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Abstract Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRSI) can distinguish between benign and malignant prostate diseases. This study investigated the potential of MRSI for diagnosing prostate cancer and guiding prostate biopsy. We retrospectively reviewed 234 patients with suspected prostate cancer who underwent MRSI with targeted prostate biopsy. Patients were divided into two groups according to their puncture pathology: prostate cancer (n = 103, 44.02%) and benign prostatic disease (n = 131, 55.98%). The t-test, Mann–Whitney U test, or chi-square test was used to compare the groups. The diagnostic abilities of MRSI, prostate-specific antigen level, digital rectal examination, and magnetic resonance imaging without contrast for prostate cancer were compared using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC); the ARC-ROC values were 0.831, 0.768, 0.692, and 0.656, respectively. The AUC-ROC value for diagnosing prostate cancer using the CC/c ratio was 0.853. CC/c ratio > 0.97 was identified as the optimal threshold for diagnosing prostate cancer (sensitivity, 86.5%; specificity, 78.6%; Youden index, 0.651). Spearman correlation analysis revealed a correlation between the CC/c ratio and Gleason score (r = 0.737, p

Due to the influence of extreme rainfall and high intensity human engineering activities, the advance speed of the gully head in the Loess Tableland is intensified, which seriously threatens the economic and social development of the Loess Tableland. In recent years, although large-scale Gully Consolidation and Highland Protection (GCHP) projects have effectively inhibited the development of traceable erosion on Loess tableland, there are still serious problems of soil and water erosion. Based on this situation, this study investigated and analyzed the soil erosion diseases of the typical GCHP Projects through field investigation, literature review, and comprehensive analysis. The results show that the hydrology regulation function of GCHP Projects can be divided into the table-land intercept area, gully head cut row area, gully slope cutting line of energy dissipation, and channel held area. Currently, the GCHP suffers from surface water erosion, subsurface erosion of loess engineering geological interface, blockage of drainage channels, and disaster chain of loess gully. The unclear hydrological control mechanism and the mechanism of soil and water mutual feeding erosion disasters are the key scientific challenges of the project. In the future, attention should be paid to the application of biological soil crust, new soil improvement materials, and the complete quality supervision of gully protection tableland engineering. This study can provide basic information for future research on the mechanism of soil and water erosion disasters and engineering planning and design of the Gugou Plateau.

Abstract In this study, a discriminative model of fracture expansion through a composite reservoir interface was established. During fracture transformation, the model, based on the theory of energy release rate at the fracture tip, helps clarify the critical conditions and assess the law of hydraulic fracture expansion through coal composite reservoir interfaces. This model considers shear and tensile processes during fracturing at the coal–rock interface and the effects of interface material property differences on fracture extension. In addition, fracture extension pattern differentiation is achieved by comparing the hydraulic fracture tip penetration and bending energy release rates (G p /G d ) with the ratio of reservoir fracture and interface fracture energies (ΓR/ΓF). The accuracy of this discriminant criterion was verified by comparing the predicted results of the discriminant model with fracturing test results under identical conditions. The effects of various factors on G p /G d and hydraulic fracture penetration extension were investigated by using the sand-mudstone composite reservoir of the Shibox Formation in the Linxing Block, China, as the geological background. The results indicate that for certain values of ΓR/ΓF, G p /G d increases logarithmically with an increase in water pressure in the wellbore. Moreover, the difference in ground stress and elastic modulus between the layers exponentially increases with increasing Poisson’s ratio difference and the angle between fracture and interface and decreases logarithmically with increasing fracture height. These results indicate that hydraulic fractures are likely to penetrate from reservoirs with a high elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio into reservoirs with a low elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio. Furthermore, hydraulic fractures are likely to penetrate formations with large differences in pinch angle and ground stress. Under specific geological conditions, high water pressure in the wellbore and small seam height are favourable for fracture penetration.

While the industry has produced sugar-derived ethanol from the conventional method of fermentation for hundreds of years, other effective routes involving the direct transformation of carbohydrates still remain extremely rare. Very recently, an innovative chemo-catalytic method driven by the aqueous-phase catalysis was created for the synthesis of cellulosic ethanol, making a great breakthrough in the common ways as it can theoretically utilize all of the carbon atoms in sugars with faster kinetics; up to now, results from the relevant studies have been accumulated to a certain extent, but the periodic conclusions in this field are unfortunately absent. For this reason, this work tries to offer an overview of the cellulosic ethanol produced by chemo-catalytic routes, highlighting the present knowledge in relation to the technical efficiency, catalytic mechanisms as well as practical applications. At first, the advanced progress on the increasing efficiency from a varied type of catalytic systems are extensively discussed, which involves the specific functions of hybrid components from different strategies; meanwhile, the general influences of processing conditions, such as the hydrothermal severity and aqueous environments, are also identified. Subsequently, possible mechanisms behind the chemo-catalytic processes are widely elaborated by analyzing a number of experimental cases associated with the reaction network and its kinetic models. After that, the actual effects of this technique on the real biomass are collected to identify the positive/negative interactions between multiple components, together with the potential solutions on the semi-continuous processes of pilot scale application. The techno-economic analysis (TEA) is also calculated and compared with other similar methods, such as fermentation and gasification. Finally, several proposals aimed at upgrading the whole chain of chemo-catalytic processes are clearly provided, which may function as a guideline for future studies on the production of bio-ethanol from lignocellulosic materials.

ObjectiveTo understand the changing trends of stroke burden among residents of China, the United States, and the world from 2010 to 2019, and to provide a reference for stroke prevention and control. MethodsStudy data were collected from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 (GBD 2019) database. Descriptive analysis was performed using age-standardized rates of incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) of stroke. The Joinpoint regression model was used to analyze changing trends in stroke burden, and the age-period-cohort (APC) model was used to analyze age, period, and birth cohort effects on stroke burden. ResultsFrom 2010 to 2019, the age-standardized rate (1/100 000) of stroke incidence among residents of China, the United States, and the world decreased from 201.06, 94.72, and 153.05 to 200.84, 86.96, and 150.77, with average annual percentage changes (AAPCs) of – 0.1%, – 0.8%, and – 0.2% and a significant decreasing trend in the United States and worldwide (both P < 0.05); the age-standardized rate (1/100 000) of stroke mortality decreased from 164. 90, 31.16, and 98.66 to 127.25, 30.76, and 84.19, with AAPCs of – 2.9%, – 0.2%, and – 1.8% and a significant decreasing trend in China and worldwide (both P < 0.001); and the age-standardized DALY rate (1/100 000) of stroke decreased from 3 018. 40, 734.77, and 2 048.37 to 2 412.52, 713.87, and 1 768.05, respectively, with AAPCs of – 2.5%, – 0.3%, and – 1.6% and a significant decreasing trend in China and worldwide (both P0 for both male and female residents of China, the United States, and the world, while the net drift values of age-standardized mortality rates were < 0. The relative risk (RR) of stroke incidence and mortality increased with age for residents of China, the United States, and the world; the RR of stroke incidence increased with period progression for residents of China, the United States, and the world, and the increase was greater for residents of the United States. In 2018, the period RR values of stroke incidence for male and female residents of the United States were 2.14 (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.45 – 3.16) and 2.18 (95%CI: 1.48 – 3.23), respectively. The RR of stroke mortality decreased with time for residents of China and the world, but the time RRs for stroke mortality were all > 1 for residents of the United States. The birth cohort-specific RR values for stroke incidence generally showed an increasing trend with time for residents of China and the United States, with a more pronounced increasing trend for residents of the United States. In 2014, the birth cohort-specific RR values for stroke incidence for male and female residents of the United States were 38.00 (95%CI: 6.08 – 237.32) and 43.07 (95%CI: 6.84 – 271.27), respectively, but the changing trend was not significant for the world population. The risk of stroke mortality showed a decreasing trend with increasing birth cohort among residents of China, with the birth cohort-specific RR value of stroke mortality for men ranging from 1.36 (95%CI: 1.31 – 1.41) to 0.51 (95%CI: 0.18 – 1.49), and the birth cohort-specific RR values of stroke mortality for female residents decreased continuously from 1.45 (95%CI: 1.41 – 1.47) to 0.40 (95%CI: 0.19 – 0.83), whereas the changing trends were not significant for residents of the United States and the world. ConclusionThe age-standardized rate of stroke mortality and DALYs among residents of China and the world decreased from 2010 to 2019, but the burden of stroke among residents of China was still higher than that of the global population. The stroke mortality rate among residents of the United States recently showed a slight increase, and age was an important determinant of stroke incidence and mortality.

After the occurrence of mine water inrush, choosing the appropriate emergency evacuation path is very important to reduce the casualty and the mine accident level. The traditional Dijkstra algorithm can not be effectively applied to the dynamic environment of mine water inrush. It can only statically plan a single optimal escape path. In view of the limitations of this algorithm, the time equivalent length is introduced to optimize the traditional Dijkstra algorithm to realize the dynamic change of the optimal escape path with time and water level height. Moreover, the optimized Dijkstra algorithm is combined with the K optimal path algorithm to realize the dynamic planning of multiple optimal escape paths. Field application shows that the optimized dynamic D-K algorithm can be effectively applied to mine water inrush with characteristics of randomness, dynamics and complex, which can provide important decision support for affected personnel to choose emergency escape path.

Abstract Background To use an automated system exploiting the advantages of both a neural network and radiomics for analysis of non‐calcified predominant plaque (NCPP). Methods This study retrospectively included 234 patients. Using the workflow of the previous study, the coronary artery was first segmented, images containing plaques were then extracted, and a classifier was built to identify non‐calcified predominant plaques. Radiomics feature analysis and a visualization tool were used to better distinguish NCPP from other plaques. Results Twenty‐six representative radiomics features were selected. DenseNet achieved an area under the curve of 0.889, which was significantly larger (p = 0.001) than that obtained using a gradient‐boosted decision tree (0.859). The feature variances and energy features in calcified predominant plaque were both different from those in NCPP. Conclusions Our automated system provided high‐accuracy analysis of vulnerable plaques using a deep learning approach and predicted useful features of NCPP using a radiomics‐based approach.

While the impact of the house purchase restriction (HPR) policy on the housing market in China has been deeply examined, there is still little known about how the housing market varies when such policy is abandoned. To fill this gap, we first theoretically propose two hypotheses concerning the relationship between abandoning HPR policy and housing price and transaction based on the housing literature. We then examine the hypotheses by taking Jinan, China as empirical case that offer an excellent policy setting of some districts having discarded the policy while the other remains. The results derived from Synthetic Control Method (SCM) showed that the cancellation of the HPR policy plays a vital role in increasing the transaction volume, but it fails to promote house prices. The findings remain reliable after a series of placebo and robustness tests. This article adds new insight to the debate on efficacy of government intervention via more granular quantitative data, and further contributes to policy implications regarding housing market development.

Maize, belonging to the Poaceae family and the Zea L. genus, stands as an excellent food crop. The plant type has a significant impact on crop growth, photosynthesis, lodging resistance, planting density, and final yield. In this study, 160 maize inbred lines were selected as experimental materials to conduct molecular markers research on maize plant type traits through the measurement of plant type-related traits, population structure, and genome-wide association analysis. The phenotypic data revealed differences in plant type-related traits among maize inbred lines grown in the Xinzhou and Jinzhong regions. The frequency distribution of plant height, ear height, spindle length of tassel, and first-order branch number of tassel traits in the 160 maize inbred lines previously studied generally conformed to a normal distribution. We identified 42,240 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using the Affymetrix Axiom chip. The 160 maize inbred lines were categorized into six subgroups, each exhibiting an average gene diversity of 0.356 and an average polymorphism information content of 0.245. We identified 9, 23, 18, 8 and 32 loci that were significantly associated with first-order branch number of tassel, spindle length of tassel, ear height, plant height, and ear height/plant height ratio, respectively. At the same time, 6, 22, 14, 2, and 37 genes were identified as significantly associated with first-order branch number of tassel, spindle length of tassel, ear height, plant height, and ear height/plant height ratio, respectively. This study comprehensively delved into the genetic information of maize plant type-related traits, offering valuable genetic resources and a solid theoretical foundation for the breeding of novel maize varieties with optimized plant types.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease of undetermined etiology characterized by symmetric synovitis with predominantly destructive and multiple joint inflammation. Cytoplasmic DNA sensors that recognize protein molecules that are not themselves or abnormal dsDNA fragments play an integral role in the generation and perpetuation of autoimmune diseases by activating different signaling pathways and triggering innate immune signaling pathways and host defenses. Among them, melanoma deficiency factor 2 (AIM2) recognizes damaged DNA and double-stranded DNA and binds to them to further assemble inflammasome, initiating the innate immune response and participating in the pathophysiological process of rheumatoid arthritis. In this article, we review the research progress on the source of cytoplasmic DNA, the mechanism of assembly and activation of AIM2 inflammasome, and the related roles of other cytoplasmic DNA sensors in rheumatoid arthritis.

Diabetic foot ulcers, pressure ulcers, and bedsores can easily develop into chronic wounds with bacterial infections, complicating wound healing. This work reports a two-step strategy for treating infected chronic wounds. Firstly, LL37 mimetic peptide-W379 peptides were rapidly released to eliminate the bacterial biofilm on the wound. Then, 3D radially aligned nanofiber scaffolds loaded with W379 antimicrobial peptide and PDGF-BB were used to treat the wound to prevent bacterial infection recurrence and promote angiogenesis and granulation tissue regeneration, thereby accelerating wound healing. In the presented study, we found that the combined use of burst and controlled release of W379 antimicrobial peptide effectively clears the bacterial biofilm and prevents the recurrence of bacterial infection. Additionally, we found that the removal of the bacterial biofilm contributed to modulating the local inflammatory response from a pro-inflammatory type to a pro-regenerative type. Furthermore, the use of PDGF-BB significantly promotes neovascularization and granulation tissue regeneration in the wound bed, resulting in accelerating re-epithelialization and wound closure. Our study provides a promising treatment method for the repair of infected chronic wounds.

The stress response of pig herds poses a significant challenge in the pig breeding industry, and investigating strategies to mitigate this stress is of paramount importance. The objective of this study was to investigate the impacts of supplemental feeding of Chinese herbal mixtures to perinatal sows on antioxidant capacity and gut microbiota of sows and their offspring piglets. A total of 60 healthy sows (Large white) at fourth parity were randomly assigned to five treatment groups. The control group received a basal diet, while the TRT1 group received a basal diet supplemented with 2kg/t Bazhen powder (BZP). The TRT2, TRT3, and TRT4 groups were fed a basal diet supplemented with 1kg/t, 2kg/t, and 3kg/t Qi-Zhu- Gui-Shao soothing liver and replenishing blood powder (QZGSP), respectively. The trial lasted for 5weeks, starting from day 100 of gestation until day 21 of delivery. The results demonstrated that the inclusion of 2kg/t and 3kg/t QZGSP significantly enhanced the antioxidant capacity of sows and their offspring piglets to different degrees, thereby effectively alleviating oxidative stress. Analysis of gut microbiota revealed that QZGSP influenced the composition of gut microbiota in both sows and their offspring piglets. Specifically, at the genus level, the abundance of Christensenellaceae_R-7_group in the gut microbiota of sows in the TRT4 group was significantly lower than that in the TRT1 group (p < 0.05), while the relative abundance of Lactobacillus in the gut microbiota of sows in the TRT4 group was significantly higher than that in the CON group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, at the genus level, compared to those in the TRT1 group, piglets from the TRT4 group exhibited a significant decrease in relative abundance of Escherichia-Shigella, Parabacteroides, and Methanobrevivacter (p < 0.05), but a significant increase in Phascolarctobacterium (p < 0.05). Spearman correlation analysis indicated a positive correlation between relative abundance of Christensenellaceae_R-7_group and serum contents of T-AOC and CAT (p < 0.05), as well as a negative correlation with serum concentration MDA (p < 0.05). Additionally, there was a positive correlation between relative abundance Lactobacillus and serum levels SOD (p < 0.01) and GSH-Px (p < 0.05). Therefore, supplementation of 3kg/t QZGSP in the periparturient sow diet significantly augmented antioxidant capacity in both sows and offspring piglets, while concurrently modulating the composition and structure of their intestinal microflora. The findings from this study demonstrate that QZGSP represents a beneficial feed additive for perinatal sows.

Abstract Background The pathway involving PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1) and PARKIN plays a crucial role in mitophagy, a process activated by artesunate (ART). We propose that patients with anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis exhibit insufficient mitophagy, and ART enhances mitophagy via the PINK1/PARKIN pathway, thereby providing neuroprotection. Methods Adult female mice aged 8–10 weeks were selected to create a passive transfer model of anti-NMDAR encephalitis. We conducted behavioral tests on these mice within a set timeframe. Techniques such as immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and western blotting were employed to assess markers including PINK1, PARKIN, LC3B, p62, caspase3, and cleaved caspase3. The TUNEL assay was utilized to detect neuronal apoptosis, while transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to examine mitochondrial autophagosomes. Primary hippocampal neurons were cultured, treated, and then analyzed through immunofluorescence for mtDNA, mtROS, TMRM. Results In comparison to the control group, mitophagy levels in the experimental group were not significantly altered, yet there was a notable increase in apoptotic neurons. Furthermore, markers indicative of mitochondrial leakage and damage were found to be elevated in the experimental group compared to the control group, but these markers showed improvement following ART treatment. ART was effective in activating the PINK1/PARKIN pathway, enhancing mitophagy, and diminishing neuronal apoptosis. Behavioral assessments revealed that ART ameliorated symptoms in mice with anti-NMDAR encephalitis in the passive transfer model (PTM). The knockdown of PINK1 led to a reduction in mitophagy levels, and subsequent ART intervention did not alleviate symptoms in the anti-NMDAR encephalitis PTM mice, indicating that ART’s therapeutic efficacy is mediated through the activation of the PINK1/PARKIN pathway. Conclusions At the onset of anti-NMDAR encephalitis, mitochondrial damage is observed; however, this damage is mitigated by the activation of mitophagy via the PINK1/PARKIN pathway. This regulatory feedback mechanism facilitates the removal of damaged mitochondria, prevents neuronal apoptosis, and consequently safeguards neural tissue. ART activates the PINK1/PARKIN pathway to enhance mitophagy, thereby exerting neuroprotective effects and may achieve therapeutic goals in treating anti-NMDAR encephalitis.

ABSTRACT: Fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome (FLHS) has a high incidence rate in laying hens, and lots of FLHS-affected meat products enter the market every year. At the same time, the meat of laying hens is an important component of the human diet. However, the impact of FLHS on meat of laying hens is unknown, which could have a negative impact on consumers. To explore the effects of FLHS on chicken breast meat, a total of 36 twenty-five-wk-old Jingfen laying hens were used in the experiment. The hens were randomly divided into Control group and Model group, with 6 replicates per group and 3 hens per replicate. All chickens were raised in double-story step cages with individual pens. After a 3-wk acclimation period, the formal experiment began at 28 wk of age and lasted for 8 wk. Blood, liver, and breast meat samples were collected for the study of FLHS effects on breast meat. The impact of FLHS on meat quality was assessed by measuring indicators such as water-holding capacity and tenderness of the breast meat. Absolute quantitative lipidomics was employed to reveal the impact of FLHS on the lipid composition of chicken breast meat, and then validated by using RT-qPCR. Moreover, the volatilomics was utilized to detect changes in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in chicken breast meat and to elucidate the resulting flavor changes. This research results showed that the meat quality of chicken breast meat decreased under FLHS, mainly manifested as reduced water holding capacity and decreased tenderness. The lipid content in the breast meat of FLHS-affected hens was significantly increased (P < 0.05). Among the affected lipids, 38 triglycerides exhibited notable elevation, possibly linked to heightened gene expression, such as lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 3. The breast meat of laying hens with FLHS demonstrated an increased presence of VOCs, with 20 differential VOCs identified. Notably, 14 VOCs, particularly in 2-Undecenal, trans-Geranylacetone and ethyl nonanoate, exhibited substantial increases. These 3 VOCs had been identified as playing an important role in the formation of flavor in the breast meat of FLHS-affected laying hens. Correlation analysis suggested that the increase in these 3 VOCs might be related to the increase in lipid molecules such as phosphatidylethanolamine (38;3e) and acyl carnitine (10:3). In summary, FLHS reduced the breast meat quality of laying hens, altered its lipid profiles, and enhanced its flavor. These findings underscore the profound impact of FLHS on lipid and VOC profiles in chicken breast meat, offering valuable insights for chicken meat quality affected by FLHS.

IntroductionInternal erosion triggered by water pipeline leaks seriously threatens the stability of the urban ground. Hangzhou, a city in Zhejiang Province, China, is facing critical challenges due to urban ground collapse (UGC) caused by internal erosion. However, there is a lack of research on the prevention of UGC by improving the internal erodibility of underground soil. Addressing this issue is of utmost importance to ensure the city’s stability and safety. This paper proposes to improve the internal erodibility of typical sandy silt soils with chemical stabilisers.MethodsThe effects of three chemical stabilisers, lignosulphonate (LS), lime (LI), and lignin fibre (LF), on the critical shear stress (τc) and erosion coefficient (kd) of sandy silt soils were investigated, which from Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China, by the hole erosion test (HET) at different mixing amounts and at different conservation times.ResultsThe findings indicate that LF mainly improves the erosion resistance of sandy silt by increasing τc, and the maximum increase is 2.38 times; LI mainly improves the erosion resistance by decreasing kd, and the maximum decrease is 2.18 times. After adding LS, τc and kd did not change significantly. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) test revealed that the inclusion of LF led to the formation of larger agglomerates in the sandy silt soil. The microstructure of sandy silt soil remained dispersed even after adding LS. Various chemical stabilisers used to improve sandy silt soils exhibited distinct erosion mechanisms. Sandy silt soils improved with LF exfoliated into agglomerates, displaying high resistance to erosion. On the other hand, the sandy silt treated with LF still lacks a protective layer and shows minimal improvements in its ability to withstand erosion. In contrast, the LS-amended sandy silt remains stripped with individual soil particles with insignificant changes in erosion resistance.DiscussionThis study can provide a conceptual framework for choosing foundation treatment techniques in future urban development projects.

Background Individuals suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD) frequently face a heightened likelihood of experiencing cardiovascular complications, including heart failure and cardiac mortality. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance feature tracking (CMR-FT) is utilized to assess the micro-contraction function of the myocardium. The objective of this research is to explore the relationship between the left ventricular anatomy, myocardial strain, and the clinical outcomes in patients with CKD. Methods A total of 77 patients with late-stage CKD were enrolled in this retrospective study. They underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and were followed up, with no history of significant cardiac diseases. The patients were divided into two groups: those with a left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) ≥ −15.2% (n = 49) and those with LVGLS < −15.2% (n = 28). The clinical endpoints were defined as hospitalization for heart failure or all-cause mortality. Results Over an average observation period of 22 ± 9 months, 11 (14%) patients passed away and 30 (39%) were admitted to the hospital for heart failure, with eight encountering both incidents. Those with LVGLS ≥ −15.2% had markedly lower rates of event-free survival concerning heart failure admissions and overall mortality than their counterparts (log-rank P = 0.014). Cox multivariable analysis indicated that reduced LVGLS consistently predicted a higher likelihood of combined outcomes of heart failure admissions and total mortality (HR: 3.40, 95% CI [1.35–8.56], P = 0.009), even when factoring in age, diabetes, left atrial diameter, and left ventricular mass index (LVMI). However, the LVMI showed no significant correlation with the risk of heart failure admissions or overall mortality. Conclusion Compared to patients with LVGLS < −15.2%, CKD patients with LVGLS ≥ −15.2% have an increased risk of heart failure hospitalization and all-cause mortality. The prognostic role of LVMI in assessing CKD patients among the Asian population requires further investigation.

To overcome the poor solubility, permeability, and bioavailability of the plant isoflavone daidzein (DAI), a novel salt of DAI with anhydrous piperazine (PIP) was obtained based on cocrystallization strategy. The new salt DAI-PIP was characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and optical microscopy. The results showed that the maximum apparent solubility (Smax) of DAI-PIP increased by 7.27-fold and 1000-fold compared to DAI in pH 6.8 buffer and water, respectively. The peak apparent permeability coefficient (Papp) of DAI-PIP in the Caco-2 cell model was 30.57 ± 1.08 × 10−6 cm/s, which was 34.08% higher than that of DAI. Additionally, compared to DAI, the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) value of DAI-PIP in beagle dogs was approximately 4.3 times higher, and the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC0-24) was approximately 2.4 times higher. This study provides a new strategy to enhance the dissolution performance and bioavailability of flavonoid drugs, laying a foundation for expanding their clinical applications.

Abstract The structural diversity of biological macromolecules in different environments contributes complexity to enzymological processes vital for cellular functions. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer and electron microscopy are used to investigate the enzymatic reaction of T4 DNA ligase catalyzing the ligation of nicked DNA. The data show that both the ligase–AMP complex and the ligase–AMP–DNA complex can have four conformations. This finding suggests the parallel occurrence of four ligation reaction pathways, each characterized by specific conformations of the ligase–AMP complex that persist in the ligase–AMP–DNA complex. Notably, these complexes have DNA bending angles of ≈0°, 20°, 60°, or 100°. The mechanism of parallel reactions challenges the conventional notion of simple sequential reaction steps occurring among multiple conformations. The results provide insights into the dynamic conformational changes and the versatile attributes of T4 DNA ligase and suggest that the parallel multiple reaction pathways may correspond to diverse T4 DNA ligase functions. This mechanism may potentially have evolved as an adaptive strategy across evolutionary history to navigate complex environments.

ABSTRACT: Baicalein (BAI) is a natural flavonoid with antioxidant, antitumor and antibacterial properties. However, the bioavailability of BAI was limited due to low solubility. This study aims to improve the solubility of BAI through the amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) and evaluate changes in its pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in Taihang chickens. Polyethylene caprolactam-polyvinyl acetate-polyethylene glycol grafted copolymer (Soluplus) was chosen as the carrier, and ASD was prepared by rotary evaporation and was characterized by powder X-ray diffractions (PXRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). In vitro dissolution assays were used to screen the optimal ratio of drug to carrier, in vivo pharmacokinetic assays were conducted to investigate the promoting effect on the absorption. In addition, the effects of ASD on the growth performance, meat quality, antioxidant capacity and intestinal flora were investigated. ASD (1:9 and 2:8) did not exhibit crystal diffraction peaks of BAI in PXRD or endothermic peaks in DSC, indicating the successful preparation of ASD. The results of in vitro dissolution assay showed that the cumulative dissolution rate of ASD (2:8) within 600 min was 52.67%, which was 7.84-fold higher than BAI. The pharmacokinetic results showed that the peak concentration (Cmax) and the area under the drug-time curve (AUC0∼24) of ASD (2:8) was (5.20 ± 0.82) μg/mL and (17.03 ± 0.67) μg·h/mL, which was 1.91 and 2.64-fold higher than BAI, respectively. Dietary supplementation of BAI and ASD could increase average daily gain (ADG), while decrease feed conversion ratio (FCR), but there was no significant difference (P > 0.05). The drip loss of BAIASD group was lower than BAI group (P < 0.05). In addition, the antioxidant capacity of Taihang chickens were enhanced, the diversity and the abundance of beneficial bacteria was improved. Results of BAI upon the dietary supplementation tested in Taihang chickens, after preparation of ASD, indicating a superior enhancement effect in growth performance, meat quality, antioxidant capacity and intestinal flora due to an improved solubility and optimized bioavailability.

ABSTRACT: In laying hens, fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome (FLHS) is a common metabolic disorder, which can affect egg production and nutritional value. However, the impact of FLHS on the lipid content in egg yolks was not clear. In this study, FLHS model was induced by using high-energy low-protein diet, and the egg quality was evaluated. Egg yolk lipids were quantitatively analyzed by using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry combined with multivariate statistical analysis. Gene expressions of the lipoprotein were determined by qRT-PCR and antioxidant capacity of the egg yolk were determined by kits. The elevated blood lipids and extensive lipid droplets observed indicated successful establishment of the FLHS model in laying hens. Measurements of egg quality showed that egg yolk weight was increased in the FLHS group. Lipidomics revealed that 1,401 lipids, comprising 27 lipid subclasses in the egg yolk. According to score plots of principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis, different lipid profile was observed between the control and FLHS groups. A total of 97 different lipid species were screen out. Sphingolipid and glycerophospholipid metabolism were identified as key pathways. Free polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) exhibited an increase in the FLHS group (P < 0.05). Notably, the form of PUFAs was changed that the FLHS group showed an increase in triacylglycerol-docosahexenoic acid and triacylglycerol-arachidonic acid in the egg yolk, while triacylglycerol-α-linolenic acid was decreased (P < 0.05). Total superoxide dismutase was decreased in the egg yolks affected by FLHS. Gene expressions of vitellogenin 2 (VTG2), VTG3, very low-density apolipoprotein II and apolipoprotein B were increased in the liver of laying hens with FLHS (P < 0.05). In conclusion, FLHS promoted the lipid transport from the liver to the yolk by upregulating lipoprotein expression, which altered lipid profile, and reduced antioxidant capacity in the yolk. This study provided a foundation for understanding the changes in lipids, lipid transport and lipid antioxidation capacity in egg yolk from laying hens with FLHS.

Academic studies on environmental pollution have convincingly acknowledged the salient relevance of ambient pollutant emissions on individual life satisfaction. However, an understanding of how the different dimensions of air pollution influence public self-assessment of their living condition is required. This research investigates whether objective pollutant emissions and subjective evaluation influence individual life satisfaction. The findings were based on data from the China Environment Yearbook and China Social Survey in 2019. The multi-level linear regression model found that air pollutants emissions, including particulate matter (PM) and sulfur dioxide (SO2), failed to explain the variations in public life satisfaction because of the lag effect of public perception. A significant nexus between perceived air pollution and public life satisfaction was observed at a significance level of 0.01. Specially, as the perceived air pollution by the public increased by one-point, life satisfaction decreased by 0.22 on a scale of 1–10, on average. Heterogeneous analysis based on income further suggested the salient negative effect of PM emissions on life satisfaction only occurred in the high-income group. The findings were robust after various methodological analyses. This study has theoretical implications for understanding the effects of air pollution on public subjective perception and provides guidance for how the government can manage the relationship between environmental governance and life satisfaction.

Abstract Background Kernel dehydration is an important factor for the mechanized harvest in maize. Kernel moisture content (KMC) and kernel dehydration rate (KDR) are important indicators for kernel dehydration. Although quantitative trait loci and genes related to KMC have been identified, where most of them only focus on the KMC at harvest, these are still far from sufficient to explain all genetic variations, and the relevant regulatory mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, we tried to reveal the key proteins and metabolites related to kernel dehydration in proteome and metabolome levels. Moreover, we preliminarily explored the relevant metabolic pathways that affect kernel dehydration combined proteome and metabolome. These results could accelerate the development of further mechanized maize technologies. Results In this study, three maize inbred lines (KB182, KB207, and KB020) with different KMC and KDR were subjected to proteomic analysis 35, 42, and 49 days after pollination (DAP). In total, 8,358 proteins were quantified, and 2,779 of them were differentially expressed proteins in different inbred lines or at different stages. By comparative analysis, K-means cluster, and weighted gene co-expression network analysis based on the proteome data, some important proteins were identified, which are involved in carbohydrate metabolism, stress and defense response, lipid metabolism, and seed development. Through metabolomics analysis of KB182 and KB020 kernels at 42 DAP, 18 significantly different metabolites, including glucose, fructose, proline, and glycerol, were identified. Conclusions In sum, we inferred that kernel dehydration could be regulated through carbohydrate metabolism, antioxidant systems, and late embryogenesis abundant protein and heat shock protein expression, all of which were considered as important regulatory factors during kernel dehydration process. These results shed light on kernel dehydration and provide new insights into developing cultivars with low moisture content.

Introduction Smoking increases the risk of various cardiovascular diseases, including ischemic heart disease (IHD). This study aimed to assess the impact of age, period, and cohort on long-term trends in IHD mortality in China, India, Indonesia, the United States, and Russia, the five countries with the highest number of smokers, from 1990 to 2019. Material and methods The data were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2019, and the age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) was calculated. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to assess the magnitude and direction of trends in smoking-attributable mortality from IHD. Age-period-cohort (APC) studies were used to estimate net drift (estimated annual percentage change (EAPC)s), local drift (age-specific EAPCs), and independent trends in age, period, and cohort effects. Results The analysis revealed a significant downward trend in ASMRs attributable to IHD as a result of smoking in the United States, India, and Russia. Indonesia and China showed an upward trend. Age effects were increasing for both country and sex, with China showing the most significant increase in the older age group; period effects were decreasing in all countries except Indonesia, and cohort effects were increasing only in Indonesia and China. Conclusions From 1990 to 2019, mortality from IHD caused by smoking showed a downward trend in these five countries. However, the pattern of increased mortality from IHD in women caused by smoking warrants further study.

As the Internet of Things (IoT) industry grows, the risk of network protocol security threats has also increased. One protocol that has come under scrutiny for its security vulnerabilities is MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport), which is widely used. To address this issue, an automated execution program called fuzz has been developed to verify the security of MQTT brokers. This program is provided with various random and unexpected input data and monitored for different responses, such as acknowledgments, crashes, failures, or memory leaks. To generate a significant number of realistic MQTT protocols, we have proposed a Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN)-based protocol fuzzer called SGANFuzz. Our experimental results show that SGANFuzz has successfully detected 6 vulnerabilities among 7 MQTT implementations, including 3 CVE bugs. Compared to the state-of-the-art fuzzing tools, SGANFuzz has proven to be the most efficient fuzzing tool in terms of vulnerability detection and has expanded the feedback coverage by receiving more unique network responses from MQTT brokers.

Abstract Background Cystinuria is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by a cystine transport deficiency in the renal tubules due to mutations in two genes: SLC3A1 and SLC7A9. Cystinuria can be classified into three forms based on the genotype: type A, due to mutations in the SLC3A1 gene; type B, due to mutations in the SLC7A9 gene; and type AB, due to mutations in both genes. Methods We report a 12-year-old boy from central China with cystine stones. He was from a non-consanguineous family that had no known history of genetic disease. A physical examination showed normal development and neurological behaviors. Whole-exome and Sanger sequencing were used to identify and verify the suspected pathogenic variants. Results The compound heterozygous variants c.898_905del (p.Arg301AlafsTer6) is located in exon5 and c.1898_1899insAT (p.Asp634LeufsTer46) is located in exon10 of SLC3A1 (NM_000341.4) were deemed responsible for type A cystinuria family. The variant c.898_905del was reported in a Japanese patient in 2000, and the variant c.1898_1899insAT is novel. Conclusion A novel pathogenic heterozygous variant pair of the SLC3A1 gene was identified in a Chinese boy with type A cystinuria, enriching the mutational spectrum of the SLC3A1 gene. We attempted to find a pattern for the association between the genotype of SLC3A1 variants and the manifestations of cystinuria in patients with different onset ages. Our findings have important implications for genetic counseling and the early clinical diagnosis of cystinuria.

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-Cas12a system is a powerful tool in gene editing; however, crRNA-DNA mismatches might induce unwanted cleavage events, especially at the distal end of the PAM. To minimize this limitation, we engineered a hyper fidelity AsCas12a variant carrying the mutations S186A/R301A/T315A/Q1014A/K414A (termed HyperFi-As) by modifying amino acid residues interacting with the target DNA and crRNA strand. HyperFi-As retains on-target activities comparable to wild-type AsCas12a (AsCas12aWT) in human cells. We demonstrated that HyperFi-As has dramatically reduced off-target effects in human cells, and HyperFi-As possessed notably a lower tolerance to mismatch at the position of the PAM-distal region compared with the wild type. Further, a modified single-molecule DNA unzipping assay at proper constant force was applied to evaluate the stability and transient stages of the CRISPR/Cas ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex. Multiple states were sensitively detected during the disassembly of the DNA-Cas12a-crRNA complexes. On off-target DNA substrates, the HyperFi-As-crRNA was harder to maintain the R-loop complex state compared to the AsCas12aWT, which could explain exactly why the HyperFi-As has low off-targeting effects in human cells. Our findings provide a novel version of AsCas12a variant with low off-target effects, especially capable of dealing with the high off-targeting in the distal region from the PAM. An insight into how the AsCas12a variant behaves at off-target sites was also revealed at the single-molecule level and the unzipping assay to evaluate multiple states of CRISPR/Cas RNP complexes might be greatly helpful for a deep understanding of how CRISPR/Cas behaves and how to engineer it in future.

The heavy reliance on fossil-based industries for basic chemicals not only contributes to severe global environmental problems but also hampers the sustainable development of the whole society. In addressing this issue, electrocatalysis utilizing biomass-derived platform chemicals provides a promising solution for the directed preparation of high-value chemicals. Among the various electrocatalysts, the remarkable appeal of COFs-based electrocatalysts has engendered great enthusiasm among researchers over the past decade due to the well-defined structure and large surface area of COFs. In this focused review, we highlight vital perspectives on the design, synthesis, and progress of COFs-based electrocatalysts in the electrocatalytic upgrading of biomass-derived platform chemicals. We provide a rational design of COFs-based electrocatalysts by incorporating metal species into the COFs frameworks and then regulate the local coordination environment and microstructure to facilitate efficient access to active centers, mass transportation, and electron transfer. This review offers a comprehensive understanding of the design principles underlying COFs-based electrocatalysts for platform molecules and its derivatives. Specifically, we thoroughly investigate the relationship between structure and performance, as well as synergistic effects within COFs-based electrocatalysts, aiming to shed light on the future design of next-generation electrocatalysts.

The formation mechanism of caves in fissured loess at the edge of the loess platform plateau is complex and is closely related to the occurrence of geological hazards such as landslides, which pose a serious threat to the production and life of people in this region. To address the scientific problem of how internal erosion caves are formed in the fissured loess, four sets of experiments on the formation mechanism of internal erosion caves in loess under different initial fissure opening conditions are carried out using the visualisation of the internal erosion caves formation mechanism model of the fissured loess in the South Plateau of Jingyang as a reference. The results show that the development process from the fractured loess to the internal erosion of caves under water flowing erosion can be divided into three stages, including the hydraulic erosion stage, the infiltration and erosion stage and the gravity collapse stage. The formation mechanism of the internal erosion caves in the fractured loess can be summarized as follows: Softening and sputtering, scouring and widening, erosion and cavitation, and collapsing by gravity. The development rate of seepage erosion in the fractured loess is reflected by the sediment quantity and transport characteristics, which can be divided into the rapid erosion stage, the fluctuation reduction stage and the slow and stable erosion stage. The fracture opening, the erodibility of loess and the ultimate groove depth are important factors affecting the formation of internal erosion caves in the fractured loess. The research results provide theoretical support to further reveal the disaster-causing effects of loess internal erosion.

Lomefloxacin (LOM), an antibiotic crucial for preventing various animal diseases in animal husbandry, can pose serious health risks when found in excessive amounts in meat products. The development of highly specific and sensitive colloidal gold immunochromatographic test strips is essential for the accurate detection of this class of antibiotics. Our study utilized a monoclonal antibody (mAb) assay and immunochromatographic strips to detect lomefloxacin residues in meat products. The results showed minimal cross-reactivity with other structural analogs, with a maximum half inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.93 ng/mL and a linear range of 0.38 to 2.3 ng/mL for the indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ic-ELISA). The recovery of LOM was 80% to 120%, with an average coefficient of variation below 5%. The immunochromatographic strip test results showed a visual detection limit of 2.5 ng/g, meeting the market requirements for the test. This study highlights the significance of specific and sensitive testing methods for detecting lomefloxacin, ensuring consumers’ safety and health.

Abiotic stresses pose a major increasing problem for the cultivation of maize. Autophagy plays a vital role in recycling and re-utilizing nutrients and adapting to stress. However, the role of autophagy in the response to abiotic stress in maize has not yet been investigated. Here, ZmATG3, which is essential for ATG8-PE conjugation, was isolated from the maize inbred line B73. The ATG3 sequence was conserved, including the C-terminal domains with HPC and FLKF motifs and the catalytic domain in different species. The promoter of the ZmATG3 gene contained a number of elements involved in responses to environmental stresses or hormones. Heterologous expression of ZmATG3 in yeast promoted the growth of strain under salt, mannitol, and low-nitrogen stress. The expression of ZmATG3 could be altered by various types of abiotic stress (200 mM NaCl, 200 mM mannitol, low N) and exogenous hormones (500 µM ABA). GUS staining analysis of ZmATG3-GUS transgenic Arabidopsis revealed that GUS gene activity increased after abiotic treatment. ZmATG3-overexpressing Arabidopsis plants had higher osmotic and salinity stress tolerance than wild-type plants. Overexpression of ZmATG3 up-regulated the expression of other AtATGs (AtATG3, AtATG5, and AtATG8b) under NaCl, mannitol and LN stress. These findings demonstrate that overexpression of ZmATG3 can improve tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses.

Acid soils occupy approximately 50% of potentially arable lands. Improving crop productivity in acid soils, therefore, will be crucial for ensuring food security and agricultural sustainability. High soil acidity often coexists with phosphorus (P) deficiency and aluminum (Al) toxicity, a combination that severely impedes crop growth and yield across wide areas. As roots explore soil for the nutrients and water required for plant growth and development, they also sense and respond to below-ground stresses. Within the terrestrial context of widespread P deficiency and Al toxicity pressures, plants, particularly roots, have evolved a variety of mechanisms for adapting to these stresses. As legumes, soybean (Glycine max) plants may acquire nitrogen (N) through symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF), an adaptation that can be useful for mitigating excessive N fertilizer use, either directly as leguminous crop participants in rotation and intercropping systems, or secondarily as green manure cover crops. In this review, we investigate legumes, especially soybean, for recent advances in our understanding of root-based mechanisms linked with root architecture modification, exudation and symbiosis, together with associated genetic and molecular strategies in adaptation to individual and/or interacting P and Al conditions in acid soils. We propose that breeding legume cultivars with superior nutrient efficiency and/or Al tolerance traits through genetic selection might become a potentially powerful strategy for producing crop varieties capable of maintaining or improving yields in more stressful soil conditions subjected to increasingly challenging environmental conditions.

Abstract Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) is a transcription factor responsible for mounting an anti-oxidation gene expression program to counter oxidative stress. Under unstressed conditions, Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1), an adaptor protein for CUL3 E3 ubiquitin ligase, mediates NRF2 ubiquitination and degradation. We show here that the deubiquitinase USP25 directly binds to KEAP1 and prevents KEAP1’s own ubiquitination and degradation. In the absence of Usp25 or if the DUB is inhibited, KEAP1 is downregulated and NRF2 is stabilized, allowing the cells to respond to oxidative stress more readily. In acetaminophen (APAP) overdose-induced oxidative liver damage in male mice, the inactivation of Usp25, either genetically or pharmacologically, greatly attenuates liver injury and reduces the mortality rates resulted from lethal doses of APAP.

Abstract The experimental study on the variation law of coal fracture and stress was carried out in the laboratory and engineering fields, respectively. A multiparameter monitoring system including electromagnetic radiation and a high‐speed camera was built, and three stress paths, uniaxial compression, cyclic loading, and graded loading, were used to monitor the dynamic expansion process of surface cracks during uniaxial compression failure of coal specimens. Through the quantitative analysis of the electromagnetic radiation signal in the crack propagation process, it is found that the electromagnetic radiation and the stress change trend are consistent, and the electromagnetic radiation signal is ahead of the failure of coal‐generating rock mass 1–2 s. The surface crack changes after the peak value of electromagnetic radiation and presents a stepwise growth trend, crack length changes on the millisecond time scale, and the crack propagation speed is about 2000 mm/s. The surface cracks appear when the stress reaches a certain degree, and the propagation of the principal cracks is consistent with the failure of the specimen. The electromagnetic radiation value of the coal mass from static period to dynamic is analyzed by using electromagnetic radiation at the engineering site, and it was found that the electromagnetic radiation is consistent with the stress distribution of the mining face. Through normalization, the variation rule of electromagnetic radiation in laboratory and engineering sites is similar, but the peak value of electromagnetic radiation in engineering sites is more significant. Therefore, electromagnetic radiation has a good monitoring effect on the stress distribution and cracks propagation of underground coal mining working faces, which could guide the layout of underground drilling.

Abstract Accurate quantification of the absorption properties of brown carbon (BrC) aerosols is crucial to assess the Earth‐atmosphere radiative impacts of BrC. However, the BrC absorption properties were often misestimated in field observations, due to neglecting the contribution of dust absorption. This study solved this problem by coupling a method for calculating the dust concentration into the traditional model for quantifying BrC absorption. The results show that dust absorption was up to 16.8% of the sum of BrC and dust absorption in northwestern China. The potential contribution of dust to the sum of BrC and dust absorption was significantly higher in the Asia‐located studies (0.4%–16.8%) than in the Americas‐located (

BackgroundStreptococcus pneumoniae is a common pathogen that colonizes the human upper respiratory tract, causing high morbidity and mortality worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence status of S. pneumoniae isolated from patients of all ages in Southwest China, including serotype, antibiotic susceptibility and other molecular characteristics, to provide a basis for clinical antibiotic usage and vaccine development.MethodsThis study was conducted from January 2018 to March 2022 at West China Hospital, West China Second University Hospital, First People’s Hospital of Longquanyi District (West China Longquan Hospital), Meishan Women and Children’s Hospital (Alliance Hospital of West China Second University Hospital) and Chengdu Jinjiang Hospital for Women and Children Health. Demographic and clinical characteristics of 263 pneumococcal disease (PD) all-age patients were collected and analyzed. The serotypes, sequence types (STs), and antibiotic resistance of the strains were determined by next-generation sequencing, sequence analysis and the microdilution broth method.ResultsThe most common pneumococcal serotypes were 19F (17.87%), 19A (11.41%), 3 (8.75%), 23F (6.46%) and 6A (5.70%). Coverage rates for PCV10, PCV13, PCV15, PCV20 and PCV24 were 36.12, 61.98, 61.98, 63.12 and 64.26%, respectively. Prevalent STs were ST271 (12.55%), ST320 (11.79%), ST90 (4.18%), ST876 (4.18%) and ST11972 (3.42%). Penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae (PRSP) accounted for 82.35 and 1.22% of meningitis and nonmeningitis PD cases, respectively. Resistance genes msrD (32.7%), mefA (32.7%), ermB (95.8%), tetM (97.3%) and catTC (7.6%) were found among 263 isolates. Most isolates showed high resistance to erythromycin (96.96%) and tetracycline (79.85%), with more than half being resistant to SXT (58.94%). A few isolates were resistant to AMX (9.89%), CTX (11.03%), MEN (9.13%), OFX (1.14%), LVX (1.14%) and MXF (0.38%). All isolates were susceptible to vancomycin and linezolid.ConclusionOur study provides reliable information, including the prevalence, molecular characterization and antimicrobial resistance of S. pneumoniae isolates causing pneumococcal diseases in Southwest China. The findings contribute to informed and clinical policy decisions for prevention and treatment.

Exploring advanced thermoelectric materials, especially flexible thermoelectric fibers, is promising for wearable devices. The thermoelectric properties of these fibers are evaluated using the figure of merit ZT value. However, there is a lack of empirical research on the properties of microscale thermoelectric fibers, necessitating the development of precise measurement methods. In addition, since the properties of micro- and nanofiber materials can be affected by the microstructure, separate measurements of electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, and thermal conductivity before calculating the ZT values can lead to large errors in the final calculations. In this study, Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 thermoelectric fibers are prepared and measured by using a thermally drawn method and an in situ method, respectively. The in situ measurements are carried out using a self-developed instrument capable of measuring temperatures from room temperature up to 1,200 K, suitable for sample sizes ranging from micro- to nanoscale. The uncertainty of the measurement exhibits less than 6.36%. The results indicate that the thermal drawing process influences crystal growth, enhancing the Seebeck coefficient and reducing electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity. Moreover, the accuracy of the measurement method is verified by pure Pt wire. The integrated in situ measurement effectively reduces experimental errors due to sample differences when calculating parameters for multiple samples measured individually, and the maximum error that can be reduced is 19.5%. This research contributes a practical measurement method of thermoelectric fibers and advances the development of wearable thermoelectric devices.

To ensure the safety of life and property of residents on landslides and reveal the deformation and failure law of masonry buildings on landslides, it is necessary to carry out a simulation study on the deformation and failure process of masonry buildings under the action of landslide deformation. A refined model of a masonry building was established based on the contact separation modeling method in ABAQUS, and the viscous contact interface was used to simulate the effect of mortar in the wall. Comparing the results of the numerical simulation with the physical model test results, the main conclusion is as follows: through the comparison of macroscopic deformation characteristics and microscopic stress and strain data obtained from physical and numerical model tests, the load-strain curve of the numerical model test agrees well with that of the physical model test, and their strain clouds are consistent, proving the validity of the numerical simulation method. The law of crack propagation and strain distribution of building walls in landslide tension areas is revealed, which can provide a basis for the protection design of masonry buildings in landslide tension areas.

Abstract Central to homologous recombination (HR) is the assembly of Rad51 recombinase on single-strand DNA (ssDNA), forming the Rad51-ssDNA filament. How the Rad51 filament is efficiently established and sustained remains partially understood. Here, we find that the yeast ubiquitin ligase Bre1 and its human homolog RNF20, a tumor suppressor, function as recombination mediators, promoting Rad51 filament formation and subsequent reactions via multiple mechanisms independent of their ligase activities. We show that Bre1/RNF20 interacts with Rad51, directs Rad51 to ssDNA, and facilitates Rad51-ssDNA filament assembly and strand exchange in vitro. In parallel, Bre1/RNF20 interacts with the Srs2 or FBH1 helicase to counteract their disrupting effect on the Rad51 filament. We demonstrate that the above functions of Bre1/RNF20 contribute to HR repair in cells in a manner additive to the mediator protein Rad52 in yeast or BRCA2 in human. Thus, Bre1/RNF20 provides an additional layer of mechanism to directly control Rad51 filament dynamics.

Carbon fiber reinforced polyamide-imide (CF/PAI) composites are potential candidates for high temperature applications under high stress conditions. However, the structure–property relationships of CF/PAI are not clear. This work presented an experimental investigation into the influence of interfacial modification and heat treatment on the microstructures and mechanical properties of CF/PAI composites. The CF/PAI interfacial interactions were improved by the combined effect of chemical bonding between the PAI-compatible sizing and CF as well as hydrogen bonding between the sizing and matrix. Meanwhile, heat treatment enhanced the modulus of matrix, which was beneficial to stress transfer in the interfacial region. Therefore, the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), flexural strength, and flexural modulus of RS0.6-CF/PAI composites (the concentration of PAI-compatible sizing agent was 0.6 wt%) were remarkably improved by 81.3%, 23.7%, and 39.1% compared with the control specimen. Microstructure examinations of modified and unmodified CF/PAI composites showed that both interfacial modification and heat treatment played an important role in the transitions of failure mode under interlaminar shear loading and flexural loading. These findings provide an effective method to tailor the microstructures of CF/PAI composites for achieving the desired properties.

In the research area of the CT digital coal petrography, the selection of gray threshold directly affects the accuracy of spatial structure remodeling. To allow the pores and fissures space remodeling data to more accurately represent the real structure and improve the reliability of research on microscopic seepage of coal rock, the mapping relation between the CT digital coal rock porosity and gray threshold is established. Also, the distribution rule of gray threshold is adopted to conduct a quantitative analysis of the development features of pore, fissure and matrix. The Bi-PTI (Biphasic Pore Threshold Inversion) model is established for the identification of pore and fissure structures. The value inversion of the optimal gray threshold of pore and fissure based on the CT scanning data of metamorphic coal, and the comparison of porosity obtained with the model against the mercury injection test value are conducted. On the basis of the optimal gray threshold inversion results, the spatial structure of pore and fissure is remodeled and compared with the Otsu model through the parameters of spatial structure and topological structure. Research results indicate that the porosity based on the CT digital coal petrography is in asymmetrical S-shaped distribution as the threshold value increases, with the features of exponential increase and logarithmic climb at different sections. The Bi-PTI model can fairly reflect the mapping relation between porosity and gray threshold, and represent the development features of pore, fissure and matrix. The porosity calculated through the Otsu model is as high as over 70%, the porosity calculated by the MP-Otsu model is greatly affected by the mineral content while that calculated with the Bi-PTI model ranges from 0.40% to 16.22%, more close to the mercury injection test data. The Otsu model is most likely to neglect the topological structure with partial pores and fissures. The MP-Otsu model is not effective for constructing the topology of coal samples with low mineral content, while the Bi-PTI model can better identify the topological features in the locations of the defect and faithfully restore the pore throat abundance and connectivity in the pore and fissure topology.

Pr-doped metal oxide polycrystalline transparent ceramics are highly desirable for photothermal window systems served in extreme environments; however, obtaining efficient photoluminescence (PL) together with high transparency in these ceramics is still posing serious challenges, which undoubtedly limits their applications. Here, Pr-doped Y2Zr2O7 (YZO) transparent ceramics, as an illustrative example, are prepared by a solid-state reaction and vacuum sintering method. Owing to the elimination of defect clusters [PrY4+−O2−−PrY4+] and [PrY4+−e′] without the introduction of impurities and additional defects, the fabricated YZO:Pr ceramics exhibit high transparency (74%) and efficient PL (39-fold enhanced) after air annealing plus vacuum re-annealing treatment. Moreover, upon 295/450 nm excitation, the emission bands (blue, green, red, and dark red) from YZO:Pr ceramics present different temperature-dependent properties due to the thermal-quenching channel generated by the intervalence charge transfer (IVCT) state between Pr3+ and Zr4+ ions. Furthermore, a self-calibrated temperature feedback window with the same fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) model (I613/I503, where I represents the intensity) under different excitation light sources (295 and 450 nm) is designed. The developed photothermal window operated in a wide temperature range (303–663 K) shows relatively high sensitivities (absolute sensitivity (Sa) and relative sensitivity (Sr) reach 0.008 K−1 at 663 K and 0.47% K−1 at 363 K, respectively), high repeatability (> 98%), and low temperature uncertainty (δT < 3.2 K). This work presents a paradigm for achieving enhanced PL along with elevated transparency of lanthanide (Ln)-doped ceramics through vacuum re-annealing treatment engineering and demonstrates their promising potential for photothermal window systems.

Abstract Background Biomedical researchers are strongly encouraged to make their research outputs more Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR). While many biomedical research outputs are more readily accessible through open data efforts, finding relevant outputs remains a significant challenge. Schema.org is a metadata vocabulary standardization project that enables web content creators to make their content more FAIR. Leveraging Schema.org could benefit biomedical research resource providers, but it can be challenging to apply Schema.org standards to biomedical research outputs. We created an online browser-based tool that empowers researchers and repository developers to utilize Schema.org or other biomedical schema projects. Results Our browser-based tool includes features which can help address many of the barriers towards Schema.org-compliance such as: The ability to easily browse for relevant Schema.org classes, the ability to extend and customize a class to be more suitable for biomedical research outputs, the ability to create data validation to ensure adherence of a research output to a customized class, and the ability to register a custom class to our schema registry enabling others to search and re-use it. We demonstrate the use of our tool with the creation of the Outbreak.info schema—a large multi-class schema for harmonizing various COVID-19 related resources. Conclusions We have created a browser-based tool to empower biomedical research resource providers to leverage Schema.org classes to make their research outputs more FAIR.

Monitoring the temperature of the coal gangue mountains is fundamental to preventing their spontaneous combustion. However, the existing temperature monitoring systems fail to achieve stable, pollution-free temperature monitoring without affecting vegetation growth in these mountains. To address this issue, this work proposes a flexible thermoelectric device (FTD) based on a protrusion-structured liquid metal elastomer (LME). Utilizing a high-thermal-conductivity LME, the FTD adheres closely to the surface of the gravity heat pipe (GHP), ensuring compatibility between FTD and the curved surface of the GHP. Simultaneously, employing a low-thermal-conductivity elastomer helps concentrate heat onto FTD, thereby enhancing thermoelectric power generation efficiency. Additionally, the impact of the shape, size, and height of the protrusion structure at the cold end of the GHP on its efficiency was also investigated. The practical application of FTD on GHP was demonstrated.

Tricyclene, a tricyclic monoterpene naturally occurring in plant essential oils, holds potential for the development of medicinal and fuel applications. In this study, we successfully synthesized tricyclene in E. coli by introducing the heterologous mevalonate (MVA) pathway along with Abies grandis geranyl diphosphate synthase (GPPS) and Nicotiana sylvestris tricyclene synthase (TS) XP_009791411. Initially, the shake-flask fermentation at 30 ◦C yielded a tricyclene titer of 0.060 mg/L. By increasing the copy number of the TS-coding gene, we achieved a titer of 0.103 mg/L. To further enhance tricyclene production, optimal truncation in the N-terminal region of TS XP_009791411 resulted in an impressive highest titer of 47.671 mg/L, approximately a 794.5-fold improvement compared to its wild-type counterpart. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest titer of the heterologous synthesis of tricyclene in E. coli. The SDS-PAGE analysis revealed that lowering induction temperature and truncating the random coil N-terminal region effectively improved TS solubility, which was closely associated with tricyclene production levels. Furthermore, by truncating other TSs, the titers of tricyclene were improved to different degrees.

Abstract Biomedical datasets are increasing in size, stored in many repositories, and face challenges in FAIRness (findability, accessibility, interoperability, reusability). As a Consortium of infectious disease researchers from 15 Centers, we aim to adopt open science practices to promote transparency, encourage reproducibility, and accelerate research advances through data reuse. To improve FAIRness of our datasets and computational tools, we evaluated metadata standards across established biomedical data repositories. The vast majority do not adhere to a single standard, such as Schema.org, which is widely-adopted by generalist repositories. Consequently, datasets in these repositories are not findable in aggregation projects like Google Dataset Search. We alleviated this gap by creating a reusable metadata schema based on Schema.org and catalogued nearly 400 datasets and computational tools we collected. The approach is easily reusable to create schemas interoperable with community standards, but customized to a particular context. Our approach enabled data discovery, increased the reusability of datasets from a large research consortium, and accelerated research. Lastly, we discuss ongoing challenges with FAIRness beyond discoverability.

Abstract From in situ growth to invasive dissemination is the most lethal attribute of various tumor types. This transition is majorly mediated by the dynamic interplay between two cancer hallmarks, EMT and cell cycle. In this study, we applied nonlinear association analysis in 33 cancer types and found that most signaling receptors simultaneously associating with EMT and cell cycle are potential tumor suppressors. Here we find that a top co-associated receptor, Neogenin (NEO1), inhibits colorectal cancer (CRC) and Glioma in situ growth and metastasis by forming a complex with Merlin (NF2), and subsequent simultaneous promoting the phosphorylation of YAP. Furthermore, Neogenin protein level is associated with good prognosis and correlates with Merlin status in CRC and Glioma. Collectively, our results define Neogenin as a tumor suppressor in CRC and Glioma that acts by restricting oncogenic signaling by the Merlin-YAP pathway, and suggest Neogenin as a candidate therapeutic agent for CRC and Glioma.

The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) swarm cooperative networks across diverse domains present significant challenges in management and control to maximize collaborative efficiency, particularly in applications for large-scale and dynamic environments where real-time coordination is essential. This challenge has led to the development of a UAV swarm cooperative network flow prediction model, facilitating the strategic anticipation of network dynamics. A novel algorithm for distributed, finite-time cooperative control is introduced, grounded in this model. This algorithm optimizes the operational efficiency and control precision of UAV systems, while simultaneously augmenting the collaborative efficiency and stability of the UAV swarms. It marks a significant advancement in distributed computing strategies, offering a viable solution for the real-time coordination challenges in extensive UAV swarm cooperative networks. The proposed approach leverages multi-agent technology, integrating spatial-temporal constraints, location limitations, and path selection in cooperative behavior for dynamic and effective network management. This study not only enhances the understanding of UAV swarm dynamics but also contributes to the practical application of UAV swarms in areas requiring precise coordination and robust network stability.