy people had more Bacteroidetes. Gut microbiota composition may affect GDM by altering the L-aspartate and L-asparagine super pathways. Mannan degradation and the super pathway of L-aspartate and L-asparagine synthesis enhanced in GDM mice with leptin protein overexpression. Oral probiotics prevent GDM by lowering leptin. Oral probiotics increased Treg, Tfr, and Breg cells, which decreased TNF-α and IL-6 and increased TGF-β and IL-10, preventing inflammation and preserving mouse pregnancy. Conclusion Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota may increase leptin expression and cause GDM. Oral probiotics enhance Treg, Tfr, and Breg cells, which limit the inflammatory response and assist mice in sustaining normal pregnancy. Thus, oral probiotics may prevent GDM, enabling targeted gut microbiota modulation and maternal and fetal health.

Patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) have a high prevalence of iron deficiency anemia (IDA), and the gut microbiota is closely related to iron metabolism. We performed metagenomic and metabolomic analyses of stool samples from 558 eligible samples, including IDA CRC patients (IDA, n = 69), non-anemia CRC patients (Non-Anemia, n = 245), and healthy controls (CTRL, n = 244), to explore the dynamically altered gut microbes and their metabolites. Compared with the CTRL group, fecal bacteria in both the IDA group and the Non-Anemia group showed a decrease in alpha diversity and changes in microbial communities. Flavonifractor plautii (F. plautii) increases progressively from CTRL to Non-Anemia to IDA, accompanied by decreased trimethoxyflavanone and a downregulated KO gene, megDIII. In the Non-Anemia group, Parabacteroides showed a specifically elevated abundance positively correlated with enriched 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. The intricate correlations among gut microbiota, metabolites, and KO genes were uncovered and highlighted, implicating an aberrant iron metabolism vulnerable to chronic inflammation during the deterioration of the anemic condition. Furthermore, the amount of F. plautii in feces achieved independent and effective prediction performance for the poor outcome of CRC. Perturbed host-microbe interplays represent a novel prospect for explaining the pathogenesis of CRC-associated IDA. The fecal microbial features also reflect the associations between IDA and elevated CRC recurrence risk.

As China’s urbanization process accelerates, the issue of air pollution becomes increasingly prominent and urgently requires improvement, based on the fact that environmental conditions such as meteorology and topography are difficult to change. Therefore, relevant optimization studies from the perspective of architectural patterns are operable to mitigate pollution. This paper takes the Wenhua Road block in Shenyang, China, as the research object; obtains the concentration data of three kinds of particulate matter through fixed and mobile monitoring; and analyzes the spatial distribution characteristics of Local Climate Zones ( LCZ) and particulate matter in the block based on the ArcGIS platform, identifies high-risk areas, and excavates the influence of LCZ on the concentrations of three kinds of particulate matter. The results show that the spatial distribution characteristics of PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 under the same pollution level are relatively similar, while the spatial heterogeneity of the distribution of the same particulate matter under different pollution levels is higher. The time-weighted results show that the PM1 pollution level in the block ranges from 44 to 51 μg/m³, PM2.5 ranges from 75 to 86 μg/m³, and PM10 ranges from 87 to 99 μg/m³. The pollution hot spots throughout the year are located in the central, eastern and western parts of the study area. In terms of the relationship between the LCZ and particulate matter, with the increase in the particulate matter diameter, the correlation between the three kinds of particulate matter and LCZ are all enhanced. The built-up LCZ always has a larger average concentration of particulate matter than that of the natural LCZ, and building height and building density are the main factors causing the difference. In the optimal design of the risk area, the proportion of natural vegetation or water surface should be increased and the building height should be properly controlled and the building density should be reduced in the renewal of the urban building form. This study will largely improve the spatial refinement of the optimization of urban architectural patterns oriented to mitigate particulate matter pollution.

Objective To study the effects of different storage temperature and different storage time on the activity of key growth factors in platelet-rich plasma(PRP), and to provide a theoretical basis for maximize the role of PRP in clinical treatment. Methods PRP was collected by blood cell isolation and apheresis, stored at 22℃ and -80℃, respectively. VEGF, TGF-β and PDGF were detected by ELISA. The content of growth factors in PRP was detected when stored at 22℃for 1, 3 and 5 days, and the growth factors content of PRP stored at 22℃ for 3 days was detected after thrombin activation for 0.5, 1 and 1.5 hours. The content of growth factor in frozen PRP (stored at -80℃ for 30 days after initial 3-days storage at 22℃ ) and fresh PRP (stored at 22℃ for 3 days) was compared. The growth factor content in PRP frozen at - 80℃ for 30, 60 and 180 days, and the growth factor content in PRP frozen at -80℃ for 180 days after repeated freeze-thaw for 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10 times were detected. Results The growth factor content of apheresis PRP was significantly higher than that of platelet-poor plasma. No statistical difference was noticed in VEGF, TGF-β and PDGF content in PRP at 1, 3 and 5 days stored at 22℃; no statistical difference was noticed in VEGF, TGF-β and PDGF content in PRP stored at 22℃ for 3 days after thrombin activation for 0.5, 1 and 1.5 hours. There was no statistically significant difference in growth factor content between PRP stored at 22℃ for 3 days versus frozen at -80℃ for 30 days after initial 3-days storage at 22℃. No statistical difference was found in VEGF, TGF-β and PDGF contents in frozen PRP repeatedly frozen and thawed for 1 to 10 times. Conclusion Apheresis PRP can release a large amount of growth factors after activation. Fresh PRP stored at 22℃ for 5 days or frozen at -80℃ for 180 days has no impact on the content of growth factors, and frozen PRP at -80℃ can achieve long-term, effective and safe preservation, which is conducive to multiple use of PRP in treatment.

Abstract Background Effective teaching of dental materials science is crucial for dental students to develop a comprehensive understanding of materials used in clinical practice. However, literature on educators’ views on teaching this subject is still scarce. This qualitative study aimed to explore the lived experiences of dental educators in teaching dental materials science subjects, thereby addressing potential gaps and enhancing teaching practices. Methods Thirteen dental educators from East and Southeast Asian countries (Malaysia, China, Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea, and Japan) participated in the present study. The present study adopted a transcendental phenomenological approach. One-to-one semi-structured online interviews were conducted. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was employed to identify patterns in the educators’ experiences. Results Three themes emerged from the present study. First, perceptions of the importance of dental materials science, highlighting its relevance in clinical practice, patient care, and lifelong learning. Second, the challenges faced in teaching dental materials science include limited instructional time, complex content, and insufficient resources. Third, specific strategies, such as applying interactive teaching methods, integrating clinical scenarios, and promoting critical thinking skills have been suggested to enhance teaching and learning. Conclusion Understanding dental educators’ experiences can improve dental materials science education, curriculum development, teaching methods, and faculty training programmes, ultimately enhancing the knowledge and skills of dental students in this field.

Abstract Background Feedback is regarded as a key component of formative assessment and one of the elements with the greatest impact on students’ academic learning. The present study aimed to evaluate and compare students’ perceptions of the use of two feedback models, namely feedback sandwich and Ask-Tell-Ask (ATA), in teaching dental materials science courses. Methods All undergraduate second-year dental students were invited to participate in the dental materials science practical session and were randomly allocated into two groups: Group 1 (feedback) sandwich and Group 2 (ATA). The session began with the teacher giving a short briefing on the commonly used dental materials, followed by a short demonstration of the manipulation of those materials. Students were then allowed to mix and manipulate the materials, and teachers provided feedback accordingly. At the end of the session, 16 close-ended (five-point Likert scales) and an open-ended questionnaire were distributed to students to evaluate their perceptions of the feedback given. Internal reliability of the questionnaire items was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha. Mean feedback scores were analysed using an independent t-test with ANCOVA for controlling gender and ethnicity. Thematic analysis was used to code the qualitative data. Results Sixty-nine students participated in the present study with the majority being females (72.5%) and Chinese (79.7%). Cronbach’s alpha analysis suggested removing three Likert-scale items, with the remaining 13 items being accepted. Generally, no significant difference was noted between the two groups (p = 0.197), but three items were found to be significant (p

To address traditional impedance control methods' difficulty with obtaining stable forces during robot-skin contact, a force control based on the Gaussian mixture model/Gaussian mixture regression (GMM/GMR) algorithm fusing different compensation strategies is proposed. The contact relationship between a robot end effector and human skin is established through an impedance control model. To allow the robot to adapt to flexible skin environments, reinforcement learning algorithms and a strategy based on the skin mechanics model compensate for the impedance control strategy. Two different environment dynamics models for reinforcement learning that can be trained offline are proposed to quickly obtain reinforcement learning strategies. Three different compensation strategies are fused based on the GMM/GMR algorithm, exploiting the online calculation of physical models and offline strategies of reinforcement learning, which can improve the robustness and versatility of the algorithm when adapting to different skin environments. The experimental results show that the contact force obtained by the robot force control based on the GMM/GMR algorithm fusing different compensation strategies is relatively stable. It has better versatility than impedance control, and the force error is within ~±0.2 N.

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) ranks third for cancer deaths worldwide, and glycolysis is a hallmark of several cancers, including GC. TEAD4 plays a role in establishing an oncogenic cascade in cancers, including GC. Whether TEAD4 can influence the glycolysis of GC cells remains uncovered. Hence, this study attempted to investigate the impact on glycolysis of GC cells by TEAD4. Methods: By using bioinformatics analysis, differentially expressed mRNAs were screened, and downstream regulatory genes were predicted. Expression levels of TEAD4 and PKMYT1 were assessed by qRT-PCR. The binding sites between TEAD4 and PKMYT1 were predicted by the JASPAR database, meanwhile their modulatory relationship was confirmed through dual-luciferase assay and chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP). Cell viability and proliferation were assayed via CCK-8 and colony formation assays. Glycolysis was measured by assaying extracellular acidification rate, oxygen consumption rate, and production of pyruvic acid, lactate, citrate, and malate. Expression levels of proteins (HK-2 and PKM2) related to glycolysis were assessed by Western blot. Results: TEAD4 was upregulated in GC tissues and cells. TEAD4 knockdown substantially repressed glycolysis and proliferation of GC cells. PKMYT1, the target gene downstream of TEAD4, was identified via bioinformatics prediction, and its expression was elevated in GC. Dual-luciferase and ChIP assay validated the targeted relationship between the promoter region of PKMYT1 and TEAD4. As revealed by rescue experiments, the knockdown of TEAD4 reversed the stimulative effect on GC cell glycolysis and proliferation by forced expression of PKMYT1. Conclusion: TEAD4 activated PKMYT1 to facilitate the proliferation and glycolysis of GC cells. TEAD4 and PKMYT1 may be possible therapeutic targets for GC.

Anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells not only target CD19-positive malignant lymphoma cells but also normal B cells. The utility of CAR-T cell therapy has been reported in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus; however, its use in Sjögren’s disease (SjD) remains unknown. In this study, we describe the case of a 76-year-old woman with active SjD for 10 years who was diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. After receiving anti-CD19 CAR-T cell therapy, she achieved complete remission (CR) on day 28. Since the onset of her 10-year history with SjD, she was negative for antinuclear antibodies and anti-Ro-52 for the first time on day 90 after CAR-T cell therapy. Six months after CAR-T cell therapy, the CR status was maintained, serum cytokine levels returned to their normal levels, and dry mouth symptoms improved. The EULAR Sjögren’s Syndrome Disease Activity Index score decreased from 5 to 2, indicating a partial remission of SjD activity compared with that before CAR-T cell treatment. In the early stage of treatment, she presented with grade 2 cytokine release syndrome and grade 1 neurotoxicity, which were completely controlled after an active intervention. This case highlights the potential application of CAR-T cells in treating autoimmune diseases, such as SjD.

Abstract A broadband dual‐polarised reconfigurable frequency selective surface (RFSS) based on general dual‐branch parallel circuit model is proposed by the authors. The specific circuit model is constructed to feature the switchable functions of transmission and reflection characteristics by introducing a parallel branch. It is beneficial to clarify the operating mechanism and provide an effective guidance to satisfy the switching bandwidth requirements of the desired RFSS. In order to validate the proposed concept of the dual‐branch parallel circuit model, a broadband dual‐polarised RFSS prototype has been designed, fabricated and measured. A satisfactory agreement can be reached between the synthesis, simulation and measurement. The experimental results exhibit the merits of low insertion loss, broad switching bandwidth and good angular stability for different polarisation and different incident angles.

Abstract In this paper, a wideband cylindrical conformal microstrip antenna array employing a proximity‐coupled feeding mechanism with a cavity‐backed configuration is designed and fabricated. Compared with other conformal microstrip patch antennas by using linear subarrays assembled piecewise, this design uses Teflon instead of traditional dielectric layers, and makes it possible to process the whole conformal array without splicing, obtaining the freedom in unit size and array radius adjustment except ease of manufacturing and assemblage. Combined with the optimization of the cavity size, an array with 4 × 4 elements is obtained which has a bandwidth of 40% from 8 to 12 GHz and a gain of 16.4 dB.

BackgroundMajor depression disorder (MDD) is a devastating neuropsychiatric disease, and one of the leading causes of suicide. Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death, plays a pivotal role in numerous diseases. The study aimed to construct and validate a gene signature for diagnosing MDD based on ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) and further explore the biological functions of these genes in MDD.MethodsThe datasets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and FRGs were obtained from the FerrDb database and other literatures. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and stepwise logistic regression were performed to develop a gene signature. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were utilized to assess the diagnostic power of the signature. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis was used to explore the biological roles of these diagnostic genes, and single sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) algorithm was used to evaluate immune infiltration in MDD. Animal model of depression was constructed to validate the expression of the key genes.ResultsEleven differentially expressed FRGs were identified in MDD patients compared with healthy controls. A signature of three FRGs (ALOX15B, RPLP0, and HP) was constructed for diagnosis of MDD. Afterwards, ROC analysis confirmed the signature’s discriminative capacity (AUC = 0.783, 95% CI = 0.719–0.848). GO enrichment analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to these three FRGs were mainly involved in immune response. Furthermore, spearman correlation analysis demonstrated that these three FRGs were associated with infiltrating immune cells. ALOX15B and HP were significantly upregulated and RPLP0 was significantly downregulated in peripheral blood of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced depressive model.ConclusionOur results suggest that the novel FRG signature had a good diagnostic performance for MDD, and these three FRGs correlated with immune infiltration in MDD.

Abstract Background Investigations on the risk factors for the prognosis of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) are limited. This study aimed to explore whether specific inflammatory factors and coagulation indictors are associated with functional outcome in patients treated for CVST. Methods This retrospective study included 137 patients admitted to our hospital between January 2010 and October 2021. The functional outcome was assessed with the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at discharge. Patients were divided into two groups, 102 patients with favorable outcomes (mRS 0-1) and 35 patients with poor outcomes (mRS 2-6). The clinical indexes were compared between two groups. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify the independent influencing factors for poor outcomes of CVST patients. The prognostic indicators were analyzed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results Compared with the favorable outcome group, the incidence of impaired consciousness and brain lesion, the levels of D-dimer, RDW, neutrophil count, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and red blood cell distribution width to platelet ratio (%) on admission were significantly higher in the poor outcome group, while the level of lymphocyte count was significantly lower. After multivariable logistic regression analysis, baseline D-dimer level (odds ratio (OR), 1.180; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.019-1.366, P = 0.027) and NLR (OR, 1.903; 95%CI, 1.232-2.938, P = 0.004) were significantly associated with unfavorable outcome at discharge. The ROC curve analysis showed that the areas under the curve of D-dimer, NLR and their combined detection for predicting worse outcome were 0.719, 0.707 and 0.786, respectively. Conclusions Elevated D-dimer level and NLR on admission were associated with an increased risk of poor functional outcome in patients with CVST.

Abstract To solve the contradiction between the high gain and wide coverage, the concept of the quasi‐conical beam is proposed by using the high‐gain pencil beam electrically switching along a cone to make full use of time redundancy. In a periphery‐fed Fabry‐Perot (FP)‐type multi‐beam antenna, the electrically switching is used to activate the different port corresponding to the different beam for the beam switching in the azimuthal plane, and the varying frequency is used for the continuous scanning in the elevation plane. Different from the lens or matrix multi‐beam arrays, in this scheme, the FP cavity serves as both the beamforming network and the radiator to produce the multi‐beam. Around eight planar antipodal Fermi‐tapered slot antennas are placed around the FP cavity between the partially reflective surface and the metal ground plane as the primary feeds. The simulation and measurement results show that a relative impedance bandwidth of 53.3% with reflection coefficients below −10 dB from 11 to 19 GHz is obtained and the peak gain is 17.1 dBi at the central frequency of 15 GHz. The results also show that a high‐gain beam scanning from 22° to 59° in the elevation plane is achieved and the peak gains are between 16 dBi and 20 dBi. In addition, when the electrically switching of the beam is along a cone, the proposed antenna may form quasi‐conical beam. And in some applications, it may replace the conventional conical beam antenna with the advantages of wide coverage and high gain.

In comparison to orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), the OFDM linear frequency modulation (OFDM-LFM) signal has similar time-bandwidth product, lower peak-to-average power ratio, and higher sensitivity to Doppler frequency shift, making it a promising candidate waveform for multiple-in multiple-out (MIMO) radar applications. However, the OFDM-LFM signal is unsatisfactory in practical applications due to the challenges in waveform design and its non-stationary property, which significantly degrades the performance of current high-resolution subspace techniques for direction of departure (DoD) and direction of arrival (DoA) angle estimation. In this paper, we first proposed a novel OFDM-LFM waveform design method based on the scale discrete Fresnel transform (SDFnT), which efficiently generates orthogonal LFM signals with unlimited number of subcarriers and can be convieniently implemented using the fast Fourier transform (FFT). Then, for angle estimation in OFDM-LFM MIMO radars, we presented a new scale discrete Fresnel transform multiple signal classification (SDFnT-MUSIC) method. By converting the steering vector into the chirp domain and making it non-time-vary, high resolution angle estimation for OFDM-LFM wideband signals can be achieved. Simulation results shows that the proposed waveform design method requires less computational time than conventional method based based on the fractional Fourier transform (FrFT), whereas the proposed DoA-DoD estimation method outperform the FrFT-MUSIC method in terms of computational complexity and target angle estimate performance.

Abstract Background To compare the efficacy and safety of follitropin delta in its individualized fixed-dose regimen with follitropin alfa in a conventional adjustable dosing regimen in Chinese women. Methods This was a subgroup analysis of the randomized, multi-center, assessor-blind, non-inferiority trial (GRAPE) including 759 Chinese women (aged 20–40 years) recruited in 16 reproductive medicine clinics in China. Women were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to be treated with either follitropin delta dose based on anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and body weight or conventional dosing with follitropin alfa following a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist protocol. The primary outcome was ongoing pregnancy rate assessed 10–11 weeks after embryo transfer in the fresh cycle (non-inferiority margin -10.0%). Results 378 in the follitropin delta group and 381 in the follitropin alfa group were randomized and exposed. Non-inferiority was confirmed with respect to ongoing pregnancy with rates of 31.0% vs. 25.7% for follitropin delta compared to follitropin alfa, estimated mean difference of 5.1% (95% confidence interval (CI) -1.3% to 11.5%). The clinical pregnancy rate (35.4% vs. 31.5%, P = 0.239) and live birth rate (31.0% vs. 25.5%, P = 0.101) were comparable between the follitropin delta group and the follitropin alfa group. Overall, the individualized follitropin delta treatment resulted in fewer oocytes retrieved compared to follitropin alfa treatment (10.3 ± 6.2 vs. 12.5 ± 7.5, P

This paper used the 4UM-120D electric leafy vegetable harvester as the research object and designed a travel speed automatic control system to maintain the travel speed within a set value of ±2% in order to improve the efficiency and quality of leafy vegetable harvester operations and decrease the work intensity of the operator. The harvester’s travel speed was automatically controlled by using the PID, adaptive fuzzy PID, and sliding mode control techniques after the mechanical and electrical equations for the travel drive motor (a DC brushless motor) were established in MATLAB. By simulating various working situations, the stability, accuracy, and speed of the automatic control system were compared and analyzed using the adjustment time, overshoot, steady-state transition time, and maximum deviation from the set speed as evaluation indicators. The test results revealed that when the current value of the leafy vegetable harvester travel speed deviated from the set value by more than 2%, the dynamic response performance and stability of the DC brushless motor travel drive system based on the sliding mode control strategy was significantly better than that of the PID and adaptive fuzzy PID control strategies, and its anti-disturbance was stronger, achieving the function of automatic control of the harvester travel speed. When the travel motor started with a constant load and the sliding mode control strategy’s parameters were the gain factors A = 1/70, c = 100, ε = 100, and k = 100, the travel drive system regulation time was 1.5 s, and the overshoot was 10%. When the harvester was operating smoothly and had leafy vegetable collection baskets loaded and unloaded, the steady-state transition time was 0.3 s. According to the actual engineering application experience, the specific technical state of the control strategy of the agricultural machinery travel speed automatic control system was: regulation time 2.5~3 s; overshoot amount 20~25%; and steady-state transition time 1.0~1.5 s, so the travel speed automatic control system of the electric leafy vegetable harvester in sliding mode was in line with the technical state requirements. The results of the field trials demonstrated the accuracy of the simulation test results. This study offered a method to lessen the work intensity of operators and increase the operating efficiency and quality of a leafy vegetable harvester.

Objective: The present study aimed to explore the perspectives and learning experiences of undergraduate dental students during the Covid-19 pandemic using a qualitative approach. Materials and Methods: The current study used a qualitative focus group approach based on the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist. Three focus groups were carried out using a piloted interview topic guide. A convenient sampling was adopted to include undergraduate year 3 to year 5 dental students who had attended regular face-to-face session before the pandemic. Each session consisted of 6 to 8 participants who were randomly assigned, and the sessions lasted for about 30 to 45 minutes. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Content analysis using a deductive approach was employed to the focus group data. All the final codes were refined and agreed by all members of the research team. Results: Four main themes with their respective subthemes were identified through the coding process, namely change in study life balance, online learning, interpersonal relationship, and concern for future. Conclusion: Dental students faced numerous challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic, both mentally and academically. Academicians must reconsider and re-evaluate the curriculum, including the mode of delivery, as total eradication of the virus is not likely to be possible in the foreseeable future.