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Abstract The exploration of multi-dimensional brain activity with high temporal and spatial resolution is of great significance in the diagnosis of neurological disease and the study of brain science. Although the integration of electroencephalogram (EEG) with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) provides a potential solution to achieve a brain-functional image with high spatiotemporal resolution, the critical issues of interface stability and magnetic compatibility remain challenging. Therefore, in this research, we proposed a conductive hydrogel EEG electrode with an asymmetrical bilayer structure, which shows the potential to overcome the challenges. Benefiting from the bilayer structure with different moduli, the hydrogel electrode exhibits high biological and mechanical compatibility with the heterogeneous brain-electrode interface. As a result, the impedance can be reduced compared with conventional metal electrodes. In addition, the hydrogel-based ionic conductive electrodes, which are free from metal conductors, are compatible with MRI and CT. Therefore, they can obtain high spatiotemporal resolution multi-dimensional brain information in clinical settings. The research outcome provides a new approach for establishing a platform for early diagnosis of brain diseases and the study of brain science.

Abstract Background Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a severe lung condition, and finding better ways to diagnose and treat the disease is crucial for improving patient outcomes. Our study sought to develop an artificial neural network (ANN) model for IPF and determine the immune cell types that differed between the IPF and control groups. Methods From the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, we first obtained IPF microarray datasets. To conduct protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks and enrichment analyses, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened between tissues of patients with IPF and tissues of controls. Afterward, we identified the important feature genes associated with IPF using random forest (RF) analysis, and then constructed and validated a prediction ANN mode. In addition, the proportions of immune cells were quantified using cell-type identification by estimating relative subsets of RNA transcripts (CIBERSORT) analysis, which was performed on microarray datasets based on gene expression profiling. Results A total of 11 downregulated and 36 upregulated DEGs were identified. PPI networks and enrichment analyses were carried out; the immune system and extracellular matrix were the subjects of the enrichments. Using RF analysis, the significant feature genes LRRC17, COMP, ASPN, CRTAC1, POSTN, COL3A1, PEBP4, IL13RA2, and CA4 were identified. The nine feature gene scores were integrated into the ANN to develop a diagnostic prediction model. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves demonstrated the strong diagnostic ability of the ANN in predicting IPF in the training and testing sets. An analysis of IPF tissues in comparison to normal tissues revealed a reduction in the infiltration of natural killer cells resting, monocytes, macrophages M0, and neutrophils; conversely, the infiltration of T cells CD4 memory resting, mast cells, and macrophages M0 increased. Conclusion LRRC17, COMP, ASPN, CRTAC1, POSTN, COL3A1, PEBP4, IL13RA2, and CA4 were determined as key feature genes for IPF. The nine feature genes in the ANN model will be extremely important for diagnosing IPF. It may be possible to use differentiated immune cells from IPF samples in comparison to normal samples as targets for immunotherapy in patients with IPF.

Abstract The purpose of this article is to develop the receding horizon (RH) estimation for multi‐rate sampled systems with measurement delays and packet losses in the measurements. An event‐triggered transmission scheme is introduced to remove measurements that are unnecessary for the design of the estimator. The stochastic diagonal matrixes are introduced to represent the phenomenon of packet losses, where each component is subject to an individual Bernoulli process. The original system is firstly transformed into a delay‐free one by using the reorganized observation method. Further, a batch form and an iterative form of RH estimation are proposed by minimizing a given cost function that includes some terminal weighting terms based on the new system. The stability of the proposed RH estimation is guaranteed by the natural assumptions and a simulation instance is given to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Evaluating the health of river surface water is essential, as rivers support significant biological resources and serve as vital drinking water sources. While the Water Quality Index (WQI) is commonly employed to evaluate surface water quality, it fails to consider biodiversity and does not fully capture the ecological health of rivers. Here we show a comprehensive assessment of the ecological health of surface water in the lower Yangtze River (LYR), integrating chemical and biological metrics. According to traditional WQI metrics, the LYR's surface water generally meets China's Class II standards. However, it also contains 43 high-risk emerging contaminants; nitrobenzenes are found at the highest concentrations, representing 25–90% of total detections, while polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons present the most substantial environmental risks, accounting for 81–93% of the total risk quotient. Notably, the plankton-based index of biological integrity (P-IBI) rates the ecological health of the majority of LYR water samples (59.7%) as ‘fair’, with significantly better health observed in autumn compared to other seasons (p

The environmental stability of infectious viruses in the laboratory setting is crucial to the transmission potential of human respiratory viruses. Different experimental techniques or conditions used in studies over the past decades have led to diverse understandings and predictions for the stability of viral infectivity in the atmospheric environment. In this paper, we review the current knowledge on the effect of simulated atmospheric conditions on the infectivity of respiratory viruses, mainly focusing on influenza viruses and coronaviruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus. First, we summarize the impact of the experimental conditions on viral stability; these involve the methods of viral aerosol generation, storage during aging and collection, the virus types and strains, the suspension matrixes, the initial inoculum volumes and concentrations, and the drying process. Second, we summarize and discuss the detection methods of viral infectivity and their disadvantages. Finally, we integrate the results from the reviewed studies to obtain an overall understanding of the effects of atmospheric environmental conditions on the decay of infectious viruses, especially aerosolized viruses. Overall, this review highlights the knowledge gaps in predicting the ability of viruses to maintain infectivity during airborne transmission.

ABSTRACTTwo-dimensional (2D) materials emerged in the last decade have been considered as an attractive class of gas sensing materials due to their large surface-to-volume ratio, high surface reaction activity and good gas adsorption performance provided by the atomically thickness and flat surface. The development of high-performance micro-nano gas sensors places higher demands on sensing materials, thus 2D materials must satisfy good sensing performance requirements such as excellent gas selectivity, reproducibility, long-term stability, and fast response/recovery time to achieve high sensitivity detection at low concentrations. Herein, we overview the recent literature on the sensor structure, sensing mechanisms and improved gas sensing performance of 2D materials-based gas sensors. In particular, we discuss how the sensing properties of 2D materials can be modulated through defect and doping engineering, modification with noble metal, constructing heterostructure, as well as external energy assistance, e.g. by light illumination. Besides reviewing the achievements of gas sensors based on 2D materials, we provide an outlook on their future developments. Understanding the relationship between structure and sensing mechanisms of 2D materials-based sensors provides vast opportunities for designing advanced gas sensors, making it promising for a wide range of practical applications.

BackgroundLimited research has explored the association between dietary soy products and colorectal polyps and adenomas, with insufficient attention given to cooking methods and subtypes of polyps. This study aimed to comprehensively assess the relationship between soy intake, its cooking methods, and the risk of colorectal polyps and adenomas within a high-incidence population of colorectal cancer (CRC) in China.MethodsData were derived from 14,903 participants aged 40–80 years, enrolled in the extended Lanxi Pre-colorectal Cancer Cohort (LP3C) between March 2018 and December 2022. This cross-sectional study is based on the participants’ baseline information. Long-term dietary information was collected through a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and colorectal polyps and adenomas were identified through electronic colonoscopy. Employing multivariate logistic regression, results were expressed as odds ratios (ORs) with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs).Results4,942 cases of colorectal polyps and 2,678 cases of adenomas were ascertained. A significant positive association was found between total soy intake and the occurrence of polyps/adenomas. Considering cooking methods, a notable increase in polyp risk was associated with the consumption of fried soys while no association was detected for boiled or marinated soys. Furthermore, total soy intake demonstrated associations with large and multiple polyps, polyps Yamade-typed less than II, and polyps across all anatomical subsites.ConclusionWithin the high-risk CRC population in China, increased soy product intake was linked to a higher risk of polyps, primarily attributed to the consumption of fried soys. This suggests that modifying cooking methods to avoid fried soys may serve as a preventive strategy for colorectal polyps.

The performance of lithium-ion batteries may decline at cold temperatures, leading to reduced capacity and electrolyte freezing. To ensure proper operation of energy storage stations in cold regions, heating methods must be designed to maintain batteries at 283.15 K while limiting the temperature difference to less than 5 K. Theoretical analysis and simulation of a battery heating method were conducted using a 22 Ah lithium iron phosphate battery as the research object at 253.15 K. A heating method was designed using Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) aluminum plate heaters. Results showed that under the condition of an ambient temperature of 253.15 K and a discharge rate of 1 C, five 120 W PTCs could increase the peak temperature to 283.46 K at 1000 s. The heating method was further optimized by changing the PTC number (2, 3, and 4) and size (corresponding to 120%, 100%, 80%, and 60% of the lithium-ion battery dimensions), and it was found that by using 3 PTC heating plates with 80% size, the maximum temperature could be increased to 289.85 K and the average temperature difference was 4.82 K at 1000 s, meeting the needs of battery operation. The heating method was shown to be effective in rapidly increasing the battery temperature at lower ambient temperatures (243.15, 253.15, and 263.15 K), increasing the rate of temperature increase by 32.4% at 243.15 vs 253.15 K and 45.2% at 263.15 K.

Abstract Objective Maturity‐onset diabetes of the young type 13 (MODY13), a rare type of monogenic diabetes, is often misdiagnosed as type 1 or type 2 diabetes. To improve early diagnosis and precise treatment, we performed a systematic review and analysis of the literature about MODY13. Methods PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese BioMedical (CBM) Literature Database, and Wanfang Database were searched using the following search terms: “MODY13,” “KCNJ11 maturity‐onset diabetes of the young,” “KCNJ11‐MODY,” “maturity‐onset diabetes of the young type 13,” and “neonatal diabetes mellitus KCNJ11.” The demography, clinical characteristics, and gene mutations of patients were expressed with descriptive statistical methods. Results A total of 33 reports were included in this study, including 75 patients and 28 types of mutations. Thirty‐six patients were male. The mean onset age was 25.20 ± 15.26 years. The averages of recorded body mass index, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and fasting C‐peptide were 23.45 ± 4.56kg/m2, 10.07 ± 1.96%, and 0.31 ± 0.23nmol/L, respectively. Most of the mutation sites were located in the cytosolic region of N‐ and C‐terminal domains of Kir6.2. Seven patients were reported to have diabetic chronic complications. Conclusion MODY13 was diagnosed later than other types of MODY and was associated with low fasting C‐peptide. Mutation sites of MODY13 were mostly concentrated in N‐ and C‐terminal intracellular domains. The majority of KCNJ11 gene mutations causing MODY 13 were from G to A. The incidence rates of chronic complications were lower than type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Abstract. Background:. The hemoglobin glycation index (HGI) was developed to quantify glucose metabolism and individual differences and proved to be a robust measure of individual glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) bias. Here, we aimed to explore the relationship between different HGIs and the risk of 5-year major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) by performing a large multicenter cohort study in China. Methods:. A total of 9791 subjects from the Risk Evaluation of Cancers in Chinese Diabetic Individuals: a Longitudinal Study (the REACTION study) were divided into five subgroups (Q1-Q5) with the HGI quantiles (≤5th, >5th and ≤33.3th, >33.3th and ≤66.7th, >66.7th and ≤95th, and >95th percentile). A multivariate logistic regression model constructed by the restricted cubic spline method was used to evaluate the relationship between the HGI and the 5-year MACE risk. Subgroup analysis between the HGI and covariates were explored to detect differences among the five subgroups. Results:. The total 5-year MACE rate in the nationwide cohort was 6.87% (673/9791). Restricted cubic spline analysis suggested a U-shaped correlation between the HGI values and MACE risk after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors (χ2 = 29.5, P 0.82 showed odds ratios (ORs) for MACE of 1.471 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.027-2.069) and 2.222 (95% CI, 1.641-3.026) compared to subjects with HGIs of >-0.75 and ≤-0.20. In the subgroup with non-coronary heart disease, the risk of MACE was significantly higher in subjects with HGIs ≤-0.75 (OR, 1.540 [1.039-2.234]; P = 0.027) and >0.82 (OR, 2.022 [1.392-2.890]; P 0.82 after adjustment for potential confounders. Conclusions:. We found a U-shaped correlation between the HGI values and the risk of 5-year MACE. Both low and high HGIs were associated with an increased risk of MACE. Therefore, the HGI may predict the 5-year MACE risk.

Abstract As an unconventional oil and gas resource, coalbed methane has become a key area of unconventional oil and gas exploration worldwide, and hydraulic fracturing is the critical technology for the efficient stimulation of coalbed methane. However, due to the strong heterogeneity of deep coal seam reservoirs and the development of natural cleat fractures, the fracture propagation path is quite complex and difficult to capture. In this study, we propose a hydraulic fracture propagation simulation method using the ABAQUS Software for natural cleat fracture networks and a fluid–solid fully coupled two‐dimensional finite element model with the global embedded cohesive zone model (CZM). CZM is established to simulate the propagation of hydraulic fractures in the heterogeneous combination of coal rock and mudstone. The accuracy of this model is verified by using Blanton's experiment criterion. Finally, the model is used to simulate the influence of cleat angle, cleat density, length ratio of coal rock and mudstone combination, and construction displacement on the propagation behavior of hydraulic fractures. This study aims to deepen the understanding of the mechanism of hydraulic fracture propagation in deep coal seams and provides guidance for deep coal seam fracturing and hydraulic fracturing design.

This study presents a series of Cu-Mn/Al2O3 catalysts prepared by the polyol method to improve the toluene combustion process. The catalytic activity evaluation results showed that the different polyols have a great influence on catalyst activity, in which the catalyst prepared with glycerol through a hydrothermal reaction at 90 °C displayed the highest catalytic activity. The lowest T90 and T50 values could be achieved by CMA-GL-90 with 260 and 237 °C, respectively. Moreover, the XRD and BET results showed that the hydrothermal treatment was more favorable with Cu-Mn crystal formation, and an abundance of mesopores remained in all catalysts with a high specific surface area from 94.37 to 123.03 m2·g−1. The morphology analysis results by SEM and TEM indicated that employing glycerol coupled with hydrothermal treatment at 90 °C could enhance the formation of CuMn2O4 spinel. The toluene catalytic combustion mechanism of Cu-Mn/Al2O3 catalysts was discussed based on XPS and H2-TPR, and a high atomic ratio of Mn3+ could be obtained with 51.03%, and the ratio of Oads/Olatt also increased to 2.85 in CMA-GL-90. The increase in Mn3+ species and oxygen vacancies on the surface of catalysts exhibited excellent activity and stability for toluene combustion. These findings offer valuable insights for optimizing the design and application of Cu-Mn/Al2O3 catalysts in addressing the catalytic oxidation reactions of organic volatile compounds.

BackgroundBiochar application has become one of the most potential tools to improve soil fertility and plant growth for sustainable and eco-friendly agriculture. However, both positive and negative effects of biochar application have been recorded on plant growth and soil fertility.MethodsThis study investigated the impact of different application rates (0, 600, 900, 1200, and 1800 kg/ha) of biochar on the soil nutrient contents, accumulation of nutrients and dry matter in different plant parts, and growth of flue-cured tobacco plants under field conditions.ResultsResults demonstrated that soil organic carbon pool and carbon/nitrogen ratio were increased proportionally with the increasing dosage of biochar, 25.54 g/kg and 14.07 g/kg compared with control 17 g/kg and 10.13 g/kg, respectively. The contents of soil total nitrogen were also significantly increased after biochar application in the middle (1.77 g/kg) and late-growth (1.54 g/kg) stages of flue-cured tobacco than in control (1.60 g/kg and 1.41 g/kg, respectively). The contents of soil nitrate nitrogen were also higher under low (600 and 900 kg/ha) application rates of biochar and reduced when higher (1200 and 1800 kg/ha) dosages of biochar were applied. However, it was observed that varying application rates of biochar had no impact on soil ammonium nitrogen content during the growth period of flue-cured tobacco plants. The nutrient accumulation (N, P, K) in different parts of flue-cured tobacco plants was significantly increased under a low application rate of biochar, which enhanced the soil and plant analyzer development values, effective leaves number, growth, dry matter accumulation, and leaf yield of flue-cured tobacco. In contrast, the high biochar application rate (1200 and 1800 kg/ha) negatively impacted nutrient accumulation and growth of flue-cured tobacco.ConclusionConclusively, the optimum application of biochar (600 and 900 kg/ha) is beneficial for plant growth, soil fertility, accumulation of nutrients, and dry matter in different plant parts. However, excessive biochar application (> 900 kg/ha) could inhibit flue-cured tobacco plant growth. This study provides a theoretical foundation for biochar application in tobacco and other crop production to obtain agricultural sustainability and economic stability.

The working conditions of heavy-duty trucks are very complicated as the diesel shaking and resonance problems, which causes weld tears, separators to fall off, and other failures occur. Through experiments and finite element simulation, the natural frequency and vibration mode of a given 400 L diesel tank were calculated to study the influences of structural parameters such as the fill ratio (0.1-0.9), the number of baffle plates (0, 1, 2), the spacing of the plates (240 mm, 400 mm, 560 mm) and the aperture (38 mm, 78 mm, 118 mm) on the modal parameters with the wet mode method. The results of the hammering mode test and the simulation modal analysis agree well with the maximum error is 4.8%; the natural frequency of the diesel tank will increase with fill ratio decrease; the increase of the baffle plate number (0, 1, 2) can effectively increase the first-order natural frequency of the diesel tank, but the change of the natural frequency is not obvious on the higher order; the higher plates spacing has a smaller natural frequency; increasing the aperture will highly increase the natural frequency, 188 mm has better vibration safety.

Most protective clothing on the market today cannot provide both comfort properties and protectability, which would not match the requirement for preventing or killing the rapidly growing and changing virus. Hence, a novel breathable and waterproof composite fabric used in protective clothing was designed through the hot-press process with three functional layers. The waterproof ability, moisture permeability, mechanical property, electricity and bactericidal ability of three layers and composite fabric were studied. Results showed that the moisture permeability of coated thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) membrane reached 19854 g m2 d−1. The composite fabric had still excellent moisture permeability of up to 13956 g m2 d−1 and water contact angle of 151.7°. The coated TPU membrane had good tensile strength and acid resistance. The voltage and current of composite fabric after 7 days were approximately 0.336 V and 1.4 μA. The composite fabric had a 97.5 % filtering effect for NaCl aerosols, a 99 % bacteriostatic rate, and the ability to withstand the Phy-X174 phage with a diameter of 0.027 μm. This composite fabric based on the principle of moisture permeability and weak electric field could be used in protective clothing, which would be of theoretical significance and guiding practical production.

Background: Pure magnesium-based ortho-implants have a number of advantages. However, vital parameters like degradation rate and biocompatibility still call for significant improvement. Methods: In this study, poly (1,3-trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) and polydopamine (PDA) bilayer and micro arc oxidation composite coatings were prepared successively on magnesium surface by immersion method and microarc oxidation. Its corrosion resistance and biocompatibility were evaluated by in vitro corrosion tests, cellular compatibility experiments, and in vivo animal experiments. Results: In vitro experiments demonstrated that the composite coating provides excellent corrosion protection and biocompatibility. Animal studies demonstrated that the composite coating slowed the degradation of the implant and was not toxic to animal viscera. Conclusion: In conclusion, the inorganic-organic composite coating proposed in this study provided good corrosion resistance and enhanced biocompatibility for pure magnesium implants. The translational potential of this article: The translational potential of this article is to develop an anti-corrosion composite coating on a pure magnesium surface and to verify the viability of its use in animal models. It is hoped to open up a new approach to the design of new degradable orthopedic magnesium-based implants.

Users are the core of operators’ interests.With the introduction of the policy of transferring network with a number, the competition between operators becomes more and more fierce.In order to accurately predict subscriber loss tendency in advance, a prediction method of subscriber loss based on generative adversarial network data reconstruction was proposed.Firstly, the dirty data in the telecom subscriber loss data was used by effective data preprocessing method.Secondly, the GAN was used to reconstruct the telecom subscriber loss data to solve the problem of the imbalance of the telecom subscriber loss data.Finally, extreme gradient boosting algorithm was used to train the telecom subscriber loss prediction model based on GAN reconstruction and the SMOTE sampling model based on synthetic minority oversampling technique sampling method respectively, and compare the prediction accuracy of the two models.The experimental results show that the prediction accuracy of the GAN reconstructed telecom subscriber loss prediction model is increased by 6.75%, the accuracy rate is increased by 25.91%, the recall rate is increased by 30.91%, and the F1-score is increased by 28.73% compared with the unreconstructed prediction model.This method can effectively improve the accuracy of telecom subscriber loss prediction.

In 3D microsphere tracking, unlike in-plane motion that can be measured directly by a microscope, axial displacements are resolved by optical interference or a diffraction model. As a result, the axial results are affected by the environmental noise. The immunity to environmental noise increases with measurement accuracy and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). In compound digital holography microscopy (CDHM)-based measurements, precise identification of the tracking marker is critical to ensuring measurement precision. The reconstruction centering method (RCM) was proposed to suppress the drawbacks caused by installation errors and, at the same time, improve the correct identification of the tracking marker. The reconstructed center is considered to be the center of the microsphere, rather than the center of imaging in conventional digital holographic microscopy. This method was verified by simulation of rays tracing through microspheres and axial moving experiments. The axial displacements of silica microspheres with diameters of 5 μm and 10 μm were tested by CDHM in combination with the RCM. As a result, the SNR of the proposed method was improved by around 30%. In addition, the method was successfully applied to axial displacement measurements of overlapped microspheres with a resolution of 2 nm.

Abstract Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an airway‐associated lung disorder, resulting in airway inflammation. This article aimed to explore the role of the krüppel‐like factor 9 (KLF9)/microRNA (miR)‐494‐3p/phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) axis in airway inflammation and pave a theoretical foundation for the treatment of COPD. Methods The COPD mouse model was established by exposure to cigarette smoke, followed by measurements of total cells, neutrophils, macrophages, and hematoxylin and eosin staining. The COPD cell model was established on human lung epithelial cells BEAS‐2B using cigarette smoke extract. Cell viability was assessed by cell counting kit‐8 assay. miR‐494‐3p, KLF9, PTEN, and NLR family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) levels in tissues and cells were measured by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction or Western blot assay. Inflammatory factors (TNF‐α/IL‐6/IL‐8/IFN‐γ) were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Interactions among KLF9, miR‐494‐3p, and PTEN 3′UTR were verified by chromatin immunoprecipitation and dual‐luciferase assays. Results KLF9 was upregulated in lung tissues of COPD mice. Inhibition of KLF9 alleviated airway inflammation, reduced intrapulmonary inflammatory cell infiltration, and repressed NLRP3 expression. KLF9 bound to the miR‐494‐3p promoter and increased miR‐494‐3p expression, and miR‐494‐3p negatively regulated PTEN expression. miR‐494‐3p overexpression or Nigericin treatment reversed KLF9 knockdown‐driven repression of NLRP3 inflammasome and inflammation. Conclusion KLF9 bound to the miR‐494‐3p promoter and repressed PTEN expression, thereby facilitating NLRP3 inflammasome‐mediated inflammation.

GaN-based III-Nitride compound semiconductors are fundamental materials for high-performance optoelectronic and electronic devices. Low-defect-density substrate has been a major bottleneck in achieving high internal quantum efficiency and high breakdown voltage in those devices. However, a large-scale and uniform low dislocation density GaN film is still hard to obtain on foreign substrates, which is the mainstream economical method in scientific research and industrial production. Here, we present a 3D serpentine mask method of growing high-quality GaN film on foreign substrates without high dislocation density (HDD) areas by designing both sectional and planar shapes of stacked masks. The serpentine channel in the cross-section mechanically blocks the extended dislocations and the hexagonal planar pattern reduces the dimension of coalescence geometry. A wafer-scale GaN epilayer, free of HDD zone, with the overall threading dislocation density of 1.7 × 107 cm−2 estimated by plan-view cathode luminescence, is achieved in the metal-organic chemical vapor deposition system. Then, an array of light-emitting diodes based on this substrate with low forward voltages and high light output powers are fabricated, which introduces a practical method to provide high-quality GaN films for high-performance optoelectronic devices.

IntroductionFalls from height (FFH) accidents can devastate families and individuals. Currently, the best way to prevent falls from heights is to wear personal protective equipment (PPE). However, traditional manual checking methods for safety hazards are inefficient and difficult to detect and eliminate potential risks.MethodsTo better detect whether a person working at height is wearing PPE or not, this paper first applies field research and Python crawling techniques to create a dataset of people working at height, extends the dataset to 10,000 images through data enhancement (brightness, rotation, blurring, and Moica), and categorizes the dataset into a training set, a validation set, and a test set according to the ratio of 7:2:1. In this study, three improved YOLOv5s models are proposed for detecting PPE in construction sites with many open-air operations, complex construction scenarios, and frequent personnel changes. Among them, YOLOv5s-gnconv is wholly based on the convolutional structure, which achieves effective modeling of higher-order spatial interactions through gated convolution (gnConv) and cyclic design, improves the performance of the algorithm, and increases the expressiveness of the model while reducing the network parameters.ResultsExperimental results show that YOLOv5s-gnconv outperforms the official model YOLOv5s by 5.01%, 4.72%, and 4.26% in precision, recall, and mAP_0.5, respectively. It better ensures the safety of workers working at height.DiscussionTo deploy the YOLOv5s-gnConv model in a construction site environment and to effectively monitor and manage the safety of workers at height, we also discuss the impacts and potential limitations of lighting conditions, camera angles, and worker movement patterns.

Using hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) to prepare resistive switching devices is a promising strategy. Various doping methods have aroused great interest in the semiconductor field in recent years, but many researchers have overlooked the various repetitive anomalies that occur during the testing process. In this study, the basic electrical properties and additive protrusion behavior of Ga-ion-doped h-BN memristors at micro–nanoscale during the voltage scanning process are investigated via AFM and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The additive protrusion behavior is subjected to exploratory research, and it is concluded that it is caused by anodic oxidation. An approach is proposed that involves filling the AFM chamber with nitrogen gas to improve the stability of memristor testing, and this method provides a solution for enhanced testing stability of memristors.

Osteosarcoma, the most common primary malignant bone tumor, is characterized by malignant cells producing osteoid or immature bone tissue. Most osteosarcoma patients require reconstructive surgery to restore the functional and structural integrity of the injured bone. Metal orthopedic implants are commonly used to restore the limb integrity in postoperative patients. However, conventional metal implants with a bioinert surface cannot inhibit the growth of any remaining cancer cells, resulting in a higher risk of cancer recurrence. Herein, we fabricate a selenium-doped TiO2 nanotube array (Se-doped TNA) film to modify the surface of medical pure titanium substrate, and evaluate the anti-tumor effect and biocompatibility of Se-doped TNA film. Moreover, we further explore the anti-tumor potential mechanism of Se-doped TNA film by studying the behaviors of human osteosarcoma cells in vitro. We provide a new pathway for achieving the anti-tumor function of orthopedic implants while keeping the biocompatibility, aiming to suppress the recurrence of osteosarcoma.

Abstract Heteroepitaxial growth of gallium nitride (GaN) over patterned Silicon (Si) substrates using serpentine channel structure was demonstrated and studied with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Cross‐sectional TEM images showed that the dislocations were filtered out effectively, through two 90° turns in GaN growth front with the unique serpentine channel structure, resulting in high crystal quality GaN materials over the top mask layer. Dislocation behaviours at different parts of the structure were investigated to understand the mechanism of dislocation density reduction.

Abstract Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been suggested as essential regulators in the cancer progression. LncRNA TUC338 was found to promote the malignancy of various cancers, however, the involvement of TUC338 in nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) has not been well characterized. Here, our results found the significant overexpression of TUC338 in NPC tissues. Higher level of TUC338 was also observed in NPC cells. Interestingly, NPC patients harboring overexpressed TUC338 have worse prognosis. Functional study indicated that down-regulated TUC338 remarkably suppressed the NPC cell proliferation and cell migration. Notably, depletion of TUC338 significantly inhibited the in vivo tumor growth. Mechanistically, TUC338 acted as molecular sponge of miR-1226-3p and attenuated the negative regulation of miR-1226-3p on the expression of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2). Down-regulation of TUC338 inhibited FGF2 expression in NPC cells and tumor tissues. Overexpression of FGF2 attenuated the suppressed NPC proliferation upon the depletion of TUC338. Our results demonstrated the novel function of TUC338/miR-1226-3p/FGF2 axis in NPC progression, suggesting the potential diagnosis and therapeutics significance of TUC338 in NPC.

Abstract Background Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a complex psychiatric disorder associated with widespread alterations in the subcortical brain structure. Hemispheric asymmetries are a fundamental organizational principle of the human brain and relate to human psychological and behavioral characteristics. We aimed to explore the state of thalamic lateralization of SCZ. Methods We used voxel‐based morphometry (VBM) analysis, whole‐brain analysis of low‐frequency fluctuations (ALFF), fractional amplitude of low‐frequency fluctuations (fALFF), and resting‐state seed‐based functional connectivity (FC) analysis to investigate brain structural and functional deficits in SCZ. Also, we applied Pearson's correlation analysis to validate the correlation between Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) scores and them. Results Compared with healthy controls, SCZ showed increased gray matter volume (GMV) of the left thalamus (t = 2.214, p = 0.029), which positively correlated with general psychosis (r = 0.423, p = 0.010). SCZ also showed increased ALFF in the putamen, the caudate nucleus, the thalamus, fALFF in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), and the caudate nucleus, and decreased fALFF in the precuneus. The left thalamus showed significantly weaker resting‐state FC with the amygdala and insula in SCZ. PANSS negative symptom scores were negatively correlated with the resting‐state FC between the thalamus and the insula (r = −0.414, p = 0.025). Conclusions Collectively, these results suggest the possibility of aberrant laterality in the left thalamus and its FC with other related brain regions involved in the limbic system.

Objective Hemorrhage from the stump of the gastroduodenal artery (GDA) is a significant postoperative risk with pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Studies have shown that wrapping the GDA stump using the omentum or the falciform ligament can help prevent bleeding. We aimed to determine whether wrapping the GDA stump with the ligamentum teres hepatis (LTH) would reduce postoperative PD hemorrhage. Methods We retrospectively reviewed data for 148 patients who underwent laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy (LPD) at our hospital from November 2015 to September 2021. We compared perioperative data from 63 LPD patients without wrapping of the GDA (unwrapped group) and 85 whose GDA stumps were wrapped (wrapped group). Results There were no significant differences in the groups’ baseline characteristics. The postoperative GDA stump bleeding incidence was significantly lower in the wrapped group than that in the unwrapped group (7.9% vs. 0, respectively). There was also no significant difference in the incidence of other complications (intra-abdominal infection, postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF), biliary fistula, and gastrointestinal bleeding). Conclusion Using the LTH to wrap the GDA stump during LPD can reduce bleeding from the GDA stump but not the incidence of other complications.

The control of phase balance has always been a tough challenge for the welding of duplex stainless steel, which heavily restricts its optimal serving performance in engineering. The microstructure development and mechanical characteristics of SAF2205 plasma arc welded joints were thoroughly examined in this paper. It was proven that the phase balance can be well controlled by plasma arc welding, and the austenite content of the welded joints was about 60%. Despite successful phase control, there was still grain coarsening and distortion; i.e., at the center of the welded zone, the gain size was about eight times that of the base metal, and the austenite was mainly in the form of grain boundary austenite and intragranular austenite, while more Widmanstatten austenites were found in the heat-affected zone. In addition, a transition region between the heat affected zone and the center exhibited columnar ferritic grains. Furthermore, the plasticity and toughness of the welded joints were significantly decreased, especially the elongation in the longitudinal direction, which is about 10% lower than that of the base metal, and transversal tensile strength remained comparable to the base metal, with only a slight reduction in longitudinal tensile strength. Lastly, the formation mechanism of microstructure and its correlation with mechanical properties were revealed. This investigation offers valuable insights into the structural integrity of duplex stainless steel welded joints in engineering applications.

The non-uniformity of microstructures and mechanical properties across a whole welded joint is a crucial factor leading to its weakening performance and premature failure. Post-weld heat treatment is a primary method for increasing the mechanical properties. However, the evolution mechanism of mechanical properties related to heterogeneous microstructure after heat treatment remains unclear, making it challenging to design the heat treatment process and evaluate its effect comprehensively. In this study, microstructure characterization and a series of mechanical tests of 12Cr1MoV welded joint after the stress relief annealing (SRA) and tempering heat treatment (THT) were conducted. The effect of heat treatment on mechanical properties is analyzed based on the comparison between stress relief annealing and tempering heat treatment in terms of tensile properties, impact toughness, and impact fracture morphology. The results indicate that, after the tempering heat treatment, the evolution of mechanical properties in each subzone of the joint is consistent, i.e., the hardness and tensile strength decreased while the toughness increased. Notably, the most substantial enhancement in toughness is observed in the weld zone, primarily due to a significant reduction in the presence of pre-eutectoid ferrite. Furthermore, it is proved that hardness is an indicator to reflect changes in tensile strength related to the microstructure evolution, which indicates it can be employed to evaluate the effectiveness of post-weld heat treatment in practical engineering.

Eight Gram-negative, aerobic, motile with paired polar flagella and rod-shaped bacteria were isolated from six tobacco fields in Yunnan, PR China. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that all the strains belonged to the genus Ralstonia. Among them, strain 22TCCZM03-6 had an identical 16S rRNA sequence to that of R. wenshanensis 56D2T, and the other strains were closely related to R. pickettii DSM 6297T (98.34–99.86%), R. wenshanensis 56D2T (98.70–99.64%), and R. insidiosa CCUG 46789T (97.34–98.56%). Genome sequencing yielded sizes ranging from 5.17 to 5.72 Mb, with overall G + C contents of 63.3–64.1%. Pairwise genome comparisons showed that strain 22TCCZM03-6 shared average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) values above the species cut-off with R. wenshanensis 56D2T, suggesting that strain 22TCCZM03-6 is a special strain of the R. wenshanensis. Five strains, including 21MJYT02-10T, 21LDWP02-16, 22TCJT01-1, 22TCCZM01-4, and 22TCJT01-2, had ANI values >95% and dDDH values >70% when compared with each other. These five strains had ANI values of 73.32–94.17% and dDDH of 22.0–55.20% with the type strains of the genus Ralstonia individually, supporting these five strains as a novel species in the genus Ralstonia. In addition, strains 21YRMH01-3T and 21MJYT02-11T represent two independent species. They both had ANI and dDDH values below the thresholds for species delineation when compared with the type species of the genus Ralstonia. In strains 21YRMH01-3T and 21MJYT02-10T, the main fatty acids were summed features 3, 8, and C16:0; however, strain 21MJYT02-11T contained C16:0, cyclo-C17:0, and summed features 3 as major fatty acids. The main polar lipids, including diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, and phosphatidylethanolamine, were identified from strains 21YRMH01-3T, 21MJYT02-10T, and 21MJYT02-11T. The ubiquinones Q-7 and Q-8 were also detected in these strains, with Q-8 being the predominant quinone. Based on the above data, we propose that the eight strains represent one known species and three novel species in the genus Ralstonia, for which the names Ralstonia chuxiongensis sp. nov., Ralstonia mojiangensis sp. nov., and Ralstonia soli sp. nov. are proposed. The type strains are 21YRMH01-3T (=GDMCC 1.3534T = JCM 35818T), 21MJYT02-10T (=GDMCC 1.3531T = JCM 35816T), and 21MJYT02-11T (=GDMCC 1.3532T = JCM 35817T), respectively.

BackgroundLow temperature is conducive to the survival of COVID-19. Some studies suggest that cold-chain environment may prolong the survival of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and increase the risk of transmission. However, the effect of cold-chain environmental factors and packaging materials on SARS-CoV-2 stability remains unclear.MethodsThis study aimed to reveal cold-chain environmental factors that preserve the stability of SARS-CoV-2 and further explore effective disinfection measures for SARS-CoV-2 in the cold-chain environment. The decay rate of SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus in the cold-chain environment, on various types of packaging material surfaces, i.e., polyethylene plastic, stainless steel, Teflon and cardboard, and in frozen seawater was investigated. The influence of visible light (wavelength 450 nm-780 nm) and airflow on the stability of SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus at -18°C was subsequently assessed.ResultsExperimental data show that SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus decayed more rapidly on porous cardboard surfaces than on nonporous surfaces, including polyethylene (PE) plastic, stainless steel, and Teflon. Compared with that at 25°C, the decay rate of SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus was significantly lower at low temperatures. Seawater preserved viral stability both at -18°C and with repeated freeze−thaw cycles compared with that in deionized water. Visible light from light-emitting diode (LED) illumination and airflow at -18°C reduced SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus stability.ConclusionOur studies indicate that temperature and seawater in the cold chain are risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 transmission, and LED visible light irradiation and increased airflow may be used as disinfection measures for SARS-CoV-2 in the cold-chain environment.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains a public health emergency of international concern, and some countries still implement strict regional lockdowns. Further, the upcoming 2023 Asian Games and World University Games will implement a closed-loop management system. Quarantine can harm mental and physical health, to which adolescents are more vulnerable compared with adults. Previous studies indicated that light can affect our psychology and physiology, and adolescents were exposed to the artificial light environment in the evening during the lockdown. Thus, this study aimed to establish and assess appropriate residential light environments to mitigate the effects of lockdowns on sleep quality and fatigue in adolescents. The participants were 66 adolescents (12.15 ± 2.45 years of age) in a closed-loop management environment, who participated in a 28-day (7-day baseline, 21-day light intervention) randomized controlled trial of a light-emitting diode (LED) light intervention. The adolescents were exposed to different correlated color temperature (CCT) LED light environments (2000 K or 8000 K) for 1 h each evening. The results for self-reported daily sleep quality indicated that the low CCT LED light environment significantly improved sleep quality (p

Osteoporosis is a common disease of the elderly that affects millions of patients worldwide. It is mainly characterized by low bone mineral density and increased risk of fracture due to the deterioration of the bone structure, leading to difficulties in functional recovery, reduced quality of life, increased disability risk and mortality in the population. It has already been a major public health problem. Osteoporosis is a chronic disease that is difficult to treat in the elderly population, so it is crucial to develop new drugs for the treatment of osteoporosis. Oleoyl serine, an endogenous fatty acyl amide found in bone, has been shown to have excellent anti-osteoporosis effects, but it is easily hydrolyzed by amidases in vivo. The aim of this study is to determine the anti-osteoporotic effect of calcium-derived oleoyl serine, a novel oleoyl serine derivative and the molecular mechanism underneath. In vitro experiments demonstrated that calcium-derived oleoyl serine suppressed the expression of Fabp4, and Cebpα while Alp, and Runx2 was significantly upregulated compared with the oleoyl serine group and control. With the activation of β-catenin, calcium-derived oleoyl serine restored the abnormal osteogenesis and lipogenesis, indicating calcium-derived oleoyl serine compared with oleoyl serine has better effects on promoting osteogenesis and suppressing lipogenesis. In vivo experiment agreed with these findings that calcium-derived oleoyl serine promotes osteogenesis and suppresses its lipogenesis to ameliorate osteoporosis via a β-catenin dependent method. It is a new candidate for treating osteoporosis.

Many topological semimetals are excellent thermoelectric materials, but previous studies were limited to steady-state properties. Here, the authors observe a transient thermoelectric response in Cd3As2 by detecting the resulting THz emission, with an enhanced response when a small magnetic field is applied.

The electroosmosis effect is a complement to the theory of the traditional capillary penetration of cutting fluid. In this study, based on the electric double layer (EDL) characteristics at friction material/solution interfaces, the influences of additives and their concentrations on capillary electroosmosis were investigated, and a water-based cutting-fluid formulation with consideration to the electroosmosis effect was developed. The lubrication performance levels of cutting fluids were investigated by a four-ball tribometer. The results show that the EDL is compressed with increasing ionic concentration, which suppresses the electroosmotic flow (EOF). The specific adsorption of OH− ions or the dissociation of surface groups is promoted as pH rises, increasing the absolute zeta potential and EOF. The polyethylene glycol (PEG) additive adsorbed to the friction material surface can keep the shear plane away from the solid surface, reducing the absolute zeta potential and EOF. The electroosmotic performance of cutting fluid can be improved by compounding additives with different electroosmotic performance functions. Furthermore, electroosmotic regulators can adjust the zeta potential by the electrostatic adsorption mechanism, affecting the penetration performance of cutting fluid in the capillary zone at the friction interface. The improvement in the tribological performance of cutting fluid developed with consideration given to the electroosmosis effect is attributed to the enhancement of the penetration ability of the cutting fluid and the formation of more abundant amounts of lubricating film at the interface.

Jet noise is a common problem in minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) technology. This should be given great attention because of its serious impacts on the physical and mental health of the operators. In this study, a micro-grooved nozzle is proposed based on the noise reduction concept of biological micro-grooves. The flow field and acoustic characteristics of an original nozzle and a micro-grooved nozzle were investigated numerically to help better understand the noise reduction mechanism. The reasons for noise generation and the effects of the length (L), width (W) and depth (δ) of the micro-grooves on noise reduction were analyzed. It was found that jet noise is generated by the large-scale vortex ring structure and the pressure fluctuations caused by its motion. The overall sound pressure level (OASPL) decreased with the increases in W and δ, and increased with the increase in L. Among of them, δ has the greatest effect on noise reduction. The maximum noise reduction achieved was 6.66 dB, as verified by the OASPL test. Finally, the noise reduction mechanism was discussed in terms of the flow field, vorticity and the frequency characteristics. Micro-grooves can enhance the mixing of airflow inside the nozzle and accelerate the process of large-scale vortices breaking into smaller-scale vortices. It also reduces the sound pressure level (SPL) of middle frequencies, as well as the SPL of high frequencies on specific angles.

To study the metazoan zooplankton community structure and water quality, we investigated the amount of metazoan zooplankton and the water quality in Gaoyou Lake from January to December 2022. Furthermore, we also evaluated the multi-index and nutritional status of Gaoyou Lake using the comprehensive nutritional status index of water quality, dominant population composition of the metazoan zooplankton, B/T index, and Shannon–Weaver diversity index based on the situation of each ecological and functional zone. The results indicated that the metazoan zooplankton of Gaoyou Lake included 21 families, 31 genera, and 63 species. The rotifers had 8 families, 16 genera, and 34 species, accounting for 53.9% of all species. The cladocerans had 6 families, 7 genera, and 16 species, which accounted for 25.4% of all species. The copepods had 7 families, 8 genera, and 13 species, that accounted for 20.7% of all species. The density and species of small metazoan zooplankton (rotifers) had a higher proportion than large metazoan zooplankton (crustaceans). The average annual metazoan zooplankton density was 1595.7 ind./L, the average annual biomass was 4.31 mg/L, the average annual total nitrogen (TN) was 1.101 mg/L, and the average annual total phosphorus (TP) was 0.082 mg/L. The TN and TP of the Gaoyou Lake were over the standard. The comprehensive nutritional status indices of the water quality in the entire lake and the ecological and functional areas were consistent with the metazoan zooplankton evaluation results, which determined that Gaoyou Lake showed mild eutrophication.

This study investigated the tensile properties and fatigue behavior of FH36 steel plates subjected to alternating rolling processes in different directions, as well as their performance at room temperature and −60 °C. The results revealed that by employing sequential rolling in both the rolling and transverse directions, the disparities in the mechanical properties between these two directions were eliminated, resulting in nearly identical tensile performances. The macroscopic features of the high-cycle and low-cycle fatigue fractures at both room temperature and at −60 °C were similar, with high-cycle fatigue fractures exhibiting oblique shear features and low-cycle fatigue fractures exhibiting cup-cone shapes. The crack initiation zones were consistently located on the surface of the specimens. As the maximum stress increased, the area of the high-cycle fatigue crack propagation zone decreased, while the area of the final fracture zone, the number of dimples, and the proportion of low-angle grain boundaries all increased. Under −60 °C conditions, the critical crack length for high-cycle fatigue, the maximum stress limit for the onset of high-cycle fatigue, and the fatigue limit were all higher than those at room temperature, indicating a superior low-temperature fatigue performance.

Abstract Background Patrinia scabra Bunge is a well-known herbal medicine for its favorable treatment on inflammatory diseases owing to its effective ingredients, in which iridoid glycoside plays an extremely significant role. This article aimed to improve the content of total iridoid glycosides in crude extract through a series optimization of extraction procedure. Moreover, considering that both pain and inflammation are two correlated responses triggered in response to injury, irritants or pathogen, the article investigated the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of P. scabra to screen out the active fraction. Method P. scabra was extracted by ultrasonic-microwave synergistic extraction (UMSE) to obtain total iridoid glycosides (PSI), during which a series of conditions were investigated based on single-factor experiments. The extraction process was further optimized by a reliable statistical method of response surface methodology (RSM). The elution fractions of P. scabra extract were prepared by macroporous resin column chromatography. Through the various animal experiment including acetic acid-induced writhing test, formalin induced licking and flinching, carrageenan-induced mice paw oedema test and xylene-induced ear edema in mice, the active fractions with favorable analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect were reasonably screen out. Results The content of PSI could reach up to 81.42 ± 0.31 mg/g under the optimum conditions as follows: ethanol concentration of 52%, material-to-liquid ratio of 1:18 g/mL, microwave power at 610 W and extraction time of 45 min. After gradient elution by the macroporous resin, the content of PSI increased significantly. Compared with other concentrations of elution liquid, the content of PSI in 30 and 50% ethanol eluate was increased to reach 497.65 and 506.90 mg/g, respectively. Owing to the pharmacology experiment, it was reasonably revealed that 30 and 50% ethanol elution fractions of P. scabra could relieve pain centrally and peripherally, exhibiting good analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. Conclusion Patrinia scabra possessed rich iridoids and exhibited significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities.

ObjectiveThis study investigated the association between inflammatory cytokines and major depressive disorder.MethodsPlasma biomarkers were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Statistical analysis of baseline biomarkers in the major depression disorder (MDD) group and healthy controls (HC) group, and differences in biomarkers before and after treatment. Spearman analysis was performed to correlate baseline and after treatment MDD biomarkers with the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) total scores. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were analyzed for the effect of biomarkers on MDD and HC classification and diagnosis.ResultsTumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were significantly higher in the MDD group than in the HC group, while high mobility group protein 1 (HMGB1) levels were significantly lower in the MDD group. The AUCs for HMGB1, TNF-α, and IL-6 were 0.375, 0.733, and 0.783, respectively, according to the ROC curves. MDD patients with brain-derived neurotrophic factor precursor (proBDNF) levels were positively correlated with total HAMD-17 scores. The levels of proBDNF levels were positively correlated with the total HAMD-17 score in male MDD patients, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and interleukin 18 (IL-18) levels were negatively correlated with the total HAMD-17 score in female MDD patients.ConclusionInflammatory cytokines are associated with the severity of MDD, and TNF-α and IL-6 have the potential as objective biomarkers to aid in the diagnosis of MDD.

Separate-layer fracturing technology is one of the key stimulation technologies in the multi-layer reservoirs However, multiple fractures cannot evenly propagate due to the strong heterogeneity of the layers. In this paper, a three-dimensional model considering heterogeneity and fluid partitioning is developed to simulate the competitive propagation of multiple fractures in heterogeneous layered formation. The fracture pressure, fracture morphology, fluid volume and fracture length were systematically analyzed under different heterogeneous physical parameters. The following conclusions were obtained: (1) Formations with high rock strength, low permeability or high horizontal minimum principal stress will increase the fracture pressure and reduce the fluid volume within the fracture and fracture length. (2) Hydraulic fractures are easy to propagate into the interlayers if the pay zones have high rock strength and low permeability. (3) In heterogeneous layered formations, hydraulic fractures are more likely to gain competitive advantage in the high Young’s modulus and high permeability formations, while have the disadvantage in the high rock strength and high minimum principal stress formations. Poisson’s ratio has a little effect on the fracture propagation. This paper provides some helpful design guidance for the separate-layer fracturing in the heterogeneous layered formation.

ObjectiveFetal macrosomia is defined as a birth weight more than 4,000 g and is associated with maternal and fetal complications. This early metabolic disease may influence the entire life of the infant. Currently, macrosomia is predicted by using the estimated fetal weight (EFW). However, the EFW is inaccurate when the gestational week is gradually increasing. To assess precisely the risk of macrosomia, we developed a new predictive model to estimate the risk of macrosomia.MethodsWe continuously collected data on 655 subjects who attended regular antenatal visits and delivered at the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University (Shijiazhuang, China) from November 2020 to September 2021. A total of 17 maternal features and 2 fetal ultrasonographic features were included at late-term pregnancy. The 655 subjects were divided into a model training set and an internal validation set. Then, 450 pregnant women were recruited from Handan Central Hospital (Handan, China) from November 2021 to March 2022 as the external validation set. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator method was used to select the most appropriate predictive features and optimize them via 10-fold cross-validation. The multivariate logistical regressions were used to build the predictive model. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, C-indices, and calibration plots were obtained to assess model discrimination and accuracy. The model’s clinical utility was evaluated via decision curve analysis (DCA).ResultsFour predictors were finally included to develop this new model: prepregnancy obesity (prepregnancy body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2), hypertriglyceridemia, gestational diabetes mellitus, and fetal abdominal circumference. This model afforded moderate predictive power [area under the ROC curve 0.788 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.736, 0.840) for the training set, 0.819 (95% CI 0.744,0.894) for the internal validation set, and 0.773 (95% CI 0.713,0.833) for the external validation set]. On DCA, the model evidenced a good fit with, and positive net benefits for, both the internal and external validation sets.ConclusionsWe developed a predictive model for macrosomia and performed external validation in other regions to further prove the discrimination and accuracy of this predictive model. This novel model will aid clinicians in easily identifying those at high risk of macrosomia and assist obstetricians to plan accordingly.

PurposePatients with primary aldosteronism (PA) tend to exhibit a high prevalence of osteoporosis (OP) that may vary by whether PA is unilateral or bilateral, and responsive to PA treatment. To explore relationships between bone metabolism, PA subtypes, and treatment outcomes, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis.MethodsThe PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched for clinical studies related to PA and bone metabolism markers. Articles that met the criteria were screened and included in the systematic review; the data were extracted after evaluating their quality. R software (ver. 2022-02-16, Intel Mac OS X 11.6.4) was used for the meta-analysis.ResultsA total of 28 articles were subjected to systematic review, of which 18 were included in the meta-analysis. We found that PA patients evidenced a lower serum calcium level (mean difference [MD] = –0.06 mmol/L, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.10 ~ −0.01), a higher urine calcium level (MD = 1.29 mmol/24 h, 95% CI: 0.81 ~ 1.78), and a higher serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) level (MD = 2.16 pmol/L, 95% CI: 1.57 ~ 2.75) than did essential hypertension (EH) subjects. After medical treatment or adrenal surgery, PA patients exhibited a markedly increased serum calcium level (MD = –0.08 mmol/L, 95% CI: –0.11 ~ –0.05), a decreased urine calcium level (MD = 1.72 mmol/24 h, 95% CI: 1.00 ~ 2.44), a decreased serum PTH level (MD = 2.67 pmol/L, 95% CI: 1.73 ~ 3.62), and an increased serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) level (MD = –6.32 nmol/L, 95% CI: –11.94 ~ –0.70). The meta-analysis showed that the ser um PTH level of unilateral PA patients was significantly higher than that of bilateral PA patients (MD = 0.93 pmol/L, 95% CI: 0.36 ~ 1.49) and the serum 25-OHD lower than that of bilateral PA patients (MD = –4.68 nmol/L, 95% CI: –7.58 ~ 1.77). There were, however, no significant differences between PA and EH patients of 25-OHD, or BMD of femoral neck and lumbar spine. BMDs of the femoral neck or lumbar spine did not change significantly after treatment. The meta-analytical results were confirmed via sensitivity and subgroup analyses.ConclusionExcess aldosterone was associated with decreased serum calcium, elevated urinary calcium, and elevated PTH levels; these effects may be enhanced by low serum 25-OHD levels. The risks of OP and fracture might be elevated in PA patients, especially unilateral PA patients, but could be reduced after medical treatment or adrenal surgery. In view, however, of the lack of BMD changes, such hypothesis needs to be tested in further studies.

Inter-turn short circuit in the excitation windings of synchronous condensers is a common fault that directly impacts their normal operation. However, current fault analysis and diagnosis of synchronous condensers primarily rely on voltage-balanced conditions, while research on short-circuit faults under unbalanced voltage conditions is limited. Therefore, this paper aims to analyze the fault characteristics of inter-turn short circuits in the excitation windings of synchronous condensers under unbalanced grid voltage. Mathematical models were developed to represent the air gap flux density and stator parallel currents for four operating conditions: normal operation and inter-turn short circuit fault under balanced voltage, as well as a process without fault and with inter-turn short circuit fault under unbalanced voltage. By comparing the harmonic content and amplitudes, various aspects of the fault mechanism of synchronous condensers were revealed, and the operating characteristics under different conditions were analyzed. Considering the four aforementioned operating conditions, finite element simulation models were created for the TTS-300-2 synchronous condenser in a specific substation as a case study. The results demonstrate that the inter-turn short circuit fault in the excitation windings under unbalanced voltage leads to an increase in even harmonic currents in the stator parallel currents, particularly the second and fourth harmonics. This validates the accuracy of the theoretical analysis findings.

This study used simulation software and experiments to analyze the microstructure and texture of FH36 ship plate steel at different thicknesses and temperatures. The austenite phase transformed into ferrite phase at 830 °C and MC and M7C3 phases precipitated at 1150 °C and 543 °C, respectively. At room temperature, the microstructure at the surface and 1/4 thickness consisted of polygonal ferrite, acicular ferrite and granular bainite, while the 1/2 thickness had less acicular ferrite and granular bainite. The texture components were mainly {111} and {111} at all thicknesses, but {001} was stronger at 1/2 thickness. The grain size decreased gradually from 1/2 thickness to the surface, and the proportion of high-angle grain boundaries was significantly lower at the surface than at 1/4 and 1/2 thickness.

Abstract Magnetic seizure therapy (MST) has established efficacy in the treatment of depression and a growing evidence base in the treatment of depression. We conducted the first systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy of MST in anti-depressive treatment and its impact on cognitive function (INPLASY registration number: INPLASY202170061). We searched for controlled trials published in English between 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2020 in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and PsycINFO databases. The evaluation process strictly followed the Cochrane bias risk assessment tool into the literature, and Meta-analysis was performed according to the Cochrane System Reviewer’s Manual. Data from a total of 285 patients from 10 studies were retained in the quantitative synthesis. The results showed no significant difference between MST and ECT in the antidepressant effect (SDM −0.13 [−0.78;0.52]). Compared with ECT, MST showed shorter recovery time (MD −5.67 [−9.75; −1.60]) and reorientation time (MD −14.67 [−27.96; −1.41]); and MST showed less cognitive impairment on the immediate recall of words (SDM 0.80 [0.35;1.25]), delayed recall of words (SDM 0.99 [0.01;0.74]), visual-spatial immediate memory (SDM 0.51 [0.20;0.83]), visual-spatial delayed memory (SDM 0.57 [0.11;1.02]), and the verbal fluency (SDM 0.51 [0.20;0.83]). Our evidence-based study is the first meta-analysis on the efficacy of MST in anti-depressive treatment and its effect on cognitive function. It showed that the curative effect of MST in anti-depressive treatment is equivalent to that of ECT. Besides, depressive patients with MST benefit more from cognitive function compared with ECT.

Abstract A young female patient, diagnosed with diabetes mellitus at the age of 28 years old in 2009, carries KCNJ11 R136C by whole exome sequencing and her daughter doesn’t carry this mutation. Bioinformatics software predicted that the 136th amino acid is highly conservative and the mutation is deleterious. KCNJ11 R136C can result in the change of channel port structure of KATP channel. So she was diagnosed as KCNJ11-MODY.

NUT carcinoma is a rare, highly aggressive cancer that feature as the rearrangement of the nuclear protein in the testis (NUT) gene on chromosome 15q14, and its pathogenesis and treatment is not yet clear. In this case, we report a 40-year-old male patient who was diagnosed with primary pulmonary NUT carcinoma in The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. A tumor was found at the right hilus pulmonis when his physical examination with chest pain for half a month. Histopathology confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization technique for the NUT carcinoma. After chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy were given, the patient died. The overall survival time was 4.7 months. Combined with the existing literature, we retrospective report the clinical and pathological characteristics and treatment strategies of the rare lung NUT carcinoma.