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Abstract Background The burgeoning prevalence of food allergy-related diseases is closely associated with geographical allergen distribution and societal lifestyle paradigms. This study aims to shed light on the distribution patterns of specific IgE (sIgE) and total IgE (tIgE) reactivity to common food allergens in the Southern Chinese populace. Methods Employing an analytical technique spanning two decades, we conducted specific IgE and total IgE on serum samples harvested from patients with food allergy-related pathologies at First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from 2004 to 2023. This comprehensive examination of eight prototypical food allergens: egg white, milk, wheat, sesame, peanut, soybean, shrimp, and crab. Results Our analysis showed a 100% positivity rate for sIgE and an 86.54% positivity rate for tIgE. Milk had the highest positive response rate, followed by egg white and shrimp. Age-stratified data indicated that milk sensitization peaked in children aged 2 years or younger, while egg white sensitization peaked between 3 and 5 years of age. Sensitization rates for the remaining six allergens increased with age. Additionally, co-sensitization was observed between milk, egg white, crab, and shrimp with other allergens. Conclusion In common allergens of Southern China, egg white, milk, and shrimp ascend as the dominant subjects, underlining their imperative role in food allergy pathogenesis. This landscape-wide allergenic profiling, segregated across age clusters and enhanced by co-sensitization data, augments our power for early diagnosis and strategic intervention in food allergy diseases.

Abstract Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder with a global impact, yet its pathogenesis remains poorly understood. While age, metabolic abnormalities, and accumulation of neurotoxic substances are potential risk factors for AD, their effects are confounded by other factors. To address this challenge, we first utilized multi-omics data from 87 well phenotyped AD patients and generated plasma proteomics and metabolomics data, as well as gut and saliva metagenomics data to investigate the molecular-level alterations accounting the host-microbiome interactions. Second, we analyzed individual omics data and identified the key parameters involved in the severity of the dementia in AD patients. Next, we employed Artificial Intelligence (AI) based models to predict AD severity based on the significantly altered features identified in each omics analysis. Based on our integrative analysis, we found the clinical relevance of plasma proteins, including SKAP1 and NEFL, plasma metabolites including homovanillate and glutamate, and Paraprevotella clara in gut microbiome in predicting the AD severity. Finally, we validated the predictive power of our AI based models by generating additional multi-omics data from the same group of AD patients by following up for 3 months. Hence, we observed that these results may have important implications for the development of potential diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for AD patients.

This article explored the effects of the addition of SA on the in-vitro digestion characteristics of lipids and fat-soluble nutrients (vitamin E) in the whole nutrition food for special medical purposes for children aged 1 to 10 years old. The results showed that the addition of SA can promote the dispersibility of the food for special medical purposes in water. The droplet size decreased from 0.84±0.09 μm to 0.63±0.04 μm with the addition of SA, while there was no significance in ζ-potential (P>0.05). SA showed a positive effect on the release rate of fatty acids and the bioavailability of vitamin E. The release rate of fatty acids increased from 76.65% to 93.10%, and the bioaccessibility of vitamin E increased from 79.75% to 91.64%. In addition, the addition of SA had no significant effect on the oxidative stability during lipid digestion in special medical foods (P>0.05). This study provides an important reference basis for the subsequent application of SA in special medical and dietary food additives.

Abstract In the actual production process of oil fields, the real-time and accurate acquisition of dynamic recorder data from the pumping unit is of great significance for the diagnosis of well failures. The traditional method of obtaining the card of the dynamometer usually includes installing a load sensor on the auxiliary head of the pumping unit. However, due to the harsh environment of the oil field production site, these load sensors often suffer from damage, distortion, and aging, resulting in large measurement errors and low reliability. This paper proposes a mixed model of pumping based on motor electrical parameter data and CNN convolutional neural network, which has good consistency with actual data in terms of predictive performance. Thus, the highlights of this paper can be summed up in two points: (1) Based on the mathematical model of the AC motor, the speed of the motor and the torque output of the motor are accurately estimated. (2) The convolutional neural network is introduced to compensate for the errors caused by the defects of the pumping unit mechanism model.

Abstract Mucinous adenocarcinoma (MAC) is a distinct subtype of colorectal cancer. Previous studies have confirmed the poor prognosis of rectal or left-sided colon MAC, while the prognosis and response to chemotherapy in proximal colon MAC remains controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinicopathological characteristics, prognosis, response to chemotherapy, and risk prediction factors of proximal colon MAC. Patients with proximal colon MAC and non-mucinous adenocarcinoma (NMAC) were retrospectively analyzed in this study. The analyzed variables included gender, age, smoking, drinking, chemotherapy, metastasis, pathological stage, and tumor size. Overall survival (OS) was the primary outcome. Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to assess the impact of mucinous subtype and chemotherapy on OS. We conducted univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses to determine prognosis factors for proximal colon MAC and NMAC. A total of 284 cases of proximal colon MAC and 1384 cases of NMAC were included in the study. Compared to NMAC, proximal colon MAC was diagnosed at a younger age. The proportion of synchronous and metachronous metastasis was also higher, as well as the pathological stage and tumor size. Proximal colon MAC had a worse prognosis than NMAC, especially in stage 3. Moreover, the prognosis of proximal colon NMAC improved after chemotherapy, while MAC showed no improvement in prognosis after chemotherapy. Advanced age, N1 and N2 stage were independent prognostic factors for adverse outcomes in MAC. For proximal colon adenocarcinoma, the independent predictors of adverse outcomes included mucinous subtype, order age, N1 and N2 stages, and pathological stage 4. Proximal colon MAC had a worse prognosis compared to NMAC. Chemotherapy did not improve the prognosis of proximal colon mucinous adenocarcinoma.

Abstract Background Chronic stress induces cognitive deficits. There is a well-established connection between the enteric and central nervous systems through the microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis. However, the effects of the gut microbiota on cognitive deficits remain unclear. The present study aimed to elucidate the microbiota composition in cognitive deficits and explore its potential in predicting chronic stress-induced cognitive deficits. Methods Mice were randomly divided into control and chronic restraint stress (CRS) groups. The mice subjected to CRS were further divided into cognitive deficit (CRS-CD) and non-cognitive deficit (CRS-NCD) groups using hierarchical cluster analysis of novel object recognition test results. The composition and diversity of the gut microbiota were analyzed. Results After being subjected to chronic restraint distress, the CRS-CD mice travelled shorter movement distances (p = 0.034 vs. CRS-NCD; p

Abstract Alternative polyadenylation (APA) is a crucial mechanism for regulating gene expression during pre-mRNA 3′ processing. Pre-mRNA 3′ end processing factors is the main factor involved in this process. However, pre-mRNA 3′ end processing factors in different cancer expression profiles and the relationship between pre-mRNA 3′ end processing factors and tumor microenvironment and the prognosis of the same patient is still unclear. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive exploration of the core pre-mRNA 3′ end processing factors across various cancer types by utilizing common cancer database, and revealing a robust correlation between the expression of these core factors and tumor characteristics. Leveraging advanced bioinformatics databases, we evaluated the expression levels and prognostic relevance of pre-mRNA 3′ end processing factors across pan-cancer tissues. Our extensive pan-cancer analysis revealed unique expression patterns of pre-mRNA 3′ end processing factors in both tumor and adjacent non-tumorous tissues. Notably, we found a significant correlation between the expression levels of pre-mRNA 3′ end processing factors and patient prognosis. Furthermore, we identified strong associations between pre-mRNA 3′ end processing factors expression and various factors, such as stromal, immune, RNA stemness, and DNA stemness scores across pan-cancer tissues. Our data also highlighted a link between the expression of pre-mRNA 3′ end processing factors and sensitivity to specific drugs, including pyrazoloacndine, amonaflide, and chelerythrinede, among others. We found four key pre-mRNA 3′ end processing factors that play a crucial role in mRNA preprocessing. Our study illuminates the potential promotion and inhibition role of pre-mRNA 3′ end processing regulators in the progression of cancer, CPSF2, CPSF3, CSTF2, SYMPK offering valuable insights for future research investigations on these regulators as diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets across pan-cancer.

Background/Aims: The pathogenesis mechanism of acute gastric mucosal lesions (AGML) is still unclear; further exploration is urgently needed to find a new therapeutic target. This study aimed to investigate whether morphine might regulate the expression and function of transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) through a cyclic adenosine monophosphate/protein kinase A (cAMP/PKA)-dependent pathway, thereby alleviating gastric mucosal lesions caused by water-immersion restraint stress (WIRS). Materials and Methods: Rats were administered with intrathecal morphine, TRPA1 antagonist (HC-030031), µ-opioid receptor antagonist, or protein kinase A inhibitor (H-89), respectively, before WIRS. After 6 hours of WIRS, microscopic lesions, hematoxylin and eosin staining, and transmission electron microscopy were applied to assess the damage of the gastric mucosa. Real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were conducted to detect the levels of TRPA1 and substance P (SP) in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and gastric tissues. In addition, immunofluorescence was used to explore the possible co-expression of TRPA1 and µ-opioid receptors in the DRG. Results: The results indicated that WIRS upregulated TRPA1 and SP in gastric mucosa, and HC-030031 or H-89 could alleviate gastric mucosal lesions caused by WIRS (P < .0001). Morphine was found to suppress both WIRS-induced gastric mucosal lesions (P < .0001) and the upregulation of TRPA1 (P = .0086) and SP (P = .0013). Conclusion: Both TRPA1 and SP play important roles in the pathogenesis of WIRS-induced AGML. Exogenous gastroprotective strategies reduce elevated levels of TRPA1 via the cAMP/PKA-dependent pathway. Inhibition of TRPA1 upregulation in the DRG is critical for intrathecal morphine preconditioning-induced gastric protection.

The composite ZnO@CDs was prepared via the hydrothermal method. Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was used as the source of carbon dots (CDs). X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy analyses were used to characterize the structure and morphology of ZnO@CDs. The prepared ZnO showed a flake morphology with the exposed plane of (001). The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) characterization showed that CDs can be produced by decomposition of MCC and then attached on the surface of ZnO. The photocatalytic properties of ZnO@CDs were investigated under simulated sunlight irradiation. The hydrogen production reached 1240 µmol·g-1 in 30 min, which was much higher than the bare ZnO. The mechanism for the enhanced catalytic property of ZnO@CDs was studied. A high hydrogen production rate (2480 µmol·g-1·h-1) in the short term would enable ZnO@CDs to work as an emergency power supply by hydrogen production and use for restoring electricity and wireless communication in complicated situations.

ObjectiveAiming at the urgent need for research on vulnerability analysis methods for ship targets, a vulnerability analysis method for supply ship targets under anti-ship missile strikes is proposed.MethodsTaking a typical supply ship target as the research object, anti-ship missiles are selected as the strike weapon, and the structure-activity relationship of the target is analyzed. The dynamic response of a supply ship under the action of anti-ship missile internal explosion load is obtained through numerical simulation. The damage and damage criteria of key components under the action of anti-ship missile internal explosion load are studied, and the function damage degree of the supply ship is obtained. The target vulnerability of the supply ship is analyzed, and the attack method that causes the maximum damage to its navigation function is determined.ResultsA vulnerability analysis method flow is formed which includes an analysis of target structure-activity relationships, damage modes of key components, damage criteria and degree of target functional damage. Based on the vulnerability distribution information, the target should be targeted at the location where non-redundant components are concentrated, achieving the goal of causing maximum range damage. ConclusionThe findings of this study can provide technical support for future research on ship target vulnerability.

The quantity and complexity of environmental data show exponential growth in recent years. High-quality big data analysis is critical for performing a sophisticated characterization of the complex network of environmental pollution. Machine learning (ML) has been employed as a powerful tool for decoupling the complexities of environmental big data based on its remarkable fitting ability. Yet, due to the knowledge gap across different subjects, ML concepts and algorithms have not been well-popularized among researchers in environmental sustainability. In this context, we introduce a new research paradigm—“ChatGPT + ML + Environment”, providing an unprecedented chance for environmental researchers to reduce the difficulty of using ML models. For instance, each step involved in applying ML models to environmental sustainability, including data preparation, model selection and construction, model training and evaluation, and hyper-parameter optimization, can be easily performed with guidance from ChatGPT. We also discuss the challenges and limitations of using this research paradigm in the field of environmental sustainability. Furthermore, we highlight the importance of “secondary training” for future application of “ChatGPT + ML + Environment”.

Abstract Background The incidence of mental health problems among medical graduate students is much higher than among students of other disciplines. This can have adverse consequences for the medical students themselves as well as their future patients. This study aims to understand the pressures faced by Chinese medical students and the current status of mental health education. It also propose recommendations for the current situation and prospects for the future. Method The authors conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with 22 master’s students from five medical schools during November 2023. All interview sessions were recorded and transcribed verbatim. The transcriptions were analyzed using the Colaizzi’s seven-step method. Result Three main themes were extracted from the students’ statements: sources of psychological stress, ways to cope with stress, and perspectives on mental health education. The study showed that current mental health education in China is mostly in the form of printed mental health education manuals and mental health lectures, and there is no active tiered intervention for students at different levels. It is suggested that reforms should be made to shift to a model where the school proactively identifies problems and intervenes based on feedback. Conclusion This study reveals the widespread psychological stress and shortcomings in current education methods. To address these challenges, institutions should develop tailored interventions, including tiered support systems, open dialogue promotion, and resilience training. Future research should focus on evaluating innovative interventions’ effectiveness, ultimately fostering a supportive environment that enhances students’ success and contributes to a healthier healthcare workforce.

Soil, as the largest organic carbon reservoir in terrestrial ecosystems, plays a crucial role in the global carbon cycle. Accurately predicting the spatial distribution of soil organic carbon density (SOCD) is highly important for estimating organic carbon stocks and guiding agricultural production. Due to the complex relationship between the spatial distribution of SOCD and environmental factors, its relationship with a specific region is not exclusively linear or nonlinear; both types of relationships may coexist simultaneously. In this study, a new model, geographically weighted regression with smooth terms (SGWR), was proposed. This model can simultaneously consider both global spatial nonlinear relationships and local spatial nonstationary relationships. It was utilized to predict SOCD in Shanxi Province and was compared to multiple linear regression (MLR), generalized additive models (GAM) and geographically weighted regression (GWR) in terms of spatial prediction performance. The results showed that SGWR was highly competitive in predicting the spatial distribution of SOCD in Shanxi Province. Of factors influencing SOCD in Shanxi Province, elevation and slope were considered local linear variables, while the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), gross primary productivity (GPP), annual precipitation (AP), and soil moisture (SM) were considered global nonlinear variables. Among these factors, the NDVI and GPP had the most significant impacts on the distribution of SOCD, while elevation and SM had the least significant impacts on it. The results imply that integrating global linear, local linear, and global nonlinear relationships concurrently, as implemented in SGWR, improves predictive accuracy compared to approaches that solely address either local or global linear relationships based on environmental variable changes in SGWR. The results of this study indicate that the SGWR model is potentially a competitive method for digital soil mapping.

Summary: This study investigates the effect of twinning on the corrosion behavior of AZ31B magnesium alloy using solid solution heat treatment (SHT) and laser shock peening (LSP) techniques. The corrosion characteristics are assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy (SKPFM), zero resistance ammeter (ZRA), scanning vibrating electrode technique (SVET), and electrochemical tests. Results indicate that the twinning region in AZ31B magnesium alloy, enriched with {101¯2} tensile twins induced by laser shock, demonstrates increased corrosion susceptibility. This region exhibits higher electrochemical activity and an accelerated corrosion rate compared to the matrix region. Micro-galvanic coupling between the twinned and matrix regions promotes faster dissolution of the alloy. Additionally, the corrosion product film on the surface is extensively cracked and propagates to the matrix corrosion surface, confirming that {101¯2} tensile twins provide inadequate protection against corrosion in AZ31B alloy.

Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of human cancer, and cancer-specific metabolism provides opportunities for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. However, the underlying mechanisms by which metabolic pathways affect the initiation and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC) remain largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that cysteine is highly enriched in colorectal tumors compared to adjacent non-tumor tissues, thereby promoting tumorigenesis of CRC. Synchronously importing both cysteine and cystine in colorectal cancer cells is necessary to maintain intracellular cysteine levels. Hypoxia-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ER stress regulate the co-upregulation of genes encoding cystine transporters (SLC7A11, SLC3A2) and genes encoding cysteine transporters (SLC1A4, SLC1A5) through the transcription factor ATF4. Furthermore, the metabolic flux from cysteine to reduced glutathione (GSH), which is critical to support CRC growth, is increased due to overexpression of glutathione synthetase GSS in CRC. Depletion of cystine/cysteine by recombinant cyst(e)inase effectively inhibits the growth of colorectal tumors by inducing autophagy in colorectal cancer cells through mTOR-ULK signaling axis. This study demonstrates the underlying mechanisms of cysteine metabolism in tumorigenesis of CRC, and evaluates the potential of cysteine metabolism as a biomarker or a therapeutic target for CRC.

PV hosting capacity of a practical three-phase unbalanced distribution network is expected to increase, thus increasing safe PV penetration and speeding up the decarbonization of power systems. However, power unbalances and bus voltage violations are two major obstacles limiting further increases in the PV hosting capacity. With the popularization of electric vehicles (EVs), EV charging stations (EVCSs) as controllable loads can effectively provide grid ancillary services, which helps enhance the PV hosting capacity. In this regard, this paper proposes a hierarchical control method for EVCSs in an unbalanced network, consisting of central day-ahead scheduling and local real-time dynamic control. It is novel that the local control capability of EVCSs is reserved in the central scheduling. A three-phase day-ahead EV charging scheduling optimization model is developed to reduce the power unbalance and the bus voltage violation, and in turn, improve the PV hosting capacity. Moreover, active power transfer and voltage droop control are developed as two ancillary service functions for local real-time control responding to dynamic network operating conditions. Numerical simulations verify the effectiveness of the proposed method in enhancing PV hosting capacity and providing grid ancillary services.

Abstract There have been few case studies of the relationship between the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and the East Asian climate before the pre-industrial era with limited anthropogenic impacts. Using the CESM Last Millennium Ensemble (CESM-LME) simulation with reconstruction evidence, we showed that there was an interdecadal transition of the summer precipitation in East China, with the pattern of “southern flooding and northern drought” in the mid-18th century. The interdecadal transition was influenced by PDO, as suggested by both the reconstruction evidence and simulation. Corresponding to the positive PDO phase change, the East Asia-Pacific pattern teleconnection wave train propagated northward and modulated the circulation and precipitation in East China, together with the southward movement of the East Asian westerly jet. The volcanic double or clustered eruptions are thought to have played a crucial role on the shift of the PDO phase and the decadal summer climate change over East China during the mid-18th century. Incorporating volcanic activity in a reasonable manner would likely improve decadal simulations of East Asian climate in the past and predictions in the future.

Abstract Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the cervical sagittal profile after the spontaneous compensation of global sagittal imbalance and analyze the associations between the changes in cervical sagittal alignment and spinopelvic parameters. Methods In this retrospective radiographic study, we analyzed 90 patients with degenerative lumbar stenosis (DLS) and sagittal imbalance who underwent short lumbar fusion (imbalance group). We used 60 patients with DLS and sagittal balance as the control group (balance group). Patients in the imbalance group were also divided into two groups according to the preoperative PI: low PI group (≤ 50°), high PI group (PI > 50°). We measured the spinal sagittal alignment parameters on the long-cassette standing lateral radiographs of the whole spine. We compared the changes of spinal sagittal parameters between pre-operation and post-operation. We observed the relationships between the changes in cervical profile and spinopelvic parameters. Results Sagittal vertical axis (SVA) occurred spontaneous compensation (p = 0.000) and significant changes were observed in cervical lordosis (CL) (p = 0.000) and cervical sagittal vertical axis (cSVA) (p = 0.023) after surgery in the imbalance group. However, there were no significant differences in the radiographic parameters from pre-operation to post-operation in the balance group. The variations in CL were correlated with the variations in SVA (R = 0.307, p = 0.041). The variations in cSVA were correlated with the variations in SVA (R=-0.470, p = 0.001). Conclusion Cervical sagittal profile would have compensatory changes after short lumbar fusion. The spontaneous decrease in CL would occur in patients with DLS after the spontaneous compensation of global sagittal imbalance following one- or two-level lumbar fusion. The changes of cervical sagittal profile were related to the extent of the spontaneous compensation of SVA.

Abstract Objective The relationships between preoperative cervical spine range of motion (ROM) and postoperative cervical sagittal alignment (CSA), and clinical outcomes after laminoplasty (LMP) have been widely studied. However, the impact of ROM changes on postoperative CSA and clinical outcomes after LMP remains unclear. Herein, patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) were retrospectively analyzed to explore the association between postoperative cervical ROM changes and CSA and surgical outcomes. Methods Patients who underwent cervical LMP at our hospital between January 2019 to June 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. CSA parameters were measured before the surgery and at the final follow-up. Loss of cervical lordosis (LCL) was defined as preoperative cervical lordosis (CL) - postoperative CL. An increase in the cervical sagittal vertical axis (I-cSVA) was defined as postoperative cervical sagittal vertical axis (cSVA) - preoperative cSVA. We defined the changes in cervical flexion range of motion (△Flex ROM, preoperative Flex ROM minus postoperative Flex ROM) > 10° as L- Flex ROM group, and △Flex ROM ≤ 10° as S- Flex ROM group. Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score and visual analog score (VAS) were used to assess the surgical outcomes. Results The study comprised 74 patients and the average follow-up period was 31.83 months. CL, total ROM, and Flex ROM decreased and cSVA increased after cervical LMP. LCL and I-cSVA were positively correlated with △Flex. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that a decrease in the Flex ROM was a risk factor for LCL and I-cSVA after LMP. LCL and I-cSVA were higher in the L-Flex ROM group than in the S-Flex ROM group. Postoperative JOA and the JOA recovery rate were worse in the L-Flex ROM group than in the S-Flex ROM group. Conclusions Cervical total and Flex ROM decreased after cervical LMP. The reduction of Flex ROM was associated with LCL and I-cSVA after surgery. The preservation of cervical Flex ROM helps maintain CSA after LMP. Therefore, more attention should be paid to maintaining cervical ROM to obtain good CSA and surgical effects after cervical LMP.

316L stainless steel (SS) is widely applied as microimplant anchorage (MIA) due to its excellent mechanical properties. However, the risk that the oral microorganisms can corrode 316L SS is fully neglected. Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) of 316L SS is essential to the health and safety of all patients because the accelerated corrosion caused by the oral microbiota can trigger the release of Cr and Ni ions. This study investigated the corrosion behavior and mechanism of subgingival microbiota on 316L SS by 16S rRNA and metagenome sequencing, electrochemical measurements, and surface characterization techniques. Multispecies biofilms were formed by the oral subgingival microbiota in the simulated oral anaerobic environment on 316L SS surfaces, significantly accelerating the corrosion in the form of pitting. The microbiota samples collected from the subjects differed in biofilm compositions, corrosion behaviors, and mechanisms. The oral subgingival microbiota contributed to the accelerated corrosion of 316L SS via acidic metabolites and extracellular electron transfer. Our findings provide a new insight into the underlying mechanisms of oral microbial corrosion and guide the design of oral microbial corrosion-resistant materials.

Abstract The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei integration plan rose to the status of a national-level strategy in 2014. This paper provides a deep analysis of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area’s inter-city commuter big data. This research analyzed the overview of spatial structure, polycentric structure, hierarchical structure and clustering characteristics of the BTH based on network analysis methods. It reveals that the inter-city commuter network exhibits clear polycentric characteristics, with Beijing acting as the central hub. The degree of network correlation between cities in Tianjin and Hebei is notably low, indicating that the flow of people primarily revolves around Beijing, while interactions between other cities remain limited. Therefore, it is necessary to further decentralize Beijing's non-capital core functions. The level of connectedness among the areas surrounding the Bohai Rim is not very high, and it has not developed the coastal advantage. The cooperation could be strengthed among the cities within Bohai Rim. The polycentric structure has initially taken shape, but it exhibits obvious polarization characteristics. It is necessary to strengthen the interaction of talents between cities to form secondary central units in BTH.

Abstract As a major component of the digestive system malignancies, tumors originating from the hepatic and biliary ducts seriously endanger public health. The kinesins (KIFs) are molecular motors that enable the microtubule-dependent intracellular trafficking necessary for mitosis and meiosis. Normally, the stability of KIFs is essential to maintain cell proliferation and genetic homeostasis. However, aberrant KIFs activity may destroy this dynamic stability, leading to uncontrolled cell division and tumor initiation. In this work, we have made an integral summarization of the specific roles of KIFs in hepatocellular and biliary duct carcinogenesis, referring to aberrant signal transduction and the potential for prognostic evaluation. Additionally, current clinical applications of KIFs-targeted inhibitors have also been discussed, including their efficacy advantages, relationship with drug sensitivity or resistance, the feasibility of combination chemotherapy or other targeted agents, as well as the corresponding clinical trials. In conclusion, the abnormally activated KIFs participate in the regulation of tumor progression via a diverse range of mechanisms and are closely associated with tumor prognosis. Meanwhile, KIFs-aimed inhibitors also carry out a promising tumor-targeted therapeutic strategy that deserves to be further investigated in hepatobiliary carcinoma (HBC).

Magnesium alloys are highly promising in biodegradable materials for medical applications. However, their applications are limited by weaknesses in mechanical strength and corrosion resistance. In recent years, advancements in a novel laser method, Laser Shock Peening (LSP), have been explored. Researchers suggest that LSP can induce surface compressive stresses and induce changes in residual stress and grain size gradients, thereby enhancing the material's fatigue resistance, corrosion resistance, and resistance to stress corrosion cracking. However, there is ongoing debate about whether LSP treatment can, in effect, create a gradient microstructure. In this study, we focused on the AZ31B alloy, notable for its dense hexagonal close-packed (HCP) crystal structure. This material is particularly interesting because, due to its low stacking fault energy, it is more prone to twinning deformation than to dislocation slip when it undergoes plastic deformation. To analyze the changes wrought by LSP, we employed optical microscopy (OM), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) for examining the microstructures both before and after LSP treatment. Our findings revealed that LSP treatment refined the grain size, leading to a gradient distribution. In addition, we observed a direct correlation between the volume fraction of twinning and grain size. In contrast, the geometrically necessary dislocation (GND) density exhibited an inverse relationship. By measuring hardness and residual stress in the region affected by LSP, we determined that LSP could introduce a layer of plastic deformation up to a depth of 800–1000 μm. We also established a link between the gradient microstructure and hardness and provided a thorough discussion on the types of twinning and the mechanisms behind the induction of gradient microstructure on the surface.

α-Dicarbonyl compounds (α-DCs), formed during food heating and storage, are crucial for assessing food safety and quality. However, the low concentration, high reactivity, and absence of chromophores of α-DCs make their detection challenging, often requiring complex derivatization and extraction. This study developed a one-pot method for α-DCs that combines derivatization and magnetic solid-phase extraction. By mixing the sample, 2,3-diaminonaphthalene, and Fe3O4/MWCNTs-OH in a vial, simultaneous derivatization and extraction are achieved. Derivatization converts α-DCs into hydrophobic products, facilitating their adsorption and enabling sensitive liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection. The introduction of the magnetic adsorbent allows phase separation to be easily achieved using an external magnet, simplifying and speeding up the process. The detection limits for six α-DCs (glyoxal, methylglyoxal, diacetyl, 2,3-pentanedione, D-glucosone, and 3-deoxyglucosone) were determined to be in the range of 0.4–3.5 nM. This rapid and convenient analytical approach was successfully applied to analyze α-DCs in juices, coffees, and tea beverages.

Furfural compounds, including 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, furfural, and 5-methylfurfural, are common in foods and pose health risks. This study presents a pipette-tip solid-phase extraction with in-situ derivatization (PT-KF-SPE/ISD) method for rapid analysis of furfural compounds in various food matrices. Utilizing natural kapok fiber as an efficient adsorbent, this method integrates extraction and derivatization into a single step via a simple pull-push operation. Derivatization with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine increases the hydrophobicity and ultraviolet absorption of furfural compounds, enabling sensitive liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection. The method shows good linearity, sensitivity, and reproducibility, with limits of detection in ranges of 3.9–6.0 ng/mL. Real sample analysis confirms its applicability in detecting furfural compounds in beverages and herbal products, offering a reliable and eco-friendly solution for food safety and quality control. Five greenness assessment metrics demonstrate the method's excellent environmental friendliness. This approach highlights the advantages of combining natural adsorbents with in-situ derivatization for efficient food analysis.

BackgroundPrevious studies indicated that exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) could increase the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, the specific impact of PM2.5 chemical components remains uncertain.MethodsA national cross-sectional study of 12,846 Chinese middle-aged and older adults was conducted. Satellite-based spatiotemporal models were employed to determine the 3-year average PM2.5 components exposure, including sulfates (SO42−), nitrates (NO3−), ammonia (NH4+), black carbon (BC), and organic matter (OM). Generalized linear models were used to investigate the associations of PM2.5 components with MetS and the components of MetS, and restricted cubic splines curves were used to establish the exposure-response relationships between PM2.5 components with MetS, as well as the components of MetS.ResultsMetS risk increased by 35.1, 33.5, 33.6, 31.2, 32.4, and 31.4% for every inter-quartile range rise in PM2.5, SO42−, NO3−, NH4+, OM and BC, respectively. For MetS components, PM2.5 chemical components were associated with evaluated risks of central obesity, high blood pressure (high-BP), high fasting glucose (high-FBG), and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (low-HDL).ConclusionThis study indicated that exposure to PM2.5 components is related to increased risk of MetS and its components, including central obesity, high-BP, high-FBG, and low-HDL. Moreover, we found that the adverse effect of PM2.5 chemical components on MetS was more sensitive to people who were single, divorced, or widowed than married people.

The combination of straw return and nitrogen (N) fertilization is an effective strategy for increasing farmland productivity and improving soil structure while mitigating climate change. However, although straw return practices are widely recommended in agroecosystems targeting sustainable agriculture, few studies have explored changes in grain yield, resource use efficiency, water productivity, and potential interactions between these variables. A field experiment was conducted during 2022–2023 in Northeast China to study the effects of straw return modes and N fertilizer input on maize grain yield and the efficient use of radiation, water, and N. We investigated two straw return tillage methods (rotary tillage with straw returning, RTS; plow tillage with straw returning, PTS) and five N fertilizer levels (0, 112, 187, 262, and 337 kg N ha−1) based on a field location experiment that started in 2015. Compared with RTS treatment, the PTS treatment resulted in a higher photosynthetic capacity by regulating the leaf area index and photosynthetic metabolism, resulting in increased dry matter accumulation and transportation. Such physiological improvements are conducive to increasing the nutrient use efficiency, water productivity, and grain yield. Specifically, PTS combined with the N3 treatment was an efficient tillage mode that increased radiation use efficiency of grain by 123.48 % and 207.41 % and by 153.44 % and 167.37 % in 2022 and 2023, respectively, compared with the PTS and N0 treatment. Together with partial least squares path modeling, regression analysis, and random forest, the variations in the above parameters led to high productivity in terms of N uptake, water productivity, leaf area index, radiation use efficiency, N use efficiency, and dry matter accumulation. Our results highlight the key roles of straw return methods in affecting grain yield, and further suggest that PTS combined with optimized N fertilizer input can enhance resource utilization, leading to a productive, efficient, and sustainable maize population.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widely used plasticizer known to cause various disorders. Despite a global reduction in the use of BPA-containing products, prenatal exposure to low-dose BPA, even those below established safety limits, has been linked to neurological and behavioral deficits in childhood. The precise mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear. In the present study, we observed a significant increase in the number of cortical neurons in offspring born to dams exposed to low-dose BPA during pregnancy. We also found that this prenatal exposure to low-dose BPA led to increased proliferation but reduced migration of cortical neurons. Transcriptomic analysis via RNA sequencing revealed an aberrant activation of the cAMP-PKA-CREB pathway in offspring exposed to BPA. The use of H89, a selective PKA inhibitor, effectively rescued the deficits in both proliferation and migration of cortical neurons. Furthermore, offspring from dams exposed to low-dose BPA exhibited manic-like behaviors, including hyperactivity, anti-depressant-like responses, and reduced anxiety. While H89 normalized hyperactivity, it didn't affect the other behavioral changes. These results suggest that the overactivation of PKA plays a causative role in BPA-induced changes in neuronal development. Our data also indicate that manic-like behaviors induced by prenatal low-dose BPA exposure may be influenced by both altered neuronal development and abnormal PKA signaling in adulthood.

IntroductionThis study aims to examine brain activity during different swallowing actions in patients with dysphagia caused by medullary infarction (MI) before and after treatment using blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging.MethodsFifteen patients were enrolled in this study. Brain activation during saliva swallowing and effortful saliva swallowing was observed using BOLD imaging in the acute phase of stroke and after 4 weeks of rehabilitation training. Differences in the activation of brain regions during saliva swallowing before and after treatment, during effortful saliva swallowing before and after treatment, and between the two swallowing actions before and after treatment were compared.ResultsIn the acute phase of stroke, only the bilateral precentral and left lingual gyrus were partially activated during saliva swallowing, and there was no obvious activation in the insula. Effortful saliva swallowing activated more brain regions than saliva swallowing before treatment, including the bilateral supplementary motor area (SMA), postcentral gyrus, and right insular cortex. The number of brain regions activated during saliva swallowing increased after treatment, including the bilateral precentral gyrus, postcentral gyrus, insula, thalamus, and SMA.DiscussionCortical activation increases after recovery from dysphagia, and the increased activation of the postcentral gyrus might play a functional compensatory role. Effortful saliva swallowing is a more effective rehabilitation training method for patients with dysphagia caused by MI.

Benzophenone (BP)-type UV filters are commonly added to sunscreens and cosmetics to protect against UV radiation for human skin and hair. As a result, BPs are ubiquitous in the environment and human body, and their endocrine-disrupting characteristics have been a hot topic of discussion. However, our knowledge regarding the detrimental effects of prenatal exposure to BPs on pregnant women and their offspring remains limited. To fill this gap, we determined five BP derivatives in 600 serum samples obtained from pregnant women. All the target analytes, except 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone (BP-1), have achieved a 100 % detection rate. The most prevalent compound was 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone (BP-3), with a median concentration of 0.545 ng/mL. Significant and positive correlations were observed among BP derivatives, indicating both endogenous metabolism and common external sources. Utilizing Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) and quantile-based g-computation (QGC) models, we found relationships between BP exposure and reduced neonatal birth weight (BW) and birth chest circumference (BC) during the third trimester. Notably, the adverse effect of BPs on birth size was sex-specific. Moreover, triglyceride (TG) was identified as a potential mediator of the effect of BPs on blood pressure, and co-exposure to BPs was linked to disruptions in thyroid hormone levels and glucose regulation. Further research is warranted to unravel the toxicity of BPs and their detrimental effects on pregnant women and fetuses.

Sarcopenia is a major public health concern among older adults, leading to disabilities, falls, fractures, and mortality. This study aimed to elucidate the pathophysiological mechanisms of sarcopenia and identify potential therapeutic targets using systems biology approaches. RNA-seq data from muscle biopsies of 24 sarcopenic and 29 healthy individuals from a previous cohort were analysed. Differential expression, gene set enrichment, gene co-expression network, and topology analyses were conducted to identify target genes implicated in sarcopenia pathogenesis, resulting in the selection of 6 hub genes (PDHX, AGL, SEMA6C, CASQ1, MYORG, and CCDC69). A drug repurposing approach was then employed to identify new pharmacological treatment options for sarcopenia (clofibric-acid, troglitazone, withaferin-a, palbociclib, MG-132, bortezomib). Finally, validation experiments in muscle cell line (C2C12) revealed MG-132 and troglitazone as promising candidates for sarcopenia treatment. Our approach, based on systems biology and drug repositioning, provides insight into the molecular mechanisms of sarcopenia and offers potential new treatment options using existing drugs.

Abstract Objective To retrospectively investigate the postoperative clinical and radiographic outcomes in elderly patients with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (DLSS) and severe global sagittal imbalance who underwent different fusion levels. Methods A total of 214 patients with DLSS and severe global sagittal imbalance were included. Sagittal imbalance syndrome was defined as the severe decompensated radiographic global sagittal imbalance accompanied with the following symptoms: severe back pain in naturel posture that disappears or significantly relieves in support position, living disability with ODI score > 40% and dynamic sagittal imbalance. Thereinto, 54 patients were found with sagittal imbalance syndrome and were performed the lumbar decompression with a long thoracolumbar fusion (Group A) or a short lumbar fusion (Group B). Thirty patients without sagittal imbalance syndrome who underwent short lumbar decompression and fusion were selected as the control (Group C). Results Patients with sagittal imbalance syndrome were detected to have more paraspinal muscle degeneration and less compensatory potentials for sagittal imbalance (smaller thoracic kyphosis and larger pelvic tilt) than those without this diagnosis. Postoperative comparisons revealed significant restoration of global sagittal alignment and balance and improvement of living quality in Groups A and C at the final follow-up. Six patients in Group B and one in Group A were found to have proximal junctional complication during follow-up. Conclusion Our results indicated that DLSS patients with sagittal imbalance syndrome had inferior surgical outcomes in terms of living quality and proximal junctional complication after lumbar decompression with a short fusion.

The advancement in autonomous vehicle technology’s independence and ethical considerations have led to the development of the field of machine ethics. The issue of ensuring the safety of autonomous vehicles for usage in real-world traffic is currently a topic of extensive discussion among society, industry, and the scientific community. Enabling autonomous vehicles to make ethical behavioral decisions is constantly emphasized. This work provides an ethical behavioral decision algorithm awaring of VRUs for autonomous vehicle trajectory planning to allocate risk during autonomous vehicle driving in a sensible manner. The principles include maximum acceptable risk, vulnerability risk adjustment, risk minimization, distance, and maximin. The methods led to a 90.6% decrease in average risk and a 95.18% decrease in cumulative harm in typical scenarios, with notable reductions in the highest roadway risk values. The simulation demonstrates that modifying the weight parameters can significantly impact the autonomous vehicle’s driving characteristics. This work considers this ethical behavioral decision algorithm crucial for the widespread acceptance of autonomous vehicles.

Abstract Chiglitazar is a novel peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) pan-agonist, which passed phase III clinical trials and was newly approved in China for use as an adjunct to diet and exercise in glycemic control in adult patients with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). To explore the circulating protein signatures associated with the administration of chiglitazar in T2D patients, we conducted a comparative longitudinal study using plasma proteome profiling. Of the 157 T2D patients included in the study, we administered chiglitazar to a specific group, while the controls were given either placebo or sitagliptin. The plasma proteomes were profiled at baseline and 12 and 24 weeks post-treatment using data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry (DIA-MS). Our study indicated that 13 proteins were associated with chiglitazar treatment in T2D patients, including 10 up-regulated proteins (SHBG, TF, APOA2, APOD, GSN, MBL2, CFD, PGLYRP2, A2M, and APOA1) and 3 down-regulated proteins (PRG4, FETUB, and C2) after treatment, which were implicated in the regulation of insulin sensitivity, lipid metabolism, and inflammation response. Our study provides insight into the response of chiglitazar treatment from a proteome perspective and demonstrates the multi-faceted effects of chiglitazar in T2D patients, which will help the clinical application of chiglitazar and further study of its action mechanism.

Communicating in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) has recently emerged as a promising technology to provide global seamless connectivity. Although low earth orbit (LEO) satellites in an NTN have been employed for providing ubiquitous coverage and high data rates for ground users, especially in emergent outdoor scenarios, NTN has not been integrated into the design of multi-connectivity for users in a terrestrial network (TN). Inspired by the 3rd Generation Partnership Program (3GPP) suggestion, this paper investigates TN-NTN-combined multi-connectivity downlink multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system, where each user may simultaneously connect to a base station (BS) in a TN and an LEO satellite in an NTN. Specifically, each user may have four different downlink access modes: served by both an LEO satellite and a BS, served by a BS, served by an LEO satellite, and not scheduled. Zero-forcing beamforming is employed at each LEO satellite to reduce the mutual interference among the satellite’s served users, and maximum ratio transmission beamforming is used at each terrestrial BS to enhance the downlink signal strength. By deriving the probability of each access mode and modeling the interference in such a TN-NTN-combined multi-connectivity MIMO system, we obtain a typical user’s downlink coverage probability and average achievable data rate. Extensive Monte Carlo simulations are conducted to validate our analytical derivations. Simulation results demonstrate that the user’s coverage probability and average achievable data rate can be significantly improved by realizing multi-connectivity with both TN and NTN compared to pure TN or NTN.

During non-landing measurements of a theodolite, the accuracy of the goniometric readings can be compromised by wobble errors induced by various factors such as wind loads, theodolite driving torque, and the stiffness of the supporting structure. To achieve high-precision non-landing measurements, it is essential to accurately determine and correct the platform wobble errors affecting the azimuth and pitch pointing angles. In this paper, a non-contact optical measurement method is proposed for quantifying platform wobble errors. The method establishes an auto-alignment optical path between an autocollimator and a reflector in the measuring device. By detecting the deviation angle of the CCD image point as the optical path changes, precise measurements of the platform wobble errors can be obtained. Experimental results demonstrate that the measuring device can achieve an auto-alignment optical path within 5 minutes, significantly improving measurement efficiency. Furthermore, after measuring the platform wobble error and applying data correction, the average error in the azimuth pointing angle is reduced from 31.5″ to 9.8″, and the average error in the pitch pointing angle is reduced from 21″ to 9.2″. These results highlight the substantial correction effect achieved by the proposed method.

In order to promote the technological development of ultrasonic vibration induced cracking of coal and rock masses, improving the efficiency of coalbed methane production and hard rock excavation in mines, it reviews the development history of ultrasonic technology, summarizing the application status and research progress of ultrasonic vibration in fracturing coal and rock mass, and the key obstructive technology problems and development trends of ultrasonic vibration in the field of coal and rock fracturing are clarified. ① The technical problems of traditional technologies in the fields of coal seam methane production and hard rock excavation in mines is summarized, introducing unique advantages and application fields of ultrasonic technology, besides the development stages and corresponding performances of ultrasonic generator and ultrasonic transducer are described; ② The equipment and process of ultrasonic vibration to promote coalbed methane desorption and permeability increase are induced, analyzing the current situation of promoting permeability increase of coalbed methane by ultrasonic vibration, and the mechanism of pressure reduction, acceleration, potential energy and kinetic energy increase of coalbed methane under ultrasonic cavitation effect, mechanical vibration effect and thermal effect to promote its desorption and permeability increase is expounded; ③ The equipment and process of ultrasonic vibration rock fragmentation are generalized, describing the progress of ultrasonic vibration crushing of hard rock, and it reveals the internal mechanism of hard rock breaking caused by mechanical vibration effect and thermal effect of ultrasonic vibration, such as fatigue damage, subcritical propagation of microcracks, uneven thermal expansion or mineral phase transformation of mineral particles, and deterioration of rock physical and mechanical properties; ④ In view of limitations of ultrasonic generator, transducer and ultrasonic vibration in coal and rock mass fracturing in mines, four suggestions are put forward for the research focus on the efficient application of ultrasonic vibration induced fracturing of coal and rock masses in the field in the future: research and development of high-performance explosion-proof ultrasonic generator and transducer, in-depth analysis of the mechanism of increasing permeability by ultrasonic vibration and design of pipeline technology framework, development and test of multi-function and multi-field coupling indoor ultrasonic vibration cracking coal and rock mass equipment, research and application of anti-interference ultrasonic vibration equipment in underground mines.

The resection of malignant osteosarcoma often results in large segmental bone defects, and the residual cells can facilitate recurrence. Consequently, the treatment of osteosarcoma is a major challenge in clinical practice. The ideal goal of treatment for osteosarcoma is to eliminate it thoroughly, and repair the resultant bone defects as well as avoid bacterial infections. Herein, we fabricated a selenium/strontium/zinc-doped hydroxyapatite (Se/Sr/Zn-HA) powder by hydrothermal method, and then employed it with polycaprolactone (PCL) as ink to construct composite scaffolds through 3D printing, and finally introduced them in bone defect repair induced by malignant osteosarcoma. The resultant composite scaffolds integrated multiple functions involving anti-tumor, osteogenic, and antibacterial potentials, mainly attributed to the anti-tumor effects of SeO32−, osteogenic effects of Sr2+ and Zn2+, and antibacterial effects of SeO32− and Zn2+. In vitro studies confirmed that Se/Sr/Zn-HA leaching solution could induce apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells, differentiation of MSCs, and proliferation of MC3T3-E1 while showing excellent antibacterial properties. In vivo tests demonstrated that Se/Sr/Zn-HA could significantly suppress tumors after 8 days of injection, and the Se/Sr/Zn-HA-PCLs scaffold repaired femoral defects effectively after 3 months of implantation. Summarily, the Se/Sr/Zn-HA-PCLs composite scaffolds developed in this study were effective for tumor treatment, bone defect repair, and post-operative anti-infection, which provided a great potential to be a facile therapeutic material for osteosarcoma resection.

Abstract Background Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a common cancer with a poor prognosis. Pyroptosis is an important process in the development and progression of LUAD. We analyzed the risk factors affecting the prognosis of patients and constructed a nomogram to predict the overall survival of patients based on different pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs) subtypes. Methods The genomic data of LUAD were downloaded from the TCGA and GEO databases, and all data were filtered and divided into TCGA and GEO cohorts. The process of data analysis and visualization was performed via R software. The data were classified based on different PRGs subtypes using the K-means clustering method. Then, the differentially expressed genes were identified between two different subtypes, and risk factors analysis, survival analysis, functional enrichment analysis, and immune cells infiltration landscape analysis were conducted. The COX regression analysis was used to construct the prediction model. Results Based on the PRGs of LUAD, the patients were divided into two subtypes. We found the survival probability of patients in subtype 1 is higher than that in subtype 2. The results of the logistics analysis showed that gene risk score was closely associated with the prognosis of LUAD patients. The results of GO analysis and KEGG analysis revealed important biological processes and signaling pathways involved in the differentially expressed proteins between the two subtypes. Then we constructed a prediction model of patients’ prognosis based on 13 genes, including IL-1A, P2RX1, GSTM2, ESYT3, ZNF682, KCNF1, STK32A, HHIPL2, GDF10, NDC80, GSTA1, BCL2L10, and CCR2. This model was strongly related to the overall survival (OS) and also reflects the immune status in patients with LUAD. Conclusion In our study, we examined LUAD heterogeneity with reference to pyroptosis and found different prognoses between the two subtypes. And a novel prediction model was constructed to predict the OS of LUAD patients based on different PRGs signatures. The model has shown excellent predictive efficiency through validation.

Highlights In situ Raman spectroscopy study of the cation regulation for interfacial water on Au@Pd core–shell nanoparticle surface during hydrogen evolution reaction process. Direct spectral evidence reveals new strategies to optimize the structure of interfacial water by the adjusting of radius and valence of the cation in the electrolyte. The optimized structure of interfacial water will improve the charge transfer efficiency between the water and electrode increasing the performance of the hydrogen evolution reaction.

A critical function of flow cytometry is to count the concentration of blood cells, which helps in the diagnosis of certain diseases. However, the bulky nature of commercial flow cytometers makes such tests only available in hospitals or laboratories, hindering the spread of point-of-care testing (POCT), especially in underdeveloped areas. Here, we propose a smart Palm-size Optofluidic Hematology Analyzer based on a miniature fluorescence microscope and a microfluidic platform to lighten the device to improve its portability. This gadget has a dimension of 35 × 30 × 80 mm and a mass of 39 g, less than 5% of the weight of commercially available flow cytometers. Additionally, automatic leukocyte concentration detection has been realized through the integration of image processing and leukocyte counting algorithms. We compared the leukocyte concentration measurement between our approach and a hemocytometer using the Passing-Bablok analysis and achieved a correlation coefficient of 0.979. Through Bland-Altman analysis, we obtained the relationship between their differences and mean measurement values and established 95% limits of agreement, ranging from −0.93×103 to 0.94×103 cells/μL. We anticipate that this device can be used widely for monitoring and treating diseases such as HIV and tumors beyond hospitals.

Abstract background Stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) is a significant contributor to cancer-related mortality worldwide. Although previous research has identified endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) as a regulator of various tumor-promoting properties of cancer cells, the impact of ERS-related long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) on STAD prognosis has not yet been investigated. Therefore, our study aims to develop and validate an ERS-related lncRNA signature that can accurately predict the prognosis of STAD patients. Methods We collected RNA expression profiles and clinical data of STAD patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and identified ERS-related genes from the Molecular Signature Database (MSigDB). Co-expression analysis enabled us to identify ERS-related lncRNAs, and we applied univariate Cox, least absolute shrinkage, and selection operator (LASSO), and multivariate Cox regression analyses to construct a predictive signature comprising of 9 ERS-related lncRNAs. We assessed the prognostic accuracy of our signature using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and validated our predictive signature in an independent gene expression omnibus (GEO) cohort. We also performed tumor mutational burden (TMB) and tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) analyses. Enrichment analysis was used to investigate the functions and biological processes of the signature, and we identified two distinct STAD patient subgroups through consensus clustering. Finally, we performed drug sensitivity analysis and immunologic efficacy analysis to explore further insights. Results The 9 ERS related-lncRNAs signature demonstrated satisfactory predictive performance as an independent prognostic marker and was significantly associated with STAD clinicopathological characteristics. Furthermore, patients in the high-risk group displayed a worse STAD prognosis than those in the low-risk group. Notably, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed significant enrichment of extracellular matrix pathways in the high-risk group, indicating their involvement in STAD progression. Additionally, the high-risk group exhibited significantly lower TMB expression levels than the low-risk group. Consensus clustering revealed two distinct STAD patient subgroups, with Cluster 1 exhibiting higher immune cell infiltration and more active immune functions. Drug sensitivity analysis suggested that the low-risk group was more responsive to oxaliplatin, epirubicinl, and other drugs. Conclusion Our study highlights the crucial regulatory roles of ERS-related lncRNAs in STAD, with significant clinical implications. The 9-lncRNA signature we have constructed represents a reliable prognostic indicator that has the potential to inform more personalized treatment decisions for STAD patients. These findings shed new light on the pathogenesis of STAD and its underlying molecular mechanisms, offering opportunities for novel therapeutic strategies to be developed for STAD patients.

As a cornerstone of higher education in China, the quality of undergraduate teaching is crucial for nurturing high-caliber innovative talents that meet the needs of national and social development. Small-class teaching has emerged as a focal point in the reform of undergraduate education and represents an important approach to cultivating top-notch innovative talents. Veterinary medicine is a scientific discipline that encompasses the prevention, control, diagnosis, and treatment of animal diseases. It also involves efforts to prevent the transmission of animal diseases to humans. The training of professionals in this field should emphasize the integration of theoretical knowledge with practical skills. Therefore, small-class teaching facilitates open communication between educators and students, which is instrumental in fostering a new generation of veterinarians equipped with robust professional knowledge, excellent practical abilities, and strong scientific literacy. This paper provides a preliminary exploration into the strategy and direction of small-class teaching within China’s veterinary medicine undergraduate programs by summarizing its characteristics, advantages, and existing challenges. The unique traits of veterinary medicine are also taken into consideration during this analysis.

Urban rail transit, a convenient and fast public transportation mode with rapid construction and development, occupies fewer land resources and accommodates large passenger volumes. However, thermal comfort should be given more attention. Stations above ground level experience poor thermal comfort on the platforms, especially in hot summers. This study combines field research with a simulation analysis to propose a strategy for improving thermal comfort on above-ground urban rail transit platforms. This study analyzed the effects of the skylight opening rate, side window opening rate, design of transparent maintenance structure shading, and the platform profile shape on the thermal comfort of above-ground stations using field research, comparative experiments, and a simulation analysis with the PHOENICS (Command Prompt) software. The results indicate that adding longitudinal sunshade louvers to the skylight of the station platform is a cost-effective method to reduce the average temperature and PMV value, thereby improving thermal comfort. Increasing the skylight opening rate can result in a temperature rise. Adjusting the opening rate of the side windows to 20% and adding sun-shading louvers can also significantly enhance the station’s thermal comfort. Taking Wudaokou Station on Beijing Line 13 as an example, the simultaneous installation of additional longitudinal skylight shading and side window shading and increasing the side window opening rate to 20% on the platform resulted in a 2.6 °C decrease in the average temperature, a 4.7% increase in the average wind speed, and a 0.62 decrease in the PMV value, significantly enhancing thermal comfort for passengers. This study confirms that optimizing shading and ventilation systems can significantly reduce the platform temperature and improve passengers’ thermal comfort. This study provides theoretical support and innovative methods for optimizing thermal environments in similar environments.

PurposeWe aimed to report the latest and largest pooled analyses and evidence updates to assess the effectiveness of telemedicine interventions for self-management (DSM) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).MethodsA systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, and Web of Science in December 2023. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of adults (≥18 years of age) diagnosed with T2DM where the intervention was the application of telemedicine. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment was used to evaluate quality. The study’s main outcome indicators were glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and diabetes self-management (DSM) capacity.ResultsA total of 17 eligible articles, comprising 20 studies and 1,456 patients (734 in the intervention group and 722 in the control group), were included in the evidence synthesis. The baseline characteristics of both groups were similar in all outcomes. Comprehensive analyses showed post-intervention decreases in HbA1c, 2-h postprandial glucose, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, increases in Diabetes Self- Care activities, DSM competencies based on dietary and medication adherence, and improvements in overall DSM scores, all of which were statistically significant. While no statistically significant differences were observed in body mass index, lipids, and other DSM dimensions. Based on subgroup analyses, app-based experimental interventions targeting under 60 years old populations in Asia and North America were found to be more effective and less heterogeneity in the short term (

Magnetic nanocomposites were fabricated by attaching surface-modified magnetite nanoparticles to the surface of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) in this study. By applying an external magnetic field, the rGO were highly aligned in the cement paste. The orientation factor of aligned rGO was found to be 0.71 by analyzing the polarized Raman scattering spectra. The alignment of the rGO contributed to both the mechanical and dielectric properties of the cement paste. The flexural strength of the specimen with aligned rGO improved by 48% compared with that of the cement pastes with randomly distributed rGO. The dielectric constant at 100 Hz of the specimen with aligned rGO was increased by 271% compared with that of cement pastes with randomly distributed rGO. A modified rule of mixtures was proposed to predict their mechanical and dielectric properties. This study offers insight on the development of nanofiller-incorporated cement-based materials with enhanced mechanical and dielectric properties.

The analysis of the blast resistance and dynamic responses of gravity dams under extreme loading conditions is crucial in ensuring the safety of hydraulic engineering structures. Recent international conflicts have further emphasized the importance of research in this field. However, the lack of quantitative experimental studies and analysis methods for assessing prototype dam damage has posed significant challenges. To address this gap, experiments and numerical simulations on scaled concrete models were conducted, considering two equivalent detonation loads and four scaling ratios. Utilizing a non-dimensional approach, comprehensive comparisons of the dam's initial fracture locations, fracture paths, and extent of damage were performed, thus leading to the identification of consistent damage patterns and similarities between the different scaled models. The results demonstrated that the primary failure mode caused by the detonation loads on the downstream face was the overall fracture of the dam crest, with a slight downward shift in the initial crack position as the detonation load increased. Remarkably, the fracture paths exhibited satisfying similarities across the different scaling ratios. Furthermore, through further discussion on topics such as the initial fracture locations and the influence of reservoir water, both theoretical and practical insights were obtained for investigating the damage of prototype dams based on similarity laws.

Purposes A deep understanding of the pore structure of cement paste is important for improving the performance of cement-based materials. Methods In this paper, terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) system was used to test the terahertz time-domain signal of dry cement paste with water cement ratio of 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 and hydration ages of 7, 28 and 56 d in the frequency range of 0.2~2 THz. The refractive index and dielectric constant of cement paste were calculated by using the delay time of time-domain signal. Findings The test results show that the dielectric constant of cement paste decreases with the increase of water-cement ratio at the same age. The dielectric constant of cement paste with the same water cement ratio does not change obviously with age. The relationship between the effective dielectric constant and pore structure of cement paste is established by using the General Effective Media (GEM) model. Through the fitting of experimental data, the dielectric constant of the solid phase of hydration products in cement paste is 8.73. Conclusions According to the GEM model parameter analysis, the porosity of cement paste is the most important factor affecting its effective dielectric constant.