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This paper considers the existence of multiple normalized solutions of the following $(2,q)$-Laplacian equation: \begin{equation*} \begin{cases} -\Delta u-\Delta_q u=\lambda u+h(\epsilon x)f(u), &\mathrm{in}\ \mathbb{R}^{N},\\ \int_{\mathbb{R}^{N}}|u|^2\mathrm{d}x=a^2, \end{cases} \end{equation*} where $20, a>0$ and $\lambda \in \mathbb{R}$ is a Lagrange multiplier which is unknown, $h$ is a continuous positive function and $f$ is also continuous satisfying $L^2$-subcritical growth. When $\epsilon$ is small enough, we show that the number of normalized solutions is at least the number of global maximum points of $h$ by Ekeland's variational principle.

Abstract The global prevalence rate for congenital hydrocephalus (CH) is approximately one out of every five hundred births with multifaceted predisposing factors at play. Genetic influences stand as a major contributor to CH pathogenesis, and epidemiological evidence suggests their involvement in up to 40% of all cases observed globally. Knowledge about an individual’s genetic susceptibility can significantly improve prognostic precision while aiding clinical decision-making processes. However, the precise genetic etiology has only been pinpointed in fewer than 5% of human instances. More occurrences of CH cases are required for comprehensive gene sequencing aimed at uncovering additional potential genetic loci. A deeper comprehension of its underlying genetics may offer invaluable insights into the molecular and cellular basis of this brain disorder. This review provides a summary of pertinent genes identified through gene sequencing technologies in humans, in addition to the 4 genes currently associated with CH (two X-linked genes L1CAM and AP1S2, two autosomal recessive MPDZ and CCDC88C). Others predominantly participate in aqueduct abnormalities, ciliary movement, and nervous system development. The prospective CH-related genes revealed through animal model gene-editing techniques are further outlined, focusing mainly on 4 pathways, namely cilia synthesis and movement, ion channels and transportation, Reissner’s fiber (RF) synthesis, cell apoptosis, and neurogenesis. Notably, the proper functioning of motile cilia provides significant impulsion for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulation within the brain ventricles while mutations in cilia-related genes constitute a primary cause underlying this condition. So far, only a limited number of CH-associated genes have been identified in humans. The integration of genotype and phenotype for disease diagnosis represents a new trend in the medical field. Animal models provide insights into the pathogenesis of CH and contribute to our understanding of its association with related complications, such as renal cysts, scoliosis, and cardiomyopathy, as these genes may also play a role in the development of these diseases. Genes discovered in animals present potential targets for new treatments but require further validation through future human studies.

The professional certification of engineering education is an important measure in training the engineering talents in new era. Its education concept happens to coincide with the goal of ''curriculum ideological and political education (CIPE)'' of specialized courses. Under the background of engineering certification of food science and engineering, this paper summarized the curriculum characteristics of Food Machinery and Equipment, explored the ideological and political elements of the curriculum, and analyzed the relationship between the objectives of curriculum and CIPE based on the Outcomes-based Education (OBE) concept. Besides, the strategies for the integration of CIPE with the professional certification system of engineering education were discussed. The evaluation and continuous improvement plan for CIPE were also set up based on the OBE concept. This study would provide basis and supports for further improving the level of CIPE in specialized courses, and implementing the fundamental task of morality cultivation.

AIM: To explore the prognostic factors for lacrimal gland adenoid cystic carcinoma (LGACC) in Chinese patients. METHODS: Clinical and histopathological data were reviewed in patients with pathologically confirmed LGACC. Local recurrence, metastasis, and disease-specific death were the main outcome measures. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed by the Kaplan-Meier method and a Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: This retrospective cohort study included 45 patients with pathologically confirmed LGACC between January 2008 and June 2022. Tumor (T) classification (P=0.005), nodal metastasis (N) classification (P=0.018) and positive margin (P=0.008) were independent risk factors of recurrence; T (P=0.013) and N (P=0.003) classification and the basaloid tumor type (P=0.032) were independent risk factors for metastasis; T classification (P

Abstract Chirality is a fundamental property in nature and is widely observed at hierarchical scales from subatomic, molecular, supramolecular to macroscopic and even galaxy. However, the transmission of chirality across different length scales and the expression of homochiral nano/microstructures remain challenging. Herein, we report the formation of macroscopic homochiral helicoids with ten micrometers from enantiomeric pyromellitic diimide-based molecular triangle (PMDI-Δ) and achiral pyrene via a screw dislocation-driven co-self-assembly. Chiral transfer and expression from molecular and supramolecular levels, to the macroscopic helicoids, is continuous and follows the molecular chirality of PMDI-Δ. Furthermore, the screw dislocation and chirality transfer lead to a unidirectional curvature of the helicoids, which exhibit excellent circularly polarized luminescence with large |g lum| values up to 0.05. Our results demonstrate the formation of a homochiral macroscopic organic helicoid and function emergence from small molecules via screw dislocations, which deepens our understanding of chiral transfer and expression across different length scales.

Abstract Lactiplantibacillus plantarum is selective for carbohydrate utilization, which is primarily regulated by the catabolic control protein A (ccpA). To investigate the impact of carbohydrate metabolism on the in vivo colonization of L. plantarum AR113, we constructed a ccpA knockout strain (AR113ΔccpA). In vitro assays showed that AR113ΔccpA had a 0.34 decrease in maximum biomass, and a 2.63 h increase in hysteresis time compared to AR113. In a single administration, there was no significant difference in the number of AR113 and AR113ΔccpA in the mucus layers, and the number of AR113 was approximately 34‐times higher than AR113ΔccpA at 48 h in the intestinal lumen. Notably, the knockout of the ccpA gene did not affect the colonization time of AR113 in the intestine during continuous administration. Therefore, the present work demonstrated that the ccpA did not play a crucial role in the in vivo colonization time of AR113 and provided valuable insights into the role of carbohydrate metabolism in bacterial colonization time in vivo.

Abstract The intelligent appearance quality classification method for Auricularia auricula is of great significance to promote this industry. This paper proposes an appearance quality classification method for Auricularia auricula based on the improved Faster Region-based Convolutional Neural Networks (improved Faster RCNN) framework. The original Faster RCNN is improved by establishing a multiscale feature fusion detection model to improve the accuracy and real-time performance of the model. The multiscale feature fusion detection model makes full use of shallow feature information to complete target detection. It fuses shallow features with rich detailed information with deep features rich in strong semantic information. Since the fusion algorithm directly uses the existing information of the feature extraction network, there is no additional calculation. The fused features contain more original detailed feature information. Therefore, the improved Faster RCNN can improve the final detection rate without sacrificing speed. By comparing with the original Faster RCNN model, the mean average precision (mAP) of the improved Faster RCNN is increased by 2.13%. The average precision (AP) of the first-level Auricularia auricula is almost unchanged at a high level. The AP of the second-level Auricularia auricula is increased by nearly 5%. And the third-level Auricularia auricula AP is increased by 1%. The improved Faster RCNN improves the frames per second from 6.81 of the original Faster RCNN to 13.5. Meanwhile, the influence of complex environment and image resolution on the Auricularia auricula detection is explored.

Abstract Background ARID1A, a subunit of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex, is thought to play a significant role both in tumor suppression and tumor initiation, which is highly dependent upon context. Previous studies have suggested that ARID1A deficiency may contribute to cancer development. The specific mechanisms of whether ARID1A loss affects tumorigenesis by RNA editing remain unclear. Results Our findings indicate that the deficiency of ARID1A leads to an increase in RNA editing levels and alterations in RNA editing categories mediated by adenosine deaminases acting on RNA 1 (ADAR1). ADAR1 edits the CDK13 gene at two previously unidentified sites, namely Q113R and K117R. Given the crucial role of CDK13 as a cyclin-dependent kinase, we further observed that ADAR1 deficiency results in changes in the cell cycle. Importantly, the sensitivity of ARID1A-deficient tumor cells to SR-4835, a CDK12/CDK13 inhibitor, suggests a promising therapeutic approach for individuals with ARID1A-mutant tumors. Knockdown of ADAR1 restored the sensitivity of ARID1A deficient cells to SR-4835 treatment. Conclusions ARID1A deficiency promotes RNA editing of CDK13 by regulating ADAR1.

Abstract Microbial degradation of fluorinated compounds raised significant attention because of their widespread distribution and potential environmental impacts. Here, we report a bacterial isolate, Rhodococcus sp. NJF-7 capable of defluorinating monofluorinated medium-chain length alkanes. This isolate consumed 2.29 ± 0.13 mmol L− 1 of 1-fluorodecane (FD) during a 52 h incubation period, resulting in a significant release of inorganic fluoride amounting to 2.16 ± 0.03 mmol L− 1. The defluorination process was strongly affected by the initial FD concentration and pH conditions, with lower pH increasing fluoride toxicity to bacterial cells and inhibiting enzymatic defluorination activity. Stoichiometric conversion of FD to fluoride was observed at neutral pH with resting cells, while defluorination was significantly lower at reduced pH (6.5). The discovery of the metabolites decanoic acid and methyl decanoate suggests that the initial attack by monooxygenases may be responsible for the biological defluorination of FD. The findings here provide new insights into microbial defluorination processes, specifically aiding in understanding the environmental fate of organic semi-fluorinated alkane chemicals.

Abstract Background The formation of pharmacologically active components in medicinal plants is significantly impacted by DNA methylation. However, the exact mechanisms through which DNA methylation regulates secondary metabolism remain incompletely understood. Research in model species has demonstrated that DNA methylation at the transcription factor binding site within functional gene promoters can impact the binding of transcription factors to target DNA, subsequently influencing gene expression. These findings suggest that the interaction between transcription factors and target DNA could be a significant mechanism through which DNA methylation regulates secondary metabolism in medicinal plants. Results This research conducted a comprehensive analysis of the NAC family in E. senticosus, encompassing genome-wide characterization and functional analysis. A total of 117 EsNAC genes were identified and phylogenetically divided into 15 subfamilies. Tandem duplications and chromosome segment duplications were found to be the primary replication modes of these genes. Motif 2 was identified as the core conserved motif of the genes, and the cis-acting elements, gene structures, and expression patterns of each EsNAC gene were different. EsJUB1, EsNAC047, EsNAC098, and EsNAC005 were significantly associated with the DNA methylation ratio in E. senticosus. These four genes were located in the nucleus or cytoplasm and exhibited transcriptional self-activation activity. DNA methylation in EsFPS, EsSS, and EsSE promoters significantly reduced their activity. The methyl groups added to cytosine directly hindered the binding of the promoters to EsJUB1, EsNAC047, EsNAC098, and EsNAC005 and altered the expression of EsFPS, EsSS, and EsSE genes, eventually leading to changes in saponin synthesis in E. senticosus. Conclusions NAC transcription factors that are hindered from binding by methylated DNA are found in E. senticosus. The incapacity of these NACs to bind to the promoter of the methylated saponin synthase gene leads to subsequent alterations in gene expression and saponin synthesis. This research is the initial evidence showcasing the involvement of EsNAC in governing the impact of DNA methylation on saponin production in E. senticosus.

Abstract Background Cough variant asthma (CVA) is one of the most common causes of chronic cough in children worldwide. The diagnosis of CVA in children remains challenging. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic utility of impulse oscillometry (IOS) pulmonary function in children with CVA. Methods This study included children aged 4 to 12 years diagnosed with CVA who underwent IOS pulmonary function and bronchodilation (BD) tests. A control group of healthy children was matched. Pre- and post-BD IOS parameters were recorded and presented as mean ± standard deviation or median. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted, and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to evaluate the discriminatory potential of the IOS parameters for diagnosing CVA. Results A total of 180 patients with CVA and 65 control subjects were included. The baseline IOS parameters in the CVA group, except X5%pred, were significantly greater compared to the control group. After inhalation of salbutamol sulfate, all IOS parameters improved significantly in the CVA group. However, Z5%pred, R5%pred, and R20%pred remained greater in the CVA group compared to the control group. The improvement rates of IOS parameters in the CVA group significantly surpassed those in the control group. The ROC curve results for pre-BD IOS parameters and the improvement rate during the BD test showed that the combinations of pre-Z5%pred+△Z5% and pre-R5%pred+△R5% achieved the highest AUC value of 0.920 and 0.898, respectively. The AUC values of these combined parameters surpassed those of individual ones. Conclusions This study highlights that children with CVA exhibit greater IOS parameters compared to healthy children. The changes in IOS parameters during the BD test provided valuable diagnostic information for CVA, and the combination of various parameters can help pediatricians accurately identify CVA in children.

Rehabilitation and regenerative medicine are two promising approaches for spinal cord injury (SCI) recovery, but their combination has been limited. Conductive biomaterials could bridge regenerative scaffolds with electrical stimulation by inducing axon regeneration and supporting physiological electrical signal transmission. Here, we developed aligned conductive hydrogel fibers by incorporating carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into methacrylate acylated gelatin (GelMA) hydrogel via rotating liquid bath electrospinning. The electrospun CNT/GelMA hydrogel fibers mimicked the micro-scale aligned structure, conductivity, and soft mechanical properties of neural axons. For in vitro studies, CNT/GelMA hydrogel fibers supported PC12 cell proliferation and aligned adhesion, which was enhanced by electrical stimulation (ES). Similarly, the combination of aligned CNT/GelMA hydrogel fibers and ES promoted neuronal differentiation and axon-like neurite sprouting in neural stem cells (NSCs). Furthermore, CNT/GelMA hydrogel fibers were transplanted into a T9 transection rat spinal cord injury model for in vivo studies. The results showed that the incorporating CNTs could remain at the injury site with the GelMA fibers biodegraded and improve the conductivity of regenerative tissue. The aligned structure of the hydrogel could induce the neural fibers regeneration, and the ES enhanced the remyelination and axonal regeneration. Behavioral assessments and electrophysiological results suggest that the combination of aligned CNT/GelMA hydrogel fibers and ES could significantly restore motor function in rats. This study demonstrates that conductive aligned CNT/GelMA hydrogel fibers can not only induce neural regeneration as a scaffold but also support ESto promote spinal cord injury recovery. The conductive hydrogel fibers enable merging regenerative medicine and rehabilitation, showing great potential for satisfactory locomotor recovery after SCI.

Abstract Adoptive immunotherapy in the T cell landscape exhibits efficacy in cancer treatment. Over the past few decades, genetically modified T cells, particularly chimeric antigen receptor T cells, have enabled remarkable strides in the treatment of hematological malignancies. Besides, extensive exploration of multiple antigens for the treatment of solid tumors has led to clinical interest in the potential of T cells expressing the engineered T cell receptor (TCR). TCR-T cells possess the capacity to recognize intracellular antigen families and maintain the intrinsic properties of TCRs in terms of affinity to target epitopes and signal transduction. Recent research has provided critical insight into their capability and therapeutic targets for multiple refractory solid tumors, but also exposes some challenges for durable efficacy. In this review, we describe the screening and identification of available tumor antigens, and the acquisition and optimization of TCRs for TCR-T cell therapy. Furthermore, we summarize the complete flow from laboratory to clinical applications of TCR-T cells. Last, we emerge future prospects for improving therapeutic efficacy in cancer world with combination therapies or TCR-T derived products. In conclusion, this review depicts our current understanding of TCR-T cell therapy in solid neoplasms, and provides new perspectives for expanding its clinical applications and improving therapeutic efficacy.

Abstract In the rapidly advancing field of information technology, passive sensors with the exemption of external power input can serve as intelligent instruments for end‐node data acquisition. 3D perovskites have been recognized as a superior optoelectronic material but suffering from notorious instability due to their “soft lattice” nature. Replacing by their 2D counterparts in these photo‐sensing applications can boost the reliability level. However, traditional fabrication for 2D perovskite relay on wet chemistry methods, exhibiting complication, and inefficiency in making high‐quality films for device integration. This study unveils a new solid–solid conversion routing toward a direct transformation from 3D orientated films into 2D highly crystalline configuration, based on a spontaneous lattice regulation mechanism through an amine steam treatment. The resultant 2D film exhibits greater orientational micromorphology and a distinct monochromatic narrowband light sensing behavior after integration into a self‐powered photodetector. This method on perovskite conversion bears the promise of advanced future‐manufacturing for high‐performance photonic sensing.

IntroductionA multitude of variables influence the healing of tooth extraction wounds, and delayed or non-healing extraction wounds might complicate later prosthodontic therapy. In this research, we analyzed the effects of systemic clopidogrel and aspirin alone or in combination on the healing of tooth extraction wounds in mice in order to provide experimental evidence for the healing of extraction wounds in patients who are clinically treated with the two medicines.Methods7-week-old ICR mice were randomly divided into four groups: control group (CON), clopidogrel group (CLOP), aspirin group (ASP), and clopidogrel combined with aspirin group (CLOP + ASP); left upper first molar was extracted, after which mice in 1 week of adaptive feeding, CLOP/ASP/CLOP + ASP groups were respectively administered with clopidogrel (10 mg/kg/d), aspirin (15 mg/kg/d), clopidogrel (10 mg/kg/d)+aspirin (15 mg/kg/d), and the control group was given an equal amount of 0.9% saline by gavage. Mice in each group were euthanized at 14 and 28 days postoperatively, and the maxilla was extracted. The tissues in the extraction sockets were examined using MicroCT and sectioned for HE staining, Masson staining, and TRAP staining, and immunohistochemistry staining (for TRAP, RANKL and osteoprotegerin).ResultsMicroCT analysis showed that at day 14, BS/BV was significantly lower in CLOP and CLOP + ASP groups compared to control and ASP groups, while BV/TV, Tb.Th was significantly higher. At day 28, BV/TV was significantly higher in the CLOP + ASP group compared to the CLOP group, with p < 0.05 for all results. HE staining and Masson trichrome staining findings revealed that at day 28, the mesenchyme in the bone was further decreased compared to that at day 14, accompanied with tightly arranged and interconnected bone trabeculae. In the quantitative analysis of Masson, the fraction of newly formed collagen was significantly higher in the CLOP group in comparison with that in the CON group (p < 0.05). At day 14, the ASP group had substantially more TRAP-positive cells than the CLOP and CLOP + ASP groups (p < 0.05). In immunohistochemical staining, RANKL expression was found to be significantly higher in the ASP group than those in the other three groups at day 28 (p < 0.05); OPG expression was significantly higher in the CLOP group and the CLOP + ASP group compared with that at day 14, and was higher than that in the ASP group at day 14 and day 28. OPG/RANKL was significantly higher in the CLOP and the CLOP + ASP groups than in the ASP group (p < 0.05).ConclusionClopidogrel alone promotes osteogenesis in the extraction wound, whereas aspirin alone inhibits alveolar bone healing. When the two drugs were combined, the healing effect of the extraction wound was more similar to that of the clopidogrel alone group. These results indicated that clopidogrel could promote the healing of the tooth extraction wound, and neutralize the adverse effect of ASP on osteogenesis when the two drugs were used in combination.

Manganese (Mn) exposure is a common environmental risk factor for Parkinson's disease (PD), with pathogenic mechanisms associated with dopaminergic neuron damage and neuroinflammation. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) have emerged as a novel therapeutic approach for neural damage repair. The functional sEVs released from MSCs when they are induced into dopaminergic progenitors may have a better repair effect on neural injury. Therefore, we collected sEVs obtained from primary human nasal mucosal mesenchymal stem cells (hnmMSC-sEVs) or cells in the process of dopaminergic progenitor cell differentiation (da-hnmMSC-sEVs), which were cultured in a 3D dynamic system, and observed their repair effects and mechanisms of Mn-induced neural damage by intranasal administration of sEVs. In Mn-exposed mice, sEVs could reach the site of brain injury after intranasal administration, da-hnmMSC enhanced the repair effects of sEVs in neural damage and behavioral competence, as evidenced by restoration of motor dysfunction, enhanced neurogenesis, decreased microglia activation, up-regulation of anti-inflammatory factors, and down-regulation of pro-inflammatory factors. The transcriptomics of hnmMSC-sEVs and da-hnmMSC-sEVs revealed that miRNAs, especially miR-494–3p in sEVs were involved in neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects. Overexpression of miR-494–3p in sEVs inhibited Mn-induced inflammation and neural injury, and its repair mechanism might be related to the down-regulation of CMPK2 and NLRP3 in vitro experiments. Thus, intranasal delivery of da-hnmMSC-sEVs is an effective strategy for the treatment of neural injury repair.

Abstract Osteoporosis is a common skeletal disease, especially for the bone health of menopausal women. It is reported that the changes of intestinal environment could affect the occurrence and development of osteoporosis. This study aims to explore the effects of different gut microbiota by antibiotics and bone health in ovariectomized (OVX) C57BL/6 mice and to research the anti‐osteoporosis effect of Lactobacillus plantarum AR495. The results showed that the gut microbiota could alleviate the bone mass loss after treatment of metronidazole, but the bone loss was aggravated after neomycin disturbing the microbiota. Gut microbiota significantly affected bone resorption in OVX mice by regulating intestinal barrier permeability. Through intestinal microbiological analysis, it was found that the abundance of Bifidobacterium and Eubacterium xylanophilum was positively correlated with bone health. In addition, L. plantarum AR495 could restore gut microbiota to normal level in OVX mice, increase the abundance of E. xylanophilum, reduce the expression of osteoclast promoting factors IL‐1, IL‐6, IL‐17, and TNF‐α in tibia, subsequently inhibit receptor activator of NF‐κB ligand/receptor activator of NF‐κB/osteoprotegerin (RANKL/RANK/OPG) pathway. Overall, this finding showed that L. plantarum AR495 reduces bone resorption and effectively improving osteoporosis through gut microbiota.

A few-layered hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets stabilized platinum nanoparticles (Pt/h-BNNS) is engineered for oxidation-promoted adsorptive desulfurization (OPADS) of fuel oil. It was found that the few-layered structure and the defective sites of h-BNNS not only are beneficial to the stabilization of Pt NPs but also favor the adsorption of aromatic sulfides. By employing Pt/h-BNNS with a Pt loading amount of 1.19 wt% as the active adsorbent and air as an oxidant, a 98.0% sulfur removal over dibenzothiophene (DBT) is achieved along with a total conversion of the DBT to the corresponding sulfones (DBTO2). Detailed experiments show that the excellent desulfurization activity originates from the few-layered structure of h-BNNS and the high catalytic activity of Pt NPs. In addition, the OPADS system with Pt/h-BNNS as the active adsorbent shows remarkable stability in desulfurization performance with the existence of different interferents such as olefin, and aromatic hydrocarbons. Besides, the Pt/h-BNNS can be recycled 12 times without a significant decrease in desulfurization performance. Also, a process flow diagram is proposed for deep desulfurization of fuel oil and recovery of high value-added products, which would promote the industrial application of such OPADS strategy.

Abstract Penicillium oxalicum engineered strain DB2 and its mutant strains with multiple regulatory modules were constructed. Mutant strain RE-4-2 with two regulatory modules showed a significant increase in the reducing sugar released from corn stover and corn fiber as well as in the conversion of cellulose than DB2. RE-5-2 with three regulatory modules showed a further increase in reducing sugar released from corn stover and the conversion of cellulose on the basis of RE-4-2. RE-4-2-AraRA731V constructed by overexpressing AraRA731V in RE-4-2 showed an increase of 7.2 times and 1.2 times in arabinofuranosidase and xylosidase activities, respectively. Reducing sugar yield and cellulose conversion of corn stover and corn fiber by RE-4-2-AraRA731V were further increased.

Abstract Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells, a unique T cell population, lend themselves for use as adoptive therapy due to diverse roles in orchestrating immune responses. Originally developed for use in cancer, agenT-797 is a donor-unrestricted allogeneic ex vivo expanded iNKT cell therapy. We conducted an open-label study in virally induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome-2 virus (trial registration NCT04582201). Here we show that agenT-797 rescues exhausted T cells and rapidly activates both innate and adaptive immunity. In 21 ventilated patients including 5 individuals receiving veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO), there are no dose-limiting toxicities. We observe an anti-inflammatory systemic cytokine response and infused iNKT cells are persistent during follow-up, inducing only transient donor-specific antibodies. Clinical signals of associated survival and prevention of secondary infections are evident. Cellular therapy using off-the-shelf iNKT cells is safe, can be rapidly scaled and is associated with an anti-inflammatory response. The safety and therapeutic potential of iNKT cells across diseases including infections and cancer, warrants randomized-controlled trials.

Aiming to provide low-cost MEC services for mobile devices in areas without/lacking infrastructure, we propose a renewable-energy-driven energy-harvesting-based task scheduling and energy management framework. First, for mobile devices, the constructed energy consumption minimization problem is solved by an alternating-optimization-based algorithm. Then, we design an energy management algorithm based on sampling average approximation to derive the optimal charging/discharging strategies, number of energy storage units, and renewable energy utilization. The simulation results show that the proposed framework can significantly reduce the cost of MEC servers and prolong the working hours of mobile devices.

Abstract Switch defective/sucrose non-fermentable (SWI/SNF) chromatin remodeling complexes are multi-subunit machineries that establish and maintain chromatin accessibility and gene expression by regulating chromatin structure. However, how the remodeling activities of SWI/SNF complexes are regulated in eukaryotes remains elusive. B-cell lymphoma/leukemia protein 7 A/B/C (BCL7A/B/C) have been reported as subunits of SWI/SNF complexes for decades in animals and recently in plants; however, the role of BCL7 subunits in SWI/SNF function remains undefined. Here, we identify a unique role for plant BCL7A and BCL7B homologous subunits in potentiating the genome-wide chromatin remodeling activities of SWI/SNF complexes in plants. BCL7A/B require the catalytic ATPase BRAHMA (BRM) to assemble with the signature subunits of the BRM-Associated SWI/SNF complexes (BAS) and for genomic binding at a subset of target genes. Loss of BCL7A and BCL7B diminishes BAS-mediated genome-wide chromatin accessibility without changing the stability and genomic targeting of the BAS complex, highlighting the specialized role of BCL7A/B in regulating remodeling activity. We further show that BCL7A/B fine-tune the remodeling activity of BAS complexes to generate accessible chromatin at the juvenility resetting region (JRR) of the microRNAs MIR156A/C for plant juvenile identity maintenance. In summary, our work uncovers the function of previously elusive SWI/SNF subunits in multicellular eukaryotes and provides insights into the mechanisms whereby plants memorize the juvenile identity through SWI/SNF-mediated control of chromatin accessibility.

Background & Aims: Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose is the most common cause of drug-induced liver injury worldwide. Uric acid (UA) is involved in sterile inflammation in many organs, but its role in APAP-induced liver injury remains elusive. Methods: We quantified the concentration of UA in the serum and liver tissues of APAP-overdosed mice and explored the changes in proteins involved in UA synthesis, absorption, and degeneration on APAP stimulation. We also examined the effects of inhibiting hepatocyte UA synthesis or reabsorption on APAP-induced liver injury in mice. Furthermore, we explored the process of UA clearance by peripheral macrophages. Results: APAP overdose significantly increased intrahepatic UA contents, which occurred earlier than apparent hepatocyte injury in APAP-overdosed mice. APAP overdose induced significant DNA leakage and may thereby increase the substrate of UA synthesis. APAP overdose also significantly increased the enzymatic activity of xanthine oxidase and urate oxidase and decreased the expression of the UA reabsorption transporter GLUT9 in hepatocytes. Inhibiting hepatocyte UA synthesis by febuxostat or reabsorption by hepatic-specific knockout of GLUT9 alleviated APAP-induced liver injury. Further experiments showed that monosodium urate but not soluble UA may be a major form of UA mediating hepatocyte injury. Additionally, monosodium urate further recruited circulating macrophages into the liver and then aggravated inflammation by increasing the levels of inflammatory factors and reactive oxygen species. Deletion of macrophages significantly ameliorated APAP-induced liver injury in mice. Conclusions: APAP overdose induces excessive UA production and leads to local high concentrations in the liver, which further injures cells and induces liver inflammation. Inhibiting the production of UA may be a potential therapeutic option for treating APAP-induced liver injury.

Prostate cancer (PCa) continues to rank among the most common malignancies in Europe and North America with significant mortality rates despite advancements in detection and treatment. Physical activity is often recommended to PCa patients due to its benefits in preventing disease recurrence and managing treatment-related side effects. However, physical activity may be challenging for elderly or bedridden patients. As such, vibration therapy has been proposed as a safe, effective, and easy to perform alternative treatment that may confer similar effects as physical exercise. Specifically, low-magnitude high frequency (LMHF) vibration has been shown to decrease breast cancer extravasation into the bone and reduce other types of cancer proliferation by impacting cell viability. Here, we investigated the effects of daily application of LMHF vibration (0.3 ​g, 60 ​Hz, 1 ​hour/day for 3 days) on prostate cancer growth and bone metastasis in vitro. Our findings suggest that LMHF vibration significantly reduces colony formation through a decrease in cell growth and proliferation. Moreover, using a 3D cell culture model, LMHF vibration significantly reduces PC3 spheroid size. Additionally, LMHF vibration reduces PCa cell extravasation into the bone microenvironment through the stimulation of osteocytes and subsequent osteocyte-endothelial cell cross talk. These findings highlight the potential of LMHF vibration for managing PCa growth and metastasis.

The current foodborne pathogen detection methods, such as culture-based methods, polymerase chain reaction, and optical and electrochemical biosensors with nucleic acid, have high sensitivity and selectivity. However, they are slow, expensive, and require well-trained operators. In this study, we utilized a 3D printer to develop a novel chip with an aptamer-based nanointerferometer capable of identifying four distinct foodborne pathogens: Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, and Staphylococcus aureus. The aptamer sensor on the chip achieved a limit-of-detection of 10 colony forming unit (CFU)/ml. With its high sensitivity and specificity, this chip offers a cost-effective platform for distinguishing and screening different foodborne pathogens.

Transparent conductive oxide (TCO) films, known for their role as carrier transport layers in solar cells, can be adversely affected by hydrolysis products from encapsulants. In this study, we explored the morphology, optical-electrical properties, and deterioration mechanisms of In2O3-based TCO films under acetic acid stress. A reduction in film thickness and carrier concentration due to acid-induced corrosion was observed. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry analyses revealed that TCOs doped with less-reactive metals exhibited enhanced corrosion resistance. The efficiency of silicon heterojunction (SHJ) solar cells with tin-doped indium oxide, titanium-doped indium oxide, and zinc-doped indium oxide films decreased by 10%, 26%, and 100%, respectively, after 200 ​h of corrosion. We also found that tungsten-doped indium oxide could effectively safeguard SHJ solar cells against acetic acid corrosion, which offers a potential option for achieving long-term stability and lower levelized cost of solar cell systems. This research provides essential insights into selecting TCO films for solar cells and highlights the implications of ethylene-vinyl acetate hydrolysis for photovoltaic modules.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) plays a causative role in memory impairment. Neuroprotective effects of tea polyphenol (TP), a unique and vital functional component of tea, have been widely investigated in neurodegenerative diseases, but the exact mechanisms have still not been entirely clarified yet. Here, we conducted the experiment to assess whether TP could protect the aged T2DM rats from memory impairment and its potential mechanisms. Our study revealed that memory impairment in aged T2DM rats was alleviated after TP treatment. Both in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that TP raised expression of GLUT4, activities of key enzymes of glucose metabolism and production of ATP in the model group, along with elevated O-GlcNAc glycosylation and reduced phosphorylation of Tau. Collectively, TP ameliorates memory impairment in aged T2DM rats via modulating hippocampal glucose uptake/metabolism and O-GlcNAc glycosylation/phosphorylation of Tau, which provides new insights into the beneficial effect of TP on DM-related memory impairment.

The substantial carbon sequestration observed in abandoned farmland assumes a pivotal role in mitigating the impacts of global warming. However, it remains unclear how to effectively manage abandoned farmlands to achieve this goal, especially over the long term, and understand the underlying mechanisms. The introduction of legumes can augment vegetation coverage, mitigate soil erosion, and ameliorate soil quality. A long-term study has been conducted in the semiarid region of the Loess Plateau since 2003, with a focus on revegetation strategies involving the introduction of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis L.), while natural abandonment (fallow) served as a control. In this study, we utilized a physical–chemical combination approach to investigate the carbon sequestration process within the 0–20 cm soil layer. Our results demonstrated that, in comparison to the fallow, alfalfa introduction significantly increased soil organic carbon (SOC), light fraction organic carbon (LFOC), and heavy fraction organic carbon (HFOC) concentrations, whereas no significant differences were observed when comparing with sweet clover. The amount and proportion of humic acid (HA) within HFOC were notably higher in alfalfa fields compared to fallow fields. While soil wet-sieved macro-aggregates (>2 mm and 0.25–2 mm) showed no significant difference between alfalfa and fallow fields, soil wet-sieved micro-aggregates were significantly more abundant in alfalfa fields. These wet-sieved micro-aggregates displayed high levels of humification across all fields. As soil wet-sieved aggregate size increased, the proportions of humin (HM) and HA decreased, while the proportion of fulvic acid (FA) increased. We concluded that the formation of HM, HA, and soil wet-sieved micro-aggregates played key roles in promoting long-term soil carbon storage following alfalfa introduction. These findings enhance our understanding of soil ecosystem responses to future climate change and underscore the significance of species selection in restoration processes to effectively mitigate global warming.

Abstract Thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials have numerous applications in energy conversion and luminescent imaging. However, they are typically achieved as metal‐organic complexes or pure organic molecules. Herein, we report the largest Au‐Ag‐oxo nanoclusters to date, Au18Ag26(R1COO)12(R2C≡C)24(μ4‐O)2(μ3‐O)2 (Au18Ag26, where R1 = CH3‐, Ph‐, CHOPh‐ or CF3Ph‐; R2 = Ph‐ or FPh‐). These nanoclusters exhibit exceptional TADF properties, including a small S1‐T1 energy gap of 55.5 meV, a high absolute photoluminescence quantum yield of 86.7%, and a microseconds TADF decay time of 1.6 μs at ambient temperature. Meanwhile, Au18Ag26 shows outstanding stability against oxygen quenching and ambient conditions. Atomic level analysis reveals the strong π⋯π and C‐H⋯π interactions from the aromatic alkynyl ligands and the enhancement of metal‐oxygen‐metal interactions by centrally coordinated O2−. Modeling of the electronic structure shows spatially separated highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital, which promote charge transfer from the ligand shell, predominantly carboxylate ligands, to O2−‐embedded metal core. Furthermore, TADF Au‐Ag‐oxo nanoclusters exhibit promising radioluminescence properties, which we demonstrate for X‐ray imaging. Our work paves the way for the design of TADF materials based on large metal nanoclusters for light‐emission and radioluminescence applications.

BackgroundThe HIV infection status among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China is a cause for concern. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) serves as a highly effective biomedical preventive measure against HIV infection. Substantial evidence has established an association between PEP utilization and risk behaviors among MSM, but whether the utilization of PEP has an impact on risk behaviors remains unknown. This study sought to elucidate the impact of PEP usage on risk behaviors among MSM and provide recommendations for developing targeted HIV prevention programs.MethodsA cohort study was conducted in Qingdao, China, from April 2021 to January 2022. Participants were enlisted by volunteers from community-based organizations through a snowball sampling method. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to collect sociodemographic and behavioral information of participants. The study encompassed a retrospective investigation, baseline survey, and follow-up survey, representing periods before, during, and after PEP usage, respectively. Generalized estimating equations, fitting a Poisson regression model, were applied to scrutinize changes in risk behaviors of MSM during and after PEP usage, in comparison to before PEP usage.ResultsA total of 341 MSM were recruited in the cohort study, with 179 individuals completing the follow-up survey. In comparison to before PEP usage, there was a significant increase in the proportion of Rush Popper usage (17.6% vs. 23.8% vs. 29.6%) and commercial sexual partners (10.9% vs. 17.6% vs. 21.8%) among MSM during and after PEP usage. Before PEP usage, 88.7% of MSM reported having ≥3 temporary sexual partners in the last 6 months. This proportion exhibited no significant change during PEP usage (91.8%), but it significantly increased to 97.8% after PEP usage (P < 0.05). Notably, there was a significant decrease in group sex during and after PEP usage compared to before PEP usage (30.8% vs. 21.4% vs. 21.2%).ConclusionThe utilization of PEP may impact risk behaviors among MSM, potentially leading to increased Rush Popper usage, temporary sexual partners, and commercial sexual partners after PEP usage, accompanied by a decrease in group sex. Further research is imperative to elucidate the impact of PEP utilization on MSM and develop targeted HIV prevention programs.

Abstract Metabolic reprogramming of amino acids has been increasingly recognized to initiate and fuel tumorigenesis and survival. Therefore, there is emerging interest in the application of amino acid metabolic strategies in antitumor therapy. Tremendous efforts have been made to develop amino acid metabolic node interventions such as amino acid antagonists and targeting amino acid transporters, key enzymes of amino acid metabolism, and common downstream pathways of amino acid metabolism. In addition to playing an essential role in sustaining tumor growth, new technologies and studies has revealed amino acid metabolic reprograming to have wide implications in the regulation of antitumor immune responses. Specifically, extensive crosstalk between amino acid metabolism and T cell immunity has been reported. Tumor cells can inhibit T cell immunity by depleting amino acids in the microenvironment through nutrient competition, and toxic metabolites of amino acids can also inhibit T cell function. In addition, amino acids can interfere with T cells by regulating glucose and lipid metabolism. This crucial crosstalk inspires the exploitation of novel strategies of immunotherapy enhancement and combination, owing to the unprecedented benefits of immunotherapy and the limited population it can benefit. Herein, we review recent findings related to the crosstalk between amino acid metabolism and T cell immunity. We also describe possible approaches to intervene in amino acid metabolic pathways by targeting various signaling nodes. Novel efforts to combine with and unleash potential immunotherapy are also discussed. Hopefully, some strategies that take the lead in the pipeline may soon be used for the common good.

Abstract Industrial processing of kelp generates large amounts of kelp-soaking wastewater (KSW), which contains a large amount of nutrient-containing substances. The plant growth-promoting effect might be further improved by combined application of growth-promoting bacteria and the nutrient-containing KSW. Here, a greenhouse experiment was conducted to determine the effect of the mixture of KSW and Bacillus methylotrophicus M4-1 (MS) vs. KSW alone (SE) on wheat seedlings, soil properties and the microbial community structure in wheat rhizosphere soil. The available potassium, available nitrogen, organic matter content and urease activity of MS soil as well as the available potassium of the SE soil were significantly different (p

Membrane characteristics are determined by the fatty acids composition, which affects survival rates after freeze-drying. However, it is unknown which composition provides the greatest effect. In this study, we found that the addition of Tween 80 and Tween 20 significantly increased survival rates of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, which reached a maximum of 93.1 %. Conversely, Tween 60 caused a significant decrease. We further found that the difference between the effects of adding Tween 80 and Tween 60 was the change in oleic acid contents. To verify the role of oleic acid, we used CRISPR-Cas9 to knock-out the key synthesis gene cla-er. The survival rates of L. plantarum AR113Δcla-er declined to 5.48 %. The addition of oleic acid restored the rates to those of wild type strains. Moreover, the membrane integrity and fluidity of knockout strains markedly decreased. This is the first confirmation that Tween 80 or Tween 20 increases the survival rate by increasing the content of oleic acid in the cell membrane. These findings also indicated that oleic acid in cell membranes has a substantial protective effect on L. plantarum during freeze-drying.

In order to effectively avoid the possible drawbacks of water seal inhibiting gas resolution and reducing coal seam permeability, based on the existing air jet research foundation, theoretical analysis and laboratory experiments were used to analyze and study the punching characteristics of high-pressure air jets and the law of punching and breaking coal under the combination of jet parameters. The results show that, among the three factors affecting the experimental results, the jet pressure has the greatest influence, the impact target distance is second, and the nozzle size has the least influence on the experimental results; the optimal combination of jet parameters in the experimental range is 12 MPa, 30 mm impact target distance and 3.5 Mach number nozzle size. The effect of jet punching increases with the increase of jet pressure, when the jet pressure reaches 10 MPa, the specimen penetrates, and when it is further increased to 12 MPa, the specimen is broken; there is an optimal impact target distance for jet punching, and the jet punching effect is the best under this target distance, which is generally 6-7 times the nozzle diameter; the nozzle size has little effect on the effect of punching experiments, and the punching effect tends to be constant.

ObjectivesA crankshaft is a key component of marine diesel engines. In order to monitor crankshaft stress and ensure the safe and reliable operation of ships, a crankshaft stress monitoring method based on digital twin technology is proposed.MethodsBased on the digital twin concept, a framework for the intelligent operation and maintenance of marine diesel engines is put forward. Taking a certain type of in-line 6-cylinder marine medium-speed diesel engine as the research object, a digital crankshaft health condition assessment system is developed on the basis of available data from real engines. First, based on an RBF neural network, the cylinder head vibration acceleration signal is used to identify in-cylinder pressure, then the load of the crank pin is calculated. Based on the finite element method, the key positions which affect the lifecycle of the crankshaft are obtained after analyzing its stress and fatigue. A BP neural network is used to evaluate the stress of the crankshaft after a reduced-order model of forces and stresses is used to determine real-time performance. A BP neural network is then used to evaluate the stress of the crankshaft.ResultsThe prediction errors of the cylinder pressure and crankshaft stress of the proposed model are both less than 5%, and the stress prediction time is shortened to the second level, realizing the real-time/quasi-real-time update of the twin model.ConclusionsThe results of this study show that it can be used as a new reference for the real-time monitoring and intelligent operation and maintenance of diesel engine components.

With the emergence and popularization of multi-homing intelligent terminals, multi-receiver D2D communication has become a hot research issue. Based on the characteristic that D2D communication can work in licensed and unlicensed spectrum, a new grouping D2D (GD2D) model contains two transmitters (one works in the licensed spectrum and the other works in the unlicensed spectrum) and one receiver is constructed in this paper. To improve the user’s quality-of-service (QoS) at the edge of the cell, we develop a novel relay selection scheme based on a social tie that considers both physical and social constraints. Furthermore, we formulate a resource allocation problem that aims to maximize the system’s energy efficiency (EE). We derive the optimal closed solutions of the expressions by the fractional programming method and the Lagrangian dual approach. Numerical results show that the proposed grouping D2D scheme can yield significant EE performance gain over the traditional cell-edge user scheme.

Abstract The voltage endurance coefficient n of cross‐linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation is an important indicator for the analysis of insulation failure mechanism. Accurately obtaining the value of n can provide technical support for the reliability evaluation of cable operation. The constant stress method and the step stress method are used to obtain the values of n, but the test parameters can influence the accuracy of the obtained n values. Two methods for selecting test parameters are proposed. The equivalence between the two methods is established, providing theoretical support for the accurate evaluation of the n value of solid insulation materials by using the step stress method. The accuracy of the evaluation results is verified by analyzing the test data. The test results show that the nstep = 13.04 evaluated by the step stress test with the proposed parameter selection method is consistent with the test result of constant stress nconstant = 12.83.

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) is one of the herpes viruses that can infect a wide range of animals including pigs, cattle, sheep, mice, and wild animals. PRV is a neurotropic alphaherpesvirus capable of infecting a variety of mammals. There is a rising interest in the targeted application of probiotic bacteria to prevent viral diseases, including PRV. In this study, the surface expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) on recombinant Lactiplantibacillus plantarum NC8 (rNC8) through the LP3065 LPxTG motif of Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1 was generated. The surface expression was observed through confocal microscopy. Dendritic cell targeting peptides (DCpep) were also fused with LPxTG that help to bind with mouse DCs. The PRV-gD was cloned in LP3065 LPxTG, resulting in the generation of rNC8-LP3065-gD. Inactivated rNC8-LP3065-gD was administered intravenously in mice on days 1 and 7 at a dose of 200 µL (109 CFU/mouse) for monitoring immunogenicity. Subsequently, a challenge dose of PRV TJ (104 TCID50) was administered intramuscularly at 14 days post-immunization. The survival rate of the immunized mice reached 80% (4/5) with no significant signs of illness. A significant rise in anti-gD antibodies was detected in the immunized mice by ELISA. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) results showed decreased viral loading in different body tissues. Flow cytometry of lymphocytes derived from mice spleen indicated an increase in CD3+CD4+ T cells, but CD3+CD8+ T cells were not detected. Moreover, it offers a model to delineate immune correlates with rNC8-induced immunity against swine viral diseases.

As a key soil carbon process, changes in plant root growth may have a dramatic impact on the global ecosystem’s carbon cycle. Fine root functional traits and fine root biomass can be used as important indexes of plant root growth. Compared with the much better understood relationships between aboveground plant functional traits and aboveground biomass, knowledge on the relationships between fine root functional traits and belowground biomass still remains limited. In this study, plant fine roots in 30 abandoned lands, 9 woodlands, 29 alfalfa grasslands, 30 Caragana shrublands and 29 croplands were sampled at 0–20 and 20–40 cm soil depths in Zhonglianchuan, Yuzhong County, Gansu Province, China (36°02′ N, 104°24′ E), to clarify the characteristics of the relationships between fine root functional traits (e.g., diameter, specific root area (SRA) and specific root length (SRL)) and fine root biomass at 0–20 and 20–40 cm soil depths. The results showed that the relationships between the fine root functional traits and fine root biomass in these ecosystems were robust, allowing for the use of an allometric growth model at both 0–20 and 20–40 cm soil depths (p < 0.05). Specifically, the relationship between root diameter and fine root biomass was consistent with highly significant positive power, while highly significant negative power relationships of SRA and SRL with fine root biomass were observed (p < 0.01, except the root diameter–biomass models in the woodlands in the 0–20 cm soil layer (p = 0.017) and 20–40 cm soil layer (p = 0.025)). The results can provide some parameters for these terrestrial ecosystem process models. From this perspective, our study is beneficial in the construction of suitable strategies to increase plant biomass, which will help with the restoration of the semi-arid region of the Loess Plateau of China.

Abstract Background Gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (GCA) is classified as Siewert type II adenocarcinoma at the esophagogastric junction in Western countries. The majority of GCA patients do not exhibit early warning symptoms, leading to over 90% of diagnoses at an advanced stage, resulting in a grim prognosis, with less than a 20% 5‐year survival rate. Method Metabolic features of 276 GCA and 588 healthy controls were characterized through a widely‐targeted metabolomics by UPLC‐MS/MS analysis. This study encompasses a joint pathway analysis utilizing identified metabolites, survival analysis in both early and advanced stages, as well as high and negative and low expression of HER2 immunohistochemistry staining. Machine learning techniques and Cox regression models were employed to construct a diagnostic panel. Results A total of 25 differential metabolites were consistently identified in both discovery and validation sets based on criteria of p

With the progress of communication technology, the cost of optical fiber and 5G continues to decrease, and data transmission becomes more convenient and fast, making it possible to realize differential protection of distribution network by various intelligent algorithms using signal waveforms. Aiming at the problem that the traditional relay protection device can not meet the actual demand when the single-phase ground fault occurs in the distribution network with distributed generation, this paper proposes a new differential protection scheme. The characteristic mode decomposition improved by the whale optimization algorithm is used to decompose the zero-sequence current waveform collected at both ends of the line. Based on the basic principle of current differential protection, the derivative dynamic time warping of the component with the largest fault feature can effectively solve the problem that the grounding current of the distribution network cannot meet the working requirements of the differential protection device, and ensure the safe and stable operation of the system. Finally, based on MATLAB software, the performance of this method is comprehensively evaluated by simulating different fault conditions, so as to ensure the feasibility and accuracy of this method in the case of diversified faults when the distributed generation is used as part of the power supply.

Lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs), due to their high energy density and long cycling life have been widely applied in a variety of industries, including electric vehicles, small‐ and medium‐sized electronic devices, and intelligent medical care. Nevertheless, the security and real‐time state of LIBs is difficult to obtain accurately, improving the battery's service life and ensuring battery safety have become the focus of research. Nondestructive testing (NDT) technology has developed quickly to reach this purpose, requiring a thorough investigation of how batteries’ internal structures have evolved. The principles, contributing factors, and applications of various widely used NDT techniques are summarized and discussed in this review. These inspection techniques can be used to evaluate the battery condition, observe the internal structure of the battery, analyze the failure phenomenon and electrochemical performance of the battery operation, etc. Finally, a summary and outlook are given regarding the characteristics and prospects of NDT methods. This overview will show new light on the application of NDT technology for LIBs and will promote the development of next‐generation LIBs with high security.

BackgroundMen who have sex with men (MSM) have a high prevalence of HIV and a low rate of HIV testing in China. HIV self-testing (HIVST) presents a viable strategy for expanding HIV testing among MSM. However, the impact of HIVST on risk behaviors among MSM remains controversial. Our study sought to ascertain this impact.MethodsFrom April 2021 to January 2022, a mixed-methods study was conducted in Qingdao City, employing both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The quantitative component entailed a cohort study among MSM who had used HIVST. Generalized estimating equations fitting Poisson regressions were used to analyze the changes in risk behaviors of MSM in short time after HIVST (ST-HIVST) and longer time after HIVST (LT-HIVST) compared to before HIVST. Subsequently, we conducted in-depth interviews with 18 MSM who completed the follow-up to delve deeper into the impact of HIVST on MSM.ResultsA total of 410 MSM were recruited in the cohort, of whom 83 were lost to follow-up. Compared to before HIVST, there were no significant changes in risk behaviors in ST-HIVST (p > 0.05), while the proportion of recreational drugs abuse (20.7% vs. 33.3%), commercial sex (14.6% vs. 22.9%), and unprotected anal sex (95.9% vs. 98.5%) increased significantly in LT-HIVST (p

To stimulate economic growth, China has launched multiple economic stimulus plans in recent years, intensifying corporate debt financing and subsequently elevating the leverage levels. Addressing and effectively reducing the leverage levels of our country's enterprises has emerged as a pressing issue in the trajectory of our economic development. This paper primarily investigates the drivers, pathways, and mechanisms for reversing the over-leveraged values of enterprises. Key findings include: (1) Excessive indebtedness exerts a negative impact on corporate value, with the suppressing effect intensifying as the degree of over-leverage increases; (2) Over-leveraged enterprises can effectively decrease their debt levels and enhance their value through private placement. Further research suggests that this mechanism operates by amplifying the operational leverage of over-leveraged enterprises post private placement and alleviating financing constraints, thereby elevating corporate value. (3) Compared to non-state-owned enterprises, state-owned enterprises exhibit higher levels of indebtedness. Among over-leveraged firms, enhancements in corporate governance and increased investment efficiency can positively transform corporate value. This study offers valuable insights for the ongoing supply-side structural reforms and governance guidance from the regulatory bodies.

Navigating the intricate and narrow vascular pathways of the body remains a formidable challenge in vascular embolization, often limiting the maneuverability and steerability of traditional catheters. This study, by T.T. Xu and co-workers, introduces dual-responsive reconfigurable miniature fiberbots, which are capable of catheter-assisted deployment, navigation, and embolization in vascular systems. Through meticulous design and magnetic control, this work successfully validates a multistage vascular embolization approach in the renal artery of rabbits in vivo. The experiments not only overcome the existing limitations of conventional catheterization techniques but also open new avenues for minimally invasive treatments.

Introduction: Flue-cured tobacco is an important economic crop that is not tolerant of continuous cropping and can be influenced by planting soil conditions including rhizosphere microbial communities and soil physicochemical properties. The relationship between rhizosphere microbial communities and soil physicochemical properties under continuous cropping conditions is unclear.Methods: This study investigated the succession of rhizosphere microbial community in continuous tobacco cropping soil for 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 15, and 30 years. The physicochemical properties of the soil were measured, high-throughput sequencing was performed on the rhizosphere microbial community, and correlation analysis was conducted.Results: The results suggested that continuous cropping could significantly enrich soil available nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, and organic matter. Meanwhile, the alpha diversity of the bacterial community was significantly reduced with continuous cropping, indicating significant changes in the structure of bacterial and fungal communities. Based on linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe), 173 bacterial and 75 fungal genera were identified with significant differences. The bacterial genera, Sphingomonas, Streptomyces, and Microvirga, were significantly positively correlated with continuous cropping years. The fungal genera, Tausonia, Solicocozyma, Pseudomycohila, and Fusarium, also showed significant positive correlation with continuous cropping years. Meanwhile, the fungal genera, Olpidium, Cephaliophora, and Cercophora, presented an opposite correlation. However, there are differences in the correlation between these bacterial and fungal genera related to continuous cropping years and other different soil physicochemical properties.Discussion: In summary, this work could provide a reference for soil management and scientific fertilization of tobacco under continuous cropping conditions.

ABSTRACT Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) causes porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED). The emergence of the novel G2b strains of PEDV has increased the need for new vaccines. We generated a recombinant adenovirus expressing the spike (S) protein of G2b PEDV based on human adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5), named rAd5-PEDV-S. Immunization with rAd5-PEDV-S elicited a significant PEDV-specific humoral immune response in sows, including IgA and IgG in colostrum and serum and circulating neutralizing antibodies. The efficacy of rAd5-PEDV-S was superior to that of the commercial inactivated vaccine, and the intramuscular (IM) route was more effective than the intranasal route. Interestingly, there was no significant difference in immunization effect between the twice and once-immunized IM groups (administered 5 weeks before farrowing). Five-day-old piglets born to sows immunized with the rAd5-PEDV-S through the IM route had less diarrhea and weight loss when challenged with PEDV. Fecal PEDV RNA expression in the PEDV-challenged rAd5-PEDV-S IM group piglets was considerably lower than that in the other groups; all five piglets from the rAd5-PEDV-S IM group survived the infection period. Histopathological examination of small intestinal sections revealed evident shedding of ileum intestinal mucosal epithelial cells in the phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) group. These findings suggest that vaccinating pregnant sows with rAd5-PEDV-S induces immune responses in the pregnant sows and passively protects piglets. Our findings highlight the potential of rAd5-PEDV-S as a candidate vaccine for PED. IMPORTANCE Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) is a highly infectious and economically significant gastrointestinal disorder that affects pigs of all ages. Preventing and controlling PED is achieved by immunizing sows with vaccines, enabling passive piglet immunization via colostrum. The prevalence of G2b porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) continues in China despite the use of commercial vaccines, raising questions regarding current vaccine efficacy and the need for novel vaccine development. Adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) has several advantages, including high transduction efficiency, a wide range of host cells, and the ability to infect cells at various stages. In this study, we expressed the immunogenic proteins of spike (S) using an Ad5 vector and generated a PED vaccine candidate by inducing significant humoral immunity. The rAd5-PEDV-S prevented PED-induced weight loss, diarrhea, and intestinal damage in piglets. This novel vaccine candidate strain possesses the potential for use in the pig breeding industry.

Abstract Background Oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) has been proven to be an effective method of indirect decompression for the treatment of Degenerative Lumbar Spondylolisthesis (DLS). However, its superiority over Unilateral biportal endoscopic Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ULIF) has not been reported yet. The current study aimed to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of OLIF and ULIF in patients with DLS. Methods A total of 107 patients were included in this study, divided into two groups according to the surgical methods with 45 patients treated by OLIF combined with anterolateral single screwrod fixation, and 62 patients treated by ULIF. To compare the perioperative parameters (blood loss, operation time, and postop hospitalization) and clinical (the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores of the low back pain and leg pain and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)) and radiological (disk height (DH), lumbar lordosis (LL), segmental lordosis (SL), the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the spinal canal) results of the two surgical approaches to evaluate their efficacy. Results Compared with the ULIF group, the blood loss and operation time in the OLIF-AF group were significantly reduced, and the Postop hospitalization was comparable. The VAS scores in both groups were significantly improved compared to preop; however, the VAS score of low back pain in the OLIF-AF group was superior to that in ULIF group throughout the follow-up period (P