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Background: Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) is a serious condition that affects elderly individuals. Our previous study revealed that Yigu decoction (YGD) effectively improved bone mineral density (BMD) in elderly individuals, but the mechanism underlying this effect remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the relationships among YGD, microRNAs (miRNAs), and bone metabolism by assessing the effects of YGD on the miRNA levels in patient plasma to provide a scientific basis for treating PMOP with YGD. Methods: In this clinical trial, 60 patients were randomly assigned to the YGD group or the control group (ratio of 1:1) and treated for 3 months. The primary outcome measure was BMD, and the secondary outcome measures included plasma miRNA levels, visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels, anti-tartrate acid phosphatase (TRACP-5b) levels and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome scores. We assessed the regulatory roles of miRNAs in PMOP patients by analysing publicly available data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Bioinformatics methods were also used to explore the mechanism by which YGD regulates miRNAs that are involved in bone metabolism. Results: Compared with those before treatment, the BMD, ALP levels, TRACP-5b levels, TCM syndrome scores and VAS scores improved in both groups after 3 months of treatment (P < 0.05). A total of 82 miRNAs differed between the groups. After analysing data from the GEO database, we confirmed that miR-133a-3p is the key molecule that mediates the effects of YGD intervention on PMOP. GO analysis of key genes suggested that gene enrichment was more pronounced in response to hormones, cellular response to growth factor stimulation, and positive regulation of physiological and metabolic processes. KEGG analysis revealed that these genes were enriched mainly in the PI3K-Akt, FOXO, and JAK-STAT pathways and other pathways. The results of the protein‒protein interaction (PPI) network analysis revealed that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) and others were core proteins. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that YGD is beneficial in the treatment of PMOP, ameliorating clinical symptoms and bone turnover indices. Moreover, the inhibition of miR-133a-3p expression may be the key mechanisms by which YGD regulates bone metabolism in the treatment of PMOP, although YGD regulates bone metabolism in a multitarget and multipathway manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical phase change materials (OPCMs) hold significant promise in photonic integrated circuits (PICs) due to their non‐volatile modulation capabilities through phase transition. Recently, integrating OPCMs with silicon devices has been leveraged to achieve multi‐level modulation in neural network computing. However, the conventional OPCM Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST), faces challenges in large‐scale PICs due to its large absorption. In this work, an optimized low‐loss GST superlattice is demonstrated, which significantly lowers crystalline attenuation coefficients from 2.69 to 0.539 dB µm−1, with negligible loss in amorphous state, while retaining excellent phase modulation capability. Additionally, 15 distinguishable extinction ratio states are achieved by manipulating irradiation energy for a hybrid Si microring resonator (MRR) embedded with GST superlattice. To further explore the potential application of GST superlattice in optical computing, an all‐optical tunable temporal differentiator is empirically demonstrated with a single hybrid MRR, achieving a broad dynamic differentiation order ranging from 0.7 to 1.3. The non‐volatile nature of OPCM facilitates low energy consumption and effectively optimizes chip density. The proposed structural design strategy to reduce the absorption loss is universal for any promising OPCMs feasible for large‐scale artificial intelligence‐driven PICs, including optical analog computing, optical switching and optical neural networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior research has suggested an inverse correlation between dried fruit intake and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), yet the causal link remains uncertain. This study seeks to investigate the potential causal impact of dried fruit intake on T2DM, covering cases both with and without various complications, as well as glycaemic traits, using a two-sample Mendelian randomisation (MR) approach. Using MR analysis with genome-wide association study summary statistics, the primary analysis investigated the causal relationship between dried fruit intake and T2DM, both with and without complications, as well as glycaemic traits, employing the inverse variance weighted method. Supplementary analyses were conducted using MR-Egger and the weighted median method. Heterogeneity and intercept tests were utilised to evaluate the robustness of the study outcomes. The results show a significant association between dried fruit intake and T2DM without complications, as well as fasting insulin. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the results and the independence from multicollinearity. However, no association was found between dried fruit intake and T2DM with various complications or other glycaemic traits. The significant association between dried fruit intake and T2DM without complications and fasting insulin persisted even after adjusting for BMI. This study offers genetic evidence endorsing the protective effects of dried fruit intake against T2DM, specifically for cases without complications, and in regulating fasting insulin. These findings suggest that dried fruit intake might serve as a primary preventive strategy for T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ordered Ag@Au hybrid nanotube arrays were prepared by a galvanic replacement reaction and subsequently evaluated for their effectiveness as substrates for enhancing the fluorescence of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT). Ordered AgNWs arrays were assembled using a three-phase interface method, and ordered Ag@Au hybrid nanotube arrays were successfully prepared by a galvanic replacement reaction between a HAuCl4 solution and ordered AgNWs arrays. The morphology of the ordered silver nanowires (AgNWs) arrays and Ag@Au nanotube arrays, as well as the influence of reaction time on the galvanic replacement reaction, were investigated. The fluorescence and laser-Raman properties of the conjugated polymer P3HT on various ordered Ag@Au nanotubes were analyzed. Gold (Au) particles grow on the surface of AgNWs, the diameter of the nanotubes gradually increases, and the ordered Ag@Au hybrid nanotubes form gradually. The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peaks of Ag@Au hybrid nanotube arrays redshift and become wider as the reaction proceeds compared to AgNW arrays. The fluorescence properties of P3HT films on various ordered Ag@Au hybrid nanotubes were much higher than those on bare silicon substrates, but compared to the gold nanowire array, there is a decrease. As the galvanic displacement reaction progresses, the degree of reduction in fluorescence intensity increases. The unique aspect of this work was that the plasmon resonance wavelength of the ordered Ag@Au hybrid nanotube arrays showed a substantial redshift and broadening, which is much closer to biological samples. The ordered Ag@Au hybrid nanotube arrays can be used as ultra-sensitive fluorescence sensing platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the breakthrough of cellulose pretreatment and enzyme hydrolysis technology, fermentation has become one of the main limiting factors for process enhancement. Current fermentation techniques are still dominated by the old-fashioned batch mode production with the lag and stationary phase demanding considerable operational time. This handicaps production efficiency and economic viability. In addition, a downtime between two batches is requested for harvesting, cleaning and sterilization, which reduces the overall productivity and increases human labor. Continuous culturing in chemostat, on the other hand, can enhance production and reduce labor (e.g. eliminating downtime intervals, and prior-fermentation steps like shake-flask culture, inoculation and subculture). However, ethanol content might be diluted, making downstream distillation and purification difficult and costly. This study endeavors to explore possible unsteady-state operation/control strategies to improve process performance. Starting from a simplified model of ethanol fermentation, stability analysis of the semi-continuous fermentation process is performed and the instability conditions of the system under ethanol inhibition is conducted. Based on the optimal periodic control (OPC) theory, the optimal criteria for switch production by periodic operations are explored, and the benefit of periodic dilution rate in the chemostat model in terms of averaged conversion rate is discussed. The results show that for the classical chemostat model with a Monod growth function, the performance of the averaged conversion rate can be improved under certain conditions, thus providing theoretical support for the study of self-cyclic fermentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to analyze the impact of justice reform on entrepreneurship in China, utilizing a staggered difference-in-differences model. The research reveals that the implementation of justice reform has a sizable positive effect on entrepreneurship, both statistically and economically significant. The influence is more pronounced in areas with higher trust, lower legal environment, and in rural areas. Government quality and innovation are two possible mechanisms. This paper emphasizes the significant role of the justice environment in fostering business innovation and entrepreneurship, and highlights the economic significance of government quality, providing a new perspective for encouraging entrepreneurship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] The aim of a ship's land target is to provide a judgment basis for the actual penetration and damage ability of anti-ship warheads on the warship structure. At present, the penetration capability of anti-ship missiles is calibrated by its penetration of steel plates with different thicknesses. [Methods] In this paper, the damage mode of an anti-ship missile penetrating a typical ship deck structure is studied via numerical simulation. The damage mode and motion law of the plate differ from those of the previous thick target. Based on the movement of the ship's plate frame and the actual failure mode of the ballistic missile based on the ship's land target, a multiple land-based ship structure design scheme is proposed which takes the material characteristics, dynamic boundary conditions and objective conditions into consideration. [Results] Through the numerical prediction of the designed land target, the damage pattern of the target and the motion law of the missile are similar to those of the actual situation. [Conclusions] Land targets can respond to the actual strike ability and damage effect of missiles on surface ships.

Introduction: Major depressive disorder (MDD) affects about 17% population in the world. Although abnormal energy metabolism plays an important role in the pathophysiology of MDD, however, how deficiency of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) products affects emotional circuit and what regulates ATP synthesis are still need to be elaborated. Aims: Our study aimed to investigate how deficiency of PGAM5‐mediated depressive behavior. Results: We firstly discovered that PGAM5 knockout (PGAM5−/−) mice generated depressive‐like behaviors. The phenotype was reinforced by the observation that chronic unexpected mild stress (CUMS)‐induced depressive mice exhibited lowered expression of PGAM5 in prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampus (HIP), and striatum. Next, we found, with the using of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), that the functional connectivity between PFC reward system and the PFC volume were reduced in PGAM5−/− mice. PGAM5 ablation resulted in the loss of dendritic spines and lowered density of PSD95 in PFC, but not in HIP. Finally, we found that PGAM5 ablation led to lowered ATP concentration in PFC, but not in HIP. Coimmunoprecipitation study showed that PGAM5 directly interacted with the ATP F1F0 synthase without influencing the interaction between ATP F1F0 synthase and Bcl‐xl. We then conducted ATP administration to PGAM5−/− mice and found that ATP could rescue the behavioral and neuronal phenotypes of PGAM5−/− mice. Conclusions: Our findings provide convincing evidence that PGAM5 ablation generates depressive‐like behaviors via restricting neuronal ATP production so as to impair the number of neuronal spines in PFC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]