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C4F7N/CO2 gas mixtures have attracted extensive attention because of their excellent insulating properties and environmental friendliness. High electrical and thermal stability is an important indicator for evaluating their performance, but there have been few molecular dynamics studies of their decomposition mechanisms. In this study, using ReaxFF molecular dynamics simulations and quantum chemistry theory, the decomposition mechanism of a C4F7N/CO2 gas mixture and the effect of the O2 content on the decomposition of the mixture were simulated on the microscopic level. It was found that there are three main decomposition pathways of C4F7N molecules, of which the generation of C3F4N⋅ and CF3⋅ free radicals is the most likely to occur. COF2 is the main oxygen-containing product of the C4F7N/CO2 gas mixture, and its generation is significantly affected by the simulation time and temperature. COF2 can be regarded as the characteristic decomposition product of the C4F7N/CO2 gas mixture. The addition of O2 slightly promotes the decomposition of C4F7N, whereas the maximum decomposition rate of CO2 decreases by 0.3% and 1% after the addition of 2% and 8% O2, respectively. Relevant results of this research can provide a theoretical basis and guidance for research into the performance of C4F7N/CO2 gas mixtures and practical engineering applications of these mixtures in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Negotiation of meaning (NoM) has played a facilitative role in second language acquisition. However, the existing studies have primarily focused on adult English language learners. This study investigated the impact of task type and task complexity on NoM strategies among young learners of Chinese as a second language, an underexplored group. The participants were 110 students in Hong Kong aged 10–12, mainly from Pakistan, India, Philippines, and Nepal. They were asked to perform four tasks with different task types and levels of task complexity in Cantonese (the primary Chinese dialect spoken in Hong Kong). In terms of task type, the study found that required information exchange tasks (i.e., information gap tasks) produced significantly more clarification requests, confirmation checks, self-repetitions, and other repetitions in terms of total numbers and numbers per 100 Chinese characters than the optional exchange tasks (i.e., decision-making tasks). Complex tasks, on the other hand, elicited significantly more confirmation checks than simple tasks. These findings provide useful insights for designing tasks that can promote greater use of NoM strategies in classroom practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exocytosis involving the fusion of intracellular vesicles with cell membrane, is thought to be modulated by the mechanical cues in the microenvironment. Single‐cell electrochemistry can offer unique information about the quantification and kinetics of exocytotic events; however, the effects of mechanical force on vesicular release have been poorly explored. Herein, we developed a stretchable microelectrode with excellent electrochemical stability under mechanical deformation by microfabrication of functionalized poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) conductive ink, which achieved real‐time quantitation of strain‐induced vesicular exocytosis from a single cell for the first time. We found that mechanical strain could cause calcium influx via the activation of Piezo1 channels in chromaffin cell, initiating the vesicular exocytosis process. Interestingly, mechanical strain increases the amount of catecholamines released by accelerating the opening and prolonging the closing of fusion pore during exocytosis. This work is expected to provide revealing insights into the regulatory effects of mechanical stimuli on vesicular exocytosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic review aims to explore how task complexity and task sequencing affect the complexity, accuracy, and fluency (CAF) of second language performance. Through an analysis of studies conducted between 2012 and 2021, this review investigates the characteristics of the studies, operationalisation of task complexity, measurements of CAF, and the effects of task complexity and task sequencing on CAF. The results suggest a shift in research focus from task complexity to task sequencing. Most prior studies examined Robinson’s hypotheses among English adult learners engaged in writing tasks, mainly utilising elements, reasoning demands, and content support to manipulate task complexity. In addition, they employed a diverse range of methods to measure CAF. The findings partially support the Cognition Hypothesis and the SSARC (stabilise, simplify, automatise, reconstruct, and complexify) model. Previous findings provide robust evidence that complex tasks, controlled via elements and reasoning demands, enhance language complexity. Furthermore, sequencing tasks from simple to complex has been shown to overall improve CAF. Implications for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the requirement for highly precise synchronous sampling and the substantial reliance on time difference calculations, the current partial discharge (PD) localization based on the time difference of arrival is only applicable in certain situations. As digital twin technology has advanced, it is possible to employ virtual models to support gas‐insulated switchgear (GIS) PD localization. To do this, we propose a meta‐learning (ML) network with the aid of digital twin for actual GIS PD localization. Firstly, a GIS digital twin model was established to acquire an auxiliary simulated sample library. Then, a temporal convolutional network is established to extract the discriminable features, effectively obtain the time dependence between features, and improve the accuracy of localization. Next, ML is adopted to quickly learn meta‐knowledge that can be applied across tasks, and the model's sensitivity to task changes is improved. Finally, the model is fine‐tuned through a limited number of samples from the target task, and high precise PD localization is achieved. The experimental results demonstrate that the ML has an average localization error of only 9.25 cm and a probability density rose to 93% within 20 cm, which is clearly superior to previous methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemically reducing nitrate (NO3−), a common water pollutant, to valuable ammonia (NH3) offers a green, sustainable, and decentralized route for ammonia synthesis. Electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (NO3−RR) involves two crucial reaction steps: nitrate deoxygenation followed by nitrite hydrogenation; in particular, the nitrite hydrogenation reaction is the rate‐determining step (RDS) for NO3−RR. In this work, an atomically dispersed cobalt‐phosphorus (Co─P) catalytic pair (CP) with strong electronic coupling is reported. The Co site in Co─P CP effectively activates NO3−, while the P site in Co─P CP facilitates water dissociation to release H+, synergistically enhancing the thermodynamic and kinetic performance of electrochemical nitrate reduction to ammonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is the most prevalent form of atopic disease. Undaria pinnatifida has potent antioxidative, antidiabetic, and anti‐inflammatory properties. Aims: We investigated the immunomodulatory effect of Undaria pinnatifida extract (UPE) on allergic inflammation in an AR mouse model. Materials & Methods: Mice were sensitized and intranasally challenged with ovalbumin (OVA), and the Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg‐related cytokines and histopathology were exanimated after UPE treatments. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay was performed using serum samples and NALF to detect OVA‐specific immunoglobulins and inflammatory cytokines. Mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs) were measured by western blotting analysis, and an in vitro study measured mast cell activation induced by compound 48/80. Results: After UPE treatment, nasal and lung allergy symptoms, nasal mucosal swelling, and goblet cell hyperplasia were ameliorated. Oral UPE regulated the balance of Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg cell differentiation in AR mice in a dose‐dependent manner. In addition, UPE attenuated the migration of eosinophils and mast cells to the nasal mucosa by suppressing nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB)/MAPKs. The levels of anti‐OVA IgE and IgG1 were also decreased. Discussion: UPE inhibited inflammation by regulating the NF‐κB/MAPKs signaling pathway and supressing the activation of critical immune cells such as eosinophils and mast cells. Conclusion: UPE may have therapeutic potential for AR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemotherapeutic efficacy for pancreatic cancer is severely compromised by limited drug availability to tumor cells. Herein, we constructed a cancer cell membrane-fused liposome containing a siATG5-loaded calcium phosphate (CaP) core, termed CLip@siATG5. Through cancer cell membrane camouflage, the liposomes evaded immune clearance, actively infiltrated tumor tissues, and were preferentially taken up by homotypic tumor cells. Then, siATG5 escaped from the endosomes and was liberated in the cytoplasm, mainly benefiting from CaP dissolution-induced endosome rupture and liposome disassembly in acidic endosomes. The released siATG5 silenced autophagy protein 5 (ATG5) to inhibit autophagy, starving tumor cells. An alternative nutrient procurement pathway, macropinocytosis, was then upregulated in the cells, leading to increased uptake of the albumin-bound chemotherapeutic agent (nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (Nab-PTX)). Finally, in a murine pancreatic cancer model, CLip@siATG5 combined with Nab-PTX exerted superior efficacy to a twofold dose of Nab-PTX while avoiding its toxicity. Overall, we justified enhancing chemotherapeutic delivery by modulating the pancreatic cancer cell metabolism, which will enlighten the development of more effective chemotherapeutic adjuvants for pancreatic cancer in the future. CLip@siATG5 sequentially overcomes multiple barriers and effectively delivers siATG5 to pancreatic cancer cells. Then, cancer cells are pushed to transfer from autophagy to macropinocytosis, swallowing massive cytotoxic albumin-bound chemotherapeutics (Nab-PTX). [Display omitted] • Cancer cell membrane camouflage enabled the CLip@siATG5 to evade the MPS uptake and be preferentially taken up by the homotypic cancer cells. • Calcium phosphate (CaP) core dissolution in acid endosomes promoted siATG5 release in the cytoplasm. • CLip@siATG5 could deliver a sufficient concentration of siATG5 to in vivo pancreatic cancer cells for autophagy inhibition. • CLip@siATG5 pushed pancreatic cancer cells to transfer from autophagy to macropinocytosis and take up massive Nab-PTX. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the extent of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) and superior laryngeal nerve (SLN) damage in patients with idiopathic vocal cord paralysis (IVCP) exhibiting different paralytic sides. Methods: A total of 84 IVCP cases were evaluated using stroboscopic laryngoscopy, voice analysis, and laryngeal electromyography (LEMG). The results were compared between patients with left‐sided paralysis and right‐sided paralysis based on different disease courses (less than or more than 3 months). Results: Initially, the average age and disease progression of IVCP patients were found to be similar regardless of the side of paralysis (p >.05). Additionally, there were no significant variations in voice indicators, such as MPT, DSI, and VHI, between IVCP patients with left and right vocal cord paralysis (p >.05). Furthermore, no disparities were detected in the latencies and amplitudes of the paralyzed RLN and SLN, as well as the durations and amplitudes of the action potentials in the paralyzed TM and PCM, among IVCP patients with left and right vocal cord paralysis (p >.05). Notably, the amplitudes of the left paralytic CM were significantly lower than those of the right paralytic CM (0.45 vs. 0.53, Z = −2.013, p =.044). In addition, no disparities were observed in APDs and amplitudes between the ipsilateral PCM and TM, either for patients with left or right vocal fold paralysis (p >.05). Finally, all the IVCP patients were subdivided into two subgroups according to different disease course (less than or more than 3 months), and in each subgroup, the comparison of voice indicators and LEMG results in IVCP patients with left or right vocal fold paralysis were similar with the above findings (p >.05). Conclusion: Overall, the degree of RLN and SLN damage appeared to be similar in IVCP patients with left and right vocal cord paralysis, provided that the disease course was comparable. Level of Evidence: 4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the application of big data in the field of English learning, focusing on its influence on the analysis of English learning behavior and the effect of teaching intervention. Through experimental design and data analysis, the research results show that big data analysis can reveal the learning behavior pattern of learners, and provide personalized teaching intervention according to individual characteristics, so as to improve the learning effect. The study also found that the experimental group received personalized teaching intervention, English learners' academic performance and learning motivation significantly improved. However, this study faces the limitations of sample representativeness and consistency of teaching interventions. Future studies can further expand the sample size and strengthen teacher training to improve the generalization and reliability of research results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a lack of effective treatment for idiopathic unilateral vocal fold paralysis (IUVFP). A better phonation was reported by patients after laryngeal nerve stimulation during our clinical examination. This study aims to investigate immediate effect of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) stimulation on phonation in patients with IUVFP. Sixty-two patients with clinically identified IUVFP underwent RLN stimulation with needle electrodes. Laryngoscopy, acoustic analysis, and voice perception assessment were performed for quantitative comparison of vocal function and voice quality before and after the intervention. Laryngoscopic images showed a larger motion range of the paralyzed vocal fold (p <.01) and better glottal closure (p <.01) after RLN stimulation. Acoustic analysis revealed that the dysphonia severity index increased significantly (p <.01) while the jitter and shimmer decreased after the intervention (p <.05). According to perceptual evaluation, RLN stimulation significantly increased RBH grades in patients with IUVFP (p <.01). Furthermore, the improvement in voice perception had a moderate positive correlation with the decrease in the glottal closure. This study shows a short-term improvement of phonation in IUVFP patients after RLN stimulation, which provides proof-of-concept for trialing a controlled delivery of RLN stimulation and assessing durability of any observed responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to explore the application status of Internet of Things and multimedia technology in English online teaching and its optimization measures. The Internet of Things is a technology that connects objects together and realizes information exchange through the network, while multimedia technology refers to the integration and processing of different forms of information including text, images, sound, video and so on. Firstly, the development status of Internet of Things and multimedia technology at home and abroad, as well as the development trend and demand of online English teaching, are analyzed. Secondly, through a questionnaire survey, data on the teaching methods, content, student feedback, and teachers' teaching methods and effects in English online teaching were collected. Through in-depth data analysis and empirical research, this paper discusses how to integrate the Internet of Things and multimedia technology to build a more efficient online English teaching model. On this basis, the problems existing in the Internet of Things and multimedia technology in English online teaching are summarized, such as uneven application of technology, lack of targeted teaching design, and insufficient interactivity. In response to these problems, a series of optimization measures are proposed, including balancing the application of technology, personalized teaching design, improving interactivity, cultivating independent learning ability and solving technical problems. Finally, the future development of English online teaching in the application of Internet of Things and multimedia technology is prospected, focusing on technological innovation and application, personalized and intelligent teaching, teaching mode and method innovation, teacher role change and evaluation system construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to develop and validate a scoring system for predicting the need for esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) in clinical practice to enhance accuracy and reduce misapplications. Methods: From February 2021 to April 2022, outpatients scheduled for EGD at the Department of Gastroenterology in our hospital were recruited. Patients completed the system evaluation by providing clinical symptoms, relevant medical history, and endoscopic findings. Patients were randomly divided into the training and validation cohorts (at 2:1 ratio). The optimal algorithm was selected from five alternatives including a parallel test. Six physicians participated in a human‐computer comparative validation. Sensitivity and negative likelihood ratio (−LR) were used as the primary indicators. Results: Altogether 865 patients were enrolled, with 578 in the training cohort and 287 in the validation cohort. The scoring system comprised 21 variables, including age, 13 typical clinical symptoms, and seven medical history variables. The parallel test was selected as the final algorithm. Positive EGD findings were reported in 54.5% of the training cohort and 62.7% of the validation cohort. The scoring system demonstrated a sensitivity of 79.0% in the training cohort and 83.9% in the validation cohort, with −LR being 0.627 and 0.615, respectively. Compared to physicians, the scoring system exhibited higher sensitivity (84.0% vs 68.7%, P = 0.02) and a lower −LR (1.11 vs 2.41, P = 0.439). Conclusions: We developed a scoring system to predict the necessity of EGD using a parallel test algorithm, which was user‐friendly and effective, as evidenced by single‐center validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The establishment of sister chromatid cohesion N-acetyltransferase 2 (ESCO2) is involved in the development of multiple malignancies. However, its role in hypopharyngeal carcinoma (HPC) progression remains uncharacterized. Methods: This study employed bioinformatics to determine the ESCO2 expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) and normal tissues. In vitro cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and/or cell cycle distribution assays were used to determine the function of ESCO2 and its relationship with STAT1. Xenograft models were established in nude mice to determine ESCO2 in HPC growth in vivo. Co-immunoprecipitation/mass spectrometry (Co-IP/MS) was conducted to identify the potential ESCO2 binding partners. Results: We found that ESCO2 expression was elevated in HNSC tissues, and ESCO2 depletion suppressed tumor cell migration in vitro and inhibited tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. Co-IP/MS and immunoblotting assays revealed the interaction between ESCO2 and STAT1 in HPC cells. STAT1-overexpression compromised ESCO2-mediated suppressive effects on HPC cell proliferation, viability, and migration. Conclusions: These findings suggest that ESCO2 is crucial in promoting HPC malignant progression through the STAT1 pathway and provides novel therapeutic targets for HPC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much controversy exists regarding the evolution and termination of accretionary orogens where typical continent-continent collision features are lacking. The Central Asian Orogenic Belt provides a key opportunity to explore the genetic relationships between the formation of high-Mg igneous associations and the evolution of accretionary orogens. In this study, two-stage Triassic magmatic events were identified in the southeastern segment of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (including ca. 247 Ma andesites and ca. 222 Ma diorites), through precise secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma– mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) zircon dating. The Olenekian andesites show typical sanukitoid affinities with high TiO2, MgO, Ni, and Cr contents, and enrichment in large ion lithophile elements (LILEs; K, Ba, and Sr). They yield depleted Hf isotopic compositions and high δ18O values, which along with Hf-O isotope modeling results indicate that they originated from the partial melting of mantle wedge peridotites with input of 20% terrigenous sediments. The Norian diorites have moderate SiO2, relatively high MgO, Cr, and Ni contents, Mg# values of 63–65, high Sr, low Y and Yb contents, relevant high La/Yb ratios, and negligible Eu anomalies, which makes them comparable to high-Mg andesites with adakitic affinity. Their depleted isotopic compositions are similar to coeval A type granites that resulted from lithospheric delamination after the final collision. In addition, with high K2O/Na2O ratios and incompatible element ratios similar to those of the continental crust (e.g., Nb/U, Ce/Pb, and Nd/ Sm), they conform to an origin in which partial melting of delaminated mafic lower crust subsequently interacted with mantle materials. These two-stage abnormal Triassic high Mg rocks archive a hot slab window triggered by the break-off of the Paleo-Asian oceanic slab and lower crustal delamination related to collapse of the southeastern segment of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. These findings provide beneficial information for the reconstruction of the East Asian blocks in Pangea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine the welfare effect of trade liberalization in the service industry by focusing on the Chinese movie industry. China has been maintaining an import quota of foreign movies since 1990s. Using a unique Chinese movie dataset, we first estimate a nested logit demand model. And based on the estimated demand parameters, we perform counterfactual tests by removing the movie import quota. Specifically, we quantify the loss to the domestic film makers due to greater competition with foreign competitors, and the gains to consumers from consuming more high quality movies. We find that after trade liberalization, the market share of domestic film makers falls by 21–22% on average during the sample period, whereas the gain in the consumer welfare is comparatively smaller with an increase of around 5–9%. We also find that if the domestic film makers react actively by either strategically changing the release dates or by improving the quality of the home-made movies, then the magnitude of decline in the producer welfare will reduce by a large extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential involvement of pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2), an enzyme acting as a rate-limiting enzyme in the final phase of glycolysis, in the regulation of glial activation and brain damage of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Methods: Western blotting and immunofluorescence were performed to investigate PKM2 expression, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase deoxyurinary triphosphate (dUTP) nick end labeling staining, hematoxylin and eosin staining, and behavioral tests were employed to evaluate the brain damage of ICH mice, and RNA-seq and bioinformatic analyses were performed to detect gene expression changes in ICH mice treated with TEPP-46. Results: Increased PKM2 levels in perihematomal brain tissue were found starting from 3 days following ICH and peaked at 5 and 7 days post ICH. The increased expression of PKM2 was mainly co-localized with glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)+ astrocytes and ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule-1 (IBA-1)+ microglia. Furthermore, we observed a notable increase in the nuclear translocation of PKM2 in glial cells following ICH. TEPP-46 treatment significantly reduced PKM2 nuclear translocation, and effectively attenuated glial activation and brain injury, and improved functional recovery of mice with ICH. RNA-seq data indicated that 91.1% (205/225) of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were down-regulated in the TEPP-46 treated groups compared with the vehicle-treated groups in ICH brains. Furthermore, bioinformatic analyses revealed that these down-regulated DEGs were involved in a variety of biological processes, including autophagy and metabolic processes. In addition, the majority of these downregulated DEGs had a primary high expression in neurons, with subsequent expression seen in endothelial cells, microglia, and astrocytes. Conclusions: These results indicate that increased PKM2 nuclear translocation promotes the activation of glial cells after ICH, hence aggravating ICH-induced brain damage, and aggravates the brain injury induced by ICH. This highlights a potential therapeutic target for inhibiting glial activation to attenuate brain injury after ICH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Highly efficient electrocatalyst for carbon dioxide reduction (CO 2 RR) is desirable for converting CO 2 into carbon-based chemicals and reducing anthropogenic carbon emission. Regulating catalyst surface to improve the affinity for CO 2 and the capability of CO 2 activation is the key to high-efficiency CO 2 RR. In this work, we develop an iron carbide catalyst encapsulated in nitrogenated carbon (SeN-Fe 3 C) with an aerophilic and electron-rich surface by inducing preferential formation of pyridinic-N species and engineering more negatively charged Fe sites. The SeN-Fe 3 C exhibits an excellent CO selectivity with a CO Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 92 % at −0.5 V (vs. RHE) and remarkably enhanced CO partial current density as compared to the N-Fe 3 C catalyst. Our results demonstrate that Se doping reduces the Fe 3 C particle size and improves the dispersion of Fe 3 C on nitrogenated carbon. More importantly, the preferential formation of pyridinic-N species induced by Se doping endows the SeN-Fe 3 C with an aerophilic surface and improves the affinity of the SeN-Fe 3 C for CO 2. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the electron-rich surface, which is caused by pyridinic N species and much more negatively charged Fe sites, leads to a high degree of polarization and activation of CO 2 molecule, thus conferring a remarkably improved CO 2 RR activity on the SeN-Fe 3 C catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruits and vegetables (FVs) have long been a major source of nutrients and dietary phytochemicals with outstanding physiological properties that are essential for protecting humans from chronic diseases. Moreover, the growing demand of consumers for nutritious and healthy foods is greatly promoting the increased intake of FVs. Allium (Alliaceae) is a perennial bulb plant genus of the Liliaceae family. They are customarily utilized as vegetable, medicinal, and ornamental plants and have an important role in agriculture, aquaculture, and the pharmaceutical industry. Allium plants produce abundant secondary metabolites, such as organosulfur compounds, flavonoids, phenols, saponins, alkaloids, and polysaccharides. Accordingly, Allium plants possess a variety of nutritional, biological, and health-promoting properties, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, antitumor, immunoregulatory, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory effects. This review aims to highlight the advances in the research on the bioactive components, physiological activities and clinical trials, toxicological assessment for safety, and applications of different Allium plants. It also aims to cover the direction of future research on the Allium genus. This review is expected to provide theoretical reference for the comprehensive development and utilization of Allium plants in the fields of functional foods, medicine, and cosmetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the role of dietary factors in chronic diseases has received extensive attention. As a tool to evaluate dietary quality, dietary assessment index has become an important index to evaluate the nutritional status of the population, it can also be used to explore the relationship between diet and chronic diseases. The Chinese Diet Balance Index (DBI) can be used to evaluate the dietary quality of groups and individuals by taking Chinese dietary guidelines and Food Guide Pagoda as reference and combining the dietary characteristics of Chinese residents, it can also be used to study the association with chronic diseases. This paper reviews the establishment, development, and application of DBI, and the similarities and differences between DBI and other Chinese dietary indices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SF6 is widely used in gas switchgear but has a strong greenhouse effect. The development of an environment-friendly switchgear that can replace SF6 is a current research hotspot. As a SF6 alternative technology, vacuum arc-extinguishing chamber plus clean air insulation has shown high application prospects. The clean air inside the switchgear decomposes under the effect of high temperature and discharge; however, only a few studies focused on its decomposition mechanism. In this work, the decomposition mechanism of clean air and the effect of temperature on the decomposition are simulated at the atomic level based on ReaxFF (Reactive force field) molecular dynamics and quantum chemistry theory. Results showed that the decomposition of clean air mainly generates NO, NO2, and N2O. NO is the main product at high temperatures and thus can be the characteristic decomposition product of clean air. The clean air has good self-recovery characteristics, and its decomposition can be substantially promoted by increasing the temperature. The decomposition rates of N2 and O2 under 3000 K can reach 7.00% and 8.00%, respectively, which are twice and four times those under 2000 K. These results can provide theoretical basis and engineering guidance for the development of environment-friendly switchgear with vacuum arc-extinguishing chamber plus clean air insulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining the types of light curves has been a challenge due to the massive amount of light curves generated by large sky survey programs. In the literature, the light curves classification methods are overly dependent on the imaging quality of the light curves, so the classification results are often poor. In this paper, a new method is proposed to classify the Kepler light curves from Quarter 1, and consists of two parts: feature extraction and classification neural network construction. In the first part, features are extracted from the light curves using three different methods, and then the features are fused (transform domain features, light curve flux statistics features, and Kepler photometry features). In the second part, a classification neural network RLNet, based on Residual Network (ResNet) and Long Short Term Memory (LSTM), is proposed. The experiment involved the classification of approximately 150,000 Kepler light curves into 11 categories. The results show that this new method outperforms seven other methods in all metrics, with an accuracy of 0.987, a minimum recall of 0.968, and a minimum precision of 0.970 under all categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, deep learning‐based fault diagnosis technology for high‐voltage circuit breakers (HVCB) has advanced significantly, but the working environment of HVCBs is complex, resulting in unsatisfactory fault diagnosis results of HVCBs in noisy environment and existing deep learning methods are difficult to solve this problem. This paper proposes a multi‐channel convolutional neural network combines dense residual structure and attention mechanism to achieve high‐precision and high‐robust diagnosis of HVCBs in noisy backgrounds. A dense residual network is introduced into the convolutional neural network to prevent feature loss during network propagation to preserve the difference information between the network layers as much as possible, Simultaneously, a channel attention mechanism is introduced to adaptively adjust the weights of different convolution channels. The model can extract multi‐scale features from the original signal and fully exploit the intrinsic relationship between the vibration signal and the HVCB's operating state. The experimental results show that the diagnostic method can still meet the requirements of fault diagnosis in the presence of noise, with an average diagnostic accuracy rate of 85.92% when the signal‐to‐noise ratio is −4. The model outperforms the traditional single‐channel model in terms of diagnostic accuracy and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imbalanced glutamate signaling has been implicated in the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This case-control study was to examine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in glutamate receptor and carrier genes and determine their association with childhood ASD in a Chinese Han population. A total of 12 SNPs in genes encoding glutamate receptors (GRM7 and GRM8) and carriers (SLC1A1 and SLC25A12) were examined in 249 autistic children and 353 healthy controls. The Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and its verbal communication domain were applied to evaluate the severity of the disease and language impairment, respectively. The T allele of rs2292813 in the SLC25A12 gene was significantly associated with an increased risk of ASD (odds ratio (OD) = 1.7, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1–2.6, P = 0.0107). Neither the genotypes nor allele distributions of other SNPs were associated with the risk of ASD. Notably, rs1800656 and rs2237731 in the GRM8 gene, but not other SNPs, were related to the severity of language impairment. All SNPs were not correlated with the overall severity of ASD. Our findings support associations between the SLC25A12 gene variant and the risk of childhood ASD, and between the GRM8 gene variant and the severity of language impairment in the Chinese Han population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of the work was to establish a prediction model of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) progression based on intestinal flora by machine learning method. Method: A total of 1,013 patients were recruited, in which 87 patients with MCI finished a two-year follow-up. To establish a prediction model, 61 patients were randomly divided into a training set and 26 patients were divided into a testing set. A total of 121 features including demographic characteristics, hematological indicators, and intestinal flora abundance were analyzed. Results: Of the 87 patients who finished a two-year follow-up, 44 presented rapid progression. Model 1 was established based on 121 features with the accuracy 85%, sensitivity 85%, and specificity 83%. Model 2 was based on the first fifteen features of model 1 (triglyceride, uric acid, alanine transaminase, F-Clostridiaceae, G-Megamonas, S-Megamonas, G-Shigella, G-Shigella, S-Shigella, average hemoglobin concentration, G-Alistipes, S-Collinsella, median cell count, average hemoglobin volume, low-density lipoprotein), with the accuracy 97%, sensitivity 92%, and specificity 100%. Model 3 was based on the first ten features of model 1, with the accuracy 97%, sensitivity 86%, and specificity 100%. Other models based on the demographic characteristics, hematological indicators, or intestinal flora abundance features presented lower sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion: The 15 features (including intestinal flora abundance) could establish an effective model for predicting rapid MCI progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Functional two-dimensional (2D) graphene-like carbon has the potential to be a good electromagnetic wave absorbing material due to its good electronic properties, but the preparation of 2D carbon via metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) derivation method is still a bottleneck. Herein, we fabricated ultrathin nitrogen-doped graphene-like carbon nanomesh (N -GN) via thermal exfoliation of 2D MOF (Zn-ZIF-L) directly. The species of the chloride salt that exfoliated Zn-ZIF-L have an effect on the nitrogen content, graphitization degree, pore size and specific surface area of N -GN. The Zn-ZIF-L derived N -GN exfoliated by KCl and LiCl simultaneously has the optimum reflection loss of −54 dB only with the thickness of 2.1 mm and the filler loading of 3 wt%. The excellent electromagnetic wave absorbing property is attributed to its favorable structure, micro-meso-macropores, N heteroatoms, abundant heterogeneous graphene-like carbon nanomesh interfaces and defects. Our simple and low-cost preparation process facilitates the large-scale production and application for electromagnetic wave absorbing material of functionalized graphene-like carbon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stem cell-based treatment of tendon injuries remains to have some inherent issues. Extracellular vesicles derived from stem cells have shown promising achievements in tendon regeneration, though their retention in vivo is low. This study reports on the use of a collagen binding domain (CBD) to bind extracellular vesicles, obtained from tendon-derived stem cells (TDSCs), to collagen. CBD-extracellular vesicles (CBD-EVs) were coupled to decellularized bovine tendon sheets (DBTS) to fabricate a bio-functionalized scaffold (CBD-EVs-DBTS). Our results show that thus obtained bio-functionalized scaffolds facilitate the proliferation, migration and tenogenic differentiation of stem cells in vitro. Furthermore, the scaffolds promote endogenous stem cell recruitment to the defects, facilitate collagen deposition and improve the biomechanics of injured tendons, thus resulting in functional regeneration of tendons. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fallopia japonica (Asian knotweed) is a medicinal herb traditionally used to treat inflammation, among other conditions. However, the effects of F. japonica root extract (FJE) on airway inflammation associated with combined allergic rhinitis and asthma (CARAS) and the related mechanisms have not been investigated. This study examined the effect of FJE against CARAS in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced CARAS mouse model. Six-week-old male BALB/c mice were randomly segregated into six groups. Mice were sensitized intraperitoneally with OVA on days 1, 8, and 15, and administered saline, Dexamethasone (1.5 mg/kg), or FJE (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg) once a day for 16 days. Nasal symptoms, inflammatory cells, OVA-specific immunoglobulins, cytokine production, mast cell activation, and nasal histopathology were assessed. Administration of FJE down-regulated OVA-specific IgE and up-regulated OVA-specific IgG2a in serum. FJE reduced the production of T helper (Th) type 2 cytokines, and the Th1 cytokine levels were enhanced in nasal and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Moreover, FJE positively regulated allergic responses by reducing the accumulation of inflammatory cells, improving nasal and lung histopathological characteristics, and inhibiting inflammation-associated cytokines. FJE positively modulated the IL-33/TSLP/NF-B signaling pathway, which is involved in regulating inflammatory cells, immunoglobulin levels, and pro-inflammatory cytokines at the molecular level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the discovery that the acquisition of toxic features by extrasynaptic NMDA receptors (NMDARs) involves their physical interaction with the non-selective cation channel, TRPM4, it has become possible to develop a new pharmacological principle for neuroprotection, namely the disruption of the NMDAR/TRPM4 death signaling complex. This can be accomplished through the expression of the TwinF domain, a 57-amino-acid-long stretch of TRPM4 that mediates its interaction with NMDARs, but also using small molecule TwinF interface (TI) inhibitors, also known as NMDAR/TRPM4 interaction interface inhibitors. Both TwinF and small molecule TI inhibitors detoxify extrasynaptic NMDARs without interfering with synaptic NMDARs, which serve important physiological functions in the brain. As the toxic signaling of extrasynaptic NMDARs contributes to a wide range of neurodegenerative conditions, TI inhibitors may offer therapeutic options for currently untreatable human neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and Huntington's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concreteness effect refers to the advantage in speed and accuracy of processing concrete words over abstract words. Previous studies have shown that the processing of the two types of words is mediated by distinct neural mechanisms, but these studies were mainly conducted with task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging. This study investigates the associations between the concreteness effect and grey matter volume (GMV) of brain regions as well as resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) of these identified regions. The results show that the GMV of left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), right middle temporal gyrus (MTG), right supplementary motor area and right anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) negatively correlates with the concreteness effect. The rsFC of the left IFG, the right MTG and the right ACC with the nodes, mainly in default mode network, frontoparietal network and dorsal attention network positively correlates with the concreteness effect. The GMV and rsFC jointly and respectively predict the concreteness effect in individuals. In conclusion, stronger connectivity amongst functional networks and higher coherent engagement of the right hemisphere predict a greater difference in the verbal memory of abstract and concrete words. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Primary liver cancer is a malignant tumour of the digestive system, ranking second in cancer mortality in China. In different types of cancer, such as liver cancer, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to be dysregulated. However, little is known about the role of miR-5195-3p in insulin-resistant liver cancer. Methods and results: In this study, in vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to identify the altered biological behaviour of insulin-resistant hepatoma cells (HepG2/IR), and we proved that HepG2/IR cells had stronger malignant biological behaviour. Functional experiments showed that enhanced expression of miR-5195-3p could inhibit the proliferation, migration, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and chemoresistance of HepG2/IR cells, while impaired expression of miR-5195-3p in HepG2 cells resulted in the opposite effects. Bioinformatics prediction and dual luciferase reporter gene assays proved that SOX9 and TPM4 were the target genes of miR-5195-3p in hepatoma cells. Conclusions: In conclusion, our study demonstrated that miR-5195-3p plays a critical role in insulin-resistant hepatoma cells and might be a potential therapeutic target for liver cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Wild apple (Malus sieversii) is under second-class national protection in China and one of the lineal ancestors of cultivated apples worldwide. In recent decades, the natural habitation area of wild apple trees has been seriously declining, resulting in a lack of saplings and difficulty in population regeneration. Artificial near-natural breeding is crucial for protecting and restoring wild apple populations, and adding nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) is one of the important measures to improve the growth performance of saplings. In this study, field experiments using N (CK, N1, N2, and N3: 0, 10, 20, and 40 g m− 2 yr− 1, respectively), P (CK, P1, P2, and P3: 0, 2, 4, and 8 g m− 2 yr− 1, respectively), N20Px (CK, N2P1, N2P2, and N2P3: N20P2, N20P4 and N20P8 g m− 2 yr− 1, respectively), and NxP4 (CK, N1P2, N2P2, and N3P2: N10P4, N20P4, and N40P4 g m− 2 yr− 1, respectively) treatments (totaling 12 levels, including one CK) were conducted in four consecutive years. The twig traits (including four current-year stem, 10 leaf, and three ratio traits) and comprehensive growth performance of wild apple saplings were analyzed under different nutrient treatments. Results: N addition had a significantly positive effect on stem length, basal diameter, leaf area, and leaf dry mass, whereas P addition had a significantly positive effect on stem length and basal diameter only. The combination of N and P (NxP4 and N20Px) treatments evidently promoted stem growth at moderate concentrations; however, the N20Px treatment showed a markedly negative effect at low concentrations and a positive effect at moderate and high concentrations. The ratio traits (leaf intensity, leaf area ratio, and leaf to stem mass ratio) decreased with the increase in nutrient concentration under each treatment. In the plant trait network, basal diameter, stem mass, and twig mass were tightly connected to other traits after nutrient treatments, indicating that stem traits play an important role in twig growth. The membership function revealed that the greatest comprehensive growth performance of saplings was achieved after N addition alone, followed by that under the NxP4 treatment (except for N40P4). Conclusions: Consequently, artificial nutrient treatments for four years significantly but differentially altered the growth status of wild apple saplings, and the use of appropriate N fertilizer promoted sapling growth. These results can provide scientific basis for the conservation and management of wild apple populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep learning methods, especially convolutional neural networks (CNNs), have achieved good results in the partial discharge (PD) diagnosis of gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) in the laboratory. However, the relationship of features ignored in CNNs and the heavy dependance on the amount of sample data make it difficult for the model developed in the laboratory to achieve high-precision, robust diagnosis of PD in the field. To solve these problems, a subdomain adaptation capsule network (SACN) is adopted for PD diagnosis in GIS. First, the feature information is effectively extracted by using a capsule network, which improves feature representation. Then, subdomain adaptation transfer learning is used to accomplish high diagnosis performance on the field data, which alleviates the confusion of different subdomains and matches the local distribution at the subdomain level. Experimental results demonstrate that the accuracy of the SACN in this study reaches 93.75% on the field data. The SACN has better performance than traditional deep learning methods, indicating that the SACN has potential application value in PD diagnosis of GIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional metamaterial systems usually own a low Q factor due to the strong absorption and radiation loss. Fano resonances in ultrathin metasurfaces provide an efficient method for solving the issue. In this work, we theoretically and experimentally study the trapped-mode resonance in rectangular-hole dimers with broken symmetry. Compared to the asymmetric particle dimers that have been widely investigated, the asymmetric hole dimers in freestanding metal screens present an all-metallic platform for engineering the high-Q resonances. With the experiments, a significantly increased Q factor of ∼200 has been achieved in the microwave region. Numerical simulations show that, in comparison with the incident field, the hole electric field (and intensity) can be increased by ∼127 times (and ∼16 000 times). Moreover, the evolution characteristic of the trapped-mode resonance with the structural parameters has been studied systematically. The inversely quadratic relationship between the Q factor and asymmetric parameter, proposed primarily for the particle dimers [Koshelev et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 121, 193903 (2018)], is found to work well for the asymmetric hole dimers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microscopic properties of nonequilibrium arc plasma have great significance for researching the breaking capacity of SF6 circuit breakers and constructing arc plasma simulation models. The polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) vapor generated by the ablation of the nozzle material significantly affects the SF6 arc plasma particles and thus affects the microscopic properties of the nonequilibrium arc plasma. At present, the calculation of the microscopic properties of nonequilibrium SF6–PTFE arc plasma has not been reported, mainly because the basic data for the chemical reaction mechanism and chemical reaction rate in the plasma cannot be obtained effectively. In this paper, quantum chemistry was used to theoretically research the reaction mechanisms and rates between CF3, CF2, and CF radicals and SF6, SF5, SF4, SF3, SF3, SF2, and SF in SF6–PTFE arc plasma at 298–10 000 K. A total of 18 chemical reactions are included. Structural optimizations, vibrational frequency calculations, and zero-point energy calculations for the reactants, products, and transition states were performed at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory. The single-point energies of all species were obtained at the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-PVTZ level. The reaction rates of all reactions between 298 and 10 000 K were obtained by using transition state theory. The reaction rates were successfully fitted using the Arrhenius equation and the three-parameter Arrhenius equation. It has found that reactions between CF2 and fluoro sulfides have higher potential energies. Reactions R13, R7, R14, and R8 exhibit higher reaction rates at 298–10 000 K, whereas R3, R4, R5, and R6 have lower reaction rates. This work can provide theoretical guidance for research on nonequilibrium SF6–PTFE and SF6–CF4 arc plasma microscopic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • DOC was the foremost parameter influencing the phytotoxicity of LD. • Temperature accelerated the stability and phytotoxicity disappearance of LD. • Open storage of LD at 30 °C for 60 days and 20 °C for 90 days of LD was safe. • Hermetic storage of LD at 30 °C for 120 days and 20 °C for 150 days of LD was safe. • For storage at 10 °C for 180 days, additional post-treatment is required. Identifying the stability and phytotoxicity of liquid digestate (LD) is necessary for safe agricultural utilization. Storage temperature, method, and time are critical factors that affect the stability and phytotoxicity of LD. This study therefore aimed to explore the dynamics of stability, phytotoxicity, and microbial community of LD in cattle farms under different storage conditions. The results showed that the contents of solids, organic matter, nitrogen, and phosphorous decreased during storage and exhibited temperature dependency. Conversely, the seed germination index increased, which was negatively correlated with dissolved organic carbon and ammonium nitrogen and positively correlated with certain bacteria (Thermovirga and Fastidiosipila). Open storage and/or higher temperature were found to contribute to the stabilization efficiency and phytotoxicity disappearance of LD. Open storage of LD at 30 °C for 60 days and 20 °C for 90 days was safe for its agricultural utilization, while hermetic storage of LD at 30 °C for 120 days and 20 °C for 150 days was safe. However, for storage at 10 °C for 180 days, additional post-treatment is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ileostomy formation may be permanent or intended as temporary to defunction a high‐risk pelvic anastomosis to reduce the risk of septic consequences of anastomotic leak. However, these procedures have a high rate of readmission, most commonly due to dehydration and associated with acute kidney injury (AKI). Methods: A single centre retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent ileostomy formation from 2015 to 2020 and analysed in two groups: those who needed readmission within 60 days and those who did not. Data collected included demographics and renal function and electrolytes at baseline (ileostomy formation) and at elective ileostomy closure. Results: A total of 171 patients were included in the analysis, with a readmission rate 38% within 60 days of discharge. There was a significant increase in creatinine from baseline blood tests compared to date of elective ileostomy closure in both the readmission and no readmission arms. There was a significant decrease in eGFR from baseline blood tests compared with date of ileostomy closure in both readmission and no readmission arms. There was no significant difference in creatinine or eGFR between readmission and no readmission arms at date of ileostomy closure. Baseline serum sodium levels were lower in the readmission arm compared to no readmission arm. Conclusion: Ileostomy formation is associated with a deterioration in renal function, which occurs independent of whether the patient requires readmission to hospital. Low serum sodium may be used as a predictor for patients with an increased risk of readmission. A single centre retrospective cohort study of ileostomy patients comparing those readmitted versus those who weren't. Ileostomy formation was associated with a deterioration in renal function, which occurs independent of whether the patient requires readmission to hospital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How speaking two languages affects executive functions has been a long‐standing debate and the mechanisms underlying the observed cognitive advantages of bilingualism remain unspecified. Here, using multivariate pattern classification methods, we decoded spatial patterns of neural signals associated with Flanker task performance in mono‐dialectal and bi‐dialectal speakers of Chinese. While univariate approach to even‐related potentials (ERPs) showed no between‐group difference, decoding accuracy of ERPs was reduced in bi‐dialectal as compared to mono‐dialectal speakers in both congruent‐neutral and incongruent‐neutral classifications. There was no effect of bidialectalism, however, on decoding accuracy of alpha‐band oscillations, an electrophysiological index implicated in inhibition. Behavioural data analysed using the Drift Diffusion Model (DDM) showed facilitating effects of bidialectalism on non‐decision times but no effect on drift rates. These findings demonstrate that using two dialects on a daily basis enhances general attentional deployment rather than affecting specific component of executive functions such as inhibitory control. Given that the two dialects of Chinese differed almost exclusively in phonology, the bidialectalism effect was most likely motivated by resolving phonological competition at lexical processing level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a high intensity metastable Kr source based on a helical resonator RF discharge. By adding an external B-field to the discharge source, the metastable Kr flux is enhanced. The effect of geometric configuration and magnetic field strength has been studied and optimized experimentally. Compared to the helical resonator discharge source without an external B-field, the new source showed an enhancement factor of 4–5 in producing metastable Kr beams. This improvement has a direct impact on the radio-krypton dating applications as it can increase the atom count rate, resulting in a higher analytical precision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sex differences in emotional behaviors and affective disorders have been widely noted, of which sexually dimorphic secretion of gonadal steroid hormones such as estrogen is suspected to play a role. However, the underlying neural mechanisms remain poorly understood. We noted that the expression of estrogen receptor 2 (Esr2, or ERβ), a key mediator of estrogen signaling in the brain, was enriched in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), a region involved in emotion regulation. To investigate whether DRN Esr2 expression confers sex‐specific susceptibility or vulnerability in emotional behaviors, we generated a conditional allele of Esr2 that allowed for site‐specific deletion of Esr2 in the DRN via local injection of Cre‐expressing viruses. DRN‐specific Esr2 deletion mildly increased anxiety behaviors in females, as shown by decreased time spent in the center zone of an open field in knockout females. By contrast, DRN Esr2 deletion had no effects on anxiety levels in males, as demonstrated by knockout males spending comparable time in the center zone of an open field and open arms of an elevated‐plus maze. Furthermore, in the tail suspension test, DRN Esr2 deletion reduced immobility, a depression‐like behavior, in a male‐biased manner. Together, these results reveal sex‐specific functions of DRN Esr2 in regulating emotional behaviors and suggest targeted manipulation of DRN Esr2 signaling as a potential therapeutic strategy to treat sex‐biased affective disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corbicula fluminea distillate as an important industrial by-product of C. fluminea during steaming process is rich in amino acids, proteins and polysaccharides, showing potential hepatoprotective effect. In this study, a polysaccharide (CFDP) was obtained from C. fluminea distillate by three-phase partitioning combined with (NH 4) 2 SO 4 precipitation at a saturation of 60 %. The structural characteristics, antioxidant activity in vitro , and hepatoprotection against mice CCl 4 -induced acute liver damage of CFDP were studied. Results demonstrated that CFDP was a water-soluble homogenous polysaccharide predominantly comprising glucose (>98 %), with a weight-average molecular weight of 1.4 × 107 Da, and exhibiting potent antioxidant benefits in vitro. CFDP had a backbone of (1 → 4)-α- d -glucopyranosyl (Glc p) and a small amount of (1 → 4, 6)-α-D-Glc p. The branch formed at C-6 comprised by (1→)-α-D-Glc p and (1→)-α-D- N -acetylglucosamine. CFDP possessed excellent hepatoprotective activity against acute liver damage caused by CCl 4 in mice, mainly by ameliorating weight reduction and organ injures, alleviating hepatic function and serum lipid metabolism, suppressing oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, as directly verified by histopathological examination. Moreover, CFDP improved gut microbiota by up-regulating the relative abundance of total bacteria and probiotics such as Firmicutes , Bacteroidete , Rumminococcaceae , Lactobacillaceae , accompanied by promoting short chain fatty acid production. Therefore, our findings indicated that CFDP can be developed as a healthy food supplement for the prevention of chemical livery injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To develop and validate a deep learning imaging signature (DLIS) for risk stratification in patients with multiforme (GBM), and to investigate the biological pathways and genetic alterations underlying the DLIS. Methods: The DLIS was developed from multi-parametric MRI based on a training set (n = 600) and validated on an internal validation set (n = 164), an external test set 1 (n = 100), an external test set 2 (n = 161), and a public TCIA set (n = 88). A co-profiling framework based on a radiogenomics analysis dataset (n = 127) using multiscale high-dimensional data, including imaging, transcriptome, and genome, was established to uncover the biological pathways and genetic alterations underpinning the DLIS. Results: The DLIS was associated with survival (log-rank p < 0.001) and was an independent predictor (p < 0.001). The integrated nomogram incorporating the DLIS achieved improved C indices than the clinicomolecular nomogram (net reclassification improvement 0.39, p < 0.001). DLIS significantly correlated with core pathways of GBM (apoptosis and cell cycle-related P53 and RB pathways, and cell proliferation-related RTK pathway), as well as key genetic alterations (del_CDNK2A). The prognostic value of DLIS-correlated genes was externally confirmed on TCGA/CGGA sets (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Our study offers a biologically interpretable deep learning predictor of survival outcomes in patients with GBM, which is crucial for better understanding GBM patient's prognosis and guiding individualized treatment. Key Points: • MRI-based deep learning imaging signature (DLIS) stratifies GBM into risk groups with distinct molecular characteristics. • DLIS is associated with P53, RB, and RTK pathways and del_CDNK2A mutation. • The prognostic value of DLIS-correlated pathway genes is externally demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several deep learning partial discharge (PD) diagnostic approaches have been developed in recent years to guarantee the security and stability of gas-insulated switchgear (GIS). The centralized training method requires multiple clients to jointly obtain as much data as possible to train the model to achieve excellent performance, which is impractical due to conflicts of interest and privacy protection. Furthermore, because of differences in the distribution of client data and the presence of a small sample, achieving high-precision and robust diagnosis for each client is an urgent problem. To that end, a novel personalized federated meta-learning (FML) is proposed in this paper to address the aforementioned issues. It develops reliable and personalized PD diagnosis models by collaborating with multiple clients and solves the problem of small sample diagnosis through scenario training under the premise of protecting data privacy. The experimental results show that the FML proposed can diagnose GIS PD with high precision and robustness for each client while maintaining privacy. The diagnostic accuracy of the FML proposed in this paper, especially for on-site unbalanced small sample clients, is 93.07%, which is significantly higher than that for other methods. It serves as a model for the collaborative development of an effective GIS PD diagnostic model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drosophila ovary has been one of the most mature and excellent systems for studying the in vivo regulatory mechanisms of stem cell fate determination. It has been well-known that the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling released by the niche cells promotes the maintenance of germline stem cells (GSCs) through inhibiting the transcription of the bag-of-marbles (bam) gene, which encodes a key factor for GSC differentiation. However, whether Bam is regulated at the post-translational level remains largely unknown. Here we show that the E3 ligase Cullin-2 (Cul2) is involved in modulating Bam ubiquitination, which occurs probably at multiple lysine residues of Bam's C-terminal region. Genetic evidence further supports the notion that Cul2-mediated Bam ubiquitination and turnover are essential for GSC maintenance and proper germline development. Collectively, our data not only uncovers a novel regulatory mechanism by which Bam is controlled at the post-translational level, but also provides new insights into how Cullin family protein determines the differentiation fate of early germ cells. [Display omitted] • Bam is ubiquitinated at multiple lysine residues of the C-terminal region. • E3 ligase Cul2 associates with Bam for its ubiquitination and degradation. • Silence of Cul2 leads to severe germ cell loss in Drosophila ovary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regarding applied, facile, green chemical research, a bio-inspired approach is being reported for the sonochemical synthesis of Ag nanoparticles by Aloe vera gel extract as a natural reducing/stabilising and solid support agent without using any toxic and harmful reagent. The biosynthesized Ag NPs/A. vera gel bionanocomposite was characterised by advanced physicochemical techniques like ultraviolet-visible (UV–Vis), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and elemental mapping study. It has been established that Aloe vera gel-stabilized silver nanoparticles have a spherical shape with a mean diameter of around 35–40 nm. To investigate the antioxidant potentials of Ag NPs/A. vera gel, one of the common antioxidant techniques i.e. DPPH was used. The results of DPPH test proved the excellent antioxidant properties of Ag NPs/A. vera gel in comparison to the positive control used i.e. butylated hydroxytoluene. The IC50 of Ag NPs/A. vera gel was 42 µg/mL in the antioxidant test. Thereafter, on having a significant IC50 value in radical scavenging assay, we extended the bio-application of the desired nanocomposite in the anticancer study. To survey the cytotoxicity and anti-human cervical carcinoma effects of Ag NPs/A. vera gel, MTT assay was used on CC1-PI19, SiHa, HeLa and HNCF-PI52 cell lines. The IC50 of the Ag NPs/A. vera gel was 16, 13, 15 and 11 µg/mL against CC1-PI19, SiHa, HeLa and HNCF-PI52 cell lines, respectively. As mentioned, the Ag NPs/A. vera gel had significant antioxidant and anti-human cervical cancer effects. After approving the above results in the clinical trial studies, the Ag NPs/A. vera gel can be used as a chemotherapeutic drug for the treatment of several types of cervical cancers. According to the above results, the significant anti-cervical cancer effects of Ag NPs/A. vera gel are confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bismuth–oxygen moieties are beneficial for high‐efficiency electrochemical CO2 reduction (CO2RR) to produce formate; however, preserving bismuth‐oxygen moieties while applying a cathodic potential is challenging. This work reports the preparation of ultrathin Bi2O2O/Bi2O2(OH)(NO3) nanosheets (BiON‐uts) by in‐situ tailoring of hydrogen bonds in a Bi2O2(OH)(NO3) precursor. The BiON‐uts exhibits a formate faradaic efficiency of 98 % with higher partial current density than that of most reported bismuth‐based catalysts. Mechanistic studies demonstrate that the ultrathin nanosheet morphology facilitates ion‐exchange between BiON‐uts and the electrolyte to produce Bi2O2CO3 as intermediate, and adsorption of CO2 with surface Bi2O2O. DFT calculations reveal that the rate‐limiting first electron transfer is effectively improved by the high electron affinity of Bi2O2CO3. More importantly, high‐efficiency CO2RR in turn protects the bismuth–oxygen moieties from being reduced and thus helps to maintain the excellent CO2RR activity. This work offers an interactive mechanism of CO2RR promotion and bismuth–oxygen moiety preservation, opening up new opportunities for developing high‐performance catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article studies the joint localization and tracking issue for the autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), with the constraints of asynchronous time clock in cyberchannels and model uncertainty in physical channels. More specifically, we develop a reinforcement learning (RL)-based asynchronous localization algorithm to localize the position of AUV, where the time clock of AUV is not required to be well synchronized with the real time. Based on the estimated position, a scalable sampling strategy called multivariate probabilistic collocation method with orthogonal fractional factorial design (M-PCM-OFFD) is employed to evaluate the time-varying uncertain model parameters of AUV. After that, an RL-based tracking controller is designed to drive AUV to the desired target point. Besides that, the performance analyses for the integration solution are also presented. Of note, the advantages of our solution are highlighted as: 1) the RL-based localization algorithm can avoid local optimal in traditional least-square methods; 2) the M-PCM-OFFD-based sampling strategy can address the model uncertainty and reduce the computational cost; and 3) the integration design of localization and tracking can reduce the communication energy consumption. Finally, simulation and experiment demonstrate that the proposed localization algorithm can effectively eliminate the impact of asynchronous clock, and more importantly, the integration of M-PCM-OFFD in the RL-based tracking controller can find accurate optimization solutions with limited computational costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human-on-the-loop (HOTL) system is regarded as a promising technology to allow autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) to track the most adequate target point as soon as possible. However, the unique characteristics of the underwater environment make it challenging to perform the tracking task. This article is concerned with a finite-time tracking control issue for AUV, subjected to unavailable velocity signals in the measurement side and uncertain model parameters in physical side. A HOTL system, including operator, buoys, AUV and sensors, is first provided to construct a cooperative tracking network. For such system, operator in surface control center decides the tracking mission based on all available data. Then, a buoy-assisted localization estimator is utilized by AUV to acquire its position, through which a fast terminal sliding mode observer is developed to estimate the velocity of AUV in finite time. With the estimated velocity information, an adaptive-nonsingular fast terminal sliding mode tracking controller is designed to drive AUV to the target point in finite time. For the proposed velocity observer and tracking controller, the signum and differential functions are employed together to improve the convergence speed and reduce the chattering. Besides that, the proposed solution can not only guarantee finite-time velocity observation, but also achieve finite-time tracking control. Finally, simulation and experimental results are both presented to verify the effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]