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Abstract Background Studies have emphasised the adverse effects of poor sleep on human health, however, the correlation between sleep abnormalities and hypothyroidism remains unclear. This study evaluated whether sleep abnormalities may be related to increased prevalence of hypothyroidism in general US adults. Methods: In total, 9016 adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2007 to 2012 were analysed. A standardised questionnaire was used to collect data regarding sleep duration, self-reported trouble sleeping and sleep disorders. Values were assigned to the three aforementioned sleep factors, resulting in an overall sleep score of 0–3. The sleep patterns were divided into healthy sleep pattern (overall sleep score = 3), intermediate sleep pattern (overall sleep score = 2) and poor sleep pattern (overall sleep score = 0 or 1) according to a former study. Hypothyroidism was defined as thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels > 5.6 mIU/mL or the need to take thyroid hormones. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between sleep abnormalities and hypothyroidism. Results: The overall prevalence of hypothyroidism was 8.0% among the 9016 participants. Self-reported trouble sleeping (odds ratio [OR] = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.14–1.68, p = 0.001) and sleep disorders (OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.06–1.86, p = 0.0196) were associated with increased prevalence of hypothyroidism. Neither short sleep duration (OR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.82–1.19) nor long sleep duration (OR = 0.98, 95% CI: 0.61–1.58) was significantly associated with hypothyroidism. Moreover, poor sleep pattern was significantly associated with increased prevalence of hypothyroidism (OR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.03–1.66, p = 0.0301). Conclusions: Both trouble sleeping and sleep disorders were associated with increased prevalence of hypothyroidism.

Since their advent in 2004, high-entropy alloys have allured the field of materials science and engineering. Laser cladding technology, with its advantages of a small heat-affected zone and rapid heating and cooling, has become a popular technique for preparing high-entropy alloy coatings. Traditional high-entropy alloys have the problem of strength-plasticity mismatch, which limits the further application of laser cladding high-entropy alloys in industry. As a method to solve these challenges, hard particle reinforced alloy coating technology can effectively control the comprehensive properties of high-entropy alloy coatings. This paper first explores and analyzes the five strengthening mechanisms and four main influencing factors of hard particle reinforced laser cladding alloy coatings. Then, from the perspective of introducing particle types, the research status of ceramic particles, rare earth particles and other types of hard particle reinforced laser cladding high entropy alloy coatings is introduced. Finally, the characteristics of hard particle reinforced laser cladding high-entropy alloy coatings are summarized, and future recommendations for hard particle reinforced alloy coatings technology and its application in laser cladding high-entropy alloys are proposed, which will be helpful for researchers and producers in this field.

Abstract To study the influence of different geological and mining factors on the decompression effect of protective layer mining, a numerical simulation was carried out using FLAC3D numerical software. Taking the Hulusu coal mine as the engineering background, numerical simulation studies were carried out under different mining heights, working face lengths, interlayer lithologies and layer spacing by using FLAC3D numerical software, and the effects of different geological and mining factors on the degree of decompression and the scope of decompression were quantitatively investigated through the control of single‐factor variables. The results show that: the stress at the critical depth of impact ground pressure is 16.44 MPa, and the coefficient of unloading degree C = 0.5 is the indicator of sufficient unloading; the unloading effect of the protected layer decreases with the increase of layer spacing, lithological strength, and length of the working face, and increases with the increase of mining height; the geological and mining parameters of the protected layer show a functional relationship with the critical depth of the unloading, and the order of the influence of pressure relief effect is layer spacing > mining height > interlayer lithology > working face length. The results of the study are very important for the determination of the mining parameters of the protective layer, the estimation of the protective effect, and the design of the management programme of impact pressure.

Abstract Late spring frosts, occurring after spring phenological events, pose a dire threat to tree growth and forest productivity. With climate warming, earlier spring phenological events have become increasingly common and led to plants experiencing more frequent and severe frost damage. However, the effect of late spring frosts after leaf-out on subsequent flowering phenology in woody species remains unknown. Utilizing 572,734 phenological records of 640 species at 5024 sites from four long-term and large-scale in situ phenological networks across the Northern Hemisphere, we show that late spring frosts following leaf-out significantly delay the onset of the subsequent flowering by approximately 6.0 days. Late-leafing species exhibit greater sensitivity to the frosts than early-leafing species, resulting in a longer delay of 2.5 days in flowering. Trees in warm regions and periods exhibit a more pronounced frost-induced flowering delay compared to those in cold regions and periods. A significant increase in the frequency of late spring frost occurrence is observed in recent decades. Our findings elucidate the intricate relationships among leaf-out, frost, and flowering but also emphasize that the sequential progression of phenological events, rather than individual phenological stages, should be considered when assessing the phenological responses to climate change.

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a clonal haematological malignancy affecting the myeloid lineage, with generally poor patient outcomes owing to the lack of targeted therapies. The histone lysine demethylase 4A (KDM4A) has been established as a novel therapeutic target in AML, due to its selective oncogenic role within leukaemic cells. We identify that the transcription factor nuclear factor of activated T cells 2 (NFATC2) is a novel binding and transcriptional target of KDM4A in the human AML THP‐1 cell line. Furthermore, cytogenetically diverse AML cell lines, including THP‐1, were dependent on NFATC2 for colony formation in vitro, highlighting a putative novel mechanism of AML oncogenesis. Our study demonstrates that NFATC2 maintenance of cell cycle progression in human AML cells was driven primarily by CCND1. Through RNA sequencing (RNA‐seq) and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP‐seq), NFATc2 was shown to bind to the promoter region of genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation and subsequently regulate their gene expression in THP‐1 cells. Furthermore, our data show that NFATC2 shares transcriptional targets with the transcription factor c‐MYC, with MYC knockdown phenocopying NFATC2 knockdown. These data suggest a newly identified co‐ordinated role for NFATC2 and MYC in the maintenance of THP‐1 cell function, indicative of a potential means of therapeutic targeting in human AML.

Abstract DELLA proteins are conserved master growth regulators that play a central role in controlling plant development in response to internal and environmental cues. DELLAs function as transcription regulators, which are recruited to target promoters by binding to transcription factors (TFs) and histone H2A via their GRAS domain. Recent studies showed that DELLA stability is regulated post-translationally via two mechanisms, phytohormone gibberellin-induced polyubiquitination for its rapid degradation, and Small Ubiquitin-like Modifier (SUMO)-conjugation to increase its accumulation. Moreover, DELLA activity is dynamically modulated by two distinct glycosylations: DELLA-TF interactions are enhanced by O-fucosylation, but inhibited by O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) modification. However, the role of DELLA phosphorylation remains unclear as previous studies showing conflicting results ranging from findings that suggest phosphorylation promotes or reduces DELLA degradation to others indicating it has no effect on its stability. Here, we identify phosphorylation sites in REPRESSOR OF ga1-3 (RGA, an AtDELLA) purified from Arabidopsis by mass spectrometry analysis, and show that phosphorylation of two RGA peptides in the PolyS and PolyS/T regions enhances RGA activity by promoting H2A binding and RGA association with target promoters. Notably, phosphorylation does not affect RGA-TF interactions or RGA stability. Our study has uncovered a molecular mechanism of phosphorylation-induced DELLA activity.

Abstract Background Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is a rare cause of heart attack, which may not receive sufficient attention from patients during post-discharge treatment, especially among those with normal coronary angiography results. Case presentation We present the case of a 65-year-old woman who was readmitted to the hospital with ventricular septal rupture (VSR) complicated by ventricular aneurysm, occurring 2 weeks after myocardial infarction. During the initial admission, coronary angiography revealed normal coronary arteries, leading to a diagnosis of MINOCA. Epicardial coronary vasospasm or coronary embolism was considered as potential causes; however, the patient did not adhere to standardized treatment upon initial discharge. The delayed VSR led to a decline in cardiac function but did not result in severe hemodynamic impairment. Following correction of heart failure with medications, the patient underwent percutaneous VSR repair 19 days after diagnosis and was discharged with a favorable recovery. Conclusions The occurrence of delayed VSR complicated with ventricular aneurysm in patients with MINOCA is rare, highlighting the possibility of serious complications in MINOCA cases. Both cardioprotective therapies and cause-targeted therapies are essential in the management of patients with MINOCA.

Abstract Background This study aims to explore the bidirectional causal relationship between immune cell phenotypes and chronic periodontitis using a Mendelian randomization framework. Materials and methods Through a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis, this research examined genetic data related to 731 immune cell traits and chronic periodontitis. Instrumental variables were chosen based on their genetic links to either immune traits or periodontitis. Various statistical techniques, including MR-Egger regression, weighted median, and inverse-variance weighted (IVW) analysis, were employed to determine the causal connections. Results Predominantly using the IVW method, 26 distinct immune phenotypes were identified as potentially influencing periodontitis (P

The utilization of titanium aluminide (TiAl) alloys is widespread in the high-temperature sectors of the aerospace industry, despite their challenging manufacturing process and inherent low toughness. Laser additive manufacturing (LAM), as a solution to these challenges, enhances the capability to form complex components and mechanical properties. The influence of process parameters, heat treatment methods, and reinforcing components on the microstructure of TiAl alloys was studied during the LAM process. The principles of designing TiAl alloys were emphasized from the action mechanism of reinforcing components. A classification standard for the component design was proposed based on the different roles of β-stabilizing elements, α-stabilizing elements, rare earth elements, and composites (a combination of the aforementioned components). Furthermore, the work discussed the evolution mechanism of the microstructure and the strengthening mechanism of mechanical properties in TiAl alloys prepared using LAM. These included solid solution strengthening, precipitation strengthening, grain boundary strengthening, grain refinement, and lattice distortion toughening. Finally, future research directions in LAM TiAl alloys were proposed—the innovative design of TiAl alloys through the structural or interfacial control, the development of multiscale characterization techniques for microstructures, and the advancement of high-performance TiAl alloys using data-driven machine learning approaches.

Background: Questioned document examination (QDE) is a crucial sub-discipline of forensic science, and over the years, this discipline has developed a vast amount of research results and literature. However, the current studies have only reviewed the development of QDE for a period of time or a particular research direction, lacking a comprehensive review of this discipline since its origins. Aim: The aim of this study is to utilize bibliometric methods to review the history and development of QDE since 1934 and also to predict its future research trends. Materials: This study collects the literature of questioned document examination (QDE) from the Web of Science Core Collection database and uses four bibliometric analysis tools: CiteSpace, VOSviewer, SciMAT, and Bibliometric, to process relevant literature data. Methods: Through the analysis methods of journal co-citation analysis, keyword co-occurrence network analysis, literature cocitation analysis, and theme evolutionary analysis, the bibliometric data information in the QDE field is obtained, and a visualized knowledge mapping is constructed. Results: The results show that four research directions have been formed, basically. As far as the development trend of QDE research is concerned, the research field shows the change in content from cursory to detailed and in analysis from qualitative to quantitative, while the research field maintains a close relationship with chemical technology and computer science. Conclusions: The changes in QDE can be attributed to advancements in science and technology, which have influenced research methods. QDE also has a legal aspect, with a focus on enhancing scientific accuracy and evidentiary value. These developments aim to strengthen QDE’s identification power and promote its scientific and standardized growth. This will gradually enhance the reliability and strength of QDE evidence, making it more valuable in judicial practice.

Abstract The diversity of secondary metabolites is an important means for plants to cope with the complex and ever‐changing terrestrial environment. Plant biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) are crucial for the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. The domestication and evolution of BGCs and how they affect plant secondary metabolites biosynthesis and environmental adaptation are still not fully understood. Buckwheat exhibits strong resistance and abundant secondary metabolites, especially flavonoids, allowing it to thrive in harsh environments. A non‐canonical BGC named UFGT3 cluster is identified, which comprises a phosphorylase kinase (PAK), two transcription factors (MADS1/2), and a glycosyltransferase (UFGT3), forming a complete molecular regulatory module involved in flavonoid biosynthesis. This cluster is selected during Tartary buckwheat domestication and is widely present in species of the Fagopyrum genus. In wild relatives of cultivated buckwheat, a gene encoding anthocyanin glycosyltransferase (AGT), which glycosylates pelargonidin into pelargonidin‐3‐O‐glucoside, is found inserted into this cluster. The pelargonidin‐3‐O‐glucoside can help plants resist UV stress, endowing wild relatives with stronger high‐altitude adaptability. This study provides a new research paradigm for the evolutionary dynamics of plant BGCs, and offers new perspectives for exploring the mechanism of plant ecological adaptability driven by environmental stress through the synthesis of secondary metabolites.

With the increasing integration levels of modern electronic products, effective thermal management has become a critical concern to ensure the operational efficiency and longevity of electronic devices. Developing thermal interface materials that possess both high thermal conductivity (κ) and reliable insulation properties has presented a significant challenge. In this study, boron nitride fibers (BNF) with a substantial length-to-diameter ratio were fabricated to serve as vertically aligned thermal conduction channels within a composite pad containing a silicone gel matrix.Under typical packing pressure conditions, the resulting BNF pad exhibits an exceptionally high through-plane thermal conductivity (40 vol. %: κ⊥ = 16.77 W/mK). Additionally, the BNF pad demonstrates favorable mechanical and dielectric properties, enhancing its versatility and applicability. The results of actual heat dissipation tests further validate the excellent thermal management capabilities of these composites in high-power electronic applications.

Cerebral aneurysms are abnormal dilations of blood vessels in the brain that have the potential to rupture, leading to subarachnoid hemorrhage and other serious complications. Early detection and prediction of aneurysm rupture are crucial for effective management and prevention of rupture-related morbidities and mortalities. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge on risk factors and predictive indicators of rupture in cerebral aneurysms. Morphological characteristics such as aneurysm size, shape, and location, as well as hemodynamic factors including blood flow patterns and wall shear stress, have been identified as important factors influencing aneurysm stability and rupture risk. In addition to these traditional factors, emerging evidence suggests that biological and genetic factors, such as inflammation, extracellular matrix remodeling, and genetic polymorphisms, may also play significant roles in aneurysm rupture. Furthermore, advancements in computational fluid dynamics and machine learning algorithms have enabled the development of novel predictive models for rupture risk assessment. However, challenges remain in accurately predicting aneurysm rupture, and further research is needed to validate these predictors and integrate them into clinical practice. By elucidating and identifying the various risk factors and predictive indicators associated with aneurysm rupture, we can enhance personalized risk assessment and optimize treatment strategies for patients with cerebral aneurysms.

Abstract In order to safeguard the surface structures from mining damage while optimizing the liberation of coal resources under the dense surface buildings of the Cedi River coal mine. Considering that the analysis of the structure and type of surface buildings and the geological mining conditions of the mine, a wide strip mining design with a retention width of 70 m and a mining width of 50 m was finally determined by using the pressure arch theory and Wilson’s theory, combined with the actual layout of working faces 51,002, 51,004 and 51,006 at the site.The strip mining design is verified by probability integral method and FLAC3D numerical simulation calculation respectively, The findings indicate that the highest value of earth surface subsidence created by the mining of the wide strip is 210 mm, the surface horizontal deformation value is 1.0 to − 1.4 mm/m, the damage to surface buildings is less than Level I, which satisfying the prerequisites of the surface building protection level, and can realize the continuous advancement of mine 51,002, 51,004 and 51,006 working faces, The coal pillars of the retained strip have sufficient support strength and long-term consistency, and the movement and deformation of the overburden after mining will not cause undulating subsidence of the surface, which effectively solve the mine's technical difficulties in safely coal mining under surface buildings.

Abstract Two-dimensional organic-inorganic hybrid halide perovskites possess diverse structural polymorphs with versatile physical properties, which can be controlled by order-disorder transition of the spacer cation, making them attractive for constructing semiconductor homojunctions. Here, we demonstrate a space-cation-dopant-induced phase stabilization approach to creating a lateral homojunction composed of ordered and disordered phases within a two-dimensional perovskite. By doping a small quantity of pentylammonium into (butylammonium)2PbI4 or vice versa, we effectively suppress the ordering transition of the spacer cation and the associated out-of-plane octahedral tilting in the inorganic framework, resulting in phase pining of the disordered phase when decreasing temperature or increasing pressure. This enables epitaxial growth of a two-dimensional perovskite homojunction with tunable optical properties under temperature and pressure stimuli, as well as directional exciton diffusion across the interface. Our results demonstrate a previously unexplored strategy for constructing two-dimensional perovskite heterostructures by thermodynamic tuning and spacer cation doping.

Abstract Deuterium/Tritium (D/T) handling in defined proportions are pivotal to maintain steady-state operation for fusion reactors. However, the hydrogen isotope effect in metal-hydrogen systems always disturbs precise D/T ratio control. Here, we reveal the dominance of kinetic isotope effect during desorption. To reconcile the thermodynamic stability and isotope effect, we demonstrate a quantitative indicator of T gap and further a local coordination design strategy that comprises thermodynamic destabilization with vibration enhancement of interstitial isotopes for isotope engineering. Based on theoretical screening analysis, an optimized Ti-Pd co-doped Zr0.8Ti0.2Co0.8Pd0.2 alloy is designed and prepared. Compared to ZrCo alloy, the optimal alloy enables consistent isotope delivery together with a three-fold lower T gap, a five-fold lower energy barrier difference, a one-third lower isotopic composition deviation during desorption and an over two-fold higher cycling capacity. This work provides insights into the interaction between alloy and hydrogen isotopes, thus opening up feasible approaches to support high-performance fusion reactors.

Abstract Given that defect detection in weld X-ray images is a critical aspect of pressure vessel manufacturing and inspection, accurate differentiation of the type, distribution, number, and area of defects in the images serves as the foundation for judging weld quality, and the segmentation method of defects in digital X-ray images is the core technology for differentiating defects. Based on the publicly available weld seam dataset GDX-ray, this paper proposes a complete technique for fault segmentation in X-ray pictures of pressure vessel welds. The key works are as follows: (1) To address the problem of a lack of defect samples and imbalanced distribution inside GDX-ray, a DA-DCGAN based on a two-channel attention mechanism is devised to increase sample data. (2) A convolutional block attention mechanism is incorporated into the coding layer to boost the accuracy of small-scale defect identification. The proposed MAU-Net defect semantic segmentation network uses multi-scale even convolution to enhance large-scale features. The proposed method can mask electrostatic interference and non-defect-class parts in the actual weld X-ray images, achieve an average segmentation accuracy of 84.75% for the GDX-ray dataset, segment and accurately rate the valid defects with a correct rating rate of 95%, and thus realize practical value in engineering.

Nuclear factor Y transcription factors (NF-Y TFs) play crucial roles in plant responses to abiotic stress. However, there is a lack of research on the comparative analysis of evolutionary relationships, real-time quantitative fluorescence PCR (RT-qPCR), and functions of NF-Y TFs to screen key NF-Y TFs that are resistant to salt and drought stresses between Vitis vinifera (V. vinifera) and Vitis amurensis (V. amurensis). In this study, 27 and 26 NF-Y TFs were identified in V. vinifera and V. amurensis, respectively, and were divided into three subgroups. Subcellular localization prediction revealed that NF-Ys TFs were mainly located in the nucleus. Interestingly, the NF-YA protein sequence of ‘NTKKLDWEFWGCCDDCEKWFGGCC’ was lost in the V. vinifera compared to V. amurensis, whereas the sequence ‘SSVYSQPWWGHSIVCVA’ was gained, thus, these sequences might be closely related to the functions performed. RT-qPCR analysis of ‘Pinot Noir’ (cultivated variety) and ‘Zuoyouhong’ (wild variety) plantlets demonstrated that the expression levels of VaNF-YA6, VaNF-YB5, VvNF-YA3, VvNF-YA5, and VvNF-YC2 were significantly upregulated under 400 mmol·L-1 NaCl and 10% PEG treatments for 24 h Subcellular localization showed that the VaNF-YA6-GFP fusion protein was functioned primarily in the nucleus. Overexpression of VaNF-YA6 in grapevine leaves and Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) could significantly enhance tolerance to salt and drought stresses by improving VvSOS2, VvSOS3, VvABF3, VvCPK6 expression levels, enzyme activities, and other protective substances. In summary, our study provides a theoretical basis for the further use of VaNF-YA6 to improve salt and drought resistance in grapevines.

Summary: Styles and stigmas are crucial components of the fertilization process that allows a pear tree to bear fruit. The information regarding the development mechanism of pear style and stigma is still unclear. Our results demonstrated that IAA, ABA, and BR are significantly increased at 1 DBF, while JA is decreased at 5 DBF. The fructose and starch contents significantly increased at 1 DBF when the style with stigma was ready for pollination. Transcriptome and DNA methylation analysis showed 8087 DEGs and 3771 DMRs were enriched in plant hormones biosynthesis, carbohydrate biosynthesis and metabolism, and TFs in 1 DBF as compared with 7 DBF. The CHH methylation type of DMRs accounts for 84.75%. Most DMRs of CHH upregulated in 1 DBF vs. 7 DBF. This study found for the first time that transcription factor ERFs and DNA methylation are involved in regulating the growth and development of fruit plant style and stigma.

Plasma membranes not only serve as physical barriers to separate the cell or organelle from extracellular or intracellular environments, but also play important roles in many cellular processes, e.g., cell adhesion, cell migration, endocytosis as well as membrane budding, whose correct executions rely on locally highly curved membrane shaping. Mechanically, these membranes are soft fluid interfaces exhibiting extremely dynamic remodeling processes in response to mechanobiological stimulus from their surrounding complex intra/extra-membranous circumstances containing thermal fluctuations, protein binding, protein-protein interaction on the membrane surface forming protein superstructures and active cytoskeletal networks. Correlating these dynamic membrane shaping involving characteristic membrane mechanical properties with cellular functions is essential to improving fundamental understandings in cell physiology and cell biomechanics. The challenge here is to explicitly describe the dynamics of membrane remodeling under the complex biological situations. Interestingly, the developed mesoscopic Monte Carlo (MC) method has the capacity to concurrently capture the elasticity and fluidity of fluid membranes well on large time and length scales, as well as to successfully reproduce fluctuating membrane morphology as observed in experiments. In this review, we focus on this mesoscopic MC method used to depict the thermodynamics of fluctuating fluid membranes and further explore how diverse biophysical factors drive large membrane curvature generation. We also discuss the current efforts of the roles of membrane morphology on the regulation of biological processes on the basis of this mesoscopic MC method, provide the insights into the known biomechanical mechanisms of effect of membrane shape on cellular functions, and point out the potential opportunities where this mesoscopic dynamic MC method can be modified to investigate more intricate biological processes, such as membrane fusion and adhesion.

Metal-air battery is an environmental friendly energy storage system with unique open structure. Magnesium (Mg) and its alloys have been extensively attempted as anodes for air batteries due to high theoretical energy density, low cost, and recyclability. However, the study on Mg-air battery (MAB) is still at the laboratory level currently, mainly owing to the low anodic efficiency caused by the poor corrosion resistance. In order to reduce corrosion losses and achieve optimal utilization efficiency of Mg anode, the design strategies are reviewed from microstructure perspectives. Firstly, the corrosion behaviors have been discussed, especially the negative difference effect derived by hydrogen evolution. Special attention is given to the effect of anode micro-structures on the MAB, which includes grain size, grain orientation, second phases, crystal structure, twins, and dislocations. For further improvement, the discharge performance, long period stacking ordered phase and its enhancing effect are considered. Meanwhile, given the current debates over Mg dendrites, the potential risk, the impact on discharge, and the elimination strategies are discussed. Microstructure control and single crystal would be promising ways for MAB anode.

Abstract Background Tartary buckwheat, Fagopyrum tataricum, is a pseudocereal crop with worldwide distribution and high nutritional value. However, the origin and domestication history of this crop remain to be elucidated. Results Here, by analyzing the population genomics of 567 accessions collected worldwide and reviewing historical documents, we find that Tartary buckwheat originated in the Himalayan region and then spread southwest possibly along with the migration of the Yi people, a minority in Southwestern China that has a long history of planting Tartary buckwheat. Along with the expansion of the Mongol Empire, Tartary buckwheat dispersed to Europe and ultimately to the rest of the world. The different natural growth environments resulted in adaptation, especially significant differences in salt tolerance between northern and southern Chinese Tartary buckwheat populations. By scanning for selective sweeps and using a genome-wide association study, we identify genes responsible for Tartary buckwheat domestication and differentiation, which we then experimentally validate. Comparative genomics and QTL analysis further shed light on the genetic foundation of the easily dehulled trait in a particular variety that was artificially selected by the Wa people, a minority group in Southwestern China known for cultivating Tartary buckwheat specifically for steaming as a staple food to prevent lysine deficiency. Conclusions This study provides both comprehensive insights into the origin and domestication of, and a foundation for molecular breeding for, Tartary buckwheat.

CoCrFeMnNiNbx (x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0) high-entropy alloy coatings were prepared on the AISI 1045 steel substrate surface by laser cladding to explore the effects of different Nb content on the microstructure, microhardness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance of high entropy alloy coatings. The microstructure of CoCrFeMnNi was composed of single face-centered cubic (FCC) solid-solution phases without Nb addition. The high-entropy alloy coating was mainly composed of a dual-phase structure of the FCC and Laves phases after Nb addition. Nb addition transformed the microstructure of coatings from hypoeutectic to eutectic and hypereutectic compositions. The microhardness of CoCrFeMnNiNbx high-entropy alloy coatings increased gradually with the increase of Nb content. When Nb content x was 1, the average microhardness of coatings was optimal (416.54 HV0.5), which was 2.21 times that of Nb0. The wear resistance of CoCrFeMnNiNbx high-entropy alloy coatings increased gradually with the increase of Nb content, and the wear volume decreased from 0.0739 to 0.0145 mm3. The primary mechanisms responsible for friction and wear were identified as adhesive wear and abrasive wear. The corrosion resistance of coatings first increased and then decreased with the increase of Nb content. When Nb content was 0.75, the passivation film on the coating surface was the stablest and densest, with the optimal corrosion resistance. The results in the work provide a theoretical reference for preparing high-entropy alloy coatings with Nb content.

Improving the hardness and wear resistance of die cutting tools is an important issue in the study of the service life of die cutting equipment. Using laser cladding technology, nickel-based composite coatings with varying BiFeO3 contents were prepared on a 45 steel substrate, because BiFeO3 can have an effect on the dilution rate and microstructure of the sample; morover BiFeO3 is a new type of multiferroic material with certain magneto-electric coupling effects which can be prepared for the study of added magnetic fields. The microstructure and morphology were characterized to determine the optimal BiFeO3 content. Based on the optimal addition of BiFeO3, a comparative analysis was conducted to investigate the effect of different magnetic field strengths under a composite energy field on the microstructure, hardness, and wear resistance of Ni-based WC cladding layers. The results show that the optimal addition of BiFeO3 was 5 wt%. At this concentration, there were no significant porosity defects in the coating, and the dilution rate was appropriate (4.77%). Additionally, the interface bonding strength was also increased. With optimal BiFeO3 addition, stirring with different magnetic field strengths was applied to the cladding layer, and the results show that the aspect ratio of the cladding layer gradually increased with increasing the alternating magnetic field strength. When the magnetic field strength in the composite energy field was 40 mT, the microstructure was fine and uniform, the hardness of the cladding layer reached the highest level, about 925.2 HV1.0, the wear resistance was also the best, the friction coefficient of the cladding layer was about 0.54, and the width of the wear mark was about 0.53 mm.

Selecting representative groundwater monitoring wells in polluted areas is crucial to comprehensively assess groundwater pollution, thereby ensuring effective groundwater remediation. However, numerous factors can affect the effectiveness of groundwater monitoring well network optimizations. A local sensitivity analysis method was used in this study to analyze the hydrogeological parameters of a simulation groundwater solute transport model. The results showed a strong effect of longitudinal dispersion and transverse dispersion on the output results of the simulation model, and a good fit between the backpropagation neural network (BPNN)-based alternative model’s results and those obtained using the solute transport simulation model, accurately reflecting the input and output relationship of the simulation model. The optimized groundwater monitoring layout scheme consisted of four groundwater monitoring wells, namely no. 7, no. 16, no. 23, and no. 24. These wells resulted in a groundwater fluoride pollution rate of 98.44%, which was substantially higher than that obtained using the random layout scheme. In addition, statistical analysis of the fluoride groundwater pollution results obtained using the Monte Carlo random simulation highlighted continuous and high groundwater fluoride levels in the second and third pollution sources and their downstream groundwater. Therefore, more attention should be devoted to these sources to ensure the effective remediation of groundwater pollution in the study area.

The significance of hypoxia at the maternal–fetal interface is proven to be self-explanatory in the context of pregnancy. During the first trimester, low oxygen conditions play a crucial role in processes such as angiogenesis, trophoblast invasion and differentiation, and immune regulation. Recently, there has been increasing research on decidual macrophages, which contribute to the maintenance of immune tolerance, placental and fetal vascular development, and spiral artery remodeling, to investigate the effects of hypoxia on their biological behaviors. On these grounds, this review describes the dynamic changes in oxygen levels at the maternal–fetal interface throughout gestation, summarizing current knowledge on how the hypoxic environment sustains a successful pregnancy by regulating retention, differentiation and efferocytosis of decidual macrophages. Additionally, we explore the relationship between spontaneous miscarriages and an abnormal hypoxia–macrophage axis, shedding light on the underlying mechanisms. However, further studies are essential to elucidate these pathways in greater detail and to develop targeted interventions that could improve pregnancy outcomes.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common malignancy worldwide, with approximately 600,000 new cases each year. A small number of HNSCCs are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Frizzled related protein (FRZB) has been reported in many inflammatory diseases and cancers, but it is yet unclear how FRZB affects HNSCC, as well as its role and underlying mechanism. TIMER2 database was utilized to evaluate FRZB expression in cancer tissues, and FRZB expression in HNSCC tissues was confirmed by samples obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus. To identify whether FRZB could be used as a prognostic predictor, we performed univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. FRZB co-expression profile was explored using the LinkedOmics database, then Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and Gene Ontology enrichment analyses were performed for these FRZB-related genes in HNSCC samples. Lasso regression analysis was subsequently used to screen for prognostic variables, and we determined the infiltration of immune cells in HNSCC patients to clarify the influence of FRZB on tumor immune microenvironment. At last, we assessed the association between FRZB expression and immune checkpoint gene, and compared the sensitivity of common chemotherapeutic agents. In this study, we found that FRZB was dysregulated in HNSCC tumor tissues and had a relationship with clinical parameters. The reliability and independence of FRZB as a factor in determining a patient's prognosis for HNSCC was also established. Additional investigation revealed that FRZB was linked to common immune checkpoint genes and may be implicated in immune infiltration.

BackgroundLiver fibrosis significantly impacts public health globally. Untreated liver fibrosis eventually results in cirrhosis. Cigarette smoking is the main etiologic factor for various diseases. However, the causal effects of cigarette smoking on liver fibrosis and cirrhosis have yet to be fully elucidated.MethodsIn this study, Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed to assess the association between cigarette smoking, liver fibrosis, and cirrhosis. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected as instrumental variables from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of European ancestry. Patients were divided into six exposure categories as follows: “ever smoked,” “pack years of smoking,” “age of smoking initiation,” “smoking status: never,” “smoking status: current,” and “smoking status: previous.” The outcomes of this study included liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. MR-Egger, weighted median, inverse variance weighted, simple mode, and weighted mode were selected as the analysis methods. Cochran’s Q and the MR-PRESSO tests were conducted to measure heterogeneity. The MR-Egger method was performed to evaluate horizontal pleiotropy, while the “leave-one-out” analysis was performed for sensitivity testing.ResultsThe results of this study showed that having a smoking history increases the risk of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis [“ever smoked”: odds ratio (OR) = 5.704, 95% CI: 1.166–27.910, p = 0.032; “smoking status: previous”: OR = 99.783, 95% CI: 2.969–3.353e+03, p = 0.010]. A negative correlation was observed between patients who never smoked and liver fibrosis and cirrhosis (“smoking status: never”: OR = 0.171, 95% CI: 0.041–0.719, p = 0.016). However, there were no significant associations between “smoking status: current,” “pack years of smoking,” and “age of smoking initiation” and liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. Cigarette smoking did not have a significant horizontal pleiotropic effect on liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. The “Leave-one-out” sensitivity analysis indicated that the results were stable.ConclusionThe study confirmed the causal effects of cigarette smoking on liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.

The integration of power grids and communication networks in smart grids enhances system safety and reliability but also exposes vulnerabilities to network attacks, such as Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks targeting communication networks. A multi-index evaluation approach is proposed to optimize routing modes in integrated energy cyber-physical systems (IECPS) considering potential failures from attacks. Security and economic service evaluation indexes are incorporated to quantify the significance of information flow routing. An optimization model for electric, heat, and gas routing in worst-case scenarios is formulated and solved using a column and constraint generation algorithm. The optimized routing method effectively circumvents specified attack areas, reducing the correlation degree of communication links within the attack area. Comparison with single-service optimization methods demonstrates the superiority of the proposed approach in mitigating the impact of network attacks on IECPS. The study highlights the importance of considering security and economic factors in optimizing routing modes to enhance the resilience of integrated energy cyber-physical systems against network attacks, particularly DoS attacks on communication networks. The evaluation index approach presented in this study provides a comprehensive method for assessing the importance of communication links in IECPS and optimizing routing modes to improve system robustness and reliability in the face of network attacks.

Waste tires pose significant environmental, health, and fire risks. Creative waste management solutions, including reuse, recycle and repurpose, are necessary to mitigate those impacts while enriching their valorisation. An innovative solution is the upcycling of recycled steel fibre (RSF) from waste tires to enhance strength and durability of concrete. This study thus experimentally examines dynamic and mechanical behaviours of high-strength concrete with varying proportions of RSF, from 0% to 1.2% by volume. The results reveal that high-strength concrete with 1.2% RSF exhibits the best improvement in strengths. In addition, the damping ratio, dynamic modulus of RSF concrete and SEM images confirm valorisation potentials of waste fibres. Via a robust critical lifecycle analysis, the new insights form a new sustainable design and carbon credited application framework for RSF. Our results portray that innovative recycling practices for end-of-life tires yield substantial environmental benefits, including a significant carbon emission reduction.

BackgroundEsophageal cancer is the seventh most frequently diagnosed cancer with a high mortality rate and the sixth leading cause of cancer deaths in the world. Early detection of esophageal cancer is very vital for the patients. Traditionally, contrast computed tomography (CT) was used to detect esophageal carcinomas, but with the development of deep learning (DL) technology, it may now be possible for non-contrast CT to detect esophageal carcinomas. In this study, we aimed to establish a DL-based diagnostic system to stage esophageal cancer from non-contrast chest CT images.MethodsIn this retrospective dual-center study, we included 397 primary esophageal cancer patients with pathologically confirmed non-contrast chest CT images, as well as 250 healthy individuals without esophageal tumors, confirmed through endoscopic examination. The images of these participants were treated as the training data. Additionally, images from 100 esophageal cancer patients and 100 healthy individuals were enrolled for model validation. The esophagus segmentation was performed using the no-new-Net (nnU-Net) model; based on the segmentation result and feature extraction, a decision tree was employed to classify whether cancer is present or not. We compared the diagnostic efficacy of the DL-based method with the performance of radiologists with various levels of experience. Meanwhile, a diagnostic performance comparison of radiologists with and without the aid of the DL-based method was also conducted.ResultsIn this study, the DL-based method demonstrated a high level of diagnostic efficacy in the detection of esophageal cancer, with a performance of AUC of 0.890, sensitivity of 0.900, specificity of 0.880, accuracy of 0.882, and F-score of 0.891. Furthermore, the incorporation of the DL-based method resulted in a significant improvement of the AUC values w.r.t. of three radiologists from 0.855/0.820/0.930 to 0.910/0.955/0.965 (p = 0.0004/

The CoCrFeNiTi_(1-x) Mo_x high-entropy-alloy coating was prepared using a powder presetting method. The work investigated the influences of Ti and Mo addition on the microstructure and properties of CoCrFeNi high-entropy alloys. The first-principles calculation showed that CoCrFeNiTi_(1-x) Mo_x was mainly composed of the FCC phase, BCC phase, and IMCs. The coating exhibited high hardness, and the mechanical stability of the high-entropy alloys of FCC and BCC phases was maintained when x = 0.5. The coating primarily consisted of FCC, BCC, σand CoTi2 phases when x ≤ 0.75. The coating primarily consisted of FCC, BCC, σand Co2Mo3 phases when x = 1. It exhibited high microhardness, elastic modulus, elastic stiffness, and wear resistance when x = 0.5. Its average microhardness, local elastic modulus, and elastic stiffness were 873.28 HV0.5, 265.5606 GPa, and 102.8008 GPa, respectively. Besides, COF and the wear mass loss were 0.7026 mm3 and 0.0410 mm3, respectively. The coating exhibited exceptional corrosion resistance with a self-corrosion voltage of −0.700 V and a self-corrosion current of 5.387e-007 A when x = 1. The results offer practical guidance for preparing high-entropy-alloy coatings with various advantages as well as a theoretical foundation for preparing such alloys by laser cladding.

Pears carry a gametophytic self-incompatibility (SI) system. In this system, S-RNase is the SI pistil determinant, and S-locus F-box brothers (SFBBs) are candidate pollen determinants. However, compared with apple, fewer SFBB genes were identified from pear, possibly caused by the lack of economic and effective methods. Here, we used transcriptome sequencing on ‘Yali’ (Pyrus bretschneideri) to obtain sequence fragments of SFBB genes and then used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify the whole sequence of SFBB genes. Twenty-seven SFBB genes, including 22 full-length and five nonfull-length SFBB genes, were identified in ‘Yali’ (P. bretschneideri). SFBBs linkage analysis by PCR-enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) showed that 12 SFBB genes belong to the S21 locus, and 15 SFBB genes belong to the S34 locus. Phylogenetic analysis showed that SFBB genes from Pyrus were divided into 26 types, more than the original eight types. The intrahaplotypic divergence of SFBBs is high and comparable to the allelic diversity of S-RNase, which is consistent with a nonself-recognition SI system. In addition, the expression level of PbrSFBBs in ‘Jinzhui’, the only known haploid pollen of a self-compatible mutant, was mostly approximately two times higher than in ‘Yali’, which may be the reason for the self-compatible mutant.

Abstract Background Neo-tetraploid rice lines exhibit high fertility and strong heterosis and harbor novel specific alleles, which are useful germplasm for polyploid rice breeding. However, the mechanism of the fertility associated with miRNAs remains unknown. In this study, a neo-tetraploid rice line, termed Huaduo21 (H21), was used. Cytological observation and RNA-sequencing were employed to identify the fertility-related miRNAs in neo-tetraploid rice. Results H21 showed high pollen fertility (88.08%), a lower percentage of the pollen mother cell (PMC) abnormalities, and lower abnormalities during double fertilization and embryogenesis compared with autotetraploid rice. A total of 166 non-additive miRNAs and 3108 non-additive genes were detected between H21 and its parents. GO and KEGG analysis of non-additive genes revealed significant enrichments in the DNA replication, Chromosome and associated proteins, and Replication and repair pathways. Comprehensive multi-omics analysis identified 32 pairs of miRNA/target that were associated with the fertility in H21. Of these, osa-miR408-3p and osa-miR528-5p displayed high expression patterns, targeted the phytocyanin genes, and were associated with high pollen fertility. Suppression of osa-miR528-5p in Huaduo1 resulted in a low seed set and a decrease in the number of grains. Moreover, transgenic analysis implied that osa-MIR397b-p3, osa-miR5492, and osa-MIR5495-p5 might participate in the fertility of H21. Conclusion Taken together, the regulation network of fertility-related miRNAs-targets pairs might contribute to the high seed setting in neo-tetraploid rice. These findings enhance our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of pollen fertility associated with miRNAs in neo-tetraploid rice.

Abstract Background The clinical indications of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in immunosuppressed patients are not clear. This study aimed to analyse the effectiveness of ECMO and to identify the risk factors for the mortality of ECMO in immunocompromised patients with acute respiratory failure. Methods This retrospective, cohort study included 46 confirmed immunocompromised patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure treated with ECMO between July 2014 and August 2020. The clinical features and outcomes of the survival group and the non‐survival group were statistically analysed. Results The mean age of the enrolled patients was 60.0 (50.0, 66.0) years; male patients accounted for 60.9% of patients, and the mean CD4 level was 213 cells/μL (150.3, 325.3). The hospital mortality rate of the cohort was 67.4% (31/46 patients). Patients in the survival group showed a higher rate of receiving awake ECMO (11/15 vs. 4/31; p = 0.006), a lower rate of acute kidney injury (AKI) receiving continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) (1/15 vs. 12/31; p = 0.035), fewer platelet transfusion units (0/15 vs. 2/31 units; p = 0.039) and a lower rate of ventilator‐associated pneumonia (2/15 vs. 19/31; p = 0.006). In a multivariate Cox regression analysis model, intubated ECMO (hazard ratio = 1.77, 95% confidence interval: 1.34–2.32, p

Distant hybridization refers to the combination of different genomes from different species and further leads to genetic structure changes in hybrids. For next-generation sequencing limitations, the genetic changes with respect to hybrids or polyploids cannot be fully explained. Here, we obtained 117,526 full-length isoforms from a triploid hybrid grass carp (3nGT, 3n = 72) by the crossing of female grass carp (GC, 2n = 48) and male topmouth culter (TC, 2n = 48) using single-molecule long reads sequencing technology. Further, the gene fusion, alternative splicing (AS), transcription of homologous genes, and novel genes were analyzed. The results showed that 1563 fusion genes were detected in 3nGT including 872 heterogenous fusion genes derived from GC and TC genomes. Meanwhile, 175,644 AS events were identified and divided into five models, of which IntronR was the dominant model. In addition, 8964 novel genes were discovered, of which 2802 novel genes were annotated. Finally, scans results of Hox gene family revealed that both GC and TC Hox genes were transcribed in 3nGT, but presented asymmetric transcription patterns with a bias towards the maternal parent GC genome. This study not only provides a rich resource of transcript isoforms for the superior triploid grass carp, but also provides an important insight into rapid genetic changes in hybrid fish.

IntroductionIn the Dongting water system, the Carassius auratus (Crucian carp) complex is characterized by the coexistence of diploid forms (2n=100, 2nCC) and polyploidy forms. The diploid (2nCC) and triploid C.auratus (3n=150, 3nCC) had the same fertility levels, reaching sexual maturity at one year. MethodsThe nucleotide sequence, gene expression, methylation, and immunofluorescence of the gonadotropin releasing hormone 2(Gnrh2), Gonadotropin hormone beta(Gthβ), and Gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor(Gthr) genes pivotal genes of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis were analyzed. ResultsThe analysis results indicated that Gnrh2, follicle-stimulating hormone receptor(Fshr), and Lethal hybrid rescue(Lhr) genes increased the copy number and distinct structural differentiation in 3nCC compared to that in 2nCC. The transcript levels of HPG axis genes in 3nCC were higher than 2nCC (P

The strategy of coupling the micro-vibration mechanical field with Ca/P ceramics to optimize the osteogenic microenvironment and enhance the functional activity of the cells can significantly improve the bone regeneration of the graft. However, the regulation mode and mechanism of this coupling strategy are not fully understood at present. This study investigated the influence of different waveforms of the electrical signals driving Microvibration Stimulation (MVS) on this coupling effect. The results showed that there were notable variances in calcium phosphate dissolution and redeposition, protein adsorption, phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and FAK signal pathways and activation of calcium channels such as TRPV1/Piezo1/Piezo2 in osteogenic microenvironment under the coupling action of hydroxyapatite (HA) ceramics and MVS driven by different electrical signal waveforms. Ultimately, these differences affected the osteogenic differentiation process of cells by a way of time-sequential regulation. Square wave-MVS coupled with HA ceramic can significantly delay the high expression time of characteristic genes (such as Runx2, Col-I and OCN) in MC3T3-E1 cells during in vitro the early, middle and late stage of differentiation, while maintain the high proliferative activity of MC3T3-E1 cells. Triangle wave signal-MVS coupled with HA ceramic promoted the osteogenic differentiation of cells in the early and late stages. Sine wave-MVS shows the effect on the process of osteogenic differentiation in the middle stage (such as the up-regulation of ALP synthesis and Col-I gene expression in the early stage of stimulation). In addition, Square wave-MVS showed the best coupling effect. The bone graft constructed under square wave-MVS formed new bone tissue and mature blood vessels only 2 weeks after subcutaneous implantation in nude mice. Our study provides a new non-invasive regulation model for precisely optimizing the osteogenic microenvironment, which can accelerate bone regeneration in bone grafts more safely, accurately and reliably.

Dimension prediction of robotic wire and arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) part is fundamentally dependent on the modelling accuracy of single-bead profile and its subsequent overlapping ones. Current multi-bead overlapping models are still not capable of describing the flatten valley area of WAAM parts. This paper proposes a new recursive model, based on coordinate transformation and axisymmetric drop shape analysis (ADSA), to predict multi-bead overlapping profiles. First, a single-bead profile model for WAAM is established based on ADSA, followed by detailed description of conventional and proposed modified recursive ADSA profile model. The properties of developed recursive ADSA model are then investigated to reveal the effects of overlapping ratio and single-bead aspect ratio. Finally, multi-bead overlapping deposition experiment is carried out to validate the model feasibility. The results show that the modified recursive ADSA model is more accurate than the conventional one for its better accountability of valley areas. It is also indicated that the modified recursive ADSA model is suitable for the robotic WAAM process. The research outcome is beneficial to improving the forming accuracy of WAAM parts and geometry prediction of other additive manufactured products.

Industrial recycled steel wires extracted from waste tires can be combined with high-performance mortar by weaving them into a mesh to apply this type of strengthening method, which exhibits high tensile strength, high toughness, and excellent cracking resistance in building structures. This paper presents a flexural behavior study of reinforced concrete (RC) beams under different industrial recycled steel wire working conditions. We examined the resultant steel-wire mesh high-performance mortar, investigating the stiffness, ductility, and load carrying capacity of the experimental beams under different anchorage measures using different mesh types and sizes. The results showed that both the weaving of the recycled industrial steel wire into a mesh and the rebar-planting anchorage measures were effective in preventing the stripping of the strengthening layers, allowing the tensile performance of the recycled industrial steel wire to be fully utilized and the ultimate load capacity of the RC beams to be considerably increased. At the same time, the industrial recycled steel-wire mesh also played an important role in the inhibition of crack development, with the width of the cracks in the strengthening beams decreasing and an overall appearance of ''fine and dense'' character. As the volume of steel bars in industrial recycled steel-wire mesh increases, the ultimate bearing capacity and stiffness of the beam increased. To verify the strengthening effect of industrial recycled steel-wire mesh high-performance mortar on the beams from multiple angles, this study used finite element analysis software to conduct numerical simulation analyses on four of the experimental beams. The damage cloud charts of the specimens from the numerical simulations were compared with experimental failure phenomena, the deviations between the simulated and experimental values of the specimens being within 10%—that is, the simulation results were in good agreement with the experimental results. The use of industrial recycled steel-wire mesh high-performance mortar strengthening could be applied in actual projects, its green low-carbon credentials achieving the purpose of solid-waste utilization as well as providing strong support for China's early realization of carbon neutrality and related strategic objectives. At the same time, the recycling of waste tires could provide a new research direction.

The strengthening mechanism of composite carbide (Ti,V)C enhanced Ni-based coatings was discussed by combined calculations and tests to obtain the influence mechanism of the microstructure and properties. The first principle was used to calculate the microstructure, formation energy, mechanical properties, anisotropy, and electronic properties of composite ceramic phase (Ti,V)C. It explored the effect of changes in Ti and V content on the properties of composite carbides. The influence mechanism of different Ti/V ratios on the performance and organization of coatings was analyzed by experiments to clarify the evolution process of the molten pool at different contents. The properties and crystal parameters of the composite phase greatly changed with increased V. The recombination of covalent bonds was an important reason for the increased hardness of the composite carbide. TiC with low Gibbs free energy precipitated preferentially at the solidification stage of the molten pool. The subsequent VC tended to form (Ti,V)C composite carbides with TiC as heterogeneous nucleation sites. When powder ratio Ti:V = 3:1, the hardness and wear resistance of the coating were better than those reinforced by single carbide TiC through hardness and friction wear tests. The difference in grain morphologies in the coating was the main reason for the change in coating performance. Research results provide a theoretical reference and basis for preparing composite carbide-reinforced coatings by laser cladding.

As a project construction organization model, whole-process engineering consulting (WPEC) is currently being promoted in China’s engineering consulting industry. However, various factors create numerous obstacles that hinder this model’s effective promotion and application. One essential task is to deeply analyze the transmission mechanism of the influencing factors in the promotion and application of WPEC, and explore effective pathways for promoting and applying this model. This paper systematically organizes and summarizes 10 primary influencing factors and 38 secondary influencing factors for promoting WPEC. Using the complex network analysis method, a network of influencing factors for promoting WPEC, a network structure, and motif analyses are conducted. The results show that the influencing factors have a complex transmission mechanism, and complex network analysis can reveal the laws of their construction and their causes. This paper provides a systematic basis and theoretical support for the effective formulation of policies related to the promotion and application of WPEC.

The evaluation and classification of goaf stability are fuzzy and random. To address this problem, a new classification method is proposed. A cavity monitoring system is used to detect the goaf, 3DMine and FLAC3D software are used to conduct the 3D visual modeling of the scanning results, and numerical simulation analysis is performed on the goaf. According to the analysis results, the stability classification standard of the goaf is constructed, and the characteristics of each classification are described. The evaluation indicator system of goaf stability is constructed in accordance with similar engineering experience, and the evaluation indicator is weighted by using the analytic hierarchy process. The cloud–element coupling evaluation model is built, the field measured values of indicators are collected, the cloud correlation degree of goafs belonging to each stability level is calculated, the stability level is evaluated according to the principle of maximum membership degree, and the results are compared with the numerical simulation to analyze the reasons for the differences in the stability evaluation results obtained by the two methods and to improve the accuracy of the evaluation of goaf stability. The pillar stress and surrounding rock deformation are monitored in Room 1# of the inclined mining area of Shirengou Iron Mine. The monitoring results are consistent with the evaluation results, which proves the accuracy of the proposed goaf stability classification method.

ABSTRACT Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common opportunistic pathogen that causes invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), especially in children. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and molecular characteristics of S. pneumoniae isolated from children with IPD. A total of 78 S. pneumoniae isolates from aseptic body fluids of 70 IPD patients were collected at the Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (Jiangsu Province, China) during 2017–2021. Whole-genome sequencing technology was used to analyze the serotype, sequence type (ST), virulence, and antibiotic resistance of the 78 invasive S. pneumoniae clinical isolates. Our results showed that the pneumococcal infection rate declined after the COVID-19 outbreak in 2019. Serotypes 19F, 14, 6A, 23F, 19A, and 6B were the most common strains. The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) 13 serotype coverage rate was 87.1%. All isolates were classified by multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) analysis into 27 different STs, including 3 novel STs (ST17941, ST17942, and ST17944) and 1 novel allele [recP (558)]. The most predominant ST was ST271, followed by ST320 and ST876. All isolates carried the following virulence genes: cbpG, lytB, lytC, pce (cbpE), pavA, slrA, plr (gapA), hysA, nanA, eno, piuA, psaA, cppA, iga, htrA (degP), tig (ropA), zmpB, and ply. All isolates were multidrug resistant and had high levels of resistance to macrolides, tetracyclines, and sulfonamides. Taken together, this study revealed extensive genetic diversity among S. pneumoniae isolates from a single Chinese hospital. Wearing masks, universal infant vaccination with PCV13, and the launch of recombinant protein vaccine development programs could reduce the burden of IPD in children. IMPORTANCE Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in children remains a global burden and should be given more attention due to the fact that the pneumococcal vaccine is not fully covered globally. The molecular epidemiological characteristics of S. pneumoniae are not so clear, especially in these years of COVID-19. In this study, we collected S. pneumoniae isolates from the aseptic body fluid of children with IPD from 2017 to 2021 in a tertiary children’s hospital in China and revealed the extensive genetic diversity of these isolates. Most importantly, we first found that the rate of pneumococcal infection has declined since the COVID-19 outbreak in 2019, which means that wearing masks could reduce the transmission of S. pneumoniae. In addition, it was shown that universal infant vaccination with PCV13 seems essential for reducing the burden of IPD in children.

The symptoms of Behçet’s disease (BD), a multisystemic condition with autoimmune and inflammation as hallmarks, include arthritis, recurring oral and vaginal ulcers, skin rashes and lesions, and involvement of the nervous, gastrointestinal, and vascular systems. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), may be important regulators of inflammation and autoimmune disease. These ncRNAs are essential to the physiological and pathophysiological disease course, and miRNA in particular has received significant attention for its role and function in BD and its potential use as a diagnostic biomarker in recent years. Although promising as therapeutic targets, miRNAs must be studied further to fully comprehend how miRNAs in BD act biologically.

IntroductionTo analyze the impact of yoga and music intervention on child consumers, we selected 60 eligible child consumers from yoga and music companies.MethodsThis preliminary study used a randomized controlled design to investigate whether a 16-week combined yoga and music intervention improves attention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) in 60 children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) comorbid with ODD aged 4–6 years. It also preliminarily identified which intervention is best for these children among three types: combined yoga and music, yoga-only, and musiconly interventions. We used both the parent- and teacher-rated MTA SNAP-IV ADHD Rating Scale for data collection.ResultsWe found that the combined yoga and music intervention had a positive effect on inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, and ODD in children with comorbid ADHD and ODD. The combined yoga and music intervention was the most effective in reducing inattention (in repeated measures ANOVA effect size, 0.9; followed by the yoga- and the music-only interventions, respectively), hyperactivity/impulsivity (effect size, 0.92), and ODD behaviors (effect size, 0.93) in children with comorbid ADHD and ODD. Thus, the combined yoga and music intervention was the most effective and had a more comprehensive effect on children with combined ADHD and ODD compared with the two other interventions (i.e., yoga- and music-only interventions).DiscussionOur findings provide preliminary evidence for the use of combined yoga and music interventions on a daily basis as a safe and effective adjunctive treatment for children with comorbid ADHD and ODD. The children in the article refer to child consumers of yoga and music companies.

BackgroundBloodstream infections (BSI) are one of the most severe healthcare-associated infections in intensive care units (ICU). However, there are few studies on pneumonia-related BSI (PRBSI) in the ICU. This study aimed to investigate the clinical and prognostic characteristics of patients with PRBSI in the ICU and to provide a clinical basis for early clinical identification.MethodsWe retrospectively collected data from patients with bacterial BSI in a single-center ICU between January 1, 2017, and August 31, 2020. Clinical diagnosis combined with whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was used to clarify the diagnosis of PRBSI, and patients with PRBSI and non-PRBSI were analyzed for clinical features, prognosis, imaging presentation, and distribution of pathogenic microorganisms.ResultsOf the 2,240 patients admitted to the MICU, 120 with bacterial BSI were included in this study. Thirty-two (26.7%) patients were identified as having PRBSI based on the clinical diagnosis combined with WGS. Compared to patients without PRBSI, those with PRBSI had higher 28-day mortality (81.3 vs.51.1%, p = 0.003), a higher total mortality rate (93.8 vs. 64.8%, p = 0.002), longer duration of invasive mechanical ventilation (median 16 vs. 6 days, p = 0.037), and prolonged duration of ICU stay (median 21 vs. 10 days, p = 0.004). There were no differences in other baseline data between the two groups, but patients with PRBSI had extensive consolidation on chest radiographs and significantly higher Radiographic Assessment of Lung Edema scores (mean 35 vs. 24, p