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Abstract The transboundary impacts of regional war on global food trade remain underexplored, particularly regarding disruptions to production and trade networks. Here we address this gap by developing a rapid assessment framework that integrates remote sensing, policy monitoring, and network analysis to evaluate the effects of the Russia-Ukraine war on global winter cereal production and trade. Using satellite data, we estimated yield reductions for wheat, barley, and oats and analyzed the effects of export-ban policies enacted since February 24, 2022. Our findings indicate that lower- and middle-income countries were disproportionately impacted, as trade networks became fragmented, forming isolated clusters that threatened food accessibility. Geographically distant countries experienced greater disruptions than those near the conflict. This framework provides insights into the cascading effects of conflict on global food systems and offers a predictive tool for policymakers to address food availability challenges during future crises.

This article explores the poetics of the grotesque in the works of Nina Sadur, focusing on her dramatic collections “Chudnaya Baba” [Strange Woman] and “Obmorok” [Fainting], alongside a series of interviews and her writings on creativity. It is noted that the poetics of the grotesque aligns with the writer’s creative objective — stimulating individual sensuality and enhancing the aesthetic capacity to perceive the world and life through dramatic art. The analysis delves into rich grotesque imagery that disrupts cognitive inertia and reveals the hidden existence of multiple worlds. The symbolic functions of the human body are examined, as well as characters exhibiting psychological anomalies and their associated peculiar actions, which serve as methods for constructing their own ritual-mythological chronotope and generating a grotesque tragicomic effect through the symbiosis and blending of two theatrical chronotopes. It is demonstrated that Nina Sadur, through her unique artistic poetics that diverge from rationality and scientific discourse, creates a mystical realm within the theater that exists outside the present world, expressing an alternative, enigmatic psychological truth. These poetic moments encapsulate the mystical dualistic experiences of the grotesque aesthetics present in Sadur’s plays. The author concludes that the poetics of the grotesque is rooted in the clash between Nina Sadur’s primal instincts and the reality of her life, reflecting a creative aspiration to restore and elevate individual sensuality.

Abstract Background Babesia is a tick-borne protozoan blood parasite that can cause hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, lethargy and splenomegaly in giant pandas. Methods We evaluated the efficacy and safety profile of a therapeutic regimen combining atovaquone and zithromycin in the context of babesiosis in giant pandas that have been naturally infected. The examined pandas underwent clinical and laboratory analyses, including hematology, biochemistry and thyroid hormone profiles. Upon diagnosis, the giant pandas were administered a compounded treatment consisting of atovaquone oral suspension (15 mg/kg, PO, q8 h), azithromycin tablets (10 mg/kg, PO, q24 h) and Enteral Nutritional Suspension (TPF) as a fat-rich supplement (0.5 ml/kg, PO, q8 h) for a 10-day period. Results The combination treatment increased the red blood cell count, hemoglobin levels and hematocrit in the pandas within a short period, while also reducing parasite levels below the PCR detection threshold. Conclusions Our study suggested that atovaquone and azithromycin combination therapy is highly effective for emergency treatment of Babesia sp. infection in giant pandas. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Large-amount encapsulation and subsequent expressing are common characteristics for many biomedical applications, such as cosmetic creams and medical ointments. Emulsion gels can accomplish that, but often undergo exclusive, complex, multiple synthesis steps, showing extremely laborious and non-universal. The method here is simple via precisely interfacial engineering in homogenizing a nanoparticle aqueous dispersion and a polymer oil solution, gaining interfacial 45° three-phase-contact-angle for the nanoparticle that can bridge across oil emulsions’ interfaces and ultimately form interconnected macroscopic networks. Their bridged skeletons and rheology are tunable over a vast range and deterministic on the basis of components’ inputs. Furthermore, emulsion gels with high encapsulation and storage ability encapsulating active sunscreen ingredients, as a proof-of-concept, outperform commercial products. The ease (only seconds by strongly mixing two solutions) and the versatile chemical selection of our synthetic emulsion gels suggest an exciting general, scalable strategy for the next-generation cosmetic, ointment or otherwise food gel systems.

Abstract Ferroptosis is a regulated cell death process dependent on iron, triggered by the accumulation of lipid peroxidation. The environmental context significantly impacts cellular sensitivities to ferroptosis. Serum, constituting the extracellular fluid composition in vivo, provides crucial environmental biomolecules. In this study, we investigated the influence of sera on ferroptosis induction, pinpointing the serum protein apolipoprotein H (APOH) as a pivotal inhibitor of ferroptosis. Moreover, we elucidated that APOH suppresses ferroptosis by activating the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT-sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) pathway, thereby elevating stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) levels and augmenting cellular monounsaturated fatty acid-containing phospholipids (MUFA-PLs). Furthermore, ApoHinfer, the peptide derivative of the active region of APOH, mimics its ferroptosis inhibitory activity. Our findings underscore the critical role of serum protein APOH in the inhibition of ferroptosis and indicates potential therapeutic applications in treating cancer and diseases associated with ferroptosis.

Abstract Porcine pasteurellosis is an infectious disease caused by Pasteurella multocida (P. multocida), which seriously endangers the healthy development of pig breeding industry. Early detection of disease transmission in animals is a crucial early warning for humans. Therefore, predicting risk areas for disease is essential for public health authorities to adopt preventive measures and control strategies against diseases. In this study, we developed a predictive model based on multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) and assessed risk areas for porcine pasteurellosis in the Chinese mainland. By using principal component analysis, the weights of seven spatial risk factors were determined. Fuzzy membership function was used to standardize all risk factors, and weight linear combination was used to create a risk map. The sensitivity of the risk map was analyzed by calculating the mean of absolute change rates of risk factors, as well as calculating an uncertainty map. The results showed that risk areas for porcine pasteurellosis were predicted to be locate in the south-central of the Chinese mainland, including Sichuan, Chongqing, Guangdong, and Guangxi. The maximum standard deviation of the uncertain map was less than 0.01and the ROC results showed that the prediction model has moderate predictive performance with the area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.80 (95% CI 0.75–0.84). Based on the above process, MCDA was combined with WebGIS technology to construct a system for predicting risk areas of porcine pasteurellosis. Risk factor data was directly linked to the developed model, providing decision support for disease prevention and control through monthly updates.

Abstract In practical engineering, noise and impact hazards are pervasive, indicating the pressing demand for materials that can absorb both sound and stress wave energy simultaneously. However, the rational design of such multifunctional materials remains a challenge. Herein, inspired by cuttlebone, we present bioinspired architected metamaterials with unprecedented sound-absorbing and mechanical properties engineered via a weakly-coupled design. The acoustic elements feature heterogeneous multilayered resonators, whereas the mechanical responses are based on asymmetric cambered cell walls. These metamaterials experimentally demonstrated an average absorption coefficient of 0.80 from 1.0 to 6.0 kHz, with 77% of the data points exceeding the desired 0.75 threshold, all with a compact 21 mm thickness. An absorptance-thickness map is devised for assessing the sound-absorption efficiency. The high-fidelity microstructure-based model reveals the air friction damping mechanism, with broadband behavior attributed to multimodal hybrid resonance. Empowered by the cambered design of cell walls, metamaterials shift catastrophic failure toward a progressive deformation mode characterized by stable stress plateaus and ultrahigh specific energy absorption of 50.7 J/g—a 558.4% increase over the straight-wall design. After the deformation mechanisms are elucidated, a comprehensive research framework for burgeoning acousto-mechanical metamaterials is proposed. Overall, our study broadens the horizon for multifunctional material design.

Abstract The presence of noncanonical open reading frames within lncRNAs (long non-coding RNAs) suggests their potential for translation, yielding various functional peptides or proteins. However, the existence and specific roles of these products in gastric cancer remain largely unclear. Here we identify the HOXA10-HOXA9-derived small protein (HDSP) in gastric cancer through comprehensive analysis and experimental validation, including mass spectrometry and western blotting. HDSP exhibits high expression and oncogenic roles in gastric cancer. Mechanistically, HDSP blocks TRIM25-mediated ubiquitination and degradation by interacting with MECOM, leading to MECOM accumulation and enhanced SPINK1 transcription-a gene promoting cancer via the EGFR signaling pathway. Furthermore, MECOM fosters HOXA10-HOXA9 transcription, establishing a feedback loop activating SPINK1-EGFR signaling. HDSP knockdown inhibits tumor growth in a PDX (patient-derived xenograft) model, and infusion of an artificially synthesized HDSP peptide as a neoantigen enhances immune cell-mediated anti-tumor efficacy against gastric cancer in vitro and in vivo. These findings propose HDSP as a potential therapeutic target or neoantigen candidate for gastric cancer treatment.

Dietary nutrient manipulation (e.g. protein fractions) could lower the environmental footprints of ruminants, especially reactive nitrogen (N). This study investigated the impacts of dietary soluble protein (SP) levels with decreased crude protein (CP) on intestinal N absorption, hindgut N metabolism, fecal microbiota and metabolites, and their linkage with N metabolism phenotype. Thirty-two male Hu sheep, with an age of six months and an initial BW of 40.37 ± 1.18 kg, were randomly assigned to four dietary groups. The control diet (CON), aligning with NRC standards, maintained a CP content of 16.7% on a dry matter basis. Conversely, the experimental diets (LPA, LPB, and LPC) featured a 10% reduction in CP compared with CON, accompanied by SP adjustments to 21.2%, 25.9%, and 29.4% of CP, respectively. Our results showed that low-protein diets led to significant reductions in the concentrations of plasma creatinine, ammonia, urea N, and fecal total short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) (P

Abstract In this paper, a reduced‐switch‐count two‐phase interleaved LLC converter with precise current balancing is proposed by using switching‐control‐capacitor (SCC) technology. Compared with the conventional SCC‐LLC converter, the proposed two‐phase SCC‐LLC converter reduces the switch count with the SCC circuits, and achieves excellent current sharing under all the tolerance conditions between the two‐phase resonant elements. In the proposed converter, the SCC circuit is only used in the first phase. The design of the SCC circuit parameters is analyzed to reduce the voltage stress of the SCC circuit and to ensure that two‐phase currents are balancing with large tolerance of resonant elements. A 2.16‐kW GaN‐based two‐phase interleaved SCC‐LLC converter prototype is established for data center application, and the experimental results show that the 98.1% peak efficiency, the 97.6% full load efficiency, and higher than 96% efficiency at the wide range from 3‐A to 40‐A load current are achieved. The precise current sharing lower than 1% is achieved by using a cheap ceramic capacitor with high tolerance, which validates the performance of the converter.

Abstract Evolution of the Pd active centers in size and spatial distribution leads to an irreversible deactivation in many high-temperature catalytic processes. This research demonstrates the use of a defective alumina (Al2O3-x) as catalyst support to anchor Pd atoms and suppress the growth of Pd clusters in catalytic methane oxidation. A combination of operando spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculations provide insights into the evolution of Pd species and reveals distinct catalytic methane oxidation mechanisms on Pd single atoms, clusters, and nanoparticles (NPs). Among these Pd species, the cluster active centers are found to be the most favorable participants in methane oxidation due to their high dispersion, high content of Pd2+ oxidation state, and resistance to deactivation by carbonates, bicarbonates, and water. The Pd/Al2O3-x catalyst shows increased stability with respect to a Pd/Al2O3 counterpart during simulated aging in alternating reducing and oxidizing conditions due to stronger interactions with the support. This study demonstrates that defect engineering of non-reducible supports can constrain the evolution of active centers, which holds promising potential for widespread utilization across diverse industrial catalytic processes, including various hydrogenation and oxidation reactions.

Abstract The application environment for concrete is becoming increasingly complex, accompanied by an intensification of its functional requirements. This paper presents a method for developing self-compacting concrete with conductive properties using limonite and graphite as the concrete conductive phases. In the process of concrete preparation, the limonite is initially treated by a pre-wetting method to prevent the surface depression caused by the addition of limonite during the concrete curing process. The second stage of the process involved optimising different proportions of limonite and graphite and different dosages of water-reducing agent, defoamer and dispersant to prepare concrete. The influence of different dosages of limonite and graphite and different dosages of water-reducing agent on the mechanics and electrical conductivity of concrete was studied in order to obtain self-compacting conductive concrete with performance indicators meeting the requirements of self-compacting and electrical conductivity. The results demonstrate that the mechanical and electrical properties of self-compacting conductive concrete prepared with polycarboxylic acid superplasticizer and retarding superplasticizer combined with superplasticizer are satisfactory, and the composite superplasticizer can function in conjunction with dispersant. The self-compaction index, slump expansion, expansion time T50 and J-ring expansion of fluid concrete meet the requisite standards. Once the concrete has reached the designated curing age, its compressive strength and flexural strength align with the anticipated design expectations, while its resistivity meets the stipulated conductivity index requirements.

The study aimed to assess the oxidative modification behavior of bovine myofibrillar proteins (MPs) cysteines (Cys) by hydroxyl radical (·OH) through the construction of an in vitr Fenton reaction system. The ·OH generated by the Fenton reaction induced large-scale oxidative modification of Cys, and redox proteomics identified a total of 1192 differential oxidation sites (Dos), 59 Dos were located in the MPs structure. The Cys of actin (17 Dos), myosin/myomesin (16 Dos), tenascin (12 Dos) and sarcomere (10 Dos) in the MPs structure showed active oxidative modification behavior towards ·OH, especially with the “-C-X-X-X-X-W-” structure amino acid sequence showed high sensitivity. Notably, the oxidative modification of Cys by ·OH was an irreversible process, as evidenced mainly by a significant decrease (p

Background & Aims: The interactions between human milk and the regulation of innate immune homeostasis in newborns, and their impact on intestinal health, are not fully understood. This study aimed to explore the role of peptides in human milk extracellular vesicles (EVs) in this process. Methods: A comprehensive screening of peptides within human milk EVs was performed, leading to the identification of a beta-casein-derived peptide (CASB135-150). The effects of CASB135-150 on intestinal injury were evaluated in a rat necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) model. Immunofluorescence analysis was used to determine its distribution, and its impact on NF-κB signaling and inflammation was studied in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) and intestinal macrophages. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis, single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq), and co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) experiments were conducted to explore the mechanism underlying CASB135-150 function. Results: CASB135-150 significantly mitigated intestinal injury in the rat NEC model. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that CASB135-150 could target intestinal macrophages and rapidly inhibited NF-κB signaling and reduced inflammation. ScRNA-seq analyses indicated a strong association between FHL2 and NEC development, and co-IP confirmed the interaction between CASB135-150 and FHL2. CASB135-150 disrupted the FHL2/TRAF6 complex, reducing TRAF6 protein levels. Mutation of key amino acids in CASB135-150 disrupted its interaction with FHL2 and abolished its ability to inhibit NF-κB signaling, which also prevented its protective effect in vivo. RNA-seq of intestinal tissue further highlighted the impact of CASB135-150 on the NF-κB signaling pathway. Conclusions: Our study identifies CASB135-150, a novel peptide in human milk EVs, that rapidly regulates macrophage inflammatory responses and protects against NEC-induced intestinal injury. These findings provide new insights into the role of human milk in modulating the infant immune system and intestinal health.

Abstract China has over 2,500 national and provincial industrial parks, stimulating the economics growth, meanwhile being the primary sources of carbon dioxide emissions and other pollutants. Assessing the mechanisms and impacts of the policies of pilot programs of green industrial parks on urban carbon emissions offers critical insights into the efficacy and application of green and low‐carbon development. This study utilizes a staggered difference‐in‐differences model to examine the impact of green industrial park pilot policies. The results demonstrate that green industrial parks have effectively reduced carbon emissions of the studied counties in terms of total and intensity. The economic scales and the administrative levels of any given city significantly influence the implementation effect of green industrial park policy. In applying the green industrial park policy, reducing the carbon emissions is more pronounced in cities with larger economic scales and higher administrative levels. Environmental regulation policies and green industrial park pilot policies exhibit a certain degree of substitution effect. The green industrial parks drive urban carbon emission reduction through three main channels: enhancing green technologies, optimizing industrial structures, and elevating economic agglomeration levels. Overall, this study provides a new perspective, a methodological reference, and empirical evidence for promoting green and low‐carbon development for industrial parks in the different regions and developing countries.

Abstract The rapid development of the Internet of Things has introduced new challenges for miniaturized, highly integrated energy harvesters and sensors, promoting the exploration of various novel nanomaterials. Ferroelectric nanomaterials, characterized by large remanent polarization, exceptional dielectric properties, outstanding chemical stability, and diverse electricity generation capabilities, are emerging as promising candidates in a variety of fields. Possessing various mechanisms for electricity generation, including piezoelectric, pyroelectric, photovoltaic, and triboelectric effects, ferroelectric nanomaterials demonstrate their capability for harvesting and sensing multiple energies simultaneously, including light, thermal, and mechanical energies. This capability contributes to the miniaturization and high integration of electronic devices. This article reviews recent achievements in ferroelectric nanomaterials and their applications in energy harvesting and self‐powered sensing. Different categories of ferroelectric nanomaterials, their ferroelectric properties, and fabrication methods are introduced. The working mechanisms and performance of ferroelectric energy harvesters and self‐powered sensors are described. Additionally, future prospects are discussed.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can lead to severe neurotrauma, leading to long-term cognitive decline and even death. Massive neuronal loss and excessive neuroinflammation are critical issues in the treatment of secondary TBI. To tackle these challenges, we developed a GelMA and CSMA hydrogel loaded with Erythropoietin (EPO) and Interleukin-4 (IL-4), named GC/I/E. By directly loading the hydrogel with EPO, rapid neuroprotection and angiogenesis were achieved. Meanwhile, by loading Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) with IL-4 (MSN@IL-4), sustained inflammation modulation during inflammation was attained. In vitro experiments demonstrated that GC/I/E hydrogel were biocompatible and could provide neuroprotection for HT22 cells in H2O2 environment, regulate RAW264.7 polarization from M1 to M2 phenotype and promote HUVEC angiogenesis. In vivo experiments demonstrated that GC/I/E hydrogel reduced brain edema and Nissl body damage, inhibited inflammatory expression of G3-FFAP and neural scarring, improved microvascular and vascular function reconstruction, and facilitated neuronal and synaptogenesis, ultimately improving neurofunctional recovery in TBI. RNA sequencing results demonstrated that GC/I/E hydrogel treatment significantly correlated with the regulation of genes such as apoptosis, inflammation regulation, and neural regeneration. This bioactive hydrogel with neuroprotection, inflammation modulation and promotion of angiogenesis has great potential for TBI treatment.

ABSTRACTThe gut microbiota and Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) can influence the progression of diseases, yet the role of these factors on gastric cancer (GC) remains uncertain. In this work, the analysis of the gut microbiota composition and SCFA content in the blood and feces of both healthy individuals and GC patients indicated that significant reductions in the abundance of intestinal bacteria involved in SCFA production were observed in GC patients compared with the controls. ABX mice transplanted with fecal microbiota from GC patients developed more tumors during the induction of GC and had lower levels of butyric acid. Supplementation of butyrate during the induction of gastric cancer along with H. pylori and N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) in WT in GPR109A−/−mice resulted in fewer tumors and more IFN-γ+ CD8+ T cells, but this effect was significantly weakened after knockout of GPR109A. Furthermore, In vitro GC cells and co-cultured CD8+ T cells or CAR-Claudin 18.2+ CD8+ T cells, as well as in vivo tumor-bearing studies, have indicated that butyrate enhanced the killing function of CD8+ T cells or CAR-Claudin 18.2+ CD8+ T cells against GC cells through G protein-coupled receptor 109A (GPR109A) and homologous domain protein homologous box (HOPX). Together, these data highlighted that the restoration of gut microbial butyrate enhanced CD8+ T cell cytotoxicity via GPR109A/HOPX, thus inhibiting GC carcinogenesis, which suggests a novel theoretical foundation for GC management against GC.

The electricity market is a complex and dynamic environment characterized by a multitude of factors that influence electricity prices. Accurate and reliable electricity price forecasting (EPF) is crucial for market participants, including power generators, consumers, and policymakers. Electricity prices are influenced by temporal dependencies and electricity consumption patterns. Therefore, dependencies across different feature dimensions (cross-dimensional dependencies) and temporal trend information are essential. To address the aforementioned issues, we propose Multimodal Integration and Linear Enhanced Transformer (MILET), which combines cross-dimensional dependencies with single-dimensional modal features. First, we decompose electricity price data into three regular modals using Variational Mode Decomposition and Sample Entropy. This approach enables us to uncover the intrinsic patterns within the variable, thereby simplifying the complexity of the data series. Then integrate these three modals and the original dataset into a five-channel encoder (Modal Integration Encoder, MIE) with both single and multi-dimensional information. MIE is composed of Overall Two-Stage Attention (OTSA) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), where OTSA handles cross-dimensional dependencies, and LSTM addresses long-term dependencies. Additionally, we capture trend information in electricity consumption features through linear layers and linearly integrate the data to obtain the forecasting results. Extensive experimental results on five electricity price datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of MILET compared to state-of-the-art techniques. Our code is available at https://github.com/Lisen-Zhao/MILET/tree/master.

Background: In the field of orthopedic surgery, tourniquets are often used to achieve a clear operative field, expedite operations, and minimize hemorrhagic events. However, determining the optimal tourniquet inflation pressure is a topic of debate. The current approach involves using a constant tourniquet pressure, although this is associated with the potential to augment the risk of tourniquet-associated complications. The Association of Surgical Technologists recommends a tourniquet pressure of systolic blood pressure plus 50 mm Hg for the upper limb and 100 mm Hg for the lower limb. Nevertheless, this method lacks robust support from high-quality medical literature. Therefore, the study aimed to compare the hemostatic efficacy and disparities in tourniquet pressure settings based on systolic blood pressure versus those using the constant-pressure method. The findings might outline the theoretical framework necessary for advocating for tourniquet pressure setups guided by systolic blood pressure. Methods/design: This randomized controlled study classified the tourniquet pressure regimen into two groups: one based on the patient's systolic blood pressure (the study group) and the other using a constant pressure (the control group). The study included patients aged between 16 and 70 who presented with fresh fractures (less than 3 weeks) of the lower and upper limbs. All the included patients required surgical treatment involving the intraoperative use of a tourniquet and had no contraindications to this surgery. Our primary outcome was to assess the surgeon's satisfaction with the hemostasis achieved in the operative field. We also examined the changes in the circumference of the limb where the tourniquet was applied and tracked any postoperative complications and their incidence. The study ultimately encompassed 144 patients. Discussion: Despite the prevalent use of tourniquets in surgical operations related to limb fractures, conflicting viewpoints persist concerning the adjustments in pressure and other elements. The study aimed to compare the hemostatic efficacy and disparities in tourniquet pressure settings based on systolic blood pressure versus those using the constant-pressure method. Study registration: The study was duly recorded in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry on May 13, 2022 (Registration number: ChiCTR2200059867). Registration website: https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=162504.

PurposeTo explore the clinical efficacy of perforated Kirschner wire tension band in the treatment of Mayo IIA olecranon fracture.MethodA retrospective study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 96 adult patients with olecranon fractures of the ulna. Thirty-four cases underwent perforated Kirschner wire tension band fixation(group A), which included 21 males and 13 females, with an average age of 49.1 ± 11.57 years. Thirty-two cases received fixation with an olecranon anatomical plate (group B), comprising 19 males and 13 females, with an average age of 48.9 ± 8.84 years. Additionally, 30 cases were treated with ordinary Kirschner wire tension band fixation (group C), consisting of 18 males and 12 females, with an average age of 46.6 ± 12.03 years. The study compared various outcomes among the three groups, including operation time, intraoperative blood loss, number of fluoroscopy exposures, postoperative visual analogue score (VAS), fracture healing time, internal fixation failure rates, skin irritation rates, and the Broberg-Morrey score for elbow joint function at the final follow-up.ResultAll patients were followed for a duration of 15 to 21 months, with an average follow-up period of 18 months. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, number of fluoroscopy sessions, fracture healing time, and incidence of skin irritation for group A were recorded as (73.8 ± 11.72) min, (113.5 ± 20.73) milliliters, (7.5 ± 1.96) times, and (3.7 ± 1.46) months, respectively, with 1 case of skin irritation. In group B, the corresponding values were (98.4 ± 10.46) min, (154.7 ± 20.11) milliliters, (11.8 ± 2.78) times, and (4.3 ± 1.69) months, with 5 cases of skin irritation. For group C, the values were (81.7 ± 15.66) min, (115.5 ± 18.82) milliliters, (7.3 ± 1.99) times, and (4.3 ± 1.86) months, with 7 cases of skin irritation. Group A demonstrated superior outcomes compared to group B in terms of intraoperative blood loss and number of fluoroscopy sessions, and outperformed both group B and group C regarding operation time, fracture healing time, and skin irritation. These differences were statistically significant (P

Abstract Water conservation has become a global problem as the population increases. In many densely populated cities in China, leaks from century-old pipe works have been widespread. However, entirely eradicating the issues involves replacing all water networks, which is costly and time-consuming. This paper proposed an AI-enabled water-saving control system with three control modes: time division control, flow regulation, and critical point control according to actual flow. Firstly, based on the current leaking situation of water supply networks in China and the capability level of China’s water management, a water-saving technology integrating PID control and a series of deep learning algorithms was proposed. Secondly, a multi-jet control valve was designed to control pressure and reduce water distribution network cavitation. This technology has been successfully applied in industrial settings in China and has achieved gratifying water-saving results.

The phytopathogenic genus, Entomosporium can cause serious leaf diseases worldwide. Entomosporium has long been regarded as a synonym of Diplocarpon. However, different morphologies between Entomosporium and Diplocarpon make this doubtful. Based on morpho-phylogenetic analyses, the placement of the genus was re-evaluated in this study. The combined the internal transcribed spacer gene region (ITS) and the 28S large subunit ribosomal RNA gene region (LSU) phylogenetic analysis shows that Entomosporium is an independent clade within Drepanopezizaceae and formed a sister clade to the generic type Diplocarpon. Moreover, Hymenula and Pseudopeziza do not cluster in Drepanopezizaceae. We propose to resurrect the name Entomosporium, and exclude Hymenula cerealis and Pseudopeziza medicaginis from Drepanopezizaceae and propose to treat them under Ploettnerulaceae. A new species, E. dichotomanthes is also introduced from China based on morpho-molecular analyses which is associated with Dichotomanthes tristaniicarpa.

ObjectiveTo understand the mortality trends among residents of Fuling District， Chongqing， before and after the COVID-19 outbreak， and to provide references for the government to formulate disease prevention and control policies and measures.MethodsData on mortality and population in Fuling District from 2017 to 2022 were collected to analyze population mortality and standardized mortality rates， and to compare the changes in the causes of death by year and before and after the pandemic.ResultsFrom 2017 to 2022， the crude mortality rate in Fuling District showed an upward trend （APC=3.04%， P

The protection and balance of visibility and the visual interface of urban historic landmarks has been widely regarded in urban development and expansion. Taking Tiger Hill in Suzhou, China as an example, this study evaluates its visual characteristic from two perspectives: view and viewing. From the “view” perspective, changes in visibility as a viewing object are compared by cumulative viewshed analysis in ArcGIS. Additionally, a visual preference questionnaire is applied to determine the threshold (1.2 km) at which Tiger Hill becomes an object of attention. Based on the urban green space system planning map of Suzhou, the study selects green spaces that offer suitable viewing conditions. From the “viewing” perspective, Tiger Hill is considered a viewpoint for climbing and viewing, and a 3D city model is used to compare the changes in the visual interface of the mountains in the south and west of Suzhou from the top of Tiger Hill. Lastly, based on the “Two-thirds Rule”, the study calculates the maximum allowable building height within the field of vision and compares it with the existing building heights. The research provides a reference for the evaluation and improvement of the visual quality of urban historic landmarks.

Abstract Domesticated herbivores are an important agricultural resource that play a critical role in global food security, particularly as they can adapt to varied environments, including marginal lands. An understanding of the molecular basis of their biology would contribute to better management and sustainable production. Thus, we conducted transcriptome sequencing of 100 to 105 tissues from two females of each of seven species of herbivore (cattle, sheep, goats, sika deer, horses, donkeys, and rabbits) including two breeds of sheep. The quality of raw and trimmed reads was assessed in terms of base quality, GC content, duplication sequence rate, overrepresented k-mers, and quality score distribution with FastQC. The high-quality filtered RNA-seq raw reads were deposited in a public database which provides approximately 54 billion high-quality paired-end sequencing reads in total, with an average mapping rate of ~93.92%. Transcriptome databases represent valuable resources that can be used to study patterns of gene expression, and pathways that are related to key biological processes, including important economic traits in herbivores.

Abstract Nanopore direct RNA sequencing (DRS) has emerged as a powerful tool for RNA modification identification. However, concurrently detecting multiple types of modifications in a single DRS sample remains a challenge. Here, we develop TandemMod, a transferable deep learning framework capable of detecting multiple types of RNA modifications in single DRS data. To train high-performance TandemMod models, we generate in vitro epitranscriptome datasets from cDNA libraries, containing thousands of transcripts labeled with various types of RNA modifications. We validate the performance of TandemMod on both in vitro transcripts and in vivo human cell lines, confirming its high accuracy for profiling m6A and m5C modification sites. Furthermore, we perform transfer learning for identifying other modifications such as m7G, Ψ, and inosine, significantly reducing training data size and running time without compromising performance. Finally, we apply TandemMod to identify 3 types of RNA modifications in rice grown in different environments, demonstrating its applicability across species and conditions. In summary, we provide a resource with ground-truth labels that can serve as benchmark datasets for nanopore-based modification identification methods, and TandemMod for identifying diverse RNA modifications using a single DRS sample.

Abstract Basal progenitor cells are crucial for maintaining foregut (the esophagus and forestomach) homeostasis. When their function is dysregulated, it can promote inflammation and tumorigenesis. However, the mechanisms underlying these processes remain largely unclear. Here, we employ genetic mouse models to reveal that Jag1/2 regulate esophageal homeostasis and foregut tumorigenesis by modulating the function of basal progenitor cells. Deletion of Jag1/2 in mice disrupts esophageal and forestomach epithelial homeostasis. Mechanistically, Jag1/2 deficiency impairs activation of Notch signaling, leading to reduced squamous epithelial differentiation and expansion of basal progenitor cells. Moreover, Jag1/2 deficiency exacerbates the deoxycholic acid (DCA)-induced squamous epithelial injury and accelerates the initiation of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in the forestomach. Importantly, expression levels of JAG1/2 are lower in the early stages of human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) carcinogenesis. Collectively, our study demonstrates that Jag1/2 are important for maintaining esophageal and forestomach homeostasis and the onset of foregut SCC.

Abstract Background The endosperm serves as the primary source of nutrients for maize (Zea mays L.) kernel embryo development and germination. Positioned at the base of the endosperm, the transfer cells (TCs) of the basal endosperm transfer layer (BETL) generate cell wall ingrowths, which enhance the connectivity between the maternal plant and the developing kernels. These TCs play a crucial role in nutrient transport and defense against pathogens. The molecular mechanism underlying BETL development in maize remains unraveled. Results This study demonstrated that the MYB-related transcription factor ZmMYBR29, exhibited specific expression in the basal cellularized endosperm, as evidenced by in situ hybridization analysis. Utilizing the CRISPR/Cas9 system, we successfully generated a loss-of-function homozygous zmmybr29 mutant, which presented with smaller kernel size. Observation of histological sections revealed abnormal development and disrupted morphology of the cell wall ingrowths in the BETL. The average grain filling rate decreased significantly by 26.7% in zmmybr29 mutant in comparison to the wild type, which impacted the dry matter accumulation within the kernels and ultimately led to a decrease in grain weight. Analysis of RNA-seq data revealed downregulated expression of genes associated with starch synthesis and carbohydrate metabolism in the mutant. Furthermore, transcriptomic profiling identified 23 genes that expressed specifically in BETL, and the majority of these genes exhibited altered expression patterns in zmmybr29 mutant. Conclusions In summary, ZmMYBR29 encodes a MYB-related transcription factor that is expressed specifically in BETL, resulting in the downregulation of genes associated with kernel development. Furthermore, ZmMYBR29 influences kernels weight by affecting the grain filling rate, providing a new perspective for the complementation of the molecular regulatory network in maize endosperm development.

Abstract Background and Objective Azithromycin is the first azalide antibiotic that is related to the macrolide family of antibiotics. Bioequivalence studies in China are initiated by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), which supports a generic consistency evaluation program for ensuring that generic products manufactured in China meet the required standards and provide equivalent therapeutic effects to their reference products. This study aimed to assess the bioequivalence of two azithromycin tablets under both fasting and fed conditions in healthy Chinese volunteers. Methods This was a single-center, open-label, single-dose, randomized, three-way crossover trial with two independent groups (fasting group and fed group). A total of 72 healthy Chinese subjects (36 subjects in the fasting state and 36 subjects in the fed state) were enrolled and randomized to treatment. Blood samples were collected from 0 to 120 h after a single oral dose of a 250-mg generic azithromycin tablet (test, T) or branded azithromycin tablet (reference, R). The plasma concentrations of azithromycin were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC‒MS/MS). A non-compartmental analysis method was used to estimate the pharmacokinetic parameters. Adverse events were documented. Results In a fasting state, the bioequivalence of maximum plasma concentration (C max) was evaluated using the reference-scaled average bioequivalence (RSABE) approach (within-subject standard deviation, S WR > 0.294), and the bioequivalence of area under the concentration–time curve from time 0 to the time of the last measurable plasma concentration (AUC0–t ) and area under the concentration–time curve from time 0 extrapolated to infinity (AUC0–∞ ) were evaluated by the average bioequivalence (ABE) method (S WR < 0.294). The geometric mean ratio (GMR) of T/R for C max was 106.49%, while the 95% upper confidence bound was < 0. The GMRs of AUC0–t and AUC0–∞ were 103.34% and 101.28%, and the 90% confidence intervals (CIs) of the test/reference were 95.90–111.35%/94.85–108.15%, respectively. In the fed state, the RSABE approach was applied to estimate the bioequivalence of C max (S WR >0.294), and the ABE approach was applied to estimate the bioequivalence of AUC0–t and AUC0–∞ (SWR < 0.294). The GMR for C max was 99.80%, while the 95% upper confidence bound value was < 0. The GMRs of AUC0–t and AUC0–∞ were 97.07% and 98.15%, and the 90% CIs of the T/R were 90.02–104.68% and 90.66–106.25%, respectively. All adverse events were mild and transient. Conclusions The trial indicated that the test and the reference azithromycin tablets were bioequivalent and well tolerated in healthy Chinese volunteers under both fasting and fed conditions. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials, ChiCTR2300071630 (retrospectively registered in 19/05/2023).

The implementation of innovative techniques to achieve low-salt strategies in cured products is a critical issue faced by the food industry. This study aimed to investigate the impact of ultrasound treatment on the quality of the low-salt air-dried fish. The results showed that compared to traditional liquid curing, ultrasound-assisted curing significantly increased the NaCl transfer rate, improved tenderness, and improved water retention and in vitro digestibility (p

In order to find new potential fungicides and anticancer agents, a series of new coumarin amide derivatives bearing fluorine were synthesized and characterized spectroscopically. Compounds A6, B11, C2 and C7 were confirmed by X-ray diffraction further. The antifungal bioassays against five typical pathogenic fungi showed that compound C5 exhibited more remarkable fungicidal activities against Alternaria alternata (EC50 = 11.5 μg/mL), Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (EC50 = 18.0 μg/mL), Pyricularia grisea (EC50 = 33.8 μg/mL), surpassing kresoxim-methyl. Molecular docking result indicated that C5 displayed high binding affinity to chitinase, which plays crucial role in degradation and remodeling of fungal cell walls. In addition, the anticancer bioassays against three cancer cells demonstrated that compound A4 displayed excellent growth inhibitory effect against Hela cells with IC50 value of 8.13 μM, and low cytotoxicity against human normal cells BEAS-2B. Flow cytometric analysis further demonstrated that A4 significantly arrested cell cycle at the S phase and trigger apoptosis. With the above interesting biological profile, these coumarin derivatives could be used as anfungicides and anticancer candidates.

Identifying factors required for spermatogenesis is important for understanding mechanisms of male fertility. Inactivation of either the Mgat1 or Man2a2 gene leads to a block in spermatogenesis causing infertility in male mice. MGAT1 GlcNAc-transferase initiates complex N-glycan synthesis and MAN2A2 mannosidase generates the substrate for MGAT2 GlcNAc-transferase to form a biantennary complex N-glycan. In this paper, we show that conditional deletion of Mgat2 in spermatogonia via Stra8-iCre caused a novel block in spermatogenesis, largely prior to the formation of round spermatids. Mgat2[−/−] germ cells did not bind the lectins Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin (L-PHA) or Griffonia simplicifolia II (GSA-II), similar to germ cells lacking MGAT1 and complex N-glycans. However, overall spermatogenic defects were distinct in germ cells with deleted Mgat2 versus Mgat1. In addition, RNA-seq analysis at 15 days after birth revealed a unique transcriptomic landscape in Mgat2[−/−] germ cells with genes required for sperm formation and functions being most downregulated. Bioinformatic analyses using the ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) algorithm identified ERK and AKT as central activities. Western blot analyses of 15-day germ cell lysates confirmed that both AKT and ERK1/2 signaling were increased by loss of MGAT2 in germ cells. By contrast, Mgat1[−/−] germ cells were previously shown to have reduced ERK signaling and unchanged AKT activity. Therefore, since the loss of all complex N-glycans is common to each mutant model, the different immature N-glycans that accumulate in Mgat2[−/−] versus Mgat1[−/−] germ cells are proposed to be the basis of their unique spermatogenic phenotypes.

Objectives To evaluate changes in health outcomes between years 2 and 3 after discharge following COVID-19 and to identify risk factors for poor health 3-year post-discharge.Design This is a multicentre observational cohort study.Setting This study was conducted in two centres from Wuhan, China.Participants Eligibility screening has been performed in 3988 discharged laboratory-confirmed adult COVID-19 patients. Exclusion criteria were refusal to participate, inability to contact and death before follow-up. The WHO COVID-19 guidelines on defining disease severity were adopted.Results 1594 patients participated in the 1-year, 2-year and 3-year follow-ups, including 796 (49.9%) male patients, and 422 (26.5%) patients were classified in the severe disease group. 3 years after discharge, 182 (11.4%) patients still complained of at least one symptom. The most common symptoms were fatigue, myalgia, chest tightness, cough, anxiety, shortness of breath and expectoration. Fatigue or myalgia, the most common symptom cluster, frequently coexisted with chest symptoms and anxiety. Symptom persistence between years 2 and 3 was reported in 70 patients (4.4%) for which intensive care unit (ICU) admission was a risk factor (p=0.038). Of the 1586 patients who completed the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease assessment test (CAT), 97 (6.1%) scored ≥10, with older age being associated with CAT ≥10 (p=0.007).Conclusions Between years 2 and 3 after SARS-CoV-2 infection, most patients returned to an asymptomatic state, and only a few were still symptomatic. ICU admission was a risk factor for symptom persistence.

Abstract Droplet transmission is the primary infection route for respiratory diseases like COVID‐19 and influenza, but small and low‐cost wearable droplet detection devices are a significant challenge. Herein, a respiratory droplet micro‐sensor based on graphene oxide quantum dots (GOQDs) assembled onto SiO2 microspheres by the nebulized natural deposition is presented. Benefiting from the energy dissipation of the microsphere to droplets, the sensor can detect droplets as far as 2 m from coughing. With this sensor, droplet signal variations caused by some factors like distance, speech, angles, and wind directions are explored, and the effectiveness of different protective measures in preventing droplet transmission is evaluated. This droplet detection technology is expected to be utilized for the development of personal detection and protection devices against infectious respiratory diseases.

Abstract There has been increasing interest in the role of epigenetic modification in cancers recently. Among the various modifications, sialylation has emerged as a dominant subtype implicated in tumor progression, metastasis, immune evasion, and chemoresistance. The prognostic significance of sialylation-related molecules has been demonstrated in colorectal cancer. However, the potential roles and regulatory mechanisms of sialylation in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) have not been thoroughly investigated. Through Pearson correlation, univariate Cox hazards proportional regression, and random survival forest model analyses, we identified several prognostic long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) associated with aberrant sialylation and tumor progression, including LINC00857, LINC00968, LINC00663, and ITGA9-AS1. Based on the signatures of four lncRNAs, we classified patients into two clusters with different landscapes using a non-negative matrix factorization approach. Collectively, patients in Cluster 1 (C1) exhibited worse prognoses than those in Cluster 2 (C2), as well as heavier tumor mutation burden. Functional enrichment analysis showed the enrichment of several pro-tumor pathways in C1, differing from the upregulated Longevity and programmed cell death pathways in C2. Moreover, we profiled immune infiltration levels of important immune cell lineages in two subgroups using MCPcounter scores and single sample gene set enrichment analysis scores, revealing a relatively immunosuppressive microenvironment in C1. Risk analysis indicated that LINC00857 may serve as a pro-tumor regulator, while the other three lncRNAs may be protective contributors. Consistently, we observed upregulated LINC00857 in C1, whereas increased expressive levels of LINC00968, LINC00663, and ITGA9-AS1 were observed in C2. Finally, drug sensitivity analysis suggested that patients in the two groups may benefit from different therapeutic strategies, contributing to precise treatment in LUAD. By integrating multi-omics data, we identified four core sialylation-related lncRNAs and successfully established a prognostic model to distinguish patients with different characterizations. These findings may provide some insights into the underlying mechanism of sialylation, and offer a new stratification way as well as clinical guidance in LUAD.

Abstract With the rapid development of expressway Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) technology in China, the expressway management system is becoming digital and intelligent, which provides a solid foundation for expressway vehicle infrastructure cooperation and autonomous driving. The gantry position is the key part of the ETC system. However, there are still some problems (e.g. gantry position missing or false), which can seriously affect the intelligent development of expressways. To address these two issues, an ETC gantry positioning method is proposed. First, the ETC transaction data and the GPS data on expressways are preprocessed to remove abnormal data and retrieve missed data. Then, combined with Dead Reckoning (DR) and Median Center, the potential position of the gantry is calculated from ETC transaction data and GPS data. Finally, the switching strategy based on Kalman Filter (KF) is used to capture the final gantry position. By comparing the results of the proposal with the collected gantry position, it is found that the positioning error of the gantry position calculated by this proposal is about 37 m. The positioning accuracy is 98.78% with the threshold of 100 m. The experimental results show that the proposal can effectively locate the expressway gantry.

Abstract The mix proportion of multi-source coal-based solid waste (CSW) for underground backfilling affects transportation and support performance of backfill materials, and even the backfilling cost. In this study, the optimal mix proportion of desulfurization gypsum (DG), furnace bottom slag (FBS) and gasification fine slag (GFS) is determined by the Response Surface Methodology–Box Behnken Design (RSM-BBD). Then the fluidity, bleeding rate, 3-day strength, 7-day strength and preparation cost are evaluation indicators, the optimal mix proportion of backfill materials is determined by the multi-objective decision-making method (MDM). Finally, the microstructure of the backfill material with optimal mix proportion was studied by TGA, MIP, SEM–EDS and XRD. The results show that the mix proportion of CSW with the optimal comprehensive index is coal gangue (CG): coal fly ash (CFA): DG: FBS: GFS = 1:1.5:0.2:0.1:0.1, the mass concentration is 78%, and ordinary Portland cement (OPC)/CSW = 7.5%. The weight loss phenomenon of the backfill material with the optimal mix proportion occurs continuously during the heating process, mainly due to the evaporation of crystal water, structural water and hydroxyl water. There are dense narrow-necked pores in the backfill material, and the pore connectivity is poor. There is no hydration reaction occurs between CSW particles, and the strength increase of the backfill material mainly depends on the hydration reaction of cement. In ettringite, part of Al2O3 is replaced by SiO2, and part of CaSO4 is replaced by CaCO3. This study provides a reference for the engineering application of underground backfilling with multi-source CSW.

Fibroblasts are typically described as cells that produce extracellular matrix, contribute to the formation of connective tissue, and maintain the structural framework of tissues. Fibroblasts are the first cell type to be transdifferentiated into inducible pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), demonstrating their versatility and reprogrammability. Currently, there is relatively extensive characterization of the anatomical, molecular, and functional diversity of fibroblasts in different peripheral organs and tissues. With recent advances in single cell RNA sequencing, heterogeneity and diversity of fibroblasts in the central nervous system (CNS) have also begun to emerge. Based on their distinct anatomical locations in the meninges, perivascular space, and choroid plexus, as well as their molecular diversity, important roles for fibroblasts in the CNS have been proposed. Here, we draw inspirations from what is known about fibroblasts in peripheral tissues, in combination with their currently identified CNS locations and molecular characterizations, to propose potential functions of CNS fibroblasts in health and disease. Future studies, using a combination of technologies, will be needed to determine the bona fide in vivo functions of fibroblasts in the CNS.

The poor reproductive capacity of giant pandas significantly hinders the development of captive populations, with 80.88% of adult individuals being unable to successfully become pregnant and deliver offspring. The disturbance of vaginal microbiota has been proven to potentially lead to miscarriage, abortion, and stillbirth in mammals. To elucidate the potential relationship between the vaginal microbiota and the reproductive capacity of giant pandas, we performed high-throughput sequencing of vaginal microbiota at the time of fertilization and conducted comparative analyses based on different pregnancy outcomes. We found that the microbial diversity in the delivery (D) group exceeded that in the non-delivery (ND) group and the vaginal microbial community structure was statistically different between the two groups. The vaginal microbiota in the delivery pandas consisted of unclassified Pseudomonadaceae which was gradually replaced by the Escherichia-Shigella type of vaginal microbiota in the ND group. A function predictions analysis showed that infectious disease, glycan biosynthesis, and metabolism were significantly enriched in the ND group. Additionally, an analysis of the microbial community phenotypic categories indicated that the ND group exhibited a significantly higher abundance of Gram-negative bacteria, facultative anaerobes, potential pathogens, and stress-tolerant species compared to the D group, predominantly driven by the elevated abundance of Escherichia-Shigella. Escherichia-Shigella can be used within LDA and ROC analyses to diagnostically distinguish the vaginal microflora associated with bad pregnancy outcomes during estrus. Our results will help to identify potential pathogens causing reproductive tract diseases, reduce the number of reproductive tract disease infections in pandas, and increase the birth rate of giant pandas in conservation breeding programs.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs), primarily caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), have high morbidity and recurrence rates. Resistance to levofloxacin hydrochloride (LEV), a commonly used treatment for UTIs, is increasingly problematic, exacerbated by biofilm formation mediated by interactions between cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP or CDG) and YcgR. In this study, we identified three caffeoylquinic acid compounds from Pyrrosia lingua—chlorogenic acid (CGA), sibiricose A5 (Si-A5), and 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid methyl ester (CAM)—that target YcgR through molecular docking. Biological assays revealed that combining these compounds with levofloxacin hydrochloride significantly enhanced antibacterial activity against standard UPEC strains in a concentration-dependent manner and clinically isolated UPEC strains. Notably, chlorogenic acid and sibiricose A5, when used with levofloxacin hydrochloride, enhanced intracellular c-di-GMP levels and swimming motility, significantly reduced YcgR gene expression, and effectively inhibited biofilm formation of UPEC at multiple time points. Additionally, molecular dynamics simulations elucidated the strong binding of these compounds to YcgR, underscoring the critical roles of residues, such as Arg118 and Asp145. This research serves as a foundation for tackling antibiotic resistance and developing innovative therapeutics for UTIs.

Abstract Pooling operations, essential for neural networks, reduce feature map dimensions while preserving key features and enhancing spatial invariance. Traditional pooling methods often miss the feature maps' alternating currentcomponents. This study introduces a novel global pooling technique utilizing spectral self‐attention, leveraging the discrete cosine transform for spectral analysis and a self‐attention mechanism for assessing frequency component significance. This approach allows for efficient feature synthesis through weighted averaging, significantly boosting TOP‐1 accuracy with minimal parameter increase, outperforming existing models.

Abstract Some bacteria, such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimurium), have an inherent ability to locate solid tumours, making them a versatile platform that can be combined with other tools to improve the tumour diagnosis and treatment. In anti‐cancer therapy, bacteria function by carrying drugs directly or expressing exogenous therapeutic genes. The application of bacterial imaging in tumour diagnosis, a novel and promising research area, can indeed provide dynamic and real‐time monitoring in both pre‐treatment assessment and post‐treatment detection. Different imaging techniques, including optical technology, acoustic imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nuclear medicine imaging, allow us to observe and track tumour‐associated bacteria. Optical imaging, including bioluminescence and fluorescence, provides high‐sensitivity and high‐resolution imaging. Acoustic imaging is a real‐time and non‐invasive imaging technique with good penetration depth and spatial resolution. MRI provides high spatial resolution and radiation‐free imaging. Nuclear medicine imaging, including positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) can provide information on the distribution and dynamics of bacterial population. Moreover, strategies of synthetic biology modification and nanomaterial engineering modification can improve the viability and localization ability of bacteria while maintaining their autonomy and vitality, thus aiding the visualization of gut bacteria. However, there are some challenges, such as the relatively low bacterial abundance and heterogeneously distribution within the tumour, the high dimensionality of spatial datasets and the limitations of imaging labeling tools. In summary, with the continuous development of imaging technology and nanotechnology, it is expected to further make in‐depth study on tumour‐associated bacteria and develop new bacterial imaging methods for tumour diagnosis.

BackgroundUsing a pig model of cardiopulmonary bypass, we compared outcomes after cardioplegia either with our in-house “Huaxi-1” solution containing natural blood and crystalloid or with the entirely crystalloid, commercially available “histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate” solution.MethodsCardiopulmonary bypass was established in 13 healthy male pigs. Twelve of those animals were randomized to receive a single dose of either Huaxi-1 or entirely crystalloid cardioplegia, while the remaining animal was assigned to receive Huaxi-1 without randomization. All animals were then subjected to whole-heart ischemia for 90 min, followed by 2 h of reperfusion, after which myocardial injury was assessed in terms of cardiac function, myocardial pathology and levels of biomarkers in plasma, while levels of high-energy phosphate in myocardium were assayed using liquid chromatography.ResultsAnimals given Huaxi-1 cardioplegia required significantly less time to be weaned off bypass, they received significantly lower doses of norepinephrine, and they showed significantly higher levels (mean ± SD) of adenosine triphosphate (14 ± 4 vs. 8 ± 2 µg/mg, P = 0.005), adenosine diphosphate (16 ± 2 vs. 13 ± 2 µg/mg, P = 0.046), and total adenine nucleotide (37 ± 4 vs. 30 ± 3 µg/mg, P = 0.006) in myocardium after 2 h of reperfusion. They also showed less severe bleeding, edema and injury to mitochondria and myofibers in myocardium. The two groups did not differ significantly in doses of inotropic drugs received, cardiac output or levels of biomarkers in plasma.ConclusionsIn this animal model of healthy hearts subjected to 90 min of ischemia, Huaxi-1 cardioplegia may be superior to entirely crystalloid cardioplegia for promoting energy generation and attenuating ischemia/reperfusion injury in myocardium.

In the realm of genetically transformed crops, the process of plant regeneration holds utmost significance. However, the low regeneration efficiency of several wheat varieties currently restricts the use of genetic transformation for gene functional analysis and improved crop production. This research explores overexpression of TaLAX PANICLE1 (TaLAX1), which markedly enhances regeneration efficiency, thereby boosting genetic transformation and genome editing in wheat. Particularly noteworthy is the substantial increase in regeneration efficiency of common wheat varieties previously regarded as recalcitrant to genetic transformation. Our study shows that increased expression of TaGROWTH-REGULATING FACTOR (TaGRF) genes, alongside that of their co-factor, TaGRF-INTERACTING FACTOR 1 (TaGIF1), enhances cytokinin accumulation and auxin response, which may play pivotal roles in the improved regeneration and transformation of TaLAX1-overexpressing wheat plants. Overexpression of TaLAX1 homologs also significantly increases the regeneration efficiency of maize and soybean, suggesting that both monocot and dicot crops can benefit from this enhancement. Our findings shed light on a gene that enhances wheat genetic transformation and elucidate molecular mechanisms that potentially underlie wheat regeneration.

ObjectiveTo investigate the short-term clinical efficacy of robot-assisted retrograde drilling and arthroscopic microfracture for osteochondral lesions of the talus (OCLT).MethodsThis study was divided into two groups: experimental group: robot-assisted retrograde drilling group; control group: arthroscopic microfracture group. A total of 6 OCLT patients who were treated with robot navigation-assisted retrograde drilling and 10 OCLT patients who were treated with arthroscopic microfracture between October 2020 and October 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 11 males and five females, with a mean age of 36 years. The patients were followed up for 6–12 months to compare the changes in the OCLT lesion area by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), visual analogue scale/score (VAS) and American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society score (AOFAS) before and after surgery.ResultsAll 16 patients were followed up for an average of 8 months, and no complications such as joint infection, nerve injury, or active bleeding occurred during the follow-up period. Only one patient suffered discomfort involving transient postoperative pain in the operative area, but did not experience long-term numbness or chronic pain. Postoperative MRI revealed that none of the patients had severe signs of osteonecrosis, osteolysis or cystic changes of the talus, with lesion areas smaller than those before surgery. The difference was statistically significant (P

The aluminum laminate pouch of pouch batteries is highly prone to deformation, which can cause various surface defects, thereby affecting their service life and potentially posing safety hazards. To address this problem, we propose an algorithm named YOLOv8-UCB for detecting surface defects in pouch batteries, which is based on the YOLOv8 model. First, while retaining the original network structure, we replaced the backbone of YOLOv8 with the UniRepLKNet feature extraction network to achieve a larger receptive field. Second, we constructed a distributed focal detection head CLLAHead, to better capture the features at different scales. Additionally, after each Concat layer in the head, we incorporated BiFormer attention mechanisms to enhance content-aware perception. Finally, we replaced the loss function with Slide Loss to address the issue of sample classification imbalance. The experimental results indicate that the improved algorithm achieved significant increases in precision, recall, mAP@0.5 and mAP@0.5:0.95, with improvements of 11.7%, 8.2%, 8.9% and 6.5% respectively, over the baseline model. In comparative studies against contemporaneous methodologies, the refined algorithm exhibited pronounced superiority in detection capabilities.