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Aiming at the problems of large torque ripple in permanent magnet-assisted switched reluctance motor (PMa-SRM) under conventional voltage pulse width modulation (PWM) method. A torque sharing function (TSF) control strategy with interval segmented zero-voltage modulation is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the zero voltage is decentralized by optimizing the PWM modulation method. Secondly, the control interval is divided and a segmented TSF based on hyperbolic tangent function transformation is proposed tailored to the torque characteristics. Then, the PWM variable duty cycle control is carried out according to the inductance characteristics. In the single-phase conduction region (SpC), the optimal duty cycle is predicted by using the deadbeat predictive control (DPC); in the two-phase exchange region (TpE), the duty cycle function is designed for each interval, and the duty cycles of the incoming and outgoing phases are obtained online through the torque error. Finally, simulations and experimental verification of the 6/20 PMa-SRM prototype confirm that the proposed control strategy to have good performance in torque ripple suppression.

Abstract To evaluate the efficacy of laparoscopic-assisted Soave procedure of Hirschsprung’s Disease (HSCR) in neonates and infants within 3 months of age. Patients with HSCR who were admitted to the Department of Fetal and Neonatal Surgery of Hunan Children’s Hospital from June 2012 to July 2020 and underwent laparoscopic-assisted Soave procedure were selected. The clinical manifestations, surgical procedures, postoperative fecal contamination, constipation, enterocolitis, and defecation function were analyzed. A total of 267 children were included, 230 males and 37 females. Vaginal delivery occurred in 138 cases (51.7%) and cesarean delivery in 129 cases (48.3%). There were 217 cases (81.3%) of delayed excretion of meconium, preoperative HAEC (Hirschsprung’s Disease Associated enterocolitis) 116 cases (43.4%), postoperative HAEC 54 cases (20.2%), 1 cases of postoperative death, 266 cases (99.6%) were cured. There were 37 cases (13.9%) of long-segment type, 226 cases (84.6%) of common type, and 4 cases (1.5%) of short-segment type. Of the 267 cases, 214 cases were followed up (80.1%), 60 cases with fecal contamination, the incidence rate was 28.0%, and 5 cases were tertiary fecal contamination. The overall incidence of constipation was 3.7% (8 cases), and 2 cases were third-degree constipation. Evaluation of defecation function: The excellent rate was 94.4%. Laparoscopic-assisted Soave procedure in neonates and infants within 3 months of age is generally safe and feasible, most infants have good postoperative defecation function, and the incidence of postoperative fecal contamination, constipation, and enterocolitis is relatively low.

The Mg–Sc alloys have attracted considerable attention from researchers due to their martensitic transformation behavior. However, the relatively low yield strength limits their practical application. Thus, Zn alloying combined with annealing treatment was used to improve the mechanical properties by modulating its microstructure. Zn alloying can effectively delay the recrystallization rate and refine the grain size of the alloy. The β/α intensity ratio and grain size of β phase increase with the increasing annealing temperature. When the annealing temperature is 600 °C, the major phase is β-Mg-Sc with minor α-Mg-Sc, ScZn and Mg3Sc phases. Further increasing the temperature to 650 °C would lead to the dissolution of ScZn and Mg3Sc phases into the matrix, resulting in smaller precipitations. The Mg-Sc-Zn alloy annealed at 600 °C for 60 min owns the best comprehensive mechanical properties, with yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, and elongation of 307.2 MPa, 330.5 MPa, and 21.1%, respectively. Further TEM analysis reveals that fine grain reinforcement, precipitation reinforcement, and stress-induced martensitic transformation during tensile deformation are the main factors for the enhancement of strength and ductility in this alloy.

Abstract Background T1 mapping can quantify the longitudinal relaxation time of tissues. This study aimed to investigate the repeatability and reproducibility of T1 mapping radiomics features of lung cancer and the feasibility of T1 mapping-based radiomics model to predict its pathological types. Methods The chest T1 mapping images and clinical characteristics of 112 lung cancer patients (54 with adenocarcinoma and 58 with other types of lung cancer) were collected retrospectively. 54 patients underwent twice short-term T1 mapping scans. Regions of interest were manually delineated on T1 mapping pseudo-color images to measure the mean native T1 values of lung cancer, and radiomics features were extracted using the semi-automatic segmentation method by two independent observers. The patients were randomly divided into training group (77 cases) and validation group (35 cases) with the ratio of 7:3. Interclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), Student’s t-test or Mann-Whitney U tests and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) were used for feature selection. The optimum features were selected to establish a logistic regression (LR) radiomics model. Independent sample t-test, Mann Whitney U-test or chi square test were used to compare the differences of clinical characteristics and T1 values. Performance was compared by the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC). Results In the training group, smoking history, lesion type and native T1 values were different between adenocarcinoma and non-adenocarcinoma patients (P = 0.004–0.038). There were 1035 (54.30%) radiomics features meet the intra-and inter-observer, and test-retest reproducibility with ICC > 0.80. After feature dimensionality reduction and model construction, the AUC of T1 mapping-based radiomics model for predicting the pathological types of lung cancer was 0.833 and 0.843, respectively, in the training and validation cohorts. The AUCs of T1 value and clinical model (including smoking history and lesion type) were 0.657 and 0.692 in the training group, and 0.722 and 0.686 in the validation group. Combined with T1 mapping radiomics, clinical model and T1 value to establish a combined model, the prediction efficiency was further improved to 0.895 and 0.915 in the training and validation groups. Conclusions About 50% of the T1 mapping-based radiomics features displayed relatively poor repeatability and reproducibility. While T1 mapping-based radiomics model is valuable in identification of histological types of lung cancer despite the measurement variability. Combination of T1 mapping radiomics model, clinical characteristics and native T1 value can improve the predictive value of pathological types of lung cancer.

Currently, limited studies focused on the variations in submarine fresh groundwater discharge rates, seawater recirculation rates, and their respective proportions with tidal level change in sandy intertidal zones. This study conducted in-situ dynamic monitoring of the salinity at the groundwater seepage face in a sandy tidal flat in Xiamen Bay. Using variable-density flow numerical model, the dynamic groundwater salinity in the intertidal zone was simulated to calculate the submarine fresh groundwater discharge in the intertidal zone. The results show that groundwater salinity at different locations in the intertidal zone exhibits varying patterns with the tides. The submarine groundwater discharge at a typical profile was estimated to be 17.47 m3/(m·d), in which the submarine fresh groundwater discharge was calculated to be 3.19 m3/(m·d), accounting for 18.26% of the total submarine groundwater discharge. In contrast, recirculated submarine groundwater discharge was estimated to be 14.28 m3/(m·d), constituting 81.74% of the total submarine groundwater discharge and thus playing a dominant role. Under the influence of tides, seawater infiltration and submarine groundwater discharge are alternate. The alternation during ebb tide occurs slightly earlier than the slack water level, while during flood tide, it occurs slightly later. The peak moment of seawater infiltration rate and submarine groundwater discharge rate precede the tidal peaks at high and low tides, respectively. Throughout the tidal cycle (from high tide to the next high tide), the proportion of submarine fresh groundwater discharge gradually increases. The variation in groundwater salinity in the intertidal zone can represent the changes in submarine fresh groundwater discharge. The proportion of submarine fresh groundwater discharge in the total submarine groundwater discharge is relatively high in this typical profile than that in the previous studies. It indicates the presence of a substantial amount of submarine fresh groundwater discharge in the intertidal zone. Through sensitivity analysis, it reveals that inland hydraulic head has significant influences on submarine fresh groundwater discharge and spatial distribution of salinity. This study can provide scientific information for the development and utilization of coastal groundwater and the management of coastal environments.

Abstract Background Greater yam is a key staple crop grown in tropical and subtropical regions, while its asexual propagation mode had led to non-flowering mutations. How transposable elements contribute to its genetic variations is rarely analyzed. We used transcriptome and whole genome sequencing data to identify active transposable elements (TEs) and genetic variation caused by these active TEs. Our aim was to shed light on which TEs would lead to its intraspecies variation. Results Annotation of de novo assembly transcripts indicated that 0.8 − 0.9% of transcripts were TE related, with LTR retrotransposons (LTR-RTs) accounted for 65% TE transcripts. A large portion of these transcripts were non-autonomous TEs, which had incomplete functional domains. The majority of mapped transcripts were distributed in genic deficient regions, with 9% of TEs overlapping with genic regions. Moreover, over 90% TE transcripts exhibited low expression levels and insufficient reads coverage to support full-length structure assembly. Subfamily analysis of Copia and Gypsy, the two LTR-RTs revealed that a small number of subfamilies contained a significantly larger number of members, which play a key role in generating TE transcript. Based on resequencing data, 15,002 L-RT insertion loci were detected for active LTR-RT members. The insertion loci of LTR-RTs were highly divergent among greater yam accessions. Conclusions This study showed the ongoing transcription and transpositions of TEs in greater yam, despite low transcription levels and incomplete proteins insufficient for autonomous transposition. While our research did not directly link these TEs to specific yam traits such as tuber yield and propagation mode, it lays a crucial foundation for further research on how these TE insertion polymorphisms (TIPs) might be related to variations in greater yam traits and its tuber propagation mode. Future research may explore the potential roles of TEs in trait variations, such as tuber yield and stress resistance, in greater yam.

【Objective】The effects of operation parameters of multi-rotor plant protection unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at different growth stages of maize on deposition quality and the control efficacy of Spodoptera frugiperda were compared to select the optimal operation parameters, with an aim to provide scientific basis for precise pesticide application of S. frugiperda.【Method】DJI T20 six-rotor plant protection UAV was used as the research object, the operation parameters including flight altitude, flight speed and nozzle type were tested for optimization of deposition distribution at the trumpet stage and heading stage of maize, and the population decline rate and control effect of S. frugiperda 7 d after the application of pesticides were investigated.【Result】At trumpet stage of maize, when a SX110015VS nozzle operated at a flight speed of 4 m/s and at a flight altitude of 2.5 m above the maize canopy, the maximum normalized average droplet deposition was 0.45 μL/cm2. When a SX110015VS nozzle operated at a flight speed of 4 m/s and a flight altitude of 1.5 m, both average droplet coverage and average droplet density were the highest, which were 44.92 drops/cm2 and 9.31%, respectively. At heading stage of maize, the normalized average droplet deposition, average droplet coverage and average droplet density were the highest when a SX110015VS nozzle operated at a flight speed of 4 m/s and a flight altitude of 2.5 m, which were 0.50 μL/cm2, 82.92 drops/cm2 and 7.67%, respectively.【Conclusion】The actual occurrence level of pests should be taken into consideration in the selection of operation parameters at trumpet stage and heading stage of maize. The highest droplet deposition was achieved when the UAV flew at a speed of 4 m/s, an altitude of 2.5 m and a nozzle type of SX110015VS, the corrected control efficiency was more than 85% after 7 days of application.

We present the case of an adolescent female patient diagnosed with a ruptured lateral ventricle teratoma. Distinctive radiological and microscopic findings revealed floating oily globules within the ventricles and subarachnoid space. The spontaneous rupture of the teratoma may be attributed to age-dependent hormonal changes, which increase glandular secretion, cyst content volume, and intra-cystic pressure. The patient underwent gross total resection of the tumor, and the subsequent pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of mature teratoma. Postoperatively, she was managed with routine follow-up without adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy. During the 1-year follow-up period, the patient remained asymptomatic with no evidence of tumor recurrence. Based on this case, we recommend that gross total resection followed by close monitoring, without adjunctive chemotherapy or radiotherapy, can be an effective treatment strategy for patients with similar presentations.

Background: Emerging perspectives on tumor metabolism reveal its heterogeneity, a characteristic yet to be fully explored in gliomas. To advance therapies targeting metabolic processes, it is crucial to uncover metabolic differences and identify distinct metabolic subtypes. Therefore, we aimed to develop a classification system for gliomas based on the enrichment levels of four key metabolic pathways: glutaminolysis, glycolysis, the pentose phosphate pathway, and fatty acid oxidation. Methods: Energy-related features of glioma were characterized through integrative analyses of multiple datasets, including bulk, single-cell, and spatial transcriptome profiling. The glioma energy metabolic subtypes were constructed using the R package ConsensusClusterPlus. Kaplan–Meier analysis was conducted to compare clinical outcomes between different metabolic groups. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were employed to elucidate the biological functions of genes of interest. Cell-cell communication analysis was performed at single-cell resolution using the R package CellChat and at spatial resolution using the standard stLearn pipeline. Results: Glioma samples were stratified into two prognostic subtypes. Group 1, enriched in the glutaminolysis pathway, had better clinical outcomes. In contrast, Group 2 exhibited high activities in glycolysis, the pentose phosphate pathway, and fatty acid oxidation, correlating with decreased survival time. Group 1 samples were predominantly located in the peripheral region and had a high composition of neuron cells. Group 2, however, had increased infiltration of tumor-promoting immune cells, such as M2 macrophages, and was characterized by traits of invasion, hypoxia, and immunity. Lastly, cell-cell communications were compared across different tumor regions, and the CX3CL1/CX3CR1 ligand-receptor pair was validated using spatial transcriptomic data. Conclusions: Our work revealed the metabolic heterogeneity in glioma by developing a new classification system with significant prognostic and therapeutic value. Single-cell transcriptional profiles offer novel insights into tumor metabolic reprogramming, which could enhance therapies tailored to cell- or patient-specific metabolic patterns.

ABSTRACT: The safety of ethoxyquin has garnered increasing attention. This study evaluated the effects of partially substituting ethoxyquin with tea polyphenols and propyl gallate on feed oxidative stability, hepatic antioxidant properties, intestinal morphology and barrier functions, as well as the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory profiles of the intestinal mucosa in broilers. A total of 351 one-day-old male Arbor Acres Plus broilers were randomly assigned to 3 groups, each comprising 9 replicates with 13 birds per replicate. The treatments included a control group (CON) fed a basal diet, an ethoxyquin group (EQ) that received the basal diet supplemented with 120 g/t of ethoxyquin, and a substitution group (TP) receiving the basal diet supplemented with 6 g/t of tea polyphenols, 6 g/t of propyl gallate, and 30 g/t of ethoxyquin. In vitro experiments showed that both EQ and TP supplementation significantly reduced the acid value (AV), peroxide value (POV), and total oxidation value (TOV) of the feeds, with the TP group exhibiting lower AV and TOV than the EQ group. In vivo assessments revealed no significant differences in growth performance among the groups. Additionally, the TP group exhibited significantly higher glutathione peroxidase activity, increased glutathione content, and elevated protein expression of Keap1, Nrf2, and NQO1 in the liver compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Moreover, dietary TP significantly increased liver catalase activity, glutathione content, and NQO1 protein levels compared to the EQ group (P < 0.05). Both additives effectively reduced malondialdehyde levels in the intestinal mucosa by approximately 50% (P < 0.05) through the activation of the Nrf2/ARE pathway, as indicated by increased mRNA expression of TXN, CAT, GPX1, and GPX4 (P < 0.05). Furthermore, compared to the control group, the TP group exhibited greater villus height and villus height-to-crypt depth ratio (VCR) in the jejunum, as well as elevated VCR in the ileum (P < 0.05). The TP group also achieved the lowest serum levels of diamine oxidase activity, D-lactate and lipopolysaccharide contents among all groups (P < 0.05). The inclusion of both EQ and TP increased the mRNA expression of Occludin, Claudin-1, Mucin-2, and E-cadherin in the jejunum (P < 0.05). Moreover, the combination of tea polyphenols and propyl gallate effectively mitigated the proinflammatory effect of ethoxyquin, as evidenced by reductions in TNF-α, IL-18, and IFN-γ expression, potentially mediated by inhibition of the TLR-4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that partially replacing ethoxyquin with tea polyphenols and propyl gallate enhances feed oxidative stability, liver antioxidant capacity, and gut health in broilers, suggesting an efficient alternative with a lower dosage requirement.

IntroductionBASIC PENTACYSTEINE (BPC) is a small transcription factor family known for its role in various developmental processes in plants, particularly in binding GA motifs and regulating flower and seed development. However, research on the functional characteristics and target genes of BPCs in coconut (Cocos nucifera) is limited.MethodsIn this study, we systematically characterized the gene structure, conserved protein domains, gene expansion, and target genes of CnBPCs in the coconut genome. We conducted yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) and dual-luciferase assay to explore gene interactions. We identified genes with the GA motif in their promoter regions and combined this information with a weighted gene co-expression network to identify the target genes of CnBPCs.ResultsEight CnBPCs were identified, including three Class I CnBPCs from triplication, four Class II CnBPCs (with CnBPC6A and CnBPC6B resulting from segmental duplication), and one Class III CnBPC (CnBPC7). Three conserved DNA-binding motifs were detected, exhibiting variation in certain sites. Widespread BPC gene expansion was detected in coconut and other plant species, while only three BPCs were found in the most basal extant flowering plant. Notably, 92% of protein-coding genes contained at least one GA motif, with the (GA)3 motif being most prevalent. Genes containing the GA motif that exhibit a high expression correlation with CnBPCs, tend to interact strongly with the corresponding CnBPCs. Additionally, promoters rich in the GA motif tend to interact with all members of CnBPC. The dual-luciferase assay showed that CnBPCs could activate or repress the transcriptional activities of promoters containing either (GA)3 or (GA)11 motif but with a bias toward certain genes. Furthermore, we constructed co-expressed networks identifying 426 genes with GA motifs as potential CnBPC targets.DiscussionOur findings suggest that CnBPCs may play significant roles in seed germination, flower development, and mesocarp development by interacting with genes such as CnAG1, CnAG2, CnSTK, CnMFT, and CnCS. This study characterized CnBPCs’ binding motif and possible target genes, laying a theoretical foundation to reveal CnBPCs’ function in flower and seed development.

Study Region: Tongde Basin, a typical alpine basin on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau Study focus: Research on the hydrochemical pattern and availability of groundwater is very limited in alpine regions, which greatly hinders the rational ulitilization and scientific management of groundwater resources. Multiple approaches integrating self-organizing map, K-means, entropy weight were employed to elucidate the distinct hydrochemical evolution patterns and controlling mechanisms of groundwater in alpine basins with dense human activities. New hydrological insights for the region: Multiple hydrochemical evolution patterns were discovered for groundwater in present alpine basin on northeastern Tibetan Plateau. Groundwater presents a gradual hydrochemical evolution from the piedmont to the riverside under the natural regulation with the increasing of TDS and major ions along the flow path. While, groundwater at some sporadic sites is featured with relatively high total alkalinity due to carbonate mineral dissolution. The riverine groundwaters are regulated by the strong hydrodynamic condition of river and demonstrate fresher hydrochemical characteristics. Groundwaters in the irrigation areas are featured by elevated nitrate levels with a maximum of 42.86 mg/L, attributed to agricultural pollution inputs. A conceptual model was established to illustrate the distinct hydrochemical fingerprints, evolution patterns and controlling mechanisms of groundwater in alpine basins that with dense human activities. This research can enhance the understanding of groundwater chemical status, genesis and availability, and is beneficial for the conservation and sustainable management of groundwater resources in ecologically fragile alpine regions worldwide.

Abstract Super low frequency electric field measurements are crucial in analysing electromagnetic compatibility, assessing equipment status, and other related fields. Rydberg atom‐based super low frequency electric field measurements are performed by observing the Stark shift in the spectrum of the Rydberg state. In a specific range of field strength (E

Groundwater is a crucial water resource for various usages worldwide. The Quetta Valley of Pakistan was investigated regarding its groundwater quality sustainability based on integrated approaches of hydrochemistry, geographic information system, and multivariate statistics. A total of 29 groundwater samples were collected from monitoring wells to get insights into the hydrochemical suitability of groundwater for sustainable irrigation and drinking utilization. The results indicate groundwater is mainly featured by the hydrochemical facies of HCO3·Cl-Ca. Groundwater hydrochemical composition is dominantly governed by the dissolution of carbonates and silicate minerals in combination with positive cation exchange in the valley. Principal component analysis reveals a significant influence of geogenic factors on groundwater chemistry, further supported by PHREEQC simulation that detects a supersaturation of calcite, dolomite, and sulphate minerals in the aquifer. The irrigation water quality index divides groundwater in the study area into three zones, which signify low restriction and no restriction, except for a severe restriction in the southwestern part of the valley. Groundwater is generally suitable for irrigation across the valley. The entropy-weighted water quality index classifies groundwater as excellent and good quality for drinking. This study can provide crucial insights for authorities on groundwater suitability in Quetta Valley and similar regions worldwide. HIGHLIGHTS Traditional hydrochemical techniques integrated with multivariate statistical analysis and Geographic Information System (GIS)-based methods were employed to provide a nuanced understanding of hydrochemical parameters and their spatial distribution.; Hydrochemical fingerprints were recognized to assess groundwater quality for drinking and irrigation purposes.; The irrigation water quality index delineates zones for irrigation suitability, while the entropy-weighted water quality index ranks water quality for drinking purposes.;

Tailoring the phase constitutions of the interfacial reaction layers under the assistance of ultrasonic vibration is a convenient method to fabricate high-strength Al/Cu brazing joints. In this study, 1060-Al and T2-Cu dissimilar metals were ultrasonically brazed with Zn-3Al (wt. %) filler metals. Effects of ultrasonic brazing time on the microstructure and mechanical properties of joints were investigated. Results showed that the CuZn5 intermetallic compound (IMC) layer and Cu-based diffusion layer were created on the Cu substrate surface in the joint ultrasonically brazed at 400 ℃ for 2 s. However, the CuZn5 IMC layer was gradually transformed into a thin Al4.2Cu3.2Zn0.7 IMC layer by increasing the ultrasonic vibration time to 15 s. A well-matched coherent interface was formed between the Al4.2Cu3.2Zn0.7 ternary phase and the Cu-based diffusion layer. The phase transition of the Cu-side interfacial layer correlated closely with the acoustic cavitations induced super-saturation regions near the Cu substrate surface. The measured tensile strength of the Al/Zn-3Al/Cu joint ultrasonically brazed for 15 s was 89.3 MPa, which was approximately 2.5 times higher than that brazed for 2 s, and the tensile failure mainly occurred at the interface between the Al4.2Cu3.2Zn0.7 layer and the Cu-based diffusion layer.

The development of sound-absorbing metamaterials/metastructures provides a new way to solve the problem of low-frequency and broadband sound absorption. However, designing ultra-broadband sound-absorbing metamaterials/metastructures with simple constructions is still a challenge. To address this problem, this paper proposes a type of hybrid metastructure (HMS) consisting of slit-embedded Helmholtz resonators (HRs) covered with porous material modulation crowns (PMMCs) for ultra-broadband efficient sound absorption, with virtually no upper limit on the absorption frequency. Based on double porosity theory, an analytical prediction method for the absorption performance of HMS is developed and validated by comparison with finite element simulations and experiments. Analysis of the absorption mechanism reveals that the PMMCs facilitate impedance matching and energy dissipation within the HMS. This not only enhances low-frequency absorption but also grants excellent tunability and absorption performance at mid-to-high frequencies. It is demonstrated that a typical HMS composed of only four subunits can achieve efficient ultra-broadband absorption (α ≥ 0.8) ranging from 100 Hz to more than 10000 Hz with a thickness of 200 mm. This work brings a new pathway for achieving low-frequency and ultra-broadband sound absorption using metastuctures with simple and lightweight constructions.

AimsWe evaluated the association of multiple thyroid parameters with the levels interleukin 6 (IL6) and interleukin 8 (IL8) in patients with euthyroid type 2 diabetes (T2D).MethodsA total of 166 adults with euthyroid T2D were examined. Serum IL6, IL8, triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxin (FT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), five thyroid sensitivity indexes (FT3/FT4, TSH index [TSHI], thyrotroph T4 resistance index [TT4RI], thyroid feedback quantile-based index by FT3 [TFQIFT3], and TFQIFT4), and biochemical parameters were determined.ResultsThe median age was 64 years (IQR: 54.75,70) and the median duration of diabetes was 10 years (IQR: 3,18). Patients with high levels of IL6 (≥2.38 pg/mL) had lower levels of FT3 and TFQIFT3 (P

The effectiveness, tolerance, and safety of pesticides must be established before their scientific or rational. This study evaluates the field control efficacy of broflanilide, tetraniliprole, and chlorantraniliprole in combating Spodoptera frugiperda in maize crops, as well as the resistance of S. frugiperda to these three diamide pesticides after exposure. By assessing field control efficiency, toxicity, effects on development and reproduction, and detoxification enzyme activity of these diamide pesticides on S. frugiperda, highlights broflanilide's significant insecticidal potential. A highly sensitive and efficient method using QuEChERS/HPLCMS/MS was developed to simultaneously detect residues of these three pesticides on maize. Initial concentrations of broflanilide, tetraniliprole, and chlorantraniliprole ranged from 2.13 to 4.02 mg/kg, with their respective half-lives varying between 1.23 and 1.51 days. Following foliar application, by the time of harvest, the terminal residue concentrations of these pesticides were all under 0.01 mg/kg. Chronic dietary intake risk assessments and cumulative chronic dietary exposure for three pesticides indicated that the general population's terminal residue concentration was within acceptable limits. Not only does this research provide valuable insights into field control efficiency, insecticidal effects, resistance, residues, and risk assessment results of broflanilide, tetraniliprole, and chlorantraniliprole on maize, but additionally, it also paves the way for setting suitable Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) values based on pre-harvest interval values, rational dosage, and application frequency.

Microplastics (MPs) are of increasing concern due to their role as reservoirs for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and pathogens. To date, few studies have explored the influence of anthropogenic activities on ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) within various riverine MPs, in comparison to their natural counterparts. Here an in-situ incubation was conducted along heavily anthropogenically-impacted Houxi River to characterize the geographical pattern of antibiotic resistome, mobilome and pathogens inhabiting MPs- and leaf-biofilms. The metagenomics result showed a clear urbanization-driven profile in the distribution of ARGs, MGEs and pathogens, with their abundances sharply increasing 4.77 to 19.90 times from sparsely to densely populated regions. The significant correlation between human fecal marker crAssphage and ARG (R2 = 0.67, P=0.003) indicated the influence of anthropogenic activity on ARG proliferation in plastisphere and natural leaf surfaces. And mantel tests and random forest analysis revealed the impact of 17 socio-environmental factors, e.g., population density, antibiotic concentrations, and pore volume of materials, on the dissemination of ARGs. Partial least squares-path modeling further unveiled that intensifying human activities not only directly boosted ARGs abundance but also exerted a comparable indirect impact on ARGs propagation. Furthermore, the polyvinylchloride plastisphere created a pathogen-friendly habitat, harboring higher abundances of ARGs and MGEs, while polylactic acid are not likely to serve as vectors for pathogens in river, with a lower resistome risk score than that in leaf-biofilms. This study highlights the diverse ecological risks associated with the dissemination of ARGs and pathogens in varied MPs, offering insights for the policymaking of usage and control of plastics within urbanization.

Abstract The mechanical properties of a coal–rock body were examined through uniaxial compression tests, and the rupture process of the coal–rock body was monitored in real time using a combined acoustic emission (AE) monitoring system and a digital image correlation (DIC) full-field strain measurement system. From a comparison of the mechanical properties of coal and sandstone, clear differences are apparent regarding the uniaxial compressive strength, deformation characteristics, and damage mode; the brittle failure characteristics of the coal samples are also more evident. The change in AE energy reflects the accumulation and release of elastic energy during the rupture process, and the evolution of AE localization points under different stress levels can effectively reflect rupture propagation. Further, the DIC full-field strain measurement method can quantitatively monitor the evolution of the displacement and strain fields at the marking point and surface simultaneously, thereby overcoming the limitations of traditional empirical and qualitative rupture processes. During monitoring, the AE focuses on the internal rupture of the specimen and the DIC focuses on the surface deformation. These complement each other and reflect the rupture process more comprehensively.

In recent years, the continuous evolution of communication technology has led to a significant increase in energy consumption.With the widespread application and deep deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) technology and algorithms in telecommunication networks, the network architecture and technological evolution of network intelligent will pose even more severe challenges to the energy efficiency and emission reduction of future 6G.Federated edge intelligence (FEI), based on edge computing and distributed federated machine learning, has been widely acknowledged as one of the key pathway for implementing network native intelligence.However, evaluating and optimizing the comprehensive carbon emissions of federated edge intelligence networks remains a significant challenge.To address this issue, a framework and a method for assessing the carbon emissions of federated edge intelligence networks were proposed.Subsequently, three carbon emission optimization schemes for FEI networks were presented, including dynamic energy trading (DET), dynamic task allocation (DTA), and dynamic energy trading and task allocation (DETA).Finally, by utilizing a simulation network built on real hardware and employing real-world carbon intensity datasets, FEI networks lifecycle carbon emission experiments were conducted.The experimental results demonstrate that all three optimization schemes significantly reduce the carbon emissions of FEI networks under different scenarios and constraints.This provides a basis for the sustainable development of next-generation intelligent communication networks and the realization of low-carbon 6G networks.

High reliable packaging materials are essential for wide band-gap power devices due to the thermal and mechanical stresses arising from extreme environmental conditions. In this study, two-dimensional pure Cu mesh or Cu–10Ni (wt.%) alloy mesh reinforced SAC305 composite solders were employed to create solid-liquid interdiffusion (SLID) soldering of Cu substrates at 250 °C. The microstructure evolution behavior of the soldering seam was investigated based on EPMA and EBSD characterizations, and the strengthening mechanism of the joint was discussed. Results showed that the pure Cu mesh reacted slowly in the Sn matrix and large-sized Cu6Sn5 grains were formed in the solder seam; while for joints using Cu–10Ni alloy mesh, the addition of Ni causes the Cu–Ni mesh to quickly dissolve and promote the formation of the fine-grained (Cu,Ni)6Sn5 phase. Increasing the mesh number of Cu–10Ni alloy skeleton could enhance the metallurgical reaction rate of the soldering seam and the grain-size reduction of the (Cu,Ni)6Sn5 phase; ultimately, the joints were completely composed of fine-grained (Cu,Ni)6Sn5 phase and reaction-residual Cu–10Ni skeletons. The refining mechanism of the (Cu,Ni)6Sn5 grains was discussed in detail. The shear strength of the Cu alloy joints varied with changing alloy skeletons and soldering time, and the joint soldered with 300 mesh Cu–10Ni skeleton for 210 s obtained the highest shear strength of 47.8 MPa. The grain boundary strengthening effect of fine-grained (Cu,Ni)6Sn5 phase, synergized with the toughening effect of the alloy skeleton, ultimately achieving highly reliable joints.

As two major pests of cowpea in South China, bean flower thrips [Megalurothrips usitatus (Bagnall)] and flower thrips [Frankliniella intonsa (Trybom)] always occur on the same plant. In this study, the two-sex life table parameters of these two species were investigated on three bean pods: cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. var. Chunqiu Wujiadou), snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. var. Yonglong 3), and green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. var. Linghangzhe) using standard cut bean protocols. Longevity of female adult M. usitatus showed no significant difference on cowpea and snap bean, but was shortest on green bean, with the highest fecundity on snap bean, followed by cowpea and green bean. Longevity and fecundity of female adult F. intonsa were both highest on cowpea, followed by snap bean and green bean. On snap bean, the population parameters (R0, GRR, T) of M. usitatus were higher than F. intonsa, whereas r and λ were not different, suggesting that M. usitatus were more competitive on snap bean. On cowpea, the population parameters (R0, GRR, r, λ) of F. intonsa were higher than M. usitatus, suggesting a competitive advantage of F. intonsa on cowpea. To better mimic field conditions, we investigated the survival and fecundity of adult M. usitatus under two distinct scenarios: when they could feed directly on cut surfaces of cowpeas (standard lab protocol), and when they could not. Adult survival of M. usitatus is not significantly influenced by whether or not they fed directly on cut surfaces of cowpeas. However, a notable decrease in fecundity was observed in M. usitatus that fed on surface-covered cut pods. This suggested that direct feeding on cut surfaces of cowpea did have an impact on thrips’ fecundity, offering fresh perspectives for future research into the growth and development of thrips in a laboratory. Our study suggests that experiments involving cut surfaces may be misleading, and further investigations are ongoing to address these concerns.

Study region: The Kunlun Mountains on Tibetan Plateau Study focus: The Tibetan Plateau, well known as Asian Water Tower, holds immense potential for the formation of glacial mineral water. The present research focuses on the hydrochemical and isotopic signatures and formation pattern of natural glacial mineral water in the alpine region on Tibetan Plateau. New hydrological insights for the region: The investigated mineral groundwater has outstanding water quality and slightly alkaline nature. It is with fresh hydrochemical facies of HCO3-Na·Ca type with total dissolved solids (TDS) in the range of 384–964 mg/L, and featured by notably rich strontium with the concentrations of 0.67–0.81 mg/L, far exceeding the recommended mineral water minimum threshold of 0.20 mg/L. The mineral groundwater is originated from the glacier meltwater of mountainous area with elevation over 4500 m. It subsequently infiltrates into the bedrock and move within the groundwater system with a residence time of approximately 52 years. Its hydrochemical constituents are naturally governed by water-rock interactions of silicates dissolution, cation exchange, and celestite and strontianite dissolution. A conceptual model is proposed to outline the formation pattern of glacial mineral water in alpine region on Tibetan Plateau. Findings of this study can fill the study gap regarding glacial mineral water on Tibetan Plateau, and further contribute to the future study and development of natural glacial mineral water in alpine regions worldwide.

Abstract Background Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are significant contributors to various human malignancies. The aberrant expression of lncRNA LINC00894 has been reported in various human malignancies. We aimed to illustrate the role of LINC00894 and its underlying mechanism in the development of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Methods We performed bioinformatics analysis of differentially expressed RNAs from TCGA and GEO datasets and selected the target lncRNA LINC00894. SRAMP analysis revealed abundant M6A modification sites in LINC00894. Further analysis of StarBase, GEPIA, and TCGA datasets was performed to identify the related differentially expressed genes METTL3. Colony formation and CCK-8 assays confirmed the relationship between LINC00894, METTL3, and the proliferative capacity of PTC cells. The analysis of AnnoLnc2, Starbase datasets, and meRIP-PCR and qRT‒PCR experiments confirmed the influence of METTL3-mediated m6A modification on LINC00894. The study employed KEGG enrichment analysis as well as Western blotting to investigate the impact of LINC00894 on the expression of proteins related to the Hippo signalling pathway. Results LINC00894 downregulation was detected in PTC tissues and cells and was even further downregulated in PTC with lymphatic metastasis. LINC00894 inhibits the lymphangiogenesis of vascular endothelial cells and the proliferation of cancer cells. METTL3 enhances PTC progression by upregulating LINC00894 by enhancing LINC00894 mRNA stability through the m6A-YTHDC2-dependent pathway. LINC00894 may inhibit PTC malignant phenotypes through the Hippo signalling pathway. Conclusion The METTL3-YTHDC2 axis stabilizes LINC00894 mRNA in an m6A-dependent manner and subsequently inhibits tumour malignancy through the Hippo signalling pathway.

To overcome the local traffic congestion caused by the huge number of satellites in mega-constellation, a load balancing algorithm based on multi-agent deep reinforcement learning was proposed.Firstly, the satellites in the mega constellation were divided into clusters to perform the distributed management of the mega constellation, which could reduce the overhead of whole network.Then, based on the coordinated multi-agent deep reinforcement learning model, routing planning, which could be individually operated by satellites in the mega constellation, was designed to achieve the intra-cluster coordination.Additionally, a cluster state compression mechanism with autoencoder was proposed to compress the state space and improve the efficiency of multi-agent deep reinforcement learning.Finally, simulation results showed that compared with the traditional single-task routing algorithm, the proposed algorithm could increase the transmission success rate by more than 40% and the proposed algorithm could efficiently avoid local traffic congestion.

With the development of the internet of things, a large number of user device (UD) were connected to cellular network.Since the changes in the spatial distribution of UD and application requirements, it is necessary to dynamically adjust the UD’ offloading decision.Comprehensively considering various parameter information in the networks such as the spatial distribution of UD, application requirements, and the processing capability of the edge servers on the base station (BS) side, the offloading decision of UD were optimized from the perspective of distribution.Based on the optimal transport theory, a delay optimization algorithm was proposed to reduce the average delay of the UD’ computing tasks offloading process by reasonably planning the offloading BS of the UD in the networks.The simulation results show that the average delay can be reduced by 81.06% using the proposed offloading mechanism based on delay optimization, and the traffic handled by each BS is balanced.

Abstract Background Enhancer dysregulation is one of the important features for cancer cells. Enhancers enriched with H3K4me3 have been implicated to play important roles in cancer. However, their detailed features and regulatory mechanisms have not been well characterized. Results Here, we profile the landscape of H3K4me3-enriched enhancers (m3Es) in 43 pairs of colorectal cancer (CRC) samples. M3Es are widely distributed in CRC and averagely possess around 10% of total active enhancers. We identify 1322 gain variant m3Es and 367 lost variant m3Es in CRC. The target genes of the gain m3Es are enriched in immune response pathways. We experimentally prove that repression of CBX8 and RPS6KA5 m3Es inhibits target gene expression in CRC. Furthermore, we find histone methyltransferase MLL1 is responsible for depositing H3K4me3 on the identified Vm3Es. We demonstrate that the transcription factor AP1/JUN interacts with MLL1 and regulates m3E activity. Application of a small chemical inhibitor for MLL1 activity, OICR-9429, represses target gene expression of the identified Vm3Es, enhances anti-tumor immunity and inhibits CRC growth in an animal model. Conclusions Taken together, our study illustrates the genome-wide landscape and the regulatory mechanisms of m3Es in CRC, and reveals potential novel strategies for cancer treatment.

Concerns over the safety of ethoxyquin (EQ) highlight the need for safer, more effective feed antioxidants. This study investigated a healthier antioxidant compound (AC) as a potential alternative to EQ in broilers. A total of 351 one-day-old Arbor Acres Plus male broilers were randomly assigned to three treatments for 21 days: control (CON), EQ group (200 g/ton EQ at 60% purity), and AC group (200 g/ton AC containing 18% butylated hydroxytoluene, 3% citric acid, and 1% tertiary butylhydroquinone). AC supplementation reduced the acid value, peroxide value, and malondialdehyde content in stored feed, decreased feed intake and the feed conversion ratio without affecting body weight gain, and enhanced antioxidant capacity (liver total antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase; intestinal catalase and glutathione peroxidase 7). It improved intestinal morphology and decreased barrier permeability (lower diamine oxidase and D-lactate), potentially by promoting ZO-1, Occludin, and Mucin2 expression. The AC also upregulated NF-κB p50 and its inhibitor (NF-κB p105), enhancing immune regulation. Additionally, the AC tended to increase beneficial gut microbiota, including Lactobacillus, and reduced Bacteroides, Corprococcus, and Anaeroplasma. Compared to EQ, the AC further enhanced feed oxidative stability, the feed conversion ratio, intestinal morphology and barrier functions, and inflammatory status, suggesting its potential as a superior alternative to EQ for broiler diets.

Developing efficient and sustainable pollution control technologies has become a research priority in the context of escalating global environmental pollution. Nano zero-valent iron (nZVI), with its high specific surface area and strong reducing power, demonstrates remarkable performance in pollutant removal. Still, its application is limited by issues such as oxidation, passivation, and particle aggregation. White rot fungi (WRF) possess a unique enzyme system that enables them to degrade a wide range of pollutants effectively, yet they face challenges such as long degradation cycles and low degradation efficiency. Despite the significant role of nZVI in pollutant remediation, most contaminated sites still rely on microbial remediation as a concurrent or ultimate treatment method to achieve remediation goals. The synergistic combination of nZVI and WRF can leverage their respective advantages, thereby enhancing pollution control efficiency. This paper reviews the mechanisms, advantages, and disadvantages of nZVI and WRF in pollution control, lists application examples, and discusses their synergistic application in pollution control, highlighting their potential in pollutant remediation and providing new insights for combined pollutant treatment. However, research on the combined use of nZVI and WRF for pollutant remediation is still relatively scarce, necessitating a deeper understanding of their synergistic potential and further exploration of their cooperative interactions.

Groundwater resource is crucial for the development of agriculture and urban communities in valley basins of arid and semiarid regions. This research investigated the groundwater chemistry of a typical urbanized valley basin on the Tibetan Plateau to understand the hydrochemical status, quality, and controlling mechanisms of groundwater in arid urbanized valley basins. The results show groundwater is predominantly fresh and slightly alkaline across the basin, with approximately 54.17% of HCO3-Ca type. About 12.5% and 33.33% of sampled groundwaters are with the hydrochemical facies of Cl-Mg·Ca type and Cl-Na type, respectively. Groundwater is found with the maximum TDS, NO3−, NO2−, and F− content of 3066 mg/L, 69.33 mg/L, 0.04 mg/L, and 3.12 mg/L, respectively. Groundwater quality is suitable for domestic usage at all sampling sites based on EWQI assessment but should avoid direct drinking at some sporadic sites in the urban area. The exceeding nitrogen and fluoride contaminants would pose potential health hazards to local residents, but high risks only existed for infants. Both minors and adults are at medium risk of these exceedingly toxic contaminants. Groundwater quality of predominant sites in the basin is suitable for long-term irrigation according to the single indicator of EC, SAR, %Na, RSC, KR, PI, and PS and integrated irrigation quality assessment of USSL, Wilcox, and Doneen diagram assessment. But sodium hazard, alkalinity hazard, and permeability problem should be a concern in the middle-lower stream areas. Groundwater chemistry in the basin is predominantly governed by water-rock interaction (silicate dissolution) across the basin in natural and sporadically by evaporation. Human activities have posed disturbances to groundwater chemistry and inputted nitrogen, fluoride, and salinity into groundwater. The elevated nitrogen contaminants in groundwater are from both agricultural activities and municipal sewage. While the elevated fluoride and salinity in groundwater are only associated with municipal sewage. It is imperative to address the potential anthropogenic contaminants to safeguard groundwater resources from the adverse external impacts of human settlements within these urbanized valley basins.

The pointing and positioning accuracy of precision instruments in aerospace are often disturbed by low-frequency vibrations. An active/passive vibration isolation system is a feasible solution to suppress low-frequency vibrations. However, the vibration isolation performance of the active control strategy is seriously affected by the uncertainty of the system and the difficulty to meet the higher requirements of new-generation equipment. This paper proposes an active composite control (ACC) strategy for vibration isolation systems with uncertainty. The proposed ACC integrates feedforward control based on known systems and feedback control based on the Kalman filter for systems with uncertainty. Further, the derivation and stability analyses of the proposed ACC algorithm are provided, and the influence of system uncertainty on vibration isolation performance based on the proposed ACC is analyzed. Experimental verification is conducted and the experimental results confirm that the proposed ACC can effectively realize the low-frequency and wide-band vibration isolation for the system with uncertainty. Starting from 30 Hz, the vibration isolation performance of the proposed ACC with uncertainty is significantly improved than that of the ACC completely based on a deterministic system model.

Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) is an important agricultural commodity with substantial economic and nutritional value, widely used for various products, including coconut water. The sweetness is an important quality trait of coconut water, which is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. In this study, we utilized next-generation sequencing to identify genetic variations in the coconut genome associated with the sweetness of coconut water. Whole-genome resequencing of 49 coconut accessions, including diverse germplasm and an F2 population of 81 individuals, revealed ~27 M SNPs and ~1.5 M InDels. Sugar content measured by °Bx was highly variable across all accessions tested, with dwarf varieties generally sweeter. A comprehensive analysis of the sugar profiles revealed that sucrose was the major sugar contributing to sweetness. Allele mining of the 148 genes involved in sugar metabolism and transport and genotype–phenotype association tests revealed two significant SNPs in the hexose carrier protein (Cnu01G018720) and sucrose synthase (Cnu09G011120) genes associated with the higher sugar content in both the germplasm and F2 populations. This research provides valuable insights into the genetic basis of coconut sweetness and offers molecular markers for breeding programs aimed at improving coconut water quality. The identified variants can improve the selection process in breeding high-quality sweet coconut varieties and thus support the economic sustainability of coconut cultivation.

Detoxification genes are crucial to insect resistance against chemical pesticides, yet their expression may be altered by exposure to biopesticides such as spores and insecticidal proteins of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). Increased enzymatic levels of selected detoxification genes, including glutathione S-transferase (GST), cytochrome P450 (CYP450), and carboxylesterase (CarE), were detected in chlorantraniliprole (CAP)-resistant strains of the diamondback moth (DBM, Plutella xylostella) from China when compared to a reference susceptible strain. These CAP-resistant DBM strains displayed distinct expression patterns of GST 1, CYP6B7, and CarE-6 after treatment with CAP and a Bt pesticide (Bt-G033). In particular, the gene expression analysis demonstrated significant upregulation of the CYP6B7 gene in response to the CAP treatment, while the same gene was downregulated following the Bt-G033 treatment. Downregulation of CYP6B7 using RNAi resulted in increased susceptibility to CAP in resistant DBM strains, suggesting a role of this gene in the resistant phenotype. However, pretreatment with a sublethal dose of Bt-G033 inducing the downregulation of CYP6B7 did not significantly increase CAP potency against the resistant DBM strains. These results identify the DBM genes involved in the metabolic resistance to CAP and demonstrate how their expression is affected by exposure to Bt-G033.

An ecological security pattern is an essential natural solution for promoting the coordinated and sustainable development of urban growth and the ecological environment within a given region. This study aims to develop a comprehensive ecological security pattern (ESP) for the Jinjiang watershed by integrating multiple ecological service functions: ecological regulation, eco-product provisions, and human settlement services. Using a well-established methodology of “source identification—resistance surface construction—ecological corridor extraction”, we identified 322 ecological source areas and delineated 321 ecological corridors spanning 1941.67 km, with key corridors connecting ecological regulation sources and ordinary corridors primarily linking eco-product provisions and human settlement sources. Our results show that the northern hilly regions are significant for ecological regulation, Anxi County is key for eco-product provisions, and human settlement services are scattered across urban areas and river valleys. This integration enhances regional ecological sustainability and provides a model for similar coastal regions globally. Our findings offer scientific guidance for balancing urban growth with ecological preservation, contributing to sustainable development worldwide.

Abstract Background This study aimed to validate the efficacy the multiplication of neutrophils and monocytes (MNM) and a novel dynamic nomogram for predicting in-hospital death in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Methods Retrospective study was done on 986 patients with endovascular coiling for aSAH. Independent risk factors associated with in-hospital death were identified using both univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. In the development cohort, a dynamic nomogram of in-hospital deaths was introduced and made available online as a straightforward calculator. To predict the in-hospital death from the external validation cohort by nomogram, calibration analysis, decision curve analysis, and receiver operating characteristic analysis were carried out. Results 72/687 patients (10.5%) in the development cohort and 31/299 patients (10.4%) in the validation cohort died. MNM was linked to in-hospital death in univariate and multivariate regression studies. In the development cohort, a unique nomogram demonstrated a high prediction ability for in-hospital death. According to the calibration curves, the nomogram has a reliable degree of consistency and calibration. With threshold probabilities between 10% and 90%, the nomogram’s net benefit was superior to the basic model. The MNM and nomogram also exhibited good predictive values for in-hospital death in the validation cohort. Conclusions MNM is a novel predictor of in-hospital mortality in patients with aSAH. For aSAH patients, a dynamic nomogram is a useful technique for predicting in-hospital death.

Abstract Although RNA interference (RNAi) therapy has emerged as a potential tool in cancer therapeutics, the application of RNAi to glioblastoma (GBM) remains a hurdle. Herein, to improve the therapeutic effect of RNAi on GBM, a cancer cell membrane (CCM)-disguised hypoxia-triggered RNAi nanomedicine was developed for short interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery to sensitize cells to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Our synthesized CCM-disguised RNAi nanomedicine showed prolonged blood circulation, high BBB transcytosis and specific accumulation in GBM sites via homotypic recognition. Disruption and effective anti-GBM agents were triggered in the hypoxic region, leading to efficient tumor suppression by using phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1) silencing to enhance paclitaxel-induced chemotherapy and sensitize hypoxic GBM cells to ionizing radiation. In summary, a biomimetic intelligent RNAi nanomedicine has been developed for siRNA delivery to synergistically mediate a combined chemo/radiotherapy that presents immune-free and hypoxia-triggered properties with high survival rates for orthotopic GBM treatment. Graphical Abstract

This paper introduces a novel type of prefabricated semi-rigid concrete beam–column joint, aiming to examine its load-carrying capacity and seismic performance in comparison with a traditional cast-in-place joint. This study utilized the ABAQUS 2020 software to establish finite element models for both types of joints and conducted finite element analysis under low circumferential reciprocating displacement loads. When comparing the energy dissipation capacity, ductility, ultimate load-carrying capacity, stress mechanism, and damage mode, a comprehensive evaluation of the two types of joints was performed. Furthermore, this study investigated the impacts of various factors such as the axial compression ratio, concrete strength, reinforcement strength, and connector strength on the ultimate load-carrying capacity, ductility, and energy dissipation performance of the joints. Based on the findings, the newly combined joint exhibited a substantial 31.7% increase in its ultimate load-carrying capacity, along with a notable 7.23% enhancement in ductility and an improved energy dissipation capacity when compared with the cast-in-place joint. As a result, it can be concluded that the seismic performance of the new joint surpasses that of cast-in-place joints. Additionally, this study examined the impact of modifying relevant parameters on the seismic performance of the new prefabricated semi-rigid concrete beam–column joint.

The application of folding arch frames is deemed crucial for unmanned arch frame erection, with the selection of the joint form being a determining factor in the overall mechanical performance of the folding arch frame, particularly in influencing the primary support safety. In light of the geological conditions of the New Wushaoling Tunnel project, three feasible joint forms for folding arch frames were proposed: buckle, adhesive, and interference-fit joints. Numerical simulations were conducted to analyze the arch’s overall mechanical and the joints’ local mechanical performances, aiming to identify the optimal joint form. On-site construction data were collected, and the effectiveness of unmanned arch frame erection was evaluated. The design requirements for the vertical displacement results of the steel arches with different joints were met. The maximum shear stress of the buckled arch frame was found to be the lowest, whereas that of the interference-fitted arch frame was the highest. The local shear stress of the adhesive joints was the lowest, while that of the interference-fit joint was the highest. Considering the material application limitations and calculation results, buckle joints are recommended. Unmanned arch frame erection, compared with manual arch frame erection, can save 66.6% of human resources and reduce the construction time by 33.3% to 50%. Statistical analysis has confirmed that the quality of automated arch construction can be guaranteed.

Propofol is the most widely used intravenous general anesthetic; however, the neuronal circuits that mediate its anesthetic effects are still poorly understood. Glutamatergic neurons in the lateral hypothalamus have been reported to be involved in maintenance of arousal and consciousness. Using Vglut2-Cre transgenic mice, we recorded this group of cells specifically and found that propofol can directly inhibit the glutamatergic neurons, and enhance inhibitory synaptic inputs on these cells, thereby reducing neuronal excitability. Through chemogenetic interventions, we found that inhibition of these neurons increased the duration of propofol-induced anesthesia and reduced movement in the animals after the recovery of right reflex. In contrast, activating this group of cells reduced the duration of propofol anesthesia and increased the animals’ locomotor activity after the recovery of right reflex. These results suggest that propofol-induced anesthesia involves the inhibition of glutamatergic neurons in the lateral hypothalamus.

The rhomboid lip (RL) is a layer of neural tissue that extends outside the fourth ventricle and is connected to the lateral recess of the fourth ventricle. Although this anatomical structure has been rigorously studied, it is often overlooked in microvascular decompression (MVD) surgery. In this report, we present two cases, one of hemifacial spasm (HFS) and one of glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN), in which a large RL was observed during surgery. We found that a large RL is easily confused with arachnoid cysts, and accurate identification and dissection are important to protect the lower cranial nerves.

Malignant tumors of the biliary tract exhibit a high degree of malignancy and heterogeneity with a poor overall prognosis. Immunotherapy has limited benefits for patients with cholangiocarcinoma. Radiation therapy can change the tumor microenvironment, but its effect heavily depends on radiation dose and fraction. We report a case of advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in a 43-year-old male patient, with a huge liver mass of 16.5 cm in diameter, with bone and liver metastases at the first diagnosis. First-line treatment with chemotherapy and PD1 inhibitor was sustained only for 8 months. In second-line treatment, radiotherapy was administered, with 5 Gy in 5 fractions administered to the entire tumor area and 25 Gy in 5 fractions to the solid lesions of the tumor. After the completion of radiotherapy, programmed cell death 1 inhibitor combined with tyrosine kinase inhibitor was maintained. The patient achieved a progression-free-survival time of 12 months and an overall survival time of 25 months. The success of our case suggests that mixed low- and high-dose radiation can significantly improve tumor control and survival time. In clinical practice, based on the characteristics of the tumor and existing treatment options, the rational combination of existing treatment regimens can improve the prognosis of cholangiocarcinoma.

The deletion of orphan response regulator CovR reduces the growth rate of Streptococcus suis serotype 2 (S. suis 2). In this study, metabolome and transcriptome profiling were performed to study the mechanisms underlying the poor growth of S. suis 2 caused by the deletion of orphan response regulator CovR. By comparing S. suis 2 (ΔcovR) and S. suis 2 (SC19), 146 differentially accumulated metabolites (upregulated: 83 and downregulated: 63) and 141 differentially expressed genes (upregulated: 86 and downregulated: 55) were identified. Metabolome and functional annotation analysis revealed that the growth of ΔcovR was inhibited by the imbalance aminoacyl tRNA biosynthesis (the low contents of L-lysine, L-aspartic acid, L-glutamine, and L-glutamic acid, and the high content of L-methionine). These results provide a new insight into the underlying poor growth of S. suis 2 caused by the deletion of orphan response regulator CovR. Metabolites and candidate genes regulated by the orphan response regulator CovR and involved in the growth of S. suis 2 were reported in this study.

Abstract Bleeding risk factors for gastroesophageal varices (GEV) detected by endoscopy in cirrhotic patients determine the prophylactical treatment patients will undergo in the following 2 years. We propose a methodology for measuring the risk factors. We create an artificial intelligence system (ENDOANGEL-GEV) containing six models to segment GEV and to classify the grades (grades 1–3) and red color signs (RC, RC0-RC3) of varices. It also summarizes changes in the above results with region in real time. ENDOANGEL-GEV is trained using 6034 images from 1156 cirrhotic patients across three hospitals (dataset 1) and validated on multicenter datasets with 11009 images from 141 videos (dataset 2) and in a prospective study recruiting 161 cirrhotic patients from Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University (dataset 3). In dataset 1, ENDOANGEL-GEV achieves intersection over union values of 0.8087 for segmenting esophageal varices and 0.8141 for gastric varices. In dataset 2, the system maintains fairly accuracy across images from three hospitals. In dataset 3, ENDOANGEL-GEV surpasses attended endoscopists in detecting RC of GEV and classifying grades (p

In this study, a numerical model of cavitation bubble in the narrow-gap pure Sn liquid medium was established by two-dimensional compressible multiphase flow simulation. The effects of the pressure amplitude and the gap size on the shape, size and position of the cavitation bubble were investigated. The calculation results showed that the cavitation bubble in the narrow-gap soldering seam could exist stably after experiencing two stages of the nonlinear oscillation and the near-wall oscillation with the low-amplitude ultrasound and moved directionally on the metal substrate surface. When the pressure amplitude increased or the gap size decreased, the directional motion rate of the cavitation bubble increased and the shape of the bubble was elliptical due to the confinement effect of the substrate wall. The ultrasonic degassing mechanism of the narrow-gap soldering seam under the action of exponential decay ultrasonic vibration was analyzed by comparing the fluid pressure and velocity field variations. The flow field in the center of the soldering seam vibrated stronger than that of the peripheral regions, which could promote the outward motion of the cavitation bubble. Within the calculation time of 0.002 s, the maximum horizontal motion distance of bubble in the narrow-gap soldering seam was 1.13 mm.

Millions of craniofacial surgeries are performed annually worldwide, and materials for craniofacial bone repair are widely needed. However, traditionally applied materials, such as titanium and polymethylmethacrylate, have some shortcomings (limited malleability, material-based toxicity, non-biodegradability, lack of bioactivity, etc.). Zinc based biodegradable metals possess superior mechanical properties, biodegradability, and bioactivity, which make them promising candidate materials. Here, we successfully fabricated Zn-0.6Cu thin sheets (thickness ≤0.5 mm, suitable for craniofacial surgery) through combined extrusion and rolling. The in vitro and in vivo performances were generally evaluated and compared to those of a commercially applied pure titanium mesh. The mechanical properties of Zn-0.6Cu sheets were superior to those of clinically used polymethyl methacrylate. They were easy to shape and would not fracture during deformation. The Zn-0.6Cu sheet exhibited a gentle degradation mode, and proper implant-derived Zn improved osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells by up-regulating expression of osteogenesis related genes (alkaline phosphatase, bone morphogenetic protein-2). Thus, it further promoted extracellular matrix mineralization by improving calcium deposition for bone formation. It also improved the expression of angiogenesis-related genes (vascular endothelial growth factor, hypoxia-inducible factor alpha). The Zn-0.6Cu sheet exhibited high osteogenic activity in a cranial defect animal model compared to a non-biodegradable pure titanium mesh. Significant surface degradation occurred after two months in vivo, and degradation products were compatible with surrounding tissues. In general, the Zn-0.6Cu thin sheet seems to be a bioactive material selection for craniofacial bone repair, which might possibly accelerate defect repair and prevent adverse complications.

Porcine extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) is a pathogenic bacterium that causes huge economic losses to the pig farming industry and considerably threatens human health. The quorum sensing (QS) system plays a crucial role in the survival and pathogenesis of pathogenic bacteria. Hence, it is a viable approach to prevent ExPEC infection by compromising the QS system, particularly the LuxS/AI-2 system. In this study, we investigated the effects of baicalin on the LuxS/AI-2 system of ExPEC. Baicalin at concentrations of 25, 50, and 100 μg/mL significantly diminished the survival ability of ExPEC in hostile environments and could inhibit the biofilm formation and autoagglutination ability in ExPEC. Moreover, baicalin dose-dependently decreased the production of AI-2 and down-regulated the expression level of luxS in PCN033. These results suggest that baicalin can weaken the virulence of PCN033 by inhibiting the LuxS/AI-2 system. After the gene luxS was deleted, AI-2 production in PCN033 was almost completely eliminated, similar to the effect of baicalin on the production of AI-2 in PCN033. This indicates that baicalin reduced the production of AI-2 by inhibiting the expression level of luxS in ExPEC. In addition, the animal experiment further showed the potential of baicalin as a LuxS/AI-2 system inhibitor to prevent ExPEC infection. This study highlights the potential of baicalin as a natural quorum-sensing inhibitor for therapeutic applications in preventing ExPEC infection by targeting the LuxS/AI-2 system.

Plutella xylostella, a destructive crucifer pest, can rapidly develop resistance to most classes of pesticides. This study investigated the molecular resistance mechanisms to chlorpyrifos, an organophosphate pesticide. Two P. xylostella genes, ace1 and ace2, were described. The nucleotide sequence results revealed no variation in ace2, while the resistant strain (Kar-R) had four amino acid alterations in ace1, two of which (A298S and G324A) were previously shown to confer organophosphate resistance in P. xylostella. In the present study, the 3D model structures of both the wild-type (Gu-S) and mutant (Kar-R) of P. xylostella ace1 strains were studied through molecular dynamics (MDs) simulations and molecular docking. Molecular dynamics simulations of RMSD revealed less structural deviation in the ace1 mutant than in its wild-type counterpart. Higher flexibility in the 425–440 amino acid region in the mutant active site (Glu422 and Acyl pocket) increased the active site’s entropy, reducing the enzyme’s affinity for the inhibitors. Gene expression analysis revealed that the relative transcription levels of ace1 were significantly different in the Kar-R strain compared with the Gu-S strain. This study enhances the understanding of the mechanisms governing ace1′s resistance to insecticide and provides essential insights for new insecticides as well as valuable insights into environmentally conscious pest management techniques.

BackgroundCommando procedure, the surgical replacement of the mitral and aortic valves combined with reconstruction of the fibrosa fibrous body, is a technical challenge in patients with small aortic and mitral annuli. In this study, we evaluated the safety and early outcomes of the “Chimney” modality of the Commando procedure, in patients with small aortic and mitral annuli, after prior valve surgery, using a self-assembled valved conduit.MethodsFrom April 2021 to April 2022, 30 consecutive cases of the “Chimney” Commando procedure, with a self-assembled valved conduit and other combined cardiac procedures, were fully performed for re-operative patients with small aortic roots. Data were obtained through a medical record review, at the Asian Heart Hospital in Wuhan, China.ResultsThe patient's mean age was 52.7 ± 13.53 years, with 93.3% females. All patients had a previous heart valve surgery, 90% of which had double valve replacement (DVR). Hospital death occurred in 3.3% (n = 1) of the patients, due to malignant arrhythmias and multiorgan failure. Postoperative echocardiogram exams showed that the sizes of the aortic and mitral valve prostheses were 24.23 ± 1.60 mm and 28.33 ± 1.21 mm, respectively. All patients had intact intervalvular fibrosa (IVF) repair and no patient had any aberration in the left heart chamber communication. With the exception of one postoperative sick sinus syndrome and one re-sternotomy for bleeding, there were no significant postoperative complications, such as mortality, renal failure requiring ongoing dialysis, or mediastinitis. Echocardiography exams in the sixth postoperative month showed that the mean gradients of the aortic and mitral valves were 16.26 ± 6.44 mmHg and 11.24 ± 4.90 mmHg, respectively.ConclusionsIn comparison with the standard Commando operation, the early outcomes and safety of the “Chimney” Commando procedure proved to be a feasible therapeutic option for patients with small aortic and mitral annuli, after prior valve operations. This approach enables the enlargement of the aortic and mitral annuli and the implantation of the necessary valve prosthesis.

BackgroundRosai-Dorfman-Destombes disease (RDD) was first described in 1965 as a benign histiocytic proliferative disorder of unknown cause. Cases of RDD limited to cutaneous tissue have been reported over the past few decades, but single cutaneous RDD of the scalp is rare.Case presentationWe report a 31-year-old male with a lump on the parietal scalp without extranodal lesion lasting 1 month with gradual enlargement. The surgical incision ruptured with purulent after the first resection. Then the patient was treated with plastic surgery after disinfection and antibiotic treatment. Finally, he recovered well and discharged after 20 days.ConclusionsRDD of the scalp is rare. Surgical incision can cure the lesion but it may become infected because of increased lymphocytic infiltration. Early diagnosis and differential diagnosis of RDD are necessary. For treatment, individualized therapy is critical to patient prognosis.