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Abstract As a basic component of the versatile semiconductor devices, metal oxides play a critical role in modern electronic information industry. However, ultra-high precision nanopatterning of metal oxides often involves multi-step lithography and transfer process, which is time-consuming and costly. Here, we report a strategy, using metal-organic compounds as solid precursor photoresist for multi-photon lithography and post-sintering, to realize ultra-high precision additive manufacturing of metal oxides. As a result, we gain metal oxides including ZnO, CuO and ZrO2 with a critical dimension of 35 nm, which sets a benchmark for additive manufacturing of metal oxides. Besides, atomic doping can be easily accomplished by including the target element in precursor photoresist, and heterogeneous structures can also be created by multiple multi-photon lithography, allowing this strategy to accommodate the requirements of various semiconductor devices. For instance, we fabricate an ZnO photodetector by the proposed strategy.

Abstract The identification of predictors for immunotherapy is often hampered by the absence of control groups in many studies, making it difficult to distinguish between prognostic and predictive biomarkers. This study presents biomarker analyses from the phase 3 CONTINUUM trial (NCT03700476), the first to show that adding anti-PD-1 (aPD1) to chemoradiotherapy (CRT) improves event-free survival (EFS) in patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. A dynamic single-cell atlas was profiled using mass cytometry on peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples from 12 pairs of matched relapsing and non-relapsing patients in the aPD1-CRT arm. Using a supervised representation learning algorithm, we identified a Ki67+ proliferating regulatory T cells (Tregs) population expressing high levels of activated and immunosuppressive molecules including FOXP3, CD38, HLA-DR, CD39, and PD-1, whose abundance correlated with treatment outcome. The frequency of these Ki67+ Tregs was significantly higher at baseline and increased during treatment in patients who relapsed compared to non-relapsers. Further validation through flow cytometry (n = 120) confirmed the predictive value of this Treg subset. Multiplex immunohistochemistry (n = 249) demonstrated that Ki67+ Tregs in tumors could predict immunotherapy benefit, with aPD1 improving EFS only in patients with low baseline levels of Ki67+ Tregs. These findings were further validated in the multicenter phase 3 DIPPER trial (n = 262, NCT03427827) and the phase 3 OAK trial of anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy in NSCLC, underscoring the predictive value of Ki67+ Treg frequency in identifying the beneficiaries of immunotherapy and potentially guiding personalized treatment strategies.

Abstract Backgrounds Acute transplant rejection is a major component of poor prognoses for organ transplantation. Owing to the multiple complex mechanisms involved, new treatments are still under exploration. Endometrial regenerative cells (ERCs) have been widely used in various refractory immune-related diseases, but the role of ERC-derived exosomes (ERC-Exos) in alleviating transplant rejection has not been extensively studied. Signaling lymphocyte activation molecule family 6 (SLAMF6) plays an important role in regulating immune responses. In this study, we explored the main mechanism by which ERC-Exos loaded with siSLAMF6 can alleviate allogeneic transplant rejection. Methods C57BL/6 mouse recipients of BALB/c mouse kidney transplants were randomly divided into four groups and treated with exosomes. The graft pathology was evaluated by H&E staining. Splenic and transplanted heart immune cell populations were analyzed by flow cytometry. Recipient serum cytokine profiles were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The proliferation and differentiation capacity of CD4+ T cell populations were evaluated in vitro. The α-2,6-sialylation levels in the CD4+ T cells were determined by SNA blotting. Results In vivo, mice treated with ERC-siSLAMF6 Exo achieved significantly prolonged allograft survival. The serum cytokine profiles of the recipients were significantly altered in the ERC-siSLAMF6 Exo-treated recipients. In vitro, we found that ERC-siSLAMF6-Exo considerably downregulated α-2,6-sialyltransferase (ST6GAL1) expression in CD4+ T cells, and significantly reduced α-2,6-sialylation levels. Through desialylation, ERC-siSLAMF6 Exo therapy significantly decreased CD4+ T cell proliferation and inhibited CD4+ T cell differentiation into Th1 and Th17 cells while promoting regulatory T cell (Treg) differentiation. Conclusions Our study indicated that ERC-Exos loaded with siSLAMF6 reduce the amount of sialic acid connected to α-2,6 at the end of the N-glycan chain on the CD4+ T cell surface, increase the number of therapeutic exosomes endocytosed into CD4+ T cells, and inhibit the activation of T cell receptor signaling pathways, which prolongs allograft survival. This study confirms the feasibility of using ERC-Exos as natural carriers combined with gene therapy, which could be used as a potential therapeutic strategy to alleviate allograft rejection.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Saldoida armata (Heteroptera: Saldidae) is 16,049 bp in length, comprising 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs) and a control region. All the PCGs are initially encoded by ATN, TTG or GTG, and terminated coding with TAA or a single T. With the exception of trnS(AGN), all tRNAs exhibit a typical cloverleaf secondary structure. Phylogenetic analysis reveals the sister relationship of S. armata with other Saldidae members. The complete mitogenome of S. armata will provide useful genetic information for species identification, phylogenetic analysis and conservation of this species.

Engineering management is an extremely important aspect of construction engineering, and a better management approach can greatly enhance the production profits of enterprises. Traditional management optimization schemes cannot adapt to current technological needs due to their inability to effectively consider the impact of each factor. Therefore, a construction management optimization scheme combining improved particle algorithm and multi-objective optimization was proposed. The improved particle algorithm enhances its performance by introducing adaptive weight and multi-objective optimization ideas. These studies confirmed that the predicted direct cost savings for the project were around 1 million yuan. The total construction period of project was optimized to 380 days, saving 34 days. The optimization technology not only reduced construction costs, but also reflected the problems that could be improved during this construction process. This study contributes to achieving multi-objective balance in the construction management process, effectively improving project efficiency, reducing project costs and risks, and providing scientific support for construction decision-making.

ABSTRACT Aims Diabetes mellitus (DM) is closely associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), and is considered an accelerator of AD. Our previous study has confirmed that the Calpain inhibitor Calpeptin may alleviate AD‐like complications of diabetes mellitus. This work further investigated its underlying mechanism. Materials and Methods Diabetes mellitus rat model was constructed by a high‐fat and high‐sugar diet combined with streptozotocin, followed by the administration of Calpeptin. Moreover, rats were micro‐injected with LV‐TXNIP‐OE/vector into the CA1 region of the hippocampus one day before streptozotocin injection. The Morris water maze test assessed the spatial learning and memory ability of rats. Immunohistochemistry and western blotting detected the expression of the pericyte marker PDGFRβ, tight junction proteins occludin and ZO‐1, calpain‐1, calpain‐2, APP, Aβ, Aβ‐related, and TXNIP/NLRP3 inflammasome‐related proteins. Immunofluorescence staining examined the blood vessel density and neurons in the hippocampus. Evans blue extravasation and fluorescence detected the permeability of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) in rats. Additionally, the oxidative stress markers and inflammatory‐related factors were assessed by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Results Calpeptin effectively reduced the expression of Calpain‐2 and TXNIP/NLRP3 inflammasome‐related proteins, improved the decreased pericyte marker (PDGFR‐β) and cognitive impairment in hippocampus of DM rats. The neuronal loss, microvessel density, permeability of BBB, Aβ accumulation, inflammation, and oxidative stress injury in the hippocampus of DM rats were also partly rescued by calpeptin treatment. The influence conferred by calpeptin treatment was reversed by TXNIP overexpression. Conclusions These data demonstrated that calpeptin treatment alleviated AD‐like symptoms in DM rats through regulating TXNIP/NLRP3 inflammasome. Thus, calpeptin may be a potential drug to treat AD‐like complications of diabetes mellitus.

Utilizing first-order beam dynamics models is adequate for studying the beam properties during the conceptual design of a cyclotron-based proton therapy beamline. After finishing lattice design, particle-matter interaction simulations for passive elements (e.g., degrader, collimators, energy slit) are required. The cascade simulation is used for lattice updates in each iteration, which is complicated. In addition, when the models involve particle tracking and particle-matter interaction, their optimization process is time-consuming. Therefore, this study proposes a start-to-end modeling method using Monte Carlo Beam Delivery Simulation (BDSIM) software that considers more realistic factors, such as particle-matter interaction and the realistic vacuum chamber, to precisely evaluate working parameters, along with an efficient optimization method that utilizes multi-objective Bayesian optimization (MOBO) to improve transmission efficiency. Taking the Huazhong University of Science and Technology proton therapy facility (HUST-PTF) as an example, beam loss along the beamline is located, quantified, and subsequently reduced by tuning the quadrupole strengths based on MOBO. The results show that: (i) By considering the particle-matter interaction and the realistic vacuum chamber, the precision in the prediction of the beam properties is improved; (ii) After optimization, the transmission efficiency of the entire beamline is relatively increased by an average of 6.52 % under different energy settings, especially 11.39 % at 70 MeV.

Abstract Background This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the features of endolymphatic hydrops and hearing loss in patients with Bilateral Meniere's Disease. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 77 patients diagnosed with Bilateral Meniere's Disease. The features of endolymphatic hydrops in the affected ear were evaluated through gadolinium-enhanced inner ear Magnetic resonance imaging. The Spearman correlation coefficient, paired t-tests, and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were employed for data analysis. Results The analysis revealed a significant correlation between the degree of endolymphatic hydrops and hearing loss across all frequencies(0.125–8 kHz), including the cochlear, vestibular, and overall degree of endolymphatic hydrops. The strongest correlation between the overall degree of endolymphatic hydrops and hearing loss was observed at low frequencies (r = 0.571, p

Abstract Recently emerged SAM-Med2D represents a state-of-the-art advancement in medical image segmentation. Through fine-tuning the Large Visual Model, Segment Anything Model (SAM), on extensive medical datasets, it has achieved impressive results in cross-modal medical image segmentation. However, its reliance on interactive prompts may restrict its applicability under specific conditions. To address this limitation, we introduce SAM-AutoMed, which achieves automatic segmentation of medical images by replacing the original prompt encoder with an improved MobileNet v3 backbone. The performance on multiple datasets surpasses both SAM and SAM-Med2D. Current enhancements on the Large Visual Model SAM lack applications in the field of medical image classification. Therefore, we introduce SAM-MedCls, which combines the encoder of SAM-Med2D with our designed attention modules to construct an end-to-end medical image classification model. It performs well on datasets of various modalities, even achieving state-of-the-art results, indicating its potential to become a universal model for medical image classification.

Abstract Background Chronic radiation dermatitis (CRD) is a late consequence of radiation with high incidence in patients receiving radiotherapy. Conventional therapies often yield unsatisfactory results. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the therapeutic potential and mechanism of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) for CRD, paving the way for novel regenerative therapies in clinical practice. Methods Clinical CRD skin biopsies were analyzed to character the pathological changes of CRD skin and guided the animal modeling scheme. Subsequently, an in vivo analysisusing mouse CRD models was conducted to explore their effects of ADSCs on CRD, monitoring therapeutic impact for up to 8 weeks. Transcriptome sequencing and histologic sections analysis were performed to explore the potential therapeutic mechanism of ADSCs. Following observing extensive apoptosis of transplanted ADSCs, the therapeutic effect of ADSCs were compared with those of apoptosis-inhibited ADSCs. Multiphoton imaging and analysis of collagen morphologic features were employed to explain how translated ADSCs promote collagen remodeling at the microscopic level based on the contrast of morphology of collagen fibers. Results Following injection into CRD-afflicted skin, ADSCs therapy effectively mitigated symptoms of CRD, including acanthosis of the epidermis, fibrosis, and irregular collagen deposition, consistent with the possible therapeutic mechanism suggested by transcriptome sequencing. Notably, in vivo tracking revealed a significant reduction in ADSCs number due to extensive apoptosis. Inhibiting apoptosis in ADSCs partially tempered their therapeutic effects. Mechanically, analysis of collagen morphologic features indicated that translated ADSCs might promote dermal extracellular matrix remodeling through enlarging, lengthening, crimping, and evening collagen, counteracting the atrophy and rupture caused by irradiation. Conclusions This study demonstrated that ADSCs underwent substantial apoptosis upon local skin transplantation, and paradoxically, this apoptosis is essential for their efficacy in promoting the regeneration of late radiation-impaired skin. Mechanically, transplanted ADSCs could promote the remodeling and rearrangement of radiation-damaged dermal collagen matrix.

Abstract There are no studies exploring the correlation between sleep duration and abdominal aortic calcification (AAC). This study aims to investigate this relationship and its significance. Additionally, given the higher prevalence of sleep disorders and AAC in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), we conducted further studies in this population. We analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013–2014. Sleep duration was assessed by a sleep questionnaire and categorized into 2–5, 6–8, and ≥ 9 h. The AAC-24 score is determined using the Kauppila scoring system and used for AAC assessment. Multivariable linear and logistic regression analysis were used to explore the relationship between sleep duration and AAC. Among the 2,996 participants, 14.29% reported nightly short sleep (2–5 h), 77.64% reported intermediate sleep (6–8 h), and 8.08% reported long sleep (≥ 9 h). After adjusting for potential confounding factors, among male participants with CKD, long sleep (≥ 9 h) significantly increased AAC-24 scores compared with intermediate sleep (6–8 h) (β: 2.12; 95% CI: 0.75, 3.50), and the risk of severe AAC (SAAC) was increased by 1.55 times (OR: 2.55; 95% CI: 1.02, 6.36). And among female CKD and non-CKD participants, sleep duration was not associated with AAC. Long sleep duration increases the risk of AAC among male adults with CKD. Prospective studies are needed to confirm this finding.

Abstract Background Sepsis is associated with a high incidence and mortality and poses a significant challenge to the treatment. Although esmolol has shown promise in sepsis treatment, its efficacy and safety remain contentious. This meta-analysis aims to clarify the role of esmolol in sepsis management. Methods PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane library, clinicaltrials.gov and the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry were searched and references of relevant reviews and meta-analysis were also screened for appropriate studies. Keywords and free words of ‘sepsis’, ‘esmolol’ and ‘randomized controlled trials’ were used for search. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software. Results Fifteen studies involving 1100 patients were included. Compared with the control group, patients receiving esmolol exhibited significantly decreased 28-day mortality (RR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.60 to 0.81; P

Abstract Single-cell multi-omics sequencing is a powerful approach to analyze complex mechanisms underlying neuronal development and regeneration. However, current methods lack the ability to simultaneously profile RNA alternative splicing and chromatin accessibility at the single-cell level. We develop a technique, single-cell RNA isoform and chromatin accessibility sequencing (scRICA-seq), which demonstrates higher sensitivity and cost-effectiveness compared to existing methods. scRICA-seq can profile both isoforms and chromatin accessibility for up to 10,000 single cells in a single run. Applying this method to human retinal organoids, we construct a multi-omic cell atlas and reveal associations between chromatin accessibility, isoform expression of fate-determining factors, and alternative splicing events in their binding sites. This study provides insights into integrating epigenetics, transcription, and RNA splicing to elucidate the mechanisms underlying retinal neuronal development and fate determination.

Abstract Background The primary objective of this investigation was to compare the nominal central ablation depth with the achieved central corneal stromal ablation depth after StreamLight transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (tPRK) for myopia with WaveLight® laser by Alcon Laboratories, TX, USA. Methods This ambispective study encompassed a retrospective analysis of 40 eyes who underwent treatment for myopia and astigmatism, followed by a prospective examination conducted 6–9 months postoperatively. Pre- and postoperative Avanti spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT; Optovue Inc., CA, USA) provided stromal and epithelial thickness maps. The difference between pre- and postoperative central stromal thicknesses at the corneal vertex was used to calculate the achieved stromal thickness ablation depth. This value was then compared with the corresponding central nominal depth on the laser ablation planning map. Results A total of 40 eyes (OD/OS:18/22) of 40 patients (31.4 ± 9.2 years) were available for evaluation. The mean treated spherical equivalent was − 2.98 ± 1.46 D. The mean nominal and achieved central stromal ablation depths were 51.22 µm and 59.67 μm, respectively, showing a mean stromal excessive ablation of 16.50%. The mean pre- and postoperative central epithelial thicknesses were 53.74 μm and 59.31 μm, respectively, showing a mean postoperative thickness increase of 10.46%. This increase in the epithelial thickness rendered the mean postoperative pachymetry reduction to 54.11 μm, only 2.33% greater than the mean nominal ablation depth. Conclusions The study revealed a central stromal ablation 16.50% greater than the nominal ablation depth. This excessive stromal removal was largely compensated for by the increase in epithelial thickness, resulting in a mean difference between the nominal ablation depth and the achieved central corneal pachymetry reduction of only 2.33%. This significant excessive central stromal ablation must be taken into consideration in the calculation of the residual stromal thickness.

Abstract Halophyte shrubs, prevalent in arid regions globally, create saline fertile islands under their canopy. This study investigates the soil microbial communities and their energy utilization strategies associated with tamarisk shrubs in arid ecosystems. Shotgun sequencing revealed that high salinity in tamarisk islands reduces functional gene alpha-diversity and relative abundance compared to bare soils. However, organic matter accumulation within islands fosters key halophilic archaea taxa such as Halalkalicoccus, Halogeometricum, and Natronorubrum, linked to processes like organic carbon oxidation, nitrous oxide reduction, and sulfur oxidation, potentially strengthening the coupling of nutrient cycles. In contrast, bare soils harbor salt-tolerant microbes with genes for autotrophic energy acquisition, including carbon fixation, H2 or CH4 consumption, and anammox. Additionally, isotope analysis shows higher microbial carbon use efficiency, N mineralization, and denitrification activity in tamarisk islands. Our findings demonstrate that halophyte shrubs serve as hotspots for halophilic microbes, enhancing microbial nutrient transformation in saline soils.

ObjectivesA multi-objective optimization algorithm is proposed to address the problem of the complex operating conditions of large horizontal axis hydraulic turbine blades. MethodsAn airfoil optimization model is established based on the multi-island genetic algorithm, the airfoil is parametrically fitted using the class shape function transformation (CST) function method, and the whole optimization process is integrated on the Isight platform to achieve automatic optimization. ResultsUsing the above method, NACA 63813/63815/63816 airfoils are selected as the initial airfoils for multi-objective optimization, CFD numerical validation is carried out on the obtained airfoils using the Fluent turning model, and the lift-to-drag ratios and lifting forces at the airfoil attack angle of 5° are selected as the optimization objectives, resulting in the optimized airfoils gaining increased lift coefficients of 14%, 15% and 20%, and increased lift-to-drag ratios of 14%, 16% and 28%, respectively. ConclusionsNumerical validation shows that the lift-to-drag ratios of the optimized airfoil is higher than those of the original airfoils with the same thickness under several operating conditions, and the structural strength of the blade is improved while ensuring good aerodynamic performance, making it more suitable than conventional airfoils for large-scale tidal current energy horizontal axis hydraulic turbines.

Abstract Background Older subjects have a higher risk for vertebral compression fracture. Maintaining a higher bone mineral density (BMD) at this age can protect individuals from osteoporosis-related events. Body mass index (BMI) has been found to have a robust association with BMD. However, excessive BMI is detrimental to bone health and may cause systemic disorders. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the association between BMI and BMD, and identify a reasonable BMI range. Methods A total of 961 participants were recruited from community-dwelling residents between August 2021 and May 2022. A weighted multivariate linear regression model was applied to identify the relationship between BMI and BMD. Meanwhile, subgroup stratified analysis by BMI quartile and gender was also performed. A non-linear relationship and threshold value were determined based on the smooth curve fittings and threshold effects analysis model. Results A robust relationship was found between BMI and BMD, which remained significant in subgroups stratified by gender and BMI quartile. The BMI inflection point values in lumbar BMD and femoral neck BMD were 25.2 kg/m2 and 27.3 kg/m2, respectively. For individuals with BMI 25.2 kg/m2, an increase in BMI was associated with a decrease in lumbar BMD. For subjects with BMI

Abstract Osteosarcomas are intricate cellular ecosystems, where heterotypic interactions significantly influence disease progression and therapeutic outcomes. Despite their importance, a detailed understanding of their cellular composition and organizational structure remains elusive. In this study, we provide a comprehensive single-cell and spatially resolved transcriptomics analysis of human osteosarcomas. We construct a cellular meta-map to dissect spatial transcriptomic data, unveiling a detailed atlas of osteosarcoma compositional subgroups. We meticulously characterize the unique gene signatures and functional states of each subgroup and investigate the impact of chemotherapy on these cellular subpopulations. Additionally, our spatial transcriptomics analysis identifies a distinct spatial niche, located at the forefront of tumor necrotic zones, potentially associated with chemotherapy resistance. We also delve into the crosstalk between different cellular subgroups. This study furnishes a comprehensive transcriptional atlas of osteosarcoma's cellular architecture, enriching our comprehension of its complexity and laying the groundwork for more targeted therapeutic approaches.

Abstract AlGaN-based light-emitting diodes (LEDs) operating in the deep-ultraviolet (DUV) spectral range (210–280 nm) have demonstrated potential applications in physical sterilization. However, the poor external quantum efficiency (EQE) hinders further advances in the emission performance of AlGaN-based DUV LEDs. Here, we demonstrate the performance of 270-nm AlGaN-based DUV LEDs beyond the state-of-the-art by exploiting the innovative combination of bandgap engineering and device craft. By adopting tailored multiple quantum wells (MQWs), a reflective Al reflector, a low-optical-loss tunneling junction (TJ) and a dielectric SiO2 insertion structure (IS-SiO2), outstanding light output powers (LOPs) of 140.1 mW are achieved in our DUV LEDs at 850 mA. The EQEs of our DUV LEDs are 4.5 times greater than those of their conventional counterparts. This comprehensive approach overcomes the major difficulties commonly faced in the pursuit of high-performance AlGaN-based DUV LEDs, such as strong quantum-confined Stark effect (QCSE), severe optical absorption in the p-electrode/ohmic contact layer and poor transverse magnetic (TM)-polarized light extraction. Furthermore, the on-wafer electroluminescence characterization validated the scalability of our DUV LEDs to larger production scales. Our work is promising for the development of highly efficient AlGaN-based DUV LEDs.

Abstract The conversion of biomass to chemicals/fuels has emerged as a valuable solution that offers both environmental and economic benefits, with the transformation of carbohydrate into formic acid garnering escalating scholar interest. However, the relative limited efficiency of catalyzed-oxidation or expensive cost of H2O2 and alkali in wet hydrothermal oxidation impose limitations on industrialization. This paper proposed a new idea for formic acid production by O2-H2O2 co-oxidation of carbohydrate. A two-step reaction method was developed, where the initial step is engineered to regulate the carbon chain cleavage of carbohydrates to augment the production of active intermediate. Oxygen was employed in the subsequent step as effective oxidant through free radical mechanism, resulting in a formic acid yield of 82.6%. Theoretical calculation, intermediates detection and real time EPR confirmed the reaction mechanism. Finally, the universality of the reaction was verified by using disaccharides and polysaccharides such as cellulose as substrates.

Abstract In August 2023, Xiaomi unveiled the Redmi K60 Ultra, the first multi-frequency smartphone integrated with BeiDou-3 Navigation Satellite System Precise Point Positioning (PPP-B2b) services and employing PPP technology as the primary positioning method. The positioning enhancement service is provided by the Assisted Global Navigation Satellite System (A-GNSS) location platform developed by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology. The signaling interaction between the server and the users strictly adheres to the Third Generation of Mobile Communications Technology Partnership Project Long-Term Evolution Positioning Protocol and the Open Mobile Alliance Secure User Plane Location framework. To comprehensively evaluate the Redmi K60 Ultra’s capabilities, this study designed six distinct experimental scenarios and conducted comprehensive research on multi-frequency and multi-GNSS observation noise, Time to First Fix (TTFF), as well as the performance of both GNSS-based and network-based positioning. Experimental results indicate that the GNSS chipset within the Redmi K60 Ultra has achieved a leading position in the consumer market concerning supported satellite constellations, frequencies, and observation accuracy, and is comparable to some low-cost GNSS receivers. A-GNSS positioning can reduce the TTFF from 30 to under 5 s, representing an improvement of over 85% in the cold start speed compared to a standalone GNSS mode. The positioning results show that the A-GNSS PPP-B2b service can achieve positioning performance with RMS errors of less than 1.5 m, 2.5 m, and 4 m in open-sky, realistic, and challenging urban environments. Compared to GNSS-based positioning, cellular network-based Observed Time Difference of Arrival (OTDOA) positioning achieves an accuracy ranging from tens to hundreds of meters in various experimental scenarios and currently functions primarily as coarse location determination. Additionally, this study explores the potential of the Three-Dimensional Mapping-Aided (3DMA) GNSS algorithm in detecting Non-Line-of-Sight signals and enhancing positioning performance. The results indicate that 3DMA PPP, as compared to conventional PPP, can significantly accelerate PPP convergence and improve positioning accuracy by over 30%. Consequently, 3D city models can be utilized as future assistance data for the A-GNSS location platform.

Stimulated emission depletion microscopy (STED) holds great potential in biological science applications, especially in studying nanoscale subcellular structures. However, multi-color STED imaging in live-cell remains challenging due to the limited excitation wavelengths and large amount of laser radiation. Here, we develop a multiplexed live-cell STED method to observe more structures simultaneously with limited photo-bleaching and photo-cytotoxicity. By separating live-cell fluorescent probes with similar spectral properties using phasor analysis, our method enables five-color live-cell STED imaging and reveals long-term interactions between different subcellular structures. The results here provide an avenue for understanding the complex and delicate interactome of subcellular structures in live-cell.

Abstract Mounting evidence showed that HER2-Low breast cancer patients could benefit from the novel anti-HER2 antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) treatment, which pointed the way towards better therapy for HER2-Low patients. The purpose of this study was to describe the clinicopathological features, along with chemotherapeutic effects and survival outcomes of HER2-Low and HER2-Zero in TNBC who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). We retrospectively evaluated 638 triple-negative breast cancer patients who were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy between August 2014 and August 2022. Pathologic complete response (pCR) and survival outcomes were analyzed in HER2-Low cohort, HER2-Zero cohort and the overall patients, respectively. In the entire cohort, 342 (53.6%) patients were HER2-Low and 296 (46.4%) patients were HER2-Zero. No significant difference was found between HER2-Low and HER2-Zero patients based on all the clinical–pathological characteristics. 143 cases (22.4%) achieved pCR after NACT in the overall TNBC patients. The pCR rate of the HER2-Low patients and the HER2-Zero patients was 21.3% and 23.6%, respectively, exhibiting no statistical difference (p = 0.487). The survival of pCR group after NACT significantly improved compared to non-pCR group either in HER2-Low patients or in HER2-Zero patients. Although we found that patients with HER2-Low had longer DFS than patients with HER2-Zero, there was no considerable difference (p = 0.068). However, HER2-Low patients had a dramatically longer OS than HER2-Zero patients (p = 0.012). The data from present study confirmed the clinical importance of HER2-Low expression in TNBC. Further effort is needed to determine whether HER2-Low could be a more favorable prognostic marker for individual treatment.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the latent profile of nurses' mental workload (MWL) and explore the influencing factors via a person-centred approach. Methods: From March to July 2023, a quantitative cross-sectional study was carried out to investigate 526 Chinese clinical nurses from five tertiary hospitals in Sichuan Province, China, by using demographic information, the Perceived Social Support Scale, Simplified Coping Skill Questionnaire, and NASA-Task Load Index. Latent profile analyses were performed using Mplus 7.3 software. Pearson’s chi-squared and logistic regression analysis was done using SPSS 24.0 software. Results: Three profiles of mental workload were identified based on the nurses’ responses to the mental workload assessment, designated as “low MWL-high self-rated (n = 70, 13.3%)”, “moderate MWL (n = 273, 51.9%)”, and “high MWL-low self-rated (n = 183, 34.8%)”. Based on the analysis of the three subtypes, nurses with working years < 5 years (χ2 = 12.135, P

Abstract Background Hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH) is a challenging lung arterial disorder with remarkably high incidence and mortality rates, and the efficiency of current HPH treatment strategies is unsatisfactory. Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) in the pulmonary artery plays a crucial role in HPH. Previous studies have shown that lncRNA-H19 (H19) is involved in many cardiovascular diseases by regulating cell proliferation and differentiation but the role of H19 in EndMT in HPH has not been defined. Methods In this research, the expression of H19 was investigated in PAH human patients and rat models. Then, we established a hypoxia-induced HPH rat model to evaluate H19 function in HPH by Echocardiography and hemodynamic measurements. Moreover, luciferase reporter gene detection, and western blotting were used to explore the mechanism of H19. Results Here, we first found that the expression of H19 was significantly increased in the endodermis of pulmonary arteries and that H19 deficiency obviously ameliorated pulmonary vascular remodelling and right heart failure in HPH rats, and these effects were associated with inhibition of EndMT. Moreover, an analysis of luciferase activity indicated that microRNA-let-7 g (let-7 g) was a direct target of H19. H19 deficiency or let-7 g overexpression can markedly downregulate the expression of TGFβR1, a novel target gene of let-7 g. Furthermore, inhibition of TGFβR1 induced similar effects to H19 deficiency. Conclusions In summary, our findings demonstrate that the H19/let-7 g/TGFβR1 axis is crucial in the pathogenesis of HPH by stimulating EndMT. Our study may provide new ideas for further research on HPH therapy in the near future.

Abstract This qualitative study investigates the factors that affect the job satisfaction of home caregivers. It draws upon a thematic analysis of data from in-depth interviews with home caregivers in the UK and finds that both visible and invisible factors have an effect. Overall factors pertaining to the way the caregiving agencies are run and behave have a significant influence on caregivers’ job satisfaction. Identifying these factors will assist both policymakers and professional care agencies to be aware of the needs of caregivers in practice. These experiences can be used as references to handle the challenges of an ageing society in other countries with similar care industry characteristics.

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 This study explores the representation of gender through the social interactions presented in four sets of English textbooks used in China. By examining the representation of both gender stereotypes and changing roles, the results reveal that although traditional stereotypes exist in Chinese secondary school-level English textbooks, women’s changing social roles are acknowledged in that they are now beginning to be shown engaging in non-traditional female jobs. However, in family scenarios, women are still depicted as taking sole responsibility for housekeeping duties without any participation from adult males, showing the incomplete transformation of gender roles. No male characters are shown participating in non-traditional jobs, which reinforces the idea of the masculine role being ‘superior’ to feminine or non-masculine roles. The continued presence of gender stereotypes shows textbook editors’ tacit agreement with the gender norms. Drawing on gender as a fluid concept and social interactions of gender, this study acknowledges the variety and diversity of inputs of gender roles through social interactions in the learning community and suggests that students can be given access to a more gender-progressive education by improving the quality of social interactions between genders in textbooks and presenting a more equal view on gender roles.

Caudofoveata is a class of worm-like molluscs (aplacophorans) that typically have an infaunal lifestyle, burrowing in soft bottoms in a wide range of marine habitats from shallow to deep waters. Here, we describe a very large new species of caudofoveate from South China Sea methane seeps growing up to 154 mm in length: Chaetoderma shenloong sp. nov. It is the first caudofoveate to be named from a chemosynthetic ecosystem and the first aplacophoran mollusc associated with seeps. Our new species stands out from other Pacific Chaetoderma species by its large size, a wide body relative to its length, a barely sclerotised radula, and the presence of isosceles-triangular sclerites. Phylogenetic reconstruction using the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene placed it within a paraphyletic clade comprising Chaetodermatidae and Limifossoridae, in line with a previous phylogenetic analysis. This also revealed that C. shenloong sp. nov. is conspecific with a Chaetoderma sp. whose whole genome was recently sequenced and assembled but remained undescribed until now. The most closely related species with an available COI sequence was C. felderi, the largest caudofoveate species recorded. Our discovery suggests caudofoveates may be present in other seeps globally but so far neglected; a potential example is C. felderi from the Gulf of Mexico, where seeps are abundant but whose exact habitat remains unclear.

Abstract Bacteroidales (syn. Bacteroidetes) are prominent members of the human gastrointestinal ecosystem mainly due to their efficient glycan-degrading machinery, organized into gene clusters known as polysaccharide utilization loci (PULs). A single PUL was reported for catabolism of high-mannose (HM) N-glycan glyco-polypeptides in the gut symbiont Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, encoding a surface endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (ENGase), BT3987. Here, we discover an ENGase from the GH18 family in B. thetaiotaomicron, BT1285, encoded in a distinct PUL with its own repertoire of proteins for catabolism of the same HM N-glycan substrate as that of BT3987. We employ X-ray crystallography, electron microscopy, mass spectrometry-based activity measurements, alanine scanning mutagenesis and a broad range of biophysical methods to comprehensively define the molecular mechanism by which BT1285 recognizes and hydrolyzes HM N-glycans, revealing that the stabilities and activities of BT1285 and BT3987 were optimal in markedly different conditions. BT1285 exhibits significantly higher affinity and faster hydrolysis of poorly accessible HM N-glycans than does BT3987. We also find that two HM-processing endoglycosidases from the human gut-resident Alistipes finegoldii display condition-specific functional properties. Altogether, our data suggest that human gut microbes employ evolutionary strategies to express distinct ENGases in order to optimally metabolize the same N-glycan substrate in the gastroinstestinal tract.

CircRNAs are a class of single-stranded RNAs characterized by covalently looped structures. Emerging advances have promoted our understanding of circRNA biogenesis, nuclear export, biological functions, and functional mechanisms. Roles of circRNAs in diverse diseases have been increasingly recognized in the past decade, with novel approaches in bioinformatics analysis and new strategies in modulating circRNA levels, which have made circRNAs the hot spot for therapeutic applications. Moreover, due to the intrinsic features of circRNAs such as high stability, conservation, and tissue-/stage-specific expression, circRNAs are believed to be promising prognostic and diagnostic markers for diseases. Aiming cardiovascular disease (CVD), one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, we briefly summarize the current understanding of circRNAs, provide the recent progress in circRNA functions and functional mechanisms in CVD, and discuss the future perspectives both in circRNA research and therapeutics based on existing knowledge.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common chronic joint disease characterized by articular cartilage degeneration, subchondral sclerosis, synovitis, and osteophyte formation. OA is associated with disability and impaired quality of life, particularly among the elderly. Leptin, a 16-kD non-glycosylated protein encoded by the obese gene, is produced on a systemic and local basis in adipose tissue and the infrapatellar fat pad located in the knee. The metabolic mechanisms employed by leptin in OA development have been widely studied, with attention being paid to aging as a corroborative risk factor for OA. Hence, in this review, we have attempted to establish a potential link between leptin and OA, by focusing on aging-associated mechanisms and proposing leptin as a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target in aging-related mechanisms of OA that may provide fruitful guidance and emphasis for future research.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to assess the association between adherence to Mediterranean diet and the presence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in a Northern Chinese population.MethodsThis study was a single center, case–control study. A total of 952 low risk participants in Beijing Anzhen Hospital from 2016 to 2021 were collected, including 476 patients with first diagnosed of atrial fibrillation and 476 age and sex matched controls. According to the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), the alternate Mediterranean diet score (AMED) was calculated, which was 0–9 points, indicating the adherence to the Mediterranean diet from low to high.ResultsThe average age of the participants was 57.6 ± 9.1 years old, and 70.2% were men. After analyzing every component of AMED, vegetable consumption shows a negative correlation with the risk of AF, whereas alcohol consumption demonstrates a positive correlation with it (OR = 0.61, 95% CI 0.44–0.80, p

Abstract The development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in sepsis is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. However, the molecular pathogenesis underlying sepsis‐induced ARDS remains elusive. Neutrophil heterogeneity and dysfunction contribute to uncontrolled inflammation in patients with ARDS. A specific subset of neutrophils undergoing reverse transendothelial migration (rTEM), which is characterized by an activated phenotype, is implicated in the systemic dissemination of inflammation. Using single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq), it identified functionally activated neutrophils exhibiting the rTEM phenotype in the lung of a sepsis mouse model using cecal ligation and puncture. The prevalence of neutrophils with the rTEM phenotype is elevated in the blood of patients with sepsis‐associated ARDS and is positively correlated with disease severity. Mechanically, scRNA‐seq and proteomic analys revealed that inflamed endothelial cell (EC) released extracellular vesicles (EVs) enriched in karyopherin subunit beta‐1 (KPNB1), promoting abluminal‐to‐luminal neutrophil rTEM. Additionally, EC‐derived EVs are elevated and positively correlated with the proportion of rTEM neutrophils in clinical sepsis. Collectively, EC‐derived EV is identified as a critical regulator of neutrophil rTEM, providing insights into the contribution of rTEM neutrophils to sepsis‐associated lung injury.

Abstract Gene‐editing technology has become a transformative tool for the precise manipulation of biological genomes and holds great significance in the field of animal disease‐resistant breeding. Mastitis, a prevalent disease in animal husbandry, imposes a substantial economic burden on the global dairy industry. In this study, a regulatory sequence gene editing breeding strategy for the successful creation of a gene‐edited dairy (GED) goats with enhanced mastitis resistance using the ISDra2‐TnpB system and dairy goats as the model animal is proposed. This included the targeted integration of an innate inflammatory regulatory sequence (IRS) into the promoter region of the lysozyme (LYZ) gene. Upon Escherichia Coli (E. coli) mammary gland infection, GED goats exhibited increased LYZ expression, showing robust anti‐mastitis capabilities, mitigating PANoptosis activation, and alleviating blood‐milk‐barrier (BMB) damage. Notably, LYZ is highly expressed only in E. coli infection. This study marks the advent of anti‐mastitis gene‐edited animals with exogenous‐free gene expression and demonstrates the feasibility of the gene‐editing strategy proposed in this study. In addition, it provides a novel gene‐editing blueprint for developing disease‐resistant strains, focusing on disease specificity and biosafety while providing a research basis for the widespread application of the ISDra2‐TnpB system.

Summary: The art of passive thermal management lies in effectively mitigating heat stress by manipulating the optical spectra of target objects. However, a significant obstacle remains in finding a structure that can seamlessly adapt to diverse thermal environments. In response to this challenge, we posit that Janus fabrics have unique advantages for multi-scene applications when carefully engineered. A Janus fabric with an upper side exhibiting a 92% solar reflectivity and a 94% emissivity, along with a lower side possessing an infrared emissivity below 30% could enable energy savings at a large scale. It outperforms commercial products in terms of energy-saving efficiency under different climate conditions. Furthermore, the scalable manufacturing compatibility and outstanding performance make the Janus structure a promising avenue for diverse passive thermal management scenarios.

Extracellular protein coronas (exPCs), which have been identified in various biofluids, are recognized for their pivotal role in mediating the interaction between nanoparticles and the cytomembrane. However, it is still unclear whether various exPCs can induce different levels of intracellular proteostasis, which is of utmost importance in preserving cellular function, and eliciting distinct intracellular biological behaviors. To investigate this, two types of exPC-coated iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) are prepared and used to investigate the influence of exPCs on extracellular and intracellular biological outcomes. The results demonstrate that the formation of exPCs promotes the colloidal stability of IONPs, and the discrepancies in the components of the two exPCs, including opsonin, dysopsonin, and lipoprotein, are responsible for the disparities in cellular uptake and endocytic pathways. Moreover, the differential evolution of the two exPCs during cellular internalization leads to distinct autophagy and glycolysis activities, which can be attributed to the altered depletion of angiopoietin 1 during the formation of intracellular protein coronas, which ultimately impacts the PI3K/AKT-mTOR signaling. These findings offer valuable insights into the dynamic characteristics of exPCs during cellular internalization, and their consequential implications for cellular internalization and intracellular metabolism activity, which may facilitate the comprehension of PCs on biological effects of NPs and expedite the design and application of biomedical nanoparticles.

Aging is an important process for improving wine and brandy quality. In this study, the chemical characterization and sensory properties of spine grape brandies were compared after aging with various species of wood chips, including French oak (FO), American oak (AO), Mongolian oak (MO), Japanese blue oak (JO), chestnut, catalpa, and cherry. The results showed that high color intensity and significant concentrations of tannins and polyphenols were observed in the brandies aged with FO, AO, and chestnut chips. The volatile compounds, such as ethyl decanoate, ethyl 2-methylbutanoate, ethyl octanoate, methyl salicylate, (Z)-2-hexenol, and furfural, contributed to the floral, fruity, and roasted/smoky attributes of the brandies aged with FO, AO, and chestnut chips. The 1-butanol, 1-propanol, phenylethanol, phenylethyl acetate, isoamyl acetate, and linalool contributed to the fruity, honey, and floral attributes of the brandies aged with JO and cherry chips. These findings are extremely useful for the production of differentiated and high-quality spine grape brandies.

Both proton ring and shell distributions, providing a positive gradient along the perpendicular direction, can trigger ion Bernstein instabilities and excite magnetosonic (MS) waves in the Earth’s inner magnetosphere. A thorough comparison of the ion Bernstein instability due to the proton ring and shell distributions has not been performed. In this study, we perform and compare the MS wave instabilities under different wave normal angles and parameters of ring and shell distributions. We find that (1) compared to shell-driven MS waves, ring-driven MS waves have narrower frequency and wavenumber ranges. (2) The peak growth rates of shell-driven MS waves are always near the first peaks of the square of first-kind Bessel function Jn2. While, The peak growth rates of ring-driven MS waves are near the first peaks of Jn2, and shift to the cold plasma dispersion relation as ring velocity or wave normal angle increases. (3) MS wave growth rates increase as first peaks of Jn2 approach the cold plasma dispersion in frequency-wavenumber domain. This result can be used to explain dependences on ring (shell) velocity and wave normal angle. (4) The MS wave frequency range and growth rates decrease with increasing ring or shell temperature.

Cytokin storms play a key role in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury (ALI) caused by sepsis, in which pulmonary macrophage PANoptosis is involved. At present, the main treatment methods for sepsis-induced ALI are antibiotics and fluid resuscitation, but the efficacy of these methods is unsatisfactory enough; therefore, the development of new therapeutic methods is urgently needed. In this study, we developed a novel bionic nanoparticle (R@ZQC NPs) using ZIF-8 nanoparticles as a carrier, internally supported with ginsenoside Rb1, and externally coated with quaternated chitosan and a macrophage membrane layer by layer. The biomimetic nanoparticles controlled the release of Rb1, had good biocompatibility, strong antibacterial activity, and targeted the inhibition of pulmonary macrophage PANoptosis. In vitro and in vivo, R@ZQC NPs effectively inhibited the activity of Escherichia coli and reduced mitochondrial damage by activating the AMPK pathway, thus alleviating the inflammatory response and ameliorating sepsis-induced ALI. In summary, this study revealed the great potential of R@ZQC NPs for antimicrobial activity, targeted inhibition of macrophage PANoptosis and reduction of the inflammatory response and represents the first attempt of R@ZQC NPs in the treatment of sepsis-induced ALI. This study provides new therapeutic ideas and strategies for the clinical treatment of sepsis-induced ALI.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) incurs a huge individual, societal, and economic burden. Specific and selective targeting of hypoglossal motor neurons could be an effective means to treat OSA. Bioluminescent-optogenetics (BL-OG) is a novel genetic regulatory approach in which luminopsins, fusion proteins of light-generating luciferase and light-sensing ion channels, increase neuronal excitability when exposed to a suitable substrate. Here we develop and validate the feasibility of BL-OG for sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). Upon confirming that diet-induced obese mice represent an excellent SDB model, we employed a method of targeting the hypoglossal nucleus (12 N) by peripherally injecting retrogradely transported rAAV2/Retro. With AAV transduction, the eLMO3 protein is expressed in hypoglossal motor neurons (HMN); administration of CTZ results in production of bioluminescence that in turn activates the tethered channelrhodopsin, leading to an increase in the firing of HMN and a 2.7 ± 0.8-fold increase in phasic activity of the genioglossus muscle, a 7.6 ± 1.8-fold increase in tonic activity, and improvements in hypoventilation and apnea index without impacting sleep structure. This is therefore the first study to leverage the rAAV2/Retro vector to execute the BL-OG approach in SDB, which amplified genioglossus muscle discharge activity and increased airflow in mice after activation. This study marks the pioneering utilization of BL-OG in SDB research.

In order to solve the existing problem of low efficiency of multi-layer and multi-pass welding methods for thick stainless steel clad plate (SSCP), this paper proposes high-power laser-arc hybrid welding (HP-LAHW) single-pass weld thick SSCP. The effects of wire feeding rate (WFR) on the weld's composition distribution, microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated. The weld morphology is nail-shaped, consisting of a wide arc zone (ArcZ) within the stainless steel layer and a long narrow laser zone (LaserZ), mainly in the carbon steel layer. With the increase of WFR, the dilution rate of the carbon steel layer to the ArcZ decreases first and then increases. The influence of WFR on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the weld is observed mainly in the ArcZ. When the WFR reaches 6 m/min, the composition of the microstructure within the ArcZ will change from martensite, ferrite, and a small amount of granular austenite to ferrite and a small amount of austenite, resulting in the microhardness of the ArcZ decreasing rapidly from 398 HV to 210 HV. The solidification type and microstructure transformation mechanisms within the weld were elucidated based on quantitative calculations of the chromium and nickel equivalent ratios. The microstructure of the LaserZ in all welds is predominantly martensitic due to the rapid cooling rate, which makes the tensile properties of the weld higher than the base metal (BM). The results of this study provide technical support for realizing high-efficiency and high-performance single-pass HP-LAHW of thick SSCP.

The mudstone within the Upper Triassic Adula Formation constitutes a crucial hydrocarbon source rock reservoir in the Qiangtang Basin, yet there is considerable debate regarding its paleo-depositional environment. Through systematic studies, including petrology, organic geochemistry, and elemental geochemistry analyses of the Adula Formation at the Eertuolongba section in the Quemocuo area of the eastern Qiangtang Basin, this study investigated the paleo-depositional environment of the Adula Formation source rocks and its impact on hydrocarbonsource rock development. The total organic carbon (TOC) content of the Adula Formation mudstone ranges from 0.27% to 3.46%, with an average of 1.60%, indicating overall favorable source rocks with locally deve-loped high-quality source rocks. The shelf facies mudstone in the lower section of the Adula Formation was formed during a phase of sea-level rise, characterized by deeper, oxygen-poor water, a semi-arid to semi-humid paleoclimate, moderate chemical weathering, minimal terrigenous input, and higher salinity. The deposition of the upper section occurred during a phase of basin contraction and demise, suggesting a transition from shelf facies to delta facies. This period was marked by relatively shallower, oxygen-rich water and a shift from arid to semi-arid to semi-humid paleoclimate, with increased terrigenous input and a saline to semi-saline water environment influenced by freshwater input. The source rocks of the Adula Formation are felsic volcanic rocks, primarily from a continental island arc tectonic setting, likely sourced from the island arc source domain in the Jinsha River suture zone during the Early to Middle Triassic. In the lower section of the Adula Formation, the TOC content of shelf facies mudstone shows a robust positive correlation with redox condition indicators, suggesting that source rock development was mainly controlled by oxygen-poor water conditions during sea-level rise period. In contrast, no significant correlation was observed between TOC content and paleo-environmental parameters in the upper shelf delta facies mudstones. Mudstones with TOC content greater than 2% were likely deposited during periods of high terrigenous input and relatively humid paleoclimate, indicating that source rock development was influenced by multiple factors such as paleoclimate and terrigenous input.

Abstract Background Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a severe and fatal disease. Although mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapy has shown remarkable efficacy in treating ARDS in animal experiments, clinical outcomes have been unsatisfactory, which may be attributed to the influence of the lung microenvironment during MSC administration. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from endothelial cells (EC-EVs) are important components of the lung microenvironment and play a crucial role in ARDS. However, the effect of EC-EVs on MSC therapy is still unclear. In this study, we established lipopolysaccharide (LPS) - induced acute lung injury model to evaluate the impact of EC-EVs on the reparative effects of bone marrow-derived MSC (BM-MSC) transplantation on lung injury and to unravel the underlying mechanisms. Methods EVs were isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of mice with LPS - induced acute lung injury and patients with ARDS using ultracentrifugation. and the changes of EC-EVs were analysed using nanoflow cytometry analysis. In vitro assays were performed to establish the impact of EC-EVs on MSC functions, including cell viability and migration, while in vivo studies were performed to validate the therapeutic effect of EC-EVs on MSCs. RNA-Seq analysis, small interfering RNA (siRNA), and a recombinant lentivirus were used to investigate the underlying mechanisms. Results Compared with that in non-ARDS patients, the quantity of EC-EVs in the lung microenvironment was significantly greater in patients with ARDS. EVs derived from lipopolysaccharide-stimulated endothelial cells (LPS-EVs) significantly decreased the viability and migration of BM-MSCs. Furthermore, engrafting BM-MSCs pretreated with LPS-EVs promoted the release of inflammatory cytokines and increased pulmonary microvascular permeability, aggravating lung injury. Mechanistically, LPS-EVs reduced the expression level of isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2), which catalyses the formation of α-ketoglutarate (α-KG), an intermediate product of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, in BM-MSCs. α-KG is a cofactor for ten-eleven translocation (TET) enzymes, which catalyse DNA hydroxymethylation in BM-MSCs. Conclusions This study revealed that EC-EVs in the lung microenvironment during ARDS can affect the therapeutic efficacy of BM-MSCs through the IDH2/TET pathway, providing potential strategies for improving the therapeutic efficacy of MSC-based therapy in the clinic.

To address the functional failure caused by low-surface-tension liquid wetting and adhesion in superhydrophobic materials, in this study, we constructed a bilayer coating with superamphiphobic properties using an epoxy (Ep) bonding layer and an organosilane-grafted attapulgite (OG-ATP) layer through spray-coating technique. The prepared superamphiphobic bilayer coating exhibited high contact angles (CAs) and low sliding angles (SAs) for cold water (25 °C), hot water (85 °C), glycerol, ethylene glycol, peanut oil, and even n-hexadecane (CA = 150.4 ± 0.3° and SA = 7 ± 2°) with surface tension of 27.5 mN m−1. Surface morphology and elemental analysis confirmed the coating's unique micro-nano hierarchical structure and low surface energy characteristics. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results showed that the surface charge transfer resistance (Rct) and low-frequency modulus (|Z|0.01Hz) were enhanced by 6–7 orders of magnitude compared to the bare aluminum alloy substrate. The anti-corrosion performance remained stable even after 5 days of 3.5 wt% NaCl immersion. Additionally, icing experiments with water droplets at −10 °C and −15 °C revealed a significant delay in ice formation on the substrate protected by the bilayer coating. The development of this protective material, combining superamphiphobicity, self-cleaning, corrosion resistance, and anti-icing functions, will provide advanced technological reserves in areas such as marine, aviation, transportation, and manufacturing.

Abstract Spectrum feature extraction plays a crucial role in identifying seismic events and calculating structural response parameters. However, the criteria for identifying effective modal components in Variational Mode Decomposition (VMD) are not well-defined, resulting in inaccurate spectrum feature extraction. To address this issue, we propose a novel spectrum feature extraction method that combines Allan variance, VMD, and power spectral density (PSD). Firstly, VMD is applied to filter noise components from triaxial accelerometer observations and add effective signals. Secondly, PSD is utilized to extract three groups of seismic frequencies (tri-axial accelerometers). Finally, the Allan method is introduced to identify the group of accelerometer observations with the highest reliability as the vibration frequency caused by the seismic excitation. We validate the effectiveness of our method by analyzing a Mw 2.6 micro-seismic event that occurred in Huairou, Beijing in 2022. The result shows that our proposed method accurately extracts spectrum features of the Great Wall. Specifically, the seismic excitation vibration frequencies at four monitoring stations were found to be 26.95 Hz, 12.89 Hz, 12.89 Hz, and 12.5 Hz. These findings underscore our method's utility in evaluating the Great Wall's structural response to seismic loading, which has significant implications for the conservation and protection of heritage structures.

Abstract To improve their research performance in international league tables, many universities in non-English language dominant settings recruit academic returnees in the hope that they will increase the quantity and quality of articles published in English-medium internationally indexed journals. This study explores Chinese early career returnee academics’ motivations for writing and publishing in English. Utilising ecological systems theory, the findings show that the microsystem is reflected in the early career returnee academics’ interaction with collaborators, while national policies constitute the exosystem. The academic culture has a noteworthy impact at the macrosystem level. This study contributes to the understanding of early career returnee academics’ motivations to write and publish in English which will assist policymakers and university administrators to create a more beneficial environment to promote the accomplishments of academic returnees.