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Abstract Objective To investigate the impact of vitamin A (VA), vitamin D (VD), and homocysteine (Hcy) on cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM). Methods This study is a cross-sectional study conducted in Ningxia Province, China. A total of 5000 participants aged 25–74 were recruited and divided into two groups based on the definition of cardiometabolic multimorbidity: the CMM group and the Non CMM group. Demographic, lifestyle, and laboratory data were collected to investigate the correlation between vitamin A, D, Hcy levels and CMM risk. The association was analyzed using multiple logistic regression and restricted cubic spline method. Results CMM incidence increased with age, being higher in females (20.05%) compared to males, Hypertension was present in 96.20% of CMM cases. Reduced VD levels correlated with an elevated CMM risk (OR = 1.799, 95% CI: 1.466–2.238), showing an inverse dose-response relationship, even after adjusting for confounders (OR = 1.553, 95% CI: 1.233–1.956). However, VA and Hcy levels were not significantly associated with CMM risk. The inverse correlation between VD status and CMM risk was more pronounced in males, obese individuals, and those with normal blood lipid profiles (P

Abstract Background Due to its unique anatomical characteristics, supracondylar fractures of the humerus are often difficult to achieve firm fixation with internal fixation equipment, resulting in delayed functional exercise, often leaving cubitus varus deformity, elbow stiffness, contractures, and other complications. Here, we report an adult patient with a supracondylar fracture of the humerus who underwent internal fixation through an anterior median incision in the humerus with our self-developed anterior anatomical locking plate of the distal humerus. Case presentation A 29-year-old male patient of Chinese ethnicity with trauma-induced right supracondylar fracture of the humerus and multiple soft tissue contusions, without nerve damage, blood vessel damage, or other injuries, underwent an internal incision in our hospital using a new anatomical locking plate for the anterior distal humerus fixed treatment. During the 16-month follow-up period, the patient’s elbow range of motion was almost completely restored, functional scores were excellent, and there were no minor or major postoperative complications. Conclusion In this study, we propose a surgical reconstruction strategy for adult patients with supracondylar humeral fractures. Through the anterior median incision of the humerus, open reduction and internal fixation were performed with an anatomic locking plate on the anterior side of the distal humerus to restore and fix the structure of the distal humerus, and satisfactory clinical results were achieved in our case.

BackgroundEvidence shows that the total flavonoids of Rhizoma Drynariae (TFRD) can improve bone mineral density (BMD). However, there is no evidence to summarize the improvement of biochemical indicators of bone metabolism (BIBM).MethodsThe PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database, Chongqing VIP Information Database (VIP) and SinoMed were searched from inception to 6 May 2024. The final included studies performed meta-analyses using RevMan 5.3.ResultsNine randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were ultimately included. The TFRD group had higher bone gla protein (BGP) and type I procollagen-N-propeptide (PINP) compared to the Other therapies (WMD: 5.11; 95% CI: 3.37, 6.84; p < 0.00001; WMD: 13.89; 95% CI: 11.81, 15.97; p < 0.00001). The tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP) decreased significantly (WMD: −1.34; 95% CI: −1.62, −1.06; p < 0.00001). The alkaline phosphatase (ALP) increased significantly (WMD: 7.47; 95% CI: 6.29, 8.66; p < 0.00001). There were no significant differences in serum calcium (SC) or serum phosphorus (SP) levels between the TFRD and control groups (WMD: 0.08; 95% CI: −0.04, 0.20; p = 0.17; WMD: 0.02; 95% CI: −0.02, 0.05; p = 0.36).ConclusionTFRD can stimulate bone formation and prevent bone resorption in osteoporosis (OP) patients, but it has no effect on SC and SP.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/.

Introduction Osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) is a common complication in elderly patients with osteoporosis. Despite undergoing percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) treatment, a significant percentage of OVCF patients (1.8% to 31.9%) continue to experience residual low back pain. While acupuncture has shown promise in relieving this pain, there is currently no systematic review on its efficacy specifically for residual low back pain after PKP in OVCF patients. This project aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture as a treatment for this condition.Methods and analysis A comprehensive search will be conducted, including manual and electronic searches of literature published. Various databases such as MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, International Clinical Trial Registration Platform, China National Knowledge Network, China Biomedical Literature Database, China Scientific Journal Database and Wan-fang Database will be explored. Additional sources like bibliographies and meeting minutes will also be searched. All randomised controlled clinical trials related to acupuncture for treating residual low back pain after PKP in OVCF patients will be included. Two researchers will independently perform study selection, data extraction and quality assessment. The primary outcome measure will be pain relief assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) or other validated scales. Secondary outcomes include effectiveness, Oswestry dysfunction index (ODI), quality of life questionnaire (QUALEFFO-41), follow-up relapse rate and adverse events. If feasible, a meta-analysis using RevMan V.5.3 software will be conducted. Otherwise, descriptive or subgroup analyses will be performed. Database searches will commence after the publication of this agreement, with an estimated commencement date of 1 August 2024.Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval is not required since this review does not involve individual patient data. The findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals or relevant conferences.PROSPERO registration number CRD42023478838.

The usage of cheap crude H2 in proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is still unrealistic to date, due to the suffering of the current Pt based nano-catalysts from impurities such as CO in anode. Recently, synergistic active sites between single atom (SA) and nanoparticle (NP) have been found to be promising for overcoming the poisoning problem. However, lengthening the nanoparticle-single atom (SA–NP) interface, i.e., constructing high density synergistic active sites, remains highly challenging. Herein, we present a new strategy based on molecular fusion strategy to create abundant SA–NP interfaces, with high density SA–NP interfaces created on a two dimensional nitrogen doped carbon nanosheets (Ir-SACs&NPs/NC). Owing to the abundance of SA–NP interface sites, the catalyst was empowered with a high tolerance towards up to 1000 ​ppm CO in H2 feed. These findings provide guidelines for the design and construction of active and anti-poisoning catalysts for PEMFC anode.

Thymosin beta 10 (TMSB10) overexpression is a general characteristic in human carcinogenesis. It is involved in the malignant process of generating multiple cancers. However, there are only a few reports about TMSB10 in colorectal cancer (CRC) and the mechanism of its carcinogenetic effect is still poorly understood. The present study intends to clarify the biological roles and carcinogenic mechanism of TMSB10 in CRC and to explore the possibility whether TMSB10 might be useful as a non-invasive serum tumor biomarker in detecting CRC. Immunohistochemical results showed that TMSB10 protein expression in CRC tissues was generally higher than that in adjacent tissues, and the TMSB10 contents in serum of CRC patients was significantly elevated compared to that of healthy controls. Knockdown-TMSB10 increased apoptosis and induced S-cell cycle arrest, and finally inhibited cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Transcriptome sequencing and western blotting analysis revealed that knockdown-TMSB10 increased phosphorylation of p38 and activated the p38 pathway that blocked cell cycle and promoted apoptosis. Taken together, our study indicated that TMSB10 could serve as a minimally invasive serum tumor marker in detecting CRC. At the same time it demonstrates an effective regulatory capacity of TMSB10 on cell proliferation of CRC, suggesting that TMSB10 and downstream effector molecules regulated by TMSB10 could further be applied as an appealing target in clinical post-surgery chemotherapy.

Parthenocarpic fruits, known for their superior taste and reliable yields in adverse conditions, develop without the need for fertilization or pollination. Exploring the physiological and molecular mechanisms behind parthenocarpic fruit development holds both theoretical and practical significance, making it a crucial area of study. This review examines how plant hormones and MADS-box transcription factors control parthenocarpic fruit formation. It delves into various aspects of plant hormones-including auxin, gibberellic acid, cytokinins, ethylene, and abscisic acid—ranging from external application to biosynthesis, metabolism, signaling pathways, and their interplay in influencing parthenocarpic fruit development. The review also explores the involvement of MADS family gene functions in these processes. Lastly, we highlight existing knowledge gaps and propose directions for future research on parthenocarpy.

Abstract Background Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are a superfamily of multifunctional enzymes in living organisms with metabolic and detoxification functions, which can detoxify exogenous and endogenous compounds and thereby reduce the damage caused by toxic substances to the body. Ticks are obligate blood-sucking ectoparasites that can transmit various pathogens, and the characterization of tick-derived GSTs may help improve current understanding of the molecular mechanism of tick resistance to insecticides. In this study, a novel GST gene, named HrGSTm1, was identified from Hyalomma rufipes. Methods Sequence analysis was performed by using bioinformatics techniques. A prokaryotic expression system was used to obtain the recombinant expression protein rHrGSTm1. Detection of spatiotemporal expression patterns of target genes and their response to the toxicity of cyhalothrin on female H. rufipes was performed by using a quantitative PCR platform. The optimal enzymological parameters of rHrGSTm1 using glutathione as substrate were calculated. The antioxidant capacity of the recombinant protein was evaluated by DPPH• (1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical 2,2-Diphenyl-1-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl) hydrazyl). Knockdown of the HrGSTm1 genes through RNA interference was used to analyze their effects on the physiological parameters of ticks. The changes in HrGSTm1 messenger RNA expression patterns under cypermethrin stress were analyzed. Results The complementary DNA sequence of HrGSTm1 contained a 672-bp open reading frame, which potentially encoded 223 amino acids. The predicted molecular weight was 25.62 kDa, and the isoelectric point 8.22. HrGSTm1 is a Mu-class GST, belonging to the cytoplasmic GSTs with no signal peptide observed. The V max and K m of rHrGSTm1 were 3.367 ± 0.81 uM and 2.208 ± 0.76 uM, respectively, and its activities were dependent on different temperatures and pH conditions; the scavenging rate of rHrGSTm1 to DPPH• reached 76.4% at 1.25 mg/ml. Variable expressions of HrGSTm1 were observed under various treatment periods and in different tissues, with the highest appearing in eggs (analysis of variance [ANOVA], F (2, 9) = 279.9, P

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is widely recognized as the primary culprit of chronic low back pain. Restoring deteriorated intervertebral disc (IVD) and alleviating IDD‐induced low back pain are remaining enormous challenges. There is a genetic susceptibility to IDD, and gene therapy has some therapeutic potential. However, traditional gene therapy still has certain drawbacks, including host immunity, temporary release, and suppression of gene medication function. Although regenerative materials can effectively improve the local microenvironment, they cannot treat IDD from the root. Gene‐functionalized regenerative material (GRM) is constructed based on physical embedding or forming chemical bonds by introducing particular genes, such as pDNA, siRNA, mRNA, and miRNA, into the regenerated materials. The findings demonstrate that GRM not only enhances the safety and controllability of gene therapy, but also effectively repairs IDD by overcoming the constraint that simple regenerative materials cannot reverse the disease's progression from the root. This article provided a brief overview of the physiological and pathological features of the IVD, genetic susceptibility to IDD, available treatment options, and their limitations. Then, the significance of GRM‐based treatment of IDD is proposed, and the future challenges and development in this field are finally prospected.

Abstract Preventing the accretion of droplets on surfaces is vital and slippery liquid‐infused porous surfaces (SLIPS) have promising application prospects, such as surface self‐cleaning and droplet transportation. In this work, controllable self‐transport of bouncing droplets on ultraslippery surfaces with wedge‐shaped grooves is reported. The impact behaviors of droplets on SLIPS under various impact velocities and diameters are explored, which can be classified as hover, total bounce, partial bounce, Worthington jet, and crush. SLIPS with wedge‐shaped grooves were designed to transport accreted droplets. An energy and transport model is established to explain the impact and self‐transport mechanism, where the Laplace pressure and moving resistance between droplets play a key role. Finally, SLIPS with branched wedge‐shaped grooves were designed for droplet self‐transport and demonstrated advantages. This work provides a general reference for spontaneous motion control of sessile droplets, droplets with initial impacting velocity, or even liquid films.

Abstract Background Recurrent lateral patellar dislocation (RLPD) poses a significant threat to patients’ quality of life due to knee pain, patellofemoral cartilage damage, and potential traumatic arthritis. Predictive scoring systems have been developed to assess the risk of RLPD; however, their relative accuracy remains uncertain. Purpose To investigate the accuracy of the multiple regression models to predict the individual risk of recurrent LPD. Methods The Patellar Instability probability calculator (PIP), Recurrent Instability of the Patella Score (RIP), and Patellar Instability Severity Score (PIS) scoring rules were measured in 171 patients with a history of patellar dislocation and 171 healthy individuals. Three prediction models were calculated based on the data to predict the risk of recurrent lateral patellar dislocation. The inter-observer and intra-observer reliability of each measurement parameter was evaluated. The predictive capacity of the three-prediction model was investigated using the receiver operating characteristic curve. Results In the case group of 171 patients, PIS accurately predicted recurrent lateral Patella dislocation in 143 patients. RIP was 96, and PIP was 83. The positive predictive values were 92.9%, 64%, and 68% respectively. In the control group of 171 patients, the PIS was validated in 160 patients who would not experience dislocations. RIP was 117, and PIP was 50. The negative predictive values were 85.1%, 60.9%, and 36.2%, respectively. The area under the curve score for the PIS was 0.866, and the RIP was 0.673. the PIP was 0.678. Conclusion RIP and PIP did not work to predict LPD. PIS can accurately predict recurrent lateral patellar dislocation. It can aid doctors in making treatment decisions. Level of evidence Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Abstract Objectives Vascular stiffening is highly predictive of major adverse cardiovascular events. It is not clear whether microangiopathy, such as fundus arteriosclerosis, is related to carotid atherosclerosis. Hence, this study was designed to investigate the relationship between carotid atherosclerosis and fundus arteriosclerosis among individuals of different sexes in the Chinese health-examination population. Methods This retrospective cross-sectional study involved 20,836 participants, including 13050 males and 7786 females. All participants underwent a detailed health examination, including medical history assessment, physical examination, assessment of lifestyle factors, fundus photography, Doppler ultrasound examination of the neck, and laboratory examinations. Two trained ophthalmologists analysed fundus arteriosclerosis based on fundus photographs, while carotid atherosclerosis was diagnosed using colour Doppler sonography of the neck. Binary logistic regression was used to analyse the relationship between carotid atherosclerosis and fundus arteriosclerosis. Results In participants with fundus arteriosclerosis, the incidence of carotid atherosclerosis was higher than that of participants without fundus arteriosclerosis (52.94% vs. 47.06%). After adjustments for potential confounding factors, fundus arteriosclerosis was significantly associated with the risk of carotid atherosclerosis. The OR with 95% CI for fundus arteriosclerosis was 1.17 (1.02, 1.34) with p = 0.0262, and individuals who did not have fundus arteriosclerosis were used as a reference in the total population. Fundus arteriosclerosis was associated with the incidence of carotid atherosclerosis in males (p = 0.0005) but not in females (p = 0.0746). Conclusions Fundus arteriosclerosis was closely associated with carotid atherosclerosis in the Chinese population. This association was found in males but not in females.

Nano-organic montmorillonite (OMMT) not only inhibits the harmful asphalt fume generation during the production and construction processes of asphalt mixtures but also effectively improves the performance of asphalt pavements. In order to prepare asphalt materials with smoke suppression effects and good road performance, this study selects nano-OMMT and SBS-modified asphalt for composite modification of asphalt mixtures and systematically investigates its road performance. Through the temperature sweep test, the frequency sweep test, the multiple stress creep recovery (MSCR) test, the bending beam rheometer (BBR) test, and the atomic force microscope (AFM) test, the high-temperature rheological properties, low-temperature rheological properties, high-temperature properties and aging resistance of the modified asphalt are studied. The research findings indicate that OMMT can effectively reduce the sensitivity of modified asphalt to load stress and improve its high-temperature rheological properties. SBS-modified asphalt shows increased creep stiffness and a decreased creep rate after OMMT modification, resulting in reduced flexibility and decreased low-temperature crack resistance. After short-term and long-term aging, the complex modulus aging index of OMMT/SBS composite-modified asphalt is lower than that of SBS-modified asphalt, and the phase angle aging index is higher than that of SBS-modified asphalt, demonstrating that OMMT enhances the aging resistance of SBS-modified asphalt. OMMT inhibits oxidation reactions in the asphalt matrix, reducing the formation of C=O and S=O bonds, thereby slowing down the aging process of modified asphalt and improving its aging resistance.

Cancer develops from abnormal cell growth in the body, causing significant mortalities every year. To date, potent therapeutic approaches have been developed to eradicate tumor cells, but intolerable toxicity and drug resistance can occur in treated patients, limiting the efficiency of existing treatment strategies. Therefore, searching for novel genes critical for cancer progression and therapeutic response is urgently needed for successful cancer therapy. Recent advances in bioinformatics and proteomic techniques have allowed the identification of a novel category of peptides encoded by non-canonical open reading frames (ncORFs) from historically non-coding genomic regions. Surprisingly, many ncORFs express functional microproteins that play a vital role in human cancers. In this review, we provide a comprehensive description of different ncORF types with coding capacity and technological methods in discovering ncORFs among human genomes. We also summarize the carcinogenic role of ncORFs such as pTINCR and HOXB-AS3 in regulating hallmarks of cancer, as well as the roles of ncORFs such as HOXB-AS3 and CIP2A-BP in cancer diagnosis and prognosis. We also discuss how ncORFs such as AKT-174aa and DDUP are involved in anti-cancer drug response and the underestimated potential of ncORFs as therapeutic targets.

IntroductionTicks are important blood-sucking ectoparasites that can transmit various pathogens, posing significant threats to the wellbeing of humans and livestock. Dabieshan tick virus (DBTV) was initially discovered in 2015 in Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks from the Dabieshan mountain region in Hubei Province, China. In recent years, DBTV has been discovered in various regions of China, including Shandong, Zhejiang, Liaoning, Hubei, Yunnan, and Guizhou Provinces. However, the researches on tick-borne transmission of DBTV are scarce.MethodsThis study utilized the small RNA sequencing (sRNA-seq) method to identify tick-associated viruses in ticks collected from Chengde in Hebei Province and Yongcheng in Henan Province, leading to the discovery of a new DBTV strain in Hebei. The complete coding genome of DBTV Hebei strain was obtained through RNA-seq and Sanger sequencing. Furthermore, the transmission experiment of DBTV in H. longicornis was examined in laboratory for the first time.ResultsDBTV was detected in newly molted adult H. longicornis ticks collected in Chengde, Hebei Province. Additionally, DBTV was also detected in both unfed nymphs and engorged females of H. longicornis collected from Chengde, with a positive rate of 20% and 56.25%, respectively. The complete coding genome of DBTV (OP682840 and OP716696) were obtained, and phylogenetic analysis revealed that the DBTV Hebei strain clustered with previously reported DBTV strains. Furthermore, this virus was observed in engorged females, eggs, and larvae of the subsequent generation.DiscussionIt is necessary to expand the scope of DBTV investigation, particularly in northern China. This study demonstrated that DBTV can be transmitted from engorged females to larvae of the next generation. Moreover, the detection of DBTV in unfed nymphs and adults (which moulted from engorged nymphs) collected from the filed of Chengde suggests that H. longicornis serves as a potential transmission host and reservoir for DBTV through transstadial and transovarial transmission. However, there remains a lack of research on the isolation and pathogenicity of DBTV, highlighting the need for further studies to mitigate potential harm to the health of animals and humans.

The failure of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) under axial compression has significant brittleness, so it is necessary to use fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) to constrain UHPC for achieving ductile failure. This article mainly summarized the research progress of FRP constrained UHPC columns, analyzed the influence of different variables on the compressive performance of FRP-confined UHPC columns and the coupling effect between variables, compared the axial compressive stress-strain models of FRP-confined UHPC columns proposed by previous scholars, and evaluated the existing models using a large amount of collected experimental data. The evaluation results indicated that the existing models provided relatively accurate predictions for ultimate stress, but further improvement and correction are needed for predicting ultimate strain. Based on the data collected in this study, the models had been modified, resulting in improved accuracy in predicting both ultimate stress and ultimate strain.

【Objective】The yield and quality of different varieties of cherry tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) were compared and analyzed under the substrate bag cultivation mode in multi-span greenhouse in South China, with a view to screening suitable high-quality variety and providing theoretical references for production.【Method】We compared and analyzed the growth, single fruit weight, antioxidant capacity, and fruit quality indexes of 6 cherry tomato varieties ('Qianxi', 'Jinyu', 'Baifei', 'Micai', 'Jinyu' and 'Zhanma'), including the contents of soluble solids, vitamin C (Vc), lycopene, total soluble sugar, etc. And principal component analysis, cluster analysis, and correlation analysis were conducted for the above indexes.【Result】The first cluster of the 'Qianxi' and 'Zhanma' bloomed about 3-6 d earlier than that of other varieties, and the 'Zhanma' had the longest flowering period among 6 varieties, and its flowering period of the first and the second clusters lasted for about 37 d. Moreover, the growth vigor of 'Zhanma' was the strongest with lots of leaflets, and its plant height was higher than that of 'Feicui', 'Qianxi', 'Micai', 'Jinyu' and 'Baifei' by 54.8%, 34.7%, 23.4%, 17.2% and 13.9%, respectively. In contrast, 'Feicui' showed short and thick stem, but single fruit weight and single plant yield were significantly higher than those of other varieties. The yield of 'Micai' and 'Zhanma' was higher than that of others, presenting high fruit quantity in each cluster, approximately up to 24 and 32 in each cluster, respectively. There were significant differences in the quality among 6 varieties of cherry tomato. The contents of chlorophyll, carotenoid and lycopene in the fruit of 'Micai' were highest, up to 33.7, 86.1 and 74.5 μg/g, respectively. The fruits of 'Micai' and 'Zhanma' had the highest Vc contents, which were up to 200 and 220 μg/g, respectively. The fruit of 'Jinyu' variety was rich in polyphenols. The quality of the 'Feicui' was relatively poor. The results of principal component analysis, clustering analysis and correlation analysis indicated that the comprehensive evaluation of 'Micai' variety was the best, followed by 'Qianxi' and 'Zhanma', and then by 'Baifei' and 'Jinyu', and that of 'Feicui' variety was the worst. Fruit size had a significant negative correlation with fruit quality, chlorophyll content and fruit quality (carotenoid, lycopene, flavonoids and Vc), while the chlorophyll content of various varieties of cherry tomato was positively correlated with fruit quality (carotenoid, lycopene, flavonoid, Vc content).【Conclusion】The comprehensive evaluation results showed that the 'Micai' and 'Zhanma' varieties had more fruit number in one cluster and higher yield, and the 'Qianxi' had better flavor quality, the comprehensive evaluation of the three varieties was excellent, and were suitable for high-quality and high-yield cherry tomato varieties in the multi-greenhouse matrix bag culture in South China. Mature 'Micai' cherry tomato is rich in chlorophyll, carotenoid and lycopene, which can be used as the variety of cherry tomato with high pigment content as the ideal material in cultivation.

Abstract Exosomal PD-L1 (exoPD-L1) has recently received significant attention as a biomarker predicting immunotherapeutic responses involving the PD1/PD-L1 pathway. However, current technologies for exosomal analysis rely primarily on bulk measurements that do not consider the heterogeneity found within exosomal subpopulations. Here, we present a nanoscale cytometry platform NanoEPIC, enabling phenotypic sorting and exoPD-L1 profiling from blood plasma. We highlight the efficacy of NanoEPIC in monitoring anti-PD-1 immunotherapy through the interrogation of exoPD-L1. NanoEPIC generates signature exoPD-L1 patterns in responders and non-responders. In mice treated with PD1-targeted immunotherapy, exoPD-L1 is correlated with tumor growth, PD-L1 burden in tumors, and the immune suppression of CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) with different PD-L1 expression levels display distinctive inhibitory effects on CD8 + T cells. NanoEPIC offers robust, high-throughput profiling of exosomal markers, enabling sEV subpopulation analysis. This platform holds the potential for enhanced cancer screening, personalized treatment, and therapeutic response monitoring.

Abstract This article presents a dual‐band filtering power amplifier (DB‐FPA) with extended passband bandwidths and wide stopband rejection, which is helpful in reducing the number of microwave components in the dual‐band radio frequency front end, resulting in compact circuit size and low loss. In the designed DB‐FPA, a wideband low‐pass filter is applied as the input matching network (IMN) to provide wideband impedance matching and good stopband rejection, while a dual‐band filtering impedance transformation is adopted as the output matching network (OMN) to provide dual‐band impedance matchings and filtering responses simultaneously. Specifically, the IMN is constructed by high‐impedance transmission‐line sections and low‐impedance open‐circuit stubs. The OMN is designed based on the specific external quality factors and coupling coefficients during two bands, resulting in dual‐band impedance transformations and dual‐band filtering responses. Then, based on the above IMN and OMN, the design procedure of the presented DB‐FPA is summarised. To verify the proposed idea, a novel DB‐FPA has been fabricated and measured. During the two frequency bands, the measured maximum power added efficiencies are 55.11% and 47.78% within 33.0 dBm input power, while the measured peak gains are 15.4 and 14.0 dB within 15.0 dBm input power.

The Industrial Metaverse provides unparalleled prospects for increasing productivity and efficiency across multiple sectors. As wireless sensor networks play an important role in data collection and transmission within this ecosystem, preserving context privacy becomes critical to protecting sensitive information. This paper investigates the issue of context privacy preservation for user validation via AccesSensor in the Industrial Metaverse and presents a technological method to address it. We explore the need for context privacy, look at existing privacy preservation solutions, and propose novel user validation methods that are customized to the Industrial Metaverse’s access system. This method is evaluated on time-based efficiency, privacy method and bandwidth utilization. Our method performs better as compared to the DPSensor. Our research seeks to provide insights and recommendations for developing strong privacy protection methods in wireless sensor networks that operate within the Industrial Metaverse ecosystem.

The recent expansion of shellfish mariculture could significantly impact the ocean carbon cycle and its associated biogeochemical processes. To understand the source and fate of particulate organic carbon (POC), a summer cruise was conducted from September 8 to 10, 2022, at a mussel farm on Gouqi Island and its adjacent areas located in the East China Sea. Parameters included in situ temperature and salinity, contents of dissolved oxygen (DO), suspended particulate matter (SPM), POC, and chlorophyll a (Chl a), as well as the stable carbon isotopic composition (δ13C) of organic matter in particle and sediment samples, which were analyzed to facilitate a comparative assessment of the areas inside and outside the mussel farm. The POM was much fresher (POC/Chl a < 150) inside the farm with little impact from sediment resuspension (lower SPM content, 11.6 ± 6.6 mg/L), while a significant influence of sediment resuspension was found outside the farm (SPM > 20 mg/L, POC/Chl a > 150). A two end-member mixing model showed that 82.0 ± 6.0% of POC originated from marine algae within the farm, much higher than that outside the farming area (66.1 ± 7.8%). Moreover, elevated DO saturation but relatively low Chl a concentration within the farm suggested continuous algae consumption following potential high productivity. The averaged δ13C values were similar among suspended POC, sinking POC, and sedimentary organic carbon within the farm, implying the fast export and burial of POC. This is likely due to the filter-feeding habits of mussels, who ingest fresh POC and then pack it as fecal pellets that rapidly settle into the sediment. This study sheds light on the distribution and sources of POM inside and outside the mussel farm on Gouqi Island, enhancing our understanding of the marine carbon cycle on shellfish farms and providing insights into the underlying biogeochemical processes.

A UAV-assisted space–air–ground integrated network (SAGIN) can provide communication services for remote areas and disaster-stricken regions. However, the increasing types and numbers of ground terminals (GTs) have led to the explosive growth of communication data volume, which is far from meeting the communication needs of ground users. We propose a mobile edge network model that consists of three tiers: satellites, UAVs, and GTs. In this model, UAVs and satellites deploy edge servers to deliver services to GTs. GTs with limited computing capabilities can upload computation tasks to UAVs or satellites for processing. Specifically, we optimize association control, bandwidth allocation, computation task allocation, caching decisions, and the UAV’s position to minimize task latency. However, the proposed joint optimization problem is complex, and it is difficult to solve. Hence, we utilize Block Coordinate Descent (BCD) and introduce auxiliary variables to decompose the original problem into different subproblems. These subproblems are then solved using the McCormick envelope theory, the Successive Convex Approximation (SCA) method, and convex optimization techniques. The simulation results extensively illustrate that the proposed solution dramatically decreases the overall latency when compared with alternative benchmark schemes.

The Hippo pathway plays crucial roles in governing various biological processes during tumorigenesis and metastasis. Within this pathway, upstream signaling stimuli activate a core kinase cascade, involving MST1/2 and LATS1/2, that subsequently phosphorylates and inhibits the transcriptional co-activators YAP and its paralog TAZ. This inhibition modulates the transcriptional regulation of downstream target genes, impacting cell proliferation, migration, and death. Despite the acknowledged significance of protein kinases in the Hippo pathway, the regulatory influence of protein phosphatases remains largely unexplored. In this study, we conducted the first gain-of-functional screen for protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) regulating the Hippo pathway. Utilizing a LATS kinase biosensor (LATS-BS), a YAP/TAZ activity reporter (STBS-Luc), and a comprehensive PTP library, we identified numerous novel PTPs that play regulatory roles in the Hippo pathway. Subsequent experiments validated PTPN12, a master regulator of oncogenic receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), as a previously unrecognized negative regulator of the Hippo pathway effectors, oncogenic YAP/TAZ, influencing breast cancer cell proliferation and migration. In summary, our findings offer valuable insights into the roles of PTPs in the Hippo signaling pathway, significantly contributing to our understanding of breast cancer biology and potential therapeutic strategies.

Abstract In recent years, the behavior recognition technology based on Wi-Fi devices has been favored by many researchers. Existing Wi-Fi-based human behavior recognition technology mainly uses classification algorithms to construct classification models, which has problems such as inaccurate behavior segmentation, failure to extract deep-level features from the original data and design classification models matching the proposed features in the process of behavior recognition. In order to solve above problems, this paper proposes a window variance comparison method by combining the adaptive thresholds calculated to achieve effective segmentation of multiple discontinuous human behaviors, then uses the short-time Fourier algorithm to extract time-frequency features of individual behavior, and extracts the graph structure data from the autocorrelation matrix of time-frequency features and the features themselves. A graph neural network is built for behavior recognition. The experimental results show that the segmentation accuracy of the behavior segmentation method in the two scenes is 0.964 and 0.993, which is better than the existing threshold-based behavior segmentation methods. In addition, this paper extracts graph structure data by spectral energy change method and builds behavior recognition model by using graph neural network, and the recognition accuracy is significantly improved compared with the traditional classification algorithm.

Abstract Aqueous iron batteries are appealing candidates for large-scale energy storage due to their safety and low-cost aspects. However, the development of aqueous Fe batteries is hindered by their inadequate long-term cycling stability. Here, we propose the synthesis and application as positive electrode active material of cross-linked polyaniline (C-PANI). We use melamine as the crosslinker to improve the electronical conductivity and electrochemical stability of the C-PANI. Indeed, when the C-PANI is tested in combination with a Fe metal negative electrode and 1 M iron trifluoromethanesulfonate (Fe(TOF)2) electrolyte solution, the coin cell can deliver a specific capacity of about 110 mAh g−1 and an average discharge voltage of 0.55 V after 39,000 cycles at 25 A g−1 with a test temperature of 28 °C ± 1 °C. Furthermore, mechanistic studies suggest that Fe2+ ions are bonded to TOF− anions to form positively charged complexes Fe(TOF)+, which are stored with protons in the C-PANI electrode structures. Finally, we also demonstrate the use of C-PANI in combination with a polymeric hydrogel electrolyte to produce a flexible reflective electrochromic lab-scale iron battery prototype.

Abstract Introduction In total hip arthroplasty (THA), the correct position of the acetabular component directly determines the outcome of the surgery, or the success of the surgery. Therefore, how to accurately locate the position of the acetabular component has become a very critical step in THA. As an important anatomical structure of the hip joint, the transverse acetabular ligament (TAL) is helpful for acetabular component orientation in THA. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate application of TAL in THA. Materials and methods A systematic literature search of PUBMED, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library was performed (January and February 2023) using keywords “total hip arthroplasty,” “total hip replacement,” “total hip replacements,” “total hip arthroplasties,” “total hip prosthesis,” and “transverse acetabular ligament” in all possible combinations. Reference lists of included articles were reviewed. Study design, surgical approach, patient demographics, TAL identification rate, appearance of the TAL, anteversion and inclination angle and rate of dislocations were recorded. Results In total, 19 studies met the screening criteria. Study designs were prospective cohorts (42%), retrospective cohorts (32%), Case series (21%), and randomized controlled trial (5%). Twelve of the 19 (63.2%) studies investigated the application of TAL as an anatomical landmark for locating acetabular component position in THA. Analysis revealed that TAL is a reliable anatomical landmark for acetabular component orientation within the safe zone in THA. Conclusions TAL can reliably be used to align the acetabular component in the safe zone for anteversion and inclination in THA. However, TAL has individual variation influenced by some risk factors. More randomized controlled studies with larger numbers of patients are needed to investigate the precision and accuracy of TAL as an intraoperative landmark in THA. Level of evidence IV.

The composite flame retardant composed of aluminum hydroxide (ATH) and organic montmorillonite (OMMT) is of potential application value in the tunnel asphalt pavement. To investigate the effect of ATH and OMMT on the rheological properties of SBS modified asphalt at high and low temperatures. In this study, the composite ATH/OMMT/SBS modified asphalt was subjected to multiple stress creep recovery (MSCR), linear amplitude sweep test (LAS), and Bending beam rheometer (BBR) experiments. Analysis of high and low temperature rheological properties and fatigue properties of composite ATH/OMMT/SBS modified asphalt under the conditions of single incorporation and composite modification. The findings of the tests suggest that ATH can significantly improve the fatigue life but has adverse impact on the creep recovery property of asphalt materials, OMMT has a significant improvement effect on the low-temperature performance, however, the detrimental effect of OMMT on fatigue performance is greater than the improvement of ATH. The research results provide a reference for the practical application of flame retardants.

Substituting petroleum asphalt with bio-asphalt produced by biological waste recycling can mitigate the dependence on non-renewable resource oil. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of bio-asphalt as a substitute for petroleum asphalt by analyzing its rheological properties. Therefore, in this study, modified asphalt was prepared using styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymer (SBS), polyphosphoric acid (PPA), and bio-asphalt (BA) as modifiers, and the short-term aging test of the modified asphalt was carried out. Then the rheological properties of the modified asphalt were analyzed through the Temperature Scanning (TS) test, the Multiple Stress Creep Recovery (MSCR) test, and the Bending Beam Rheometer (BBR) test; finally, the Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) test, Fluorescence Microscopy (FM) test to study the modification mechanism and microscopic characteristics of asphalt. The results show that adding BA improved the low-temperature rheological properties of modified asphalt while reducing the high-temperature rheological properties of PPA modified asphalt. The BA, SBS, and PPA combination exhibited excellent performance in high and low-temperature conditions. The short-term aging process enhances the high-temperature rutting resistance of modified asphalt but adversely affects its low-temperature performance. Fluorescence microscopy tests have demonstrated that BA improves the compatibility of SBS and PPA in asphalt. Meanwhile, FTIR has revealed that BA and SBS are physically mixed, and BA and PPA undergo a chemical reaction. This study suggests that BA could be a viable and sustainable alternative to petroleum asphalt, with promising performance characteristics when combined with SBS and PPA modifiers.

Asphalt pavements are inevitably affected by coupled effects of dry-wet/freeze-thaw cycles, UV radiation, temperature, and loading during service, resulting in degradation of their road performance and reduced service life. Therefore, this study used crumb rubber (CR) and polyphosphoric acid (PPA) as modifiers to prepare CR/PPA composite modified asphalt mixtures for testing. To investigate the mechanical properties of the composite modified asphalt mixtures under the action of multi-factor coupling. Meanwhile, the performance analysis of matrix asphalt and SBS modified asphalt mixtures were carried out as a comparison. Density and water penetration tests, splitting tests, beam bending tests, and four-point bending fatigue tests reveal the evolution of asphalt mixture road performance. Finally, regression fitting was performed on the test data to establish the mechanical damage model of each type of asphalt mixture. The results show that with the increase of wet-dry/freeze-thaw cycles and the increase of UV radiation time, the void ratio and water permeability coefficient increase and the splitting strength, bending and tensile strain, and fatigue life decrease for all types of asphalt mixtures. When the number of wet-dry/freeze-thaw cycles reached 8, the mechanical properties of the asphalt mixture decreased significantly, while the changes leveled off after the number of cycles reached 15. When the UV radiation time is less than 4 months, the mechanical properties of the asphalt mixture decay more slowly. However, with a further increase in radiation time, the mechanical properties decay rapidly. The water-saturated specimens have a more significant effect on the mechanical damage of each type of asphalt mixture. Compared with the other two mixtures, the composite modified asphalt mixtures have superior mechanical properties and fatigue life. The mixture performance damage model based on the least squares Levenberg-Marquardt method (L-M method) was able to simulate the experimental data well, with a minimum correlation coefficient R2 of 0.9285. In summary, the road performance of all types of asphalt mixtures under the coupling of multiple factors has deteriorated, while the composite modified asphalt mixtures have better anti-damage characteristics, with good prospects for promotion.

The escalating impact of global warming on crop yield and quality poses a significant threat to future food supplies. Breeding heat-resistant crop varieties holds promise, but necessitates a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying plant heat tolerance. Recent studies have shed light on the initial events of heat perception in plants. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of the recent progress made in unraveling the mechanisms of heat perception and response in plants. Calcium ion (Ca2+), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and nitric oxide (NO) have emerged as key participants in heat perception. Furthermore, we discuss the potential roles of the NAC transcription factor NTL3, thermo-tolerance 3.1 (TT3.1), and Target of temperature 3 (TOT3) as thermosensors associated with the plasma membrane. Additionally, we explore the involvement of cytoplasmic HISTONE DEACETYLASE 9 (HDA9), mRNA encoding the phytochrome-interacting factor 7 (PIF7), and chloroplasts in mediating heat perception. This review also highlights the role of intranuclear transcriptional condensates formed by phytochrome B (phyB), EARLY FLOWERING 3 (ELF3), and guanylate-binding protein (GBP)-like GTPase 3 (GBPL3) in heat perception. Finally, we raise the unresolved questions in the field of heat perception that require further investigation in the future.

Nucleic acid sensing involving CRISPR technologies is powerful but has certain limitations, such as PAM sequence requirements and limited multiplexing. Here, authors report a CRISPR-based barcoding technology which enables multiple outputs from any target sequence, based on cis- and trans-cleavage.

It is believed that dual active galactic nuclei (AGN) form during galaxy mergers. Studying dual-AGN emission can provide valuable insights into galaxy merging and evolution. To investigate parsec-scale radio emission properties, we observed eight radio components of four selected dual-AGN systems using the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) at 5 GHz in multiple-phase-center mode. Among them, two compact radio components, labeled J0051+0020B and J2300-0005A, were detected clearly on parsec scales for the first time. However, the radio emission of the other six components was resolved out in the high-resolution images. We provide the values or upper limits of the brightness temperature and radio emission power, and analyze the emission origins in detail for each target. Based on their physical properties reported in this work and in the literature, we suggest that the radio emission in J0051+0020B and J2300-0005A originates primarily from compact jets, while the other six sources show more complex emission mechanisms. In addition, our VLBA observations suggest that the systematic X-ray deficit in our dual-AGN sample is likely attributed to the tidally induced effect and possibly a viewing angle effect.

Accretion of black holes at near-Eddington or super-Eddington rates represents the most powerful episode driving black hole growth, potentially occurring across various types of objects. However, the physics governing accretion and jet–disk coupling in such states remains unclear, primarily due to the difficulty in detecting associated jets, which may emit extremely weakly or exhibit episodic behavior. Only a few near/super-Eddington systems have demonstrated radio activity, and it remains uncertain whether jets exist and what their properties are in super-Eddington active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and ultraluminous X-ray sources. This uncertainty stems mainly from the complex radio emission mix, which includes contributions from jets, star formation activity, photoionized gas, accretion disk wind, and coronal activity. In this work, we conducted high-resolution, very long baseline interferometry observations to investigate jets in the highly accreting narrow-line Seyfert I system I Zw 1. Our observations successfully revealed small-scale jets (with a linear size of ∼45 pc) at both 1.5 and 5 GHz, based on the high radio brightness temperature, radio morphology, and spectral index distribution. Additionally, the parsec-scale jet observed in I Zw 1 displays a knotted morphology reminiscent of other sources accreting at similar rates. In summary, the high accretion rates and jet properties observed in the AGN I Zw 1 may support the AGN/X-ray binary analogy in this extreme state.

Solid tumours can universally evade contact inhibition of proliferation (CIP), a mechanism halting cell proliferation when cell–cell contact occurs. Merlin, an ERM-like protein, crucially regulates CIP and is frequently deactivated in various cancers, indicating its significance as a tumour suppressor in cancer biology. Despite extensive investigations into Merlin’s role in cancer, its lack of intrinsic catalytic activity and frequent conformation changes have made it notoriously challenging to study. To address this challenge, we harnessed innovative luciferase technologies to create and validate a NanoBiT split-luciferase biosensor system in which Merlin is cloned between two split components (LgBiT and SmBiT) of NanoLuc luciferase. This system enables precise quantification of Merlin’s conformation and activity both in vitro and within living cells. This biosensor significantly enhances the study of Merlin’s molecular functions, serving as a potent tool for exploring its contributions to CIP and tumorigenesis.

Identifying critical links is of great importance for ensuring the safety of the cyber-physical power system. Traditional electrical betweenness only considers power flow distribution on the link itself, while ignoring the local influence of neighborhood links and the coupled reaction of information flow on energy flow. An identification method based on electrical betweenness centrality and neighborhood similarity is proposed to consider the internal power flow dynamic influence existing in multi-neighborhood nodes and the topological structure interdependence between power nodes and communication nodes. Firstly, for the power network, the electrical topological overlap is proposed to quantify the vulnerability of the links. This approach comprehensively considers the local contribution of neighborhood nodes, power transmission characteristics, generator capacity, and load. Secondly, in communication networks, effective distance closeness centrality is defined to evaluate the importance of communication links, simultaneously taking into account factors such as the information equipment function and spatial relationships. Next, under the influence of coupled factors, a comprehensive model is constructed based on the dependency relationships between information flow and energy flow to more accurately assess the critical links in the power network. Finally, the simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed method under dynamic and static attacks.

Far-red light exerts an important regulatory influence on plant growth and development. However, the mechanisms underlying far-red light regulation of morphogenesis and photosynthetic characteristics in blueberry plantlets in vitro have remained elusive. Here, physiological and transcriptomic analyses were conducted on blueberry plantlets in vitro supplemented with far-red light. The results indicated that supplementation with low far-red light, such as 6 μmol m−2 s−1 and 14 μmol m−2 s−1 far-red (6FR and 14FR) light treatments, significantly increased proliferation-related indicators, including shoot length, shoot number, gibberellin A3, and trans-zeatin riboside content. It was found that 6FR and 14 FR significantly reduced chlorophyll content in blueberry plantlets but enhanced electron transport rates. Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) showed the enrichment of iron ion-related genes in modules associated with photosynthesis. Genes such as NAC, ABCG11, GASA1, and Erf74 were significantly enriched within the proliferation-related module. Taken together, we conclude that low far-red light can promote the proliferative capacity of blueberry plantlets in vitro by affecting hormone pathways and the formation of secondary cell walls, concurrently regulating chlorophyll content and iron ion homeostasis to affect photosynthetic capacity.

Machine learning (ML) algorithms have been widely used in big data prediction and analysis in terms of their excellent data regression ability. However, the prediction accuracy of different ML algorithms varies between different regression problems and data sets. In order to construct a prediction model with optimal accuracy for fly ash concrete (FAC), ML algorithms such as genetic programming (GP), support vector regression (SVR), random forest (RF), extremely gradient boost (XGBoost), backpropagation artificial neural network (BP-ANN) and adaptive network-based fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) were selected as regression and prediction algorithms in this study; the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm was also used to optimize the structure and hyperparameters of each algorithm. The statistical results show that the performance of the assembled algorithms is better than that of an NN-based algorithm. In addition, PSO can effectively improve the prediction accuracy of the ML algorithms. The comprehensive performance of each model is analyzed using a Taylor diagram, and the PSO-XGBoost model has the best comprehensive performance, with R2 and MSE equal to 0.9072 and 11.4546, respectively.

Proteins and RNAs, as fundamental components of cellular machinery, play pivotal roles in the intricate landscape of life [...]

In the past decade, there has been tremendous progress in integrating chalcogenide phase-change materials (PCMs) on the silicon photonic platform for non-volatile memory to neuromorphic in-memory computing applications. In particular, these non von Neumann computational elements and systems benefit from mass manufacturing of silicon photonic integrated circuits (PICs) on 8-inch wafers using a 130 nm complementary metal-oxide semiconductor line. Chip manufacturing based on deep-ultraviolet lithography and electron-beam lithography enables rapid prototyping of PICs, which can be integrated with high-quality PCMs based on the wafer-scale sputtering technique as a back-end-of-line process. In this article, we present an overview of recent advances in waveguide integrated PCM memory cells, functional devices, and neuromorphic systems, with an emphasis on fabrication and integration processes to attain state-of-the-art device performance. After a short overview of PCM based photonic devices, we discuss the materials properties of the functional layer as well as the progress on the light guiding layer, namely, the silicon and germanium waveguide platforms. Next, we discuss the cleanroom fabrication flow of waveguide devices integrated with thin films and nanowires, silicon waveguides and plasmonic microheaters for the electrothermal switching of PCMs and mixed-mode operation. Finally, the fabrication of photonic and photonic–electronic neuromorphic computing systems is reviewed. These systems consist of arrays of PCM memory elements for associative learning, matrix-vector multiplication, and pattern recognition. With large-scale integration, the neuromorphicphotonic computing paradigm holds the promise to outperform digital electronic accelerators by taking the advantages of ultra-high bandwidth, high speed, and energy-efficient operation in running machine learning algorithms.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to show that the droplet impact phenomenon is important for the advancement of industrial technologies in many fields such as spray cooling and ink jet printing. Droplet bouncing on the nonwetting surfaces is a special phenomenon in the impact process which has attracted lots of attention. Design/methodology/approach – In this work, the authors fabricated two kinds of representative nonwetting surfaces including superhydrophobic surfaces (SHS) and a slippery liquid-infused porous surface (SLIPS) with advanced UV laser processing. Findings – The droplet bouncing behavior on the two kinds of nonwetting surfaces were compared in the experiments. The results indicate that the increasing Weber number enlarges the maximum droplet spreading diameter and raises the droplet bounce height but has no effect on contact time. Originality/value – In addition, the authors find that the topological SHS and SLIPS with the laser-processed microwedge groove array produce asymmetric droplet bouncing with opposite offset direction. Microdroplets can be continuously transported without any additional driving force on such a topological SLIPS. The promising method for manipulating droplets has potential applications for the droplet-based microfluidic platforms.

Abstract Background The protein ferritin, which plays an important role in the maintenance of iron homeostasis, is indispensable for iron detoxification, resistance to oxidative stress and innate immunity. Ticks, which are obligate blood-sucking ectoparasites, have to deal with a large amount of iron when they take a blood meal. Methods Sequence analysis was undertaken using bioinformatics. A recombinant (r) expression vector, rferritin, was constructed for a prokaryotic expression system. A quantitative polymerase chain reaction platform was used to detect the spatial and temporal expression patterns of target genes and their responses to a low temperature environment. Knockdown of the ferritin genes through RNA interference was used to analyze their effects on physiological parameters of ticks. Results Two ferritin genes, HrFer1 and HrFer2, were cloned from the tick Hyalomma rufipes. Their open reading frames are 519 base pairs (bp) and 573 bp in length, and number of coding amino acids 170 and 190, respectively. The phylogenetic tree showed that HrFer1 and HrFer2 have a close evolutionary relationship with the H subunit of ferritin. In vitro experiments showed that rHrFer1 and rHrFer2 had concentration-dependent iron chelating activity. The relative expression of the two ferritin genes was higher in the ovary and midgut of H. rufipes. RNA interference results demonstrated that HrFer1 and HrFer2 expression had a significant effect on engorged body weight, number of eggs laid, and mortality of H. rufipes, and that HrFer2 also had a significant effect on feeding duration. Furthermore, the relative expression of ferritin decreased significantly in a low temperature environment, suggesting that HrFer1 and HrFer2 play a regulatory role in the cold stress response of H. rufipes. Conclusions The results of the present study improve our understanding of the involvement of ferritins in tick blood-feeding. Graphical Abstract

Abstract The integration of the Mobile Crowdsensing (MCS) and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) brings enormous volumes of data that generate significant commercial value. However, the data contain a wealth of sensitive information about devices' environmental situation and collective activities, which draws a flock of adversaries and poses an unprecedented security challenge. Furthermore, sensing gadgets deployed in the IIoT device are usually resource‐constrained and often do not have adequate 3C resources (i.e. communication, computing, caching) to run sophisticated privacy‐preserving methods, making them easier targets for attacks in data sharing. Therefore, a risk‐adaptive privacy protection scheme R‐DP for MCS‐enabled IIoT gadgets is proposed, which comprises a closed‐loop risk‐awareness process and an adaptive privacy protection method DP (a dissemination process with perturbation). The closed‐loop process dynamic awareness of risks and threats in MCS task feeds appropriate privacy protection advice to the decision‐makers for the task. In addition, DP was designed as a lightweight and risk‐adaptive privacy protection method to meet the operational needs of 3C resource‐constrained gadgets. The analysis and evaluation show that R‐DP provides satisfactory privacy protection while the availability of statistical features reaches more than 96%, and the time complexity is only O (1) for sensing gadgets.

BackgroundAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia and cognitive decline, while its pathological mechanism remains unclear. Tauopathies is one of the most widely accepted hypotheses. In this study, the molecular network was established and the expression pattern of the core gene was analyzed, confirming that the dysfunction of protein folding and degradation is one of the critical factors for AD.MethodsThis study analyzed 9 normal people and 22 AD patients’ microarray data obtained from GSE1297 in Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The matrix decomposition analysis was used to identify the correlation between the molecular network and AD. The mathematics of the relationship between the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the expression level of the genes involved in the molecular network was found by Neural Network (NN). Furthermore, the Support Vector Machine (SVM) model was for classification according to the expression value of genes.ResultsThe difference of eigenvalues is small in first three stages and increases dramatically in the severe stage. For example, the maximum eigenvalue changed to 0.79 in the severe group from 0.56 in the normal group. The sign of the elements in the eigenvectors of biggest eigenvalue reversed. The linear function of the relationship between clinical MMSE and gene expression values was observed. Then, the model of Neural Network (NN) is designed to predict the value of MMSE based on the linear function, and the predicted accuracy is up to 0.93. For the SVM classification, the accuracy of the model is 0.72.ConclusionThis study shows that the molecular network of protein folding and degradation represented by “BAG2-HSC70-STUB1-MAPT” has a strong relationship with the occurrence and progression of AD, and this degree of correlation of the four genes gradually weakens with the progression of AD. The mathematical mapping of the relationship between gene expression and clinical MMSE was found, and it can be used in predicting MMSE or classification with high accuracy. These genes are expected to be potential biomarkers for early diagnosis and treatment of AD.

Abstract Control of droplet sliding and its interfacial behavior such as sliding resistance and friction have important applications in microfluidic and energy‐related fields. Nature provides many examples of interface‐driven droplet sliding control; yet, to date, the continuous governing of the multiphase process and precise steering of droplet sliding remain challenging. Here, directional‐dependent ultraslippery patterned surfaces with significant droplet sliding anisotropy were created by coordinating the heterogeneous wettability of the back of the dessert beetle, directional‐dependent architecture of the butterfly wing, and ultraslippery configuration of the Nepenthes alata. Analysis of the sliding resistance on typical ultraslippery patterned surfaces reveals that the directional‐dependent triple phase line (TPL) immigration on the ultraslippery patterns dominates the strong sliding anisotropy, which can be modeled using the classic Furmidge equation. In particular, the sliding anisotropy for the semicircular ultraslippery patterned surface shows threefold higher than that of natural butterfly wings due to the most significant difference in TPL immigration in two opposite directions, which enables the simultaneous handling of multiple droplets without mass loss and steering of droplet sliding/friction. This work may transform the design space for the control of multiphase interface motion and the development of new lab‐on‐a‐chip and droplet‐based microsystems.

As human–robot interaction and teleoperation technologies advance, anthropomorphic control of humanoid arms has garnered increasing attention. However, accurately translating sensor-detected arm motions to the multi-degree freedom of a humanoid robotic arm is challenging, primarily due to occlusion issues with single-sensor setups, which reduce recognition accuracy. To overcome this problem, we propose a human-like arm control strategy based on multi-sensor fusion. We defined the finger bending angle to represent finger posture and employed a depth camera to capture arm movement. Consequently, we developed an arm movement tracking system and achieved anthropomorphic control of the imitation human arm. Finally, we verified our proposed method’s effectiveness through a series of experiments, evaluating the system’s robustness and real-time performance. The experimental results show that this control strategy can control the motion of the humanoid arm stably, and maintain a high recognition accuracy in the face of complex situations such as occlusion.

In this study, we aimed to better understand the difference between the functions of the two types of granulosa cells and sought to discover more key genes involved in follicle development and follicle selection. Herein, we separately collected pre-hierarchical follicle granulosa cells (PHGCs) and preovulatory follicle granulosa cells (POGCs) for RNA extraction; the transcriptomes of the two groups were compared via RNA-seq. A total of 5273 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between the PHGCs and POGCs; 2797 genes were up-regulated and 2476 were down-regulated in the PHGCs compared with the POGCs. A qPCR analysis confirmed that the expression patterns of 16 randomly selected DEGs were highly consistent with the RNA-seq results. In the POGCs, many of the genes with the most significant increase in expression were related to steroid hormone synthesis. In addition, the genes with the most significant decline in expression, including AMH and WT1, were related to the inhibition of steroid hormone synthesis. These results suggest that steroid hormones play a key role in follicle development. Furthermore, a Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed that these DEGs were mainly involved in the primary metabolic process, the carbohydrate metabolic process, the cellular process, ribosomes, the cytoplasm, and intracellular processes. A Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis showed that the DEGs were mainly enriched in steroid biosynthesis, the cell cycle, ribosomes, the TGF-beta signaling pathway, focal adhesion, and so on. We also observed the morphology of the follicles at different developmental stages, and the results showed that the thickness of the granular layer of the small yellow follicles (SYFs) decreased significantly with further development. In addition, we also found that the thickness of the granulosa layer of hens over 300 days old was significantly lower than that of 200-day-old hens. In short, these data indicate that the tissue morphology and function of granulosa cells change throughout follicle development.

The rapid development and extensive application of the Internet of Things (IoT) have brought new challenges and opportunities to the field of communication. By integrating quantum secure communication with the IoT, we can provide a higher level of security and privacy protection to counteract security threats in the IoT. In this paper, a hybrid quantum communication scheme using six-qubit entangled states as a channel is proposed for specific IoT application scenarios. This scheme achieves hierarchical control of communication protocols on a single quantum channel. In the proposed scheme, device A transmits data to device B through quantum teleportation, while device B issues control commands to device A through remote quantum state preparation technology. These two tasks are controlled by control nodes C and D, respectively. The transmission of information from device A to device B is a relatively less important task, which can be solely controlled by control node C. On the other hand, issuing control commands from device B to device A is a more crucial task requiring joint control from control nodes C and D. This paper describes the proposed scheme and conducts simulation experiments using IBM’s Qiskit Aer quantum computing simulator. The results demonstrate that the fidelity of the quantum teleportation protocol (QTP) and the remote state preparation protocol (RSP) reach an impressive value of 0.999, fully validating the scheme’s feasibility. Furthermore, the factors affecting the fidelity of the hybrid communication protocol in an IoT environment with specific quantum noise are analyzed. By combining the security of quantum communication with the application scenarios of the IoT, this paper presents a new possibility for IoT communication.

The main goal of this research is to develop a highly advanced anthropomorphic control system utilizing multiple sensor technologies to achieve precise control of a robotic arm. Combining Kinect and IMU sensors, together with a data glove, we aim to create a multimodal sensor system for capturing rich information of human upper body movements. Specifically, the four angles of upper limb joints are collected using the Kinect sensor and IMU sensor. In order to improve the accuracy and stability of motion tracking, we use the Kalman filter method to fuse the Kinect and IMU data. In addition, we introduce data glove technology to collect the angle information of the wrist and fingers in seven different directions. The integration and fusion of multiple sensors provides us with full control over the robotic arm, giving it flexibility with 11 degrees of freedom. We successfully achieved a variety of anthropomorphic movements, including shoulder flexion, abduction, rotation, elbow flexion, and fine movements of the wrist and fingers. Most importantly, our experimental results demonstrate that the anthropomorphic control system we developed is highly accurate, real-time, and operable. In summary, the contribution of this study lies in the creation of a multimodal sensor system capable of capturing and precisely controlling human upper limb movements, which provides a solid foundation for the future development of anthropomorphic control technologies. This technology has a wide range of application prospects and can be used for rehabilitation in the medical field, robot collaboration in industrial automation, and immersive experience in virtual reality environments.