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Abstract This work aims to explore optimization methods for the design of earthen buildings in rural Fujian to achieve low-carbon emissions and improve the structural stability of earthen buildings. First, parametric modeling and optimization algorithms are employed through the Grasshopper platform. An intelligent earthen building design is created by combining the optimization of factors such as the structure of earthen buildings, building materials, and orientation. Then, a comparison is made with the unoptimized, energy-efficient, and carbon emission reduction designs. Finally, the work concludes that the proposed design significantly optimizes the total carbon emissions, energy consumption, structural stability, and economic aspects. The proposed design scheme achieves the highest carbon emission reduction effect, with a reduction rate of 34.64%. The proposed design exhibits lower maximum stress and higher minimum safety factor in terms of structural stability compared to other scenarios, along with smaller structural displacement. It also performs well in terms of initial investment, annual operating costs, and construction period. The significance of this work lies in providing scientific guidance for the design and construction of rural earthen buildings, promoting the organic integration of rural development with low-carbon initiatives. This indicates that the use of intelligent optimization methods for earthen building design is feasible and can yield positive results in practice.

The desulphurisation-gypsum-filling-wall (DSG-FW) formed by pouring into plasterboard partitions with desulphurisation gypsum slurry can utilise low-quality desulphurisation gypsum and also improve the acoustic insulation issues arising from the use of hollow partitions. The construction schedule of this wall is unable to be controlled because the moisture transfer characteristics in DSG-FW are unclear. Therefore, it is important to determine the drying time and the moisture-transfer behaviour during the construction process. By using different thicknesses of gypsum samples, adding different amounts of perlite and adjusting the relative humidity, whether the gypsum board is covered, the drying and evaporating process of gypsum was compared and analysed. The evaporative characteristics of the desulphurisation gypsum core wall at different relative humidities were determined through experiments. In addition, an evaporation model was introduced for simplification and verification. The experimental results show that the drying of gypsum is correlated with relative humidity and gypsum thickness: the higher the relative humidity, the lower the evaporation rate; the thicker the gypsum, the longer the drying time; perlite and gypsum board have no effect on gypsum drying. The rate of evaporation of DSG-FW increases non-linearly with the decrease in relative humidity under which the DSG-FW is conditioned; the simplified Hertz-Knudsen-Langmuir (HKL-S) model can only be used to predict the evaporation behaviour within the higher relative humidity range (more than 55% RH), while the simplified statistical rate theory (SRT-S) model was verified as being able to predict the rate of evaporation across almost the whole relative humidity range. The SRT-S model can be used to predict and control the construction of DSG-FW in actual engineering work.

Abstract Background Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), often linked with obesity, can also affect individuals with normal weight, a condition known as “lean NAFLD”, imposing comparable burdens and adverse effects. However, the impact of diet on lean NAFLD remains underexplored. The objective of this study is to investigate the correlation between the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) and NAFLD among Americans, stratified by waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and body mass index (BMI). Methods Five thousand one hundred fifty-two participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003–2018 were comprised in the final analysis. NAFLD and advanced liver fibrosis were diagnosed by serological markers. Lean and abdominal lean individuals were identified using BMI and WHtR, separately. DII was determined by assigning scores to 28 distinct food parameters based on their inflammatory potential, obtained from the NAHNES website. Differences across DII quartiles were evaluated using the Kruskal-Wallis H Test, Chi-Square Test along with One-Way ANOVA. The correlation between DII and NAFLD was determined by multiple regression models and subgroup analyses. Results Among the 5152 subjects, 2503 were diagnosed with NAFLD, including 86 cases of lean NAFLD and 8 cases of abdominal lean NAFLD. DII was positively linked with NAFLD (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.81 [1.48–2.21], P 0.50, OR = 1.48 [1.23–1.79], P

The goal of double carbon reflects the new goals and requirements of China’s entry into a new development stage. In this regard, the construction industry, as a large producer of carbon emissions, should focus on emission reduction. In the whole life cycle of buildings, the carbon emission intensity in the physicochemical stage is the largest, so we should focus on the carbon emission in the physicochemical stage. Compared with the cast-in-situ concrete floor slab, the bidirectional prestressed precast hollow slab (BPPHS) has the characteristics of environment-friendly under the condition of meeting the building stress, and the manufacturing process of precast floor slab is more standardized, which can give full play to the performance of components. Based on BIM (Building Information Modeling) and LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) theory, and in the case of tram transportation, this paper studies the carbon emission of prefabricated hollow floor slab used in prefabricated buildings in the building stage. The research shows that the use of BPPHS reduces the carbon emission of 197,332.81 kg in the whole physicochemical stage, and the emission reduction rate is 46.52% compared with the cast-in-place slab. Compared with the ordinary prefabricated laminated plate, the emission reduction rate reaches 45.40%; The carbon emission sources in the materialization stage of prefabricated buildings are divided into production stage, transportation stage and construction stage. The carbon emission reduction in each stage accounts for 42.29%, 46.18% and 51.08%, respectively, in each stage of cast-in-situ floor slab. Compared with ordinary precast slab, the emission reduction rates of each stage are 34.67%, 53.60% and 47.84%, respectively. The emission reduction potential of BPPHS is very considerable. It can not only promote the development of prefabricated buildings but also have lower carbon than conventional precast slab. The study provides new ideas for reducing building carbon emissions, which will also provide reference for industry entrepreneurs and relevant governments to realize low-carbon economy and sustainable development.

Abstract Designing two-dimensional halide perovskites for high-performance optoelectronic applications requires deep understanding of the structure-property relationship that governs their excitonic behaviors. However, a design framework that considers both intra and interlayer structures modified by the A-site and spacer cations, respectively, has not been developed. Here, we use pressure to synergistically tune the intra and interlayer structures and uncover the structural modulations that result in improved optoelectronic performance. Under applied pressure, (BA)2(GA)Pb2I7 exhibits a 72-fold boost of photoluminescence and 10-fold increase of photoconductivity. Based on the observed structural change, we introduce a structural descriptor χ that describes both the intra and interlayer characteristics and establish a general quantitative relationship between χ and photoluminescence quantum yield: smaller χ correlates with minimized trapped excitons and more efficient emission from free excitons. Building on this principle, we design a perovskite (CMA)2(FA)Pb2I7 that exhibits a small χ and an impressive photoluminescence quantum yield of 59.3%.

Abstract Hypervascularized glioblastoma is naturally sensitive to anti‐angiogenesis but suffers from low efficacy of transient vasculature normalization. In this study, a lipid‐polymer nanoparticle is synthesized to execute compartmentalized Cas9 and sgRNA delivery for a permanent vasculature editing strategy by knocking out the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). The phenylboronic acid branched cationic polymer is designed to condense sgRNA electrostatically (inner compartment) and patch Cas9 coordinatively (outer compartment), followed by liposomal hybridization with angiopep‐2 decoration for blood–brain barrier (BBB) penetration. The lipid‐polymer nanoparticles can reach glioblastoma within 2 h post intravenous administration, and hypoxia in tumor cells triggers charge‐elimination and degradation of the cationic polymer for burst release of Cas9 and sgRNA, accompanied by instant Cas9 RNP assembly, yielding ≈50% STAT3 knockout. The downregulation of downstream vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) reprograms vasculature normalization to improve immune infiltration, collaborating with interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) reduction to develop anti‐glioblastoma responses. Collectively, the combinational assembly for compartmentalized Cas9/sgRNA delivery provides a potential solution in glioblastoma therapy.

Abstract Photocatalytic solar‐to‐fuel conversion over metal halide perovskites (MHPs) has recently attracted much attention, while the roles of defects in MHPs are still under debate. Specifically, the mainstream viewpoint is that the defects are detrimental to photocatalytic performance, while some recent studies show that certain types of defects contribute to photoactivity enhancement. However, a systematic summary of why it is contradictory and how the defects in MHPs affect photocatalytic performance is still lacking. In this review, the innovative roles of defects in MHP photocatalysts are highlighted. First, the origins of defects in MHPs are elaborated, followed by clarifying certain benefits of defects in photocatalysts including optical absorption, charge dynamics, and surface reaction. Afterward, the recent progress on defect‐related MHP photocatalysis, i.e., CO2 reduction, H2 generation, pollutant degradation, and organic synthesis is systematically discussed and critically appraised, putting emphasis on their beneficial effects. With defects offering peculiar sets of merits and demerits, the personal opinion on the ongoing challenges is concluded and outlining potentially promising opportunities for engineering defects on MHP photocatalysts. This critical review is anticipated to offer a better understanding of the MHP defects and spur some inspiration for designing efficient MHP photocatalysts.

The measurement of resistivity in a compressed material within a diamond anvil cell presents significant challenges. The high-pressure experimental setup makes it difficult to directly measure the size changes induced by pressure in the three crystallographic directions of the sample. In this study, we introduce a novel and effective method that addresses these technical challenges. This method is anticipated to offer a valuable foundation for high-pressure investigations on quantum materials, particularly those with anisotropic layered structures.

BackgroundFamily partial lipodystrophy (FPLD) is a rare autosomal dominant disease characterized by disorders of variable body fat loss associated with metabolic complications. FPLD6 has only been reported in a limited number of cases. Here, we reported a Chinese FPLD6 patient with compound heterozygous mutations in the lipase E, hormone-sensitive type (LIPE) gene.Case presentationA 20-year-old female patient presented with hypertriglyceridemia, diabetes mellitus, hepatomegaly, and hepatic steatosis. Subcutaneous fat was significantly diminished in her face, abdomen, and limbs. The patient was assessed by detailed clinical and biochemical examinations. A liver biopsy showed severe lipodystrophy. In addition, there were retinal changes, peripheral nerve damage, and renal tubular injury. Sequencing was performed on extracted DNA. Genetic analysis revealed that the patient had compound heterozygous mutations in the LIPE gene: c.2497_250ldel (p.Glu833LysfsTer22) and c.2705del (p.Ser902ThrfsTer27) heterozygous mutations. Verification revealed that this mutation was inherited from her father and mother, respectively, and that they formed newly discovered compound heterozygous mutations occurring in the LIPE gene, causing FPLD6.ConclusionWe reported the first case of FPLD6 in China. Gene analysis demonstrated compound heterozygous mutations in LIPE in this patient. Our case emphasizes the importance of genetic testing in young patients with severe metabolic syndromes.

As an important negative carbon technology to solve the carbon emission problem in the coal industry, the CO2 sequestration in the mine goaf has a wide application prospect in the secondary utilization of waste resources in the goaf and the capture and storage of CO2. In this study, the influence of different temperatures and pressures, formation water salinity and cationic solution type on the interfacial tension (IFT) of CO2-formation water system was investigated by using in-situ interfacial tension meter. The gas-liquid interface diffusion effect of CO2 injection into water-bearing coal rock mass was clarified. The equation of state (SAFT-LJ equation of state) based on statistical association theory combined with the Lanner-Jones potential energy model and density gradient theory (DGT) were combined to predict the theoretical value of IFT. Using a self-developed geological sequestration and geochemical reaction simulation experimental platform, various exploratory experiments were conducted to investigate the solubility of CO2 under the same conditions. The characteristics of CO2 solubility variation in the reservoir environment of the goaf were obtained, and the corresponding theoretical values of CO2 solubility were calculated using the D-S model. The experimental results show that when the ambient temperature is constant, the reservoir pressure in the goaf is linearly negatively correlated with the IFT value. As the reservoir temperature increases, the IFT value increases correspondingly, but the change range is small. Under constant temperature and pressure conditions, there is a positive correlation between salinity and IFT value. Within the scope of this experiment, low pressure, high temperature, and high salinity promote an increase in the IFT value. The IFT values between CO2-salt solutions show an increasing trend with the increasing valence of cations (K+ < Na+ < Ca2+ < Mg2+). The pressure of the depleted reservoir is positively correlated with the CO2 solubility. When the temperature is 25 °C and under conditions of pure water, as the pressure increases from 0.5 MPa to 2.5 MPa, the corresponding CO2 solubility increases from 0.1627 mol/kg to 0.7141 mol/kg. The CO2 solubility decreases with the increases of temperature and salinity. Under the same concentration, monovalent cation solutions (NaCl, KCl) can dissolve more CO2 than divalent cation solutions (CaCl2, MgCl2). The free phase CO2 injected into the goaf overcomes the interfacial tension and breaks the geochemical balance of the goaf strata through diffusion and dissolution mass transfer. By clarifying the influence of reservoir temperature and pressure conditions and goaf water environment on IFT value and CO2 solubility, the gas-liquid interface effect and dissolution mass transfer mechanism of CO2-formation water are clarified, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the safety and evaluation of CO2 sequestration in the closed mine goaf.

Sex control techniques are in great demand for aquaculture because of the huge benefits of mono-sex production. In a previous study on yellow catfish (Tachysurus fulvidraco), intersex individuals were produced by administrating 17α-methyltestosterone (MT) or aromatase inhibitor letrozole (LZ). The ovarian and testicular portions of intersexual gonads developed well and were completely separated, arousing our interest in producing self-fertilizable fish and clone-like fish populations. In this study, yellow catfish fry were treated with a combination of MT and LZ at a low dose (5 mg kg−1 MT, 300 mg kg−1 LZ) at a low water temperature (27.0 °C, mixed sex-producing temperature, LL group) and a high temperature (33.5 °C, male-producing temperature, HL group), and with a high dose (10 mg kg−1 MT, 600 mg kg−1 LZ) at a low water temperature (LH group), during 12–65 days post-hatching, the critical period of sex differentiation. Both XX and XY intersex were produced with different percentages at the same time through co-treatment with MT and LZ, with or without the help of male-producing temperature. The highest percentage of XY intersex (53% in XY, 36% in XX and XY) and XX intersex (47% in XX, 25% in XX and XY) was produced in LH and HL groups, respectively. Results of gonadal morphology, histology, and sperm dynamic analysis indicate that some XX and XY intersex individuals were capable of self-fertilization through artificial insemination. The reproductive performance of these intersex individuals was then investigated by injecting spawning agents, dissecting gonads, and artificially fertilizing eggs with their own sperm. The XX, XY, and YY genotypic individuals were produced by the self-fertilization of XY intersex individuals. The present study successfully produced high percentages of XX and XY intersex and conducted self-fertilization by mating the eggs and sperm of a single intersex individual. Self-fertilization in fish will show great potential in aquaculture genetics and breeding, for example, generating highly homozygous (or ‘‘clonal’’) genetic material, producing mono-sex populations, and identifying unknown sex determination modes. In particular, the cloning method of producing genetic materials will be greatly beneficial for maintaining advantageous traits through self-fertilization generation after generation.

Abstract The Strytan Hydrothermal Field (SHF) in basaltic terrain in Iceland is one of the extant alkaline submarine hydrothermal vent systems favoured as analogues for where life on Earth may have begun. To test this hypothesis we analyse the composition, structure, and mineralogy of samples from hydrothermal chimneys generated at the SHF. We find that the chimney precipitates are composed of Mg-silicates including clays of the saponite-stevensite group (high Mg and Si, low Fe and Al), Ca-carbonates and Ca-sulfates. The chimneys comprise permeable structures with pores sizes down to 1 µm or less. Their complex interiors as observed with SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) and X-ray CT (computed tomography scanning), exhibit high internal surface areas. EDX (energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy) analysis reveals an increase in the Mg/Si ratio toward the chimney exteriors. Chemical garden analogue experiments produce similar Mg–silicate chimneys with porous internal structures, indicating that injection-precipitation experiments can be high-fidelity analogues for natural hydrothermal chimneys at the SHF. We conclude that SHF chimneys could have facilitated prebiotic reactions comparable to those proposed for clays and silica gels at putative Hadean to Eoarchean alkaline vents. Analysis of the fluid dynamics shows that these chimneys are intermediate in growth rate compared to faster black smokers though slower than those at Lost City. The SHF is proposed as a prebiotic alkaline vent analogue for basaltic terrains on the early Earth.

The construction of China’s ecological civilization has entered a critical period in which carbon reduction is the key strategic direction since the “dual carbon” goal was proposed. Coal’s status as the least expensive energy source will be unchanged in the short term. CH4-CO2 coordinated emission reduction is the core of the convert from “dual control” of energy consumption to “dual control” of total carbon emissions and intensity. On the basis of accurately analyzing the challenges of CH4-CO2 dual carbon emission reduction in coal mines at the stage of carbon peak and carbon neutrality, the development of coal and gas co-mining technology in the dual carbon strategy has been clarified to be combined with the core principles of current demand-technical research-policy drive, the development path of coal and gas co-mining technology in the dual carbon strategy is formulated, and the key technical issues are discussed. At the peak stage of carbon emission, CH4 emission reduction is based on the perspective of emission source control. The core is the key technology for carbon emission reduction in the whole cycle of gas extraction and utilization, including the targeted and accurate extraction technology in gas-rich areas, the permeability-enhancement, replacement and flow-increasement extraction by injecting gas in low-permeability coal seams, the gas escape channel plugging and carbon reduction technology in closed mines, and the integrated technology of gas enrichment-concentration-utilization. The purpose is to greatly improve the efficiency of high-concentration gas extraction and utilization and to reduce the carbon emission from low-concentration and ventilated gas. CO2 emission reduction is centered on the “CCUS + ecological carbon sink” region-wide negative carbon emission technology to further absorb flue gas and pure CO2 emissions, including CO2 storage in coal seams, industrial solid waste goaf filling synergistic CO2 geological storage, soil-surface-atmosphere anomaly monitoring and ecological carbon sink technology in coal mine carbon storage areas, etc. The core task of the carbon neutralization stage is to achieve CH4-CO2 (near) zero carbon emission. CO2 emission reduction should be transformed from a technical research demonstration project to a large-scale application stage, and establishing an intelligent monitoring and dynamic control technology system for CH4-CO2 emission from coal mine in the whole life cycle to realize the in-deep matching between monitoring and control technology means and carbon emission links, and the in-deep docking between the monitoring-control cloud platform of carbon emission and the global monitoring-control system of coal mines. Finally, the insights and thoughts is put forward on the green and low-carbon development of the future coal and gas co-mining system. ① Continue to deepen the coal mine CH4 zero emission technology model of “efficient and accurate extraction + full-concentration cascade utilization”. ② Continue to tackle the CO2 zero emission technology system of “CO2 engineering storage + ecological carbon sinks”. ③ Actively exploring the comprehensive solution of “zero carbon wisdom park” in coal mines, and forming a policy support system for carbon emission reduction in coal mines that emphasizes both incentive and pushback.

The reliability of online monitoring device for metal oxide arrester (MOA) is the prerequisite for ensuring the MOA normal operation. For online monitoring device, this paper proposes the non-destructive calibration scheme which can improve maintenance efficiency. The on-site calibration device consists of current source, ammeter, micro-current detector and control unit. There are two key technologies involved in the on-site calibration device, the one is the phase locked loop (PLL) for current source, the other is the high precision current detection for ammeter and micro-current detector. The proposed PLL of the reference voltage can generate low delay orthogonal signals and eliminate the second harmonic disturbances caused by the crystal oscillator error of microcontroller unit (MCU). The experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed calibration scheme.

Abstract Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies with a high lethality rate. ZMIZ2 is a transcriptional co-activator implicated in various human diseases. However, the role and molecular mechanism of ZMIZ2 in HCC remains to be elucidated. Methods The expression and prognostic value of ZMIZ2 in HCC was excavated from public databases and explored by bioinformatic analysis. Then the expression of ZMIZ2 and related genes was further validated by quantitative RT-PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. Loss and gain-of-function experiments were performed in vitro and in vivo to investigate the function of ZMIZ2 in HCC. In addition, transcriptome sequencing and immunoprecipitation was conducted to explore the potential molecular mechanisms of ZMIZ2. Results ZMIZ2 was highly expressed in HCC and associated with poor prognosis. Silencing ZMIZ2 significantly inhibited HCC cell proliferation, cell cycle process, migration, and invasion in vitro, and also inhibited the progression of HCC in vivo. Additionally, ZMIZ2 expression was correlated with immune cell infiltration in HCC samples. Somatic mutation analysis showed that ZMIZ2 and TP53 mutations jointly affected the progression of HCC. Mechanistically, ZMIZ2 interacted with LEF1 to regulate malignant progression of HCC by activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Conclusion ZMIZ2 was overexpressed in HCC and associated with poor prognosis. The overexpression of ZMIZ2 was corelated with malignant phenotype, and it facilitated HCC progression via LEF1-mediated activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Furthermore, ZMIZ2 could be served as a prognostic biomarker and a new therapeutic target for HCC.

Endometriosis is a common chronic gynecological disease with endometrial cell implantation outside the uterus. Angiogenesis is a major pathophysiology in endometriosis. Our previous studies have demonstrated that the prodrug of epigallocatechin gallate (ProEGCG) exhibits superior anti-endometriotic and anti-angiogenic effects compared to epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). However, their direct binding targets and underlying mechanisms for the differential effects remain unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that oral ProEGCG can be effective in preventing and treating endometriosis. Additionally, 1D and 2D Proteome Integral Solubility Alteration assay-based chemical proteomics identified metadherin (MTDH) and PX domain containing serine/threonine kinase-like (PXK) as novel binding targets of EGCG and ProEGCG, respectively. Computational simulation and BioLayer interferometry were used to confirm their binding affinity. Our results showed that MTDH-EGCG inhibited protein kinase B (Akt)-mediated angiogenesis, while PXK-ProEGCG inhibited epidermal growth factor (EGF)-mediated angiogenesis via the EGF/hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1a)/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway. In vitro and in vivo knockdown assays and microvascular network imaging further confirmed the involvement of these signaling pathways. Moreover, our study demonstrated that ProEGCG has superior therapeutic effects than EGCG by targeting distinct signal transduction pathways and may act as a novel antiangiogenic therapy for endometriosis.

Cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality in females worldwide, necessitating urgent solutions for effective treatment. Paclitaxel (PTX), a natural diterpene alkaloid compound, has the ability to inhibit mitosis and induce programmed apoptosis in tumor cells. However, its toxicity and drug resistance limit its efficacy in certain cervical cancer patients. β-elemene (β-ELE) can reverse multidrug resistance by inhibiting ATP-binding cassette transporters, thereby enhancing chemotherapy drug retention. Therefore, we propose a combination therapy using PTX/β-ELE to improve chemotherapy sensitivity. To enhance targeted drug delivery, we developed M1-macrophage-membrane-coated nanoparticles (M1@PLGA/PTX/β-ELE) for co-delivery of PTX&β-ELE. Through both in vitro and in vivo cervical cancer models, we demonstrated that M1@PLGA/PTX/β-ELE effectively suppressed tumor progression and polarization of tumor-associated macrophages. Furthermore, H&E staining confirmed the high therapeutic biosafety of M1@PLGA/PTX/β-ELE as there was no significant damage observed in major organs throughout the entire therapeutic process. Overall, this study presents a targeted biomimetic nanoplatform and combinatorial strategy that synergistically enhances chemosensitivity in malignant tumors.

In assisted reproduction techniques, oocytes encounter elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during in vitro maturation (IVM). Oxidative stress adversely affects oocyte quality, hampering their maturation, growth, and subsequent development. Thus, mitigating excessive ROS to safeguard less viable oocytes during IVM stands as a viable strategy. Numerous antioxidants have been explored for oocyte IVM, yielding considerable effects; however, several aspects, including solubility, stability, and safety, demand attention and resolution. In this study, we developed nanoparticles by self-assembling endogenous bilirubin and melatonin hormone coated with bilirubin-conjugated glycol chitosan (MB@GBn) to alleviate oxidative stress and enhance oocyte maturation. The optimized MB@GBn exhibited a uniform spherical shape, measuring 128 nm in particle size, with a PDI value of 0.1807 and a surface potential of +11.35 mV. The positively charged potential facilitated nanoparticle adherence to the oocyte surface through electrostatic interaction, allowing for functional action. In vitro studies demonstrated that MB@GB significantly enhanced the maturation of compromised oocytes. Further investigation revealed MB@GB's effectiveness in scavenging ROS, reducing intracellular calcium levels, and suppressing mitochondrial polarization. This study not only offers a novel perspective on nano drug delivery systems for biomedical applications but also presents an innovative strategy for enhancing oocyte IVM.

Abstract As one of the major causes of antimicrobial resistance, β‐lactamase develops rapidly among bacteria. Detection of β‐lactamase in an efficient and low‐cost point‐of‐care testing (POCT) way is urgently needed. However, due to the volatile environmental factors, the quantitative measurement of current POCT is often inaccurate. Herein, we demonstrate an artificial intelligence (AI)‐assisted mobile health system that consists of a paper‐based β‐lactamase fluorogenic probe analytical device and a smartphone‐based AI cloud. An ultrafast broad‐spectrum fluorogenic probe (B1) that could respond to β‐lactamase within 20 s was first synthesized, and the detection limit was determined to be 0.13 nmol/L. Meanwhile, a three‐dimensional microfluidic paper‐based analytical device was fabricated for integration of B1. Also, a smartphone‐based AI cloud was developed to correct errors automatically and output results intelligently. This smart system could calibrate the temperature and pH in the β‐lactamase level detection in complex samples and mice infected with various bacteria, which shows the problem‐solving ability in interdisciplinary research, and demonstrates potential clinical benefits.

Abstract With the increasing lifespan of bridges, various forms of deterioration will inevitably occur. The bridge health monitoring system enables direct monitoring of the loads (such as wind, temperature, and vehicles) experienced by the bridge during operation, as well as the corresponding vibration response of the bridge structure (including main beam deformation, tower top displacement, cable acceleration, etc.). These data provide valuable insights into the safety and durability of the bridge during its operational lifetime. However, the challenge lies in extracting meaningful information from the vast amount of collected data. This article focuses on the Fuyu Bridge as a research case and analyzes the variations in environmental factors, such as temperature, humidity, wind load, and structural vibration responses (main beam and cable), obtained from the Fuyu Bridge's structural health monitoring system. It also conducts a structural safety assessment during the operational period of the bridge. Furthermore, the research explores the relationship between environmental factors, load effects, and structural response to establish a foundation for future structural safety assessments of the Fuyu Bridge during its operational period. For instance, changes in environmental factors or load effects can be used to predict structural responses. Additionally, this study provides access to the structural health monitoring data of the Fuyu Bridge, facilitating data‐driven research for other scholars in the field.

Abstract Bridge cable is an important force transmission component of bridge, but it is easy to be damaged during service, such as fatigue damage and corrosion damage, which seriously threatens the safety of bridge structure. Therefore, it is necessary to identify damage of cable force. Generally, the damage of cable force can be identified by the change of cable frequency. This paper establishes a cable force damage identification model based on Bayesian inference and uses Metropolis‐Hastings (MH) algorithm to solve the posterior probability function of unknown parameter. In the Bayesian inference model, the influence of the priori function of unknown parameters on the posterior probability distribution model is discussed. In the MH algorithm, the influence of different proposed distributions (Normal distribution, Gamma distribution and Weibull distribution) on the sampling results is discussed based on three numerical simulation studies, and the influence of burned sample proportion on the establishment of a posteriori distribution function is analyzed. Furthermore, the influence of monitoring noise data and missing data on cable force damage identification is considered, and the robustness of the proposed method is analyzed.

Biomimetic nanoparticles represent a promising avenue for mitigating rapid clearance by the reticuloendothelial system (RES); however, current challenges include insufficient tumour targeting, suboptimal adhesion, and inadequate localized drug release within tumour regions. These shortcomings contribute to persistent contests, such as recurrence and pulmonary metastasis, even with advanced breast cancer therapies. Stimuli-sensitive drug release can furbish the membrane coated nanoparticles for their efficiency against the stated problems. To enhance the efficacy of biomimetic nanoparticles in addressing these issues, we proposed a versatile, stimuli-responsive drug delivery system by encapsulating doxorubicin (Dox) and perfluorohexane (PFH) within poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles, subsequently coated with macrophage-derived cell membranes. Within this framework, PFH serves as the mediator for ultrasonic (US)-irradiation-triggered drug release specifically within tumour microenvironment, while the macrophage-derived cell membrane coating enhances cell adhesion, enables immune evasion, and natural tumour-homing ability. The characterization assays and in vitro evaluations yielded encouraging results, indicating enhanced targeting and release efficiencies. In vivo studies demonstrated marked inhibitory effects on both breast cancer recurrence and pulmonary metastasis. The resulting data indicate that these engineered nanoparticles have notable potential for targeted delivery and controlled release upon US irradiation, thereby offering significant therapeutic efficacy against primary breast cancer, pulmonary metastasis, and recurrent malignancies. Our findings lay the groundwork for a novel clinical approach, representing an intriguing direction for ongoing investigation by oncologists.

Following the recent report by Dasenbrock-Gammon et al. [Nature 615, 244–250 (2023)] of near-ambient superconductivity in nitrogen-doped lutetium trihydride (LuH3−δNε), significant debate has emerged surrounding the composition and interpretation of the observed sharp resistance drop. Here, we meticulously revisit these claims through comprehensive characterization and investigations. We definitively identify the reported material as lutetium dihydride (LuH2), resolving the ambiguity surrounding its composition. Under similar conditions (270–295 K and 1–2 GPa), we replicate the reported sharp decrease in electrical resistance with a 30% success rate, aligning with the observations by Dasenbrock-Gammon et al. However, our extensive investigations reveal this phenomenon to be a novel pressure-induced metal-to-metal transition intrinsic to LuH2, distinct from superconductivity. Intriguingly, nitrogen doping exerts minimal impact on this transition. Our work not only elucidates the fundamental properties of LuH2 and LuH3, but also critically challenges the notion of superconductivity in these lutetium hydride systems. These findings pave the way for future research on lutetium hydride systems, while emphasizing the crucial importance of rigorous verification in claims of ambient-temperature superconductivity.

Lipid biomarkers are amongst the most widely used proxies in studies of the structure and functioning of marine food webs. However, vertical distributions of lipid biomarkers and their controlling mechanisms remain unclear, especially in highly dynamic coastal ecosystems. Here we tested vertical profiles of key lipid biomarkers (sterols and fatty acids) in suspended particles and their correlations with water masses in spring of 2017 and summer of 2018 in the Zhejiang coasts of the East China Sea. The Changjiang Diluted Water, the Taiwan Strait Water and the Kuroshio Subsurface Water showed strong contributions in the surface layer in spring, the surface layer in summer, and the deep layer in both seasons, respectively. Accordingly, lipid biomarker composition also varied between different water layers. Overall, lipid biomarker concentrations in the surface layer were around 2 ~ 7 times higher than those in the deep layer, indicating high phytoplankton biomass in the surface layer. The ratio of docosahexaenoic acid to eicosapentaenoic acid was also higher in the surface layer, especially in the south of our study region, suggesting high nutritional quality of particulate organic matters in the surface layer. Significant correlations between the depth profiles of lipid biomarkers and water masses suggested the control of water masses on lipid biomarker production. The distribution patterns of lipid biomarkers in our study are consistent with previous findings on zooplankton grazing and fish larvae, highlighting the significance of lipid biomarkers as trophic markers to study food web structure and functioning in highly dynamic coasts.

In this work, a synergistic strategy of small cation substitution and charge compensation to realize efficient red luminescence has been developed, which greatly improves the luminescence performance of Mg2InSbO6:Mn4+ by modulating the degree of distortion of the Mn4+ lattice site. The doping Mn ion is stabilized in the tetravalent state and occupies the Sb5+ site. After the Sc3+-In3+ substitution, the emission characteristic of the original Mg2InSbO6:Mn4+ is regulated and effectively red-shifted, and the extruded [MnO6] octahedron present distorted due to the aberration of the near-neighboring lattice sites of Mn4+. Through the Sc3+-In3+ substitution and Li+ compensation, the optimal thermal stability at 423 K is enhanced by 19.1% compared with that of Mg2InSbO6:Mn4+. Surprisingly, the designed Mg2In0.3Sc0.7SbO6:0.003Mn4+,Li+ phosphor exhibits excellent quantum yield (82.02%) and high color purity (97.3%), which is higher than most of the reported Mn4+-doped phosphors. Moreover, the growth of sweet potatoes by combining the plant growth illumination device encapsulated by the phosphor is implemented. The relevant growth parameters further confirm that the designed phosphors have a great potential application in the field of plant growth lighting.

Alpine wetlands are critical ecosystems for global carbon (C) cycling and climate change mitigation. Ecological restoration projects for alpine grazing wetlands are urgently needed, especially due to their critical role as carbon (C) sinks. However, the fate of the C pool in alpine wetlands after restoration from grazing remains unclear. In this study, soil samples from both grazed and restored wetlands in Zoige (near Hongyuan County, Sichuan Province, China) were collected to analyze soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), soil properties, and plant biomass. Moreover, the Tea Bag Index (TBI) was applied to assess the initial decomposition rate (k) and stabilization factor (S), providing a novel perspective on SOC dynamics. The results of this research revealed that the mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) was 1.40 times higher in restored sites compared to grazed sites, although no significant difference in particulate organic carbon (POC) was detected between the two site types. Furthermore, the increased MAOC after restoration exhibited a significant positive correlation with various parameters including S, C and N content, aboveground biomass, WSOC, AMF diversity, and NH4+. This indicates that restoration significantly increases plant primary production, litter turnover, soil characteristics, and AMF diversity, thereby enhancing the C stabilization capacity of alpine wetland soils.

Alpine wetlands, critical ecosystems in high-altitude mountain areas, play essential roles in water conservation, biodiversity protection, and carbon (C) sequestration. These ecosystems are particularly sensitive to climate change, with temperature and precipitation variations significantly impacting their structure and functional processes, such as litter decomposition, a key mechanism for C stabilization. This study focused on the Zoige wetland, a representative alpine wetland located on the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. An incubation experiment was conducted with soil samples under simulated wet and dry moisture conditions to evaluate the environmental impacts on litter decomposition within this ecosystem. In this study, we employed the Tea Bag Index method, utilizing standardized litter, alongside native litter bags to compare the decomposition processes. This comparison between the uniform composition of standardized litter and the chemically diverse native plant litter aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of litter decomposition dynamics in alpine wetland ecosystems. Our finding showed that both standardized and native litter decomposition significantly decreased under dry conditions, in contrast to wetter condition. The components of both standardized and native litter exhibited a decrease over time, with the easily decomposable fractions breaking down swiftly, in contrast to the slower decomposition of the more resistant components. Furthermore, soil exo-enzyme activities varied significantly with environmental conditions. Wet conditions were observed to enhance soil microbial activity, whereas dry conditions resulted in shifts in microbial biomass C and nitrogen, indicative of drought resilience. The correlation analysis revealed that the composition of native litter is the primary factor influencing its decomposition. In contrast, the decomposition of standardized litter was influenced by both its composition and soil microbial activity. Thus, the distinction between the influences on native and standardized litter decomposition highlights the necessity of considering both litter quality and microbial interaction in ecological studies. This approach offers critical insight into the advantages and limitations of each decomposition methodology within alpine wetland ecosystems.

Abstract Background Mutations in TP53 gene is considered a main driver of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). While TP53 mutations are the leading cause of p53 dysfunction, their occurrence rates may drop to approximately 10% in cohorts without hepatitis B virus and aflatoxin exposure. This observation suggests that the deactivation of wild-type p53 (p53wt) may be a critical factor in the majority of HCC cases. However, the mechanism undermining p53wt activity in the liver remains unclear. Methods Microarray analysis and luciferase assay were utilized to confirm target associations. Gain- and/or loss-of-function methods were employed to assess alterations in signaling pathways. Protein interactions were analyzed by molecular immunological methods and further visualized by confocal microscopy. Bioinformatic analysis was performed to analyze clinical significance. Tumor xenograft nude mice were used to validate the findings in vivo. Results Our study highlights the oncogenic role of Rictor, a key component of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORC2), in hepatocytes. Rictor exerts its oncogenic function by binding to p53wt and subsequently blocking p53wt activity based on p53 status, requiring the involvement of mTOR. Moreover, we observed a dynamic nucleocytoplasmic distribution pattern of Rictor, characterized by its translocation from the nucleus (in precancerous lesions) to the cytoplasm (in HCCs) during malignant transformation. Notably, Rictor is directly targeted by the liver-enriched microRNA miR-192, and the disruption of the miR-192-Rictor-p53-miR-192 signaling axis was consistently observed in both human and rat HCC models. Clinical analysis associated lower miR-192/higher Rictor with shorter overall survival and more advanced clinical stages (P

Concrete crack identification methods based on machine learning can greatly improve extraction efficiency and precision. However, in many cases, model training requires a large amount of sample data, and insufficient data makes it difficult to effectively obtain model parameters. This study introduces a deep learning framework that integrates filters, principal component analysis, and attention mechanisms suitable for small sample sizes. Firstly, the histogram equalization method is used for the raw images, which can effectively enhance image contrast. Then, to acquire effective images of the crack, different methods are employed for crack detection, which are subsequently handled by principal component analysis (PCA) for optimal feature choice. Att-Unet and Att-Mask R-cnn segmentation models are used to design the detection for concrete cracks. To raise the learning ability of the segmentation models, an attention mechanism is applied to each feature layer of the decoder, and the loss function is evaluated using a combination of the Focal function and Cross Entropy. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, Deep Crack datasets and 76 sets of concrete crack data were collected for testing. Experimental results have shown that the method proposed can significantly reduce the model’s demand for data volume and improve training speed, which provides a new direction for small-sample crack extraction.

Abstract As discrete prolonged extreme warm water events, marine heatwaves (MHWs) have become more frequent, stronger and longer‐lasting during the past several decades. The relative contributions of external forcing and internal variability to these changes and their underlying drivers remain unclear. Here, analyses of 90 simulations in CESM2 reveal that external forcing dominates the increasing frequency by causing the mean warming of sea surface temperature (SST), accounting for 82% of the observed trends. Both the mean warming and increased variance of SST contribute to the longer‐lasting MHWs during 1982–2021, with external forcing contributing 38% of the increase in the SST variance for global average. Internal variability, especially the Inter‐decadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO), is closely associated with regional MHW changes. The observed negative IPO trend during 1982–2021 is related to increasing, strengthening and longer‐lasting MHW over Kuroshio Extension, but decreasing and shorter‐lasting MHW over the Northeast Pacific Coast.

The analysis of critical states during fracture of wood materials is crucial for wood building safety monitoring, wood processing, etc. In this paper, beech and camphor pine are selected as the research objects, and the acoustic emission signals during the fracture process of the specimens are analyzed by three-point bending load experiments. On the one hand, the critical state interval of a complex acoustic emission signal system is determined by selecting characteristic parameters in the natural time domain. On the other hand, an improved method of b_value analysis in the natural time domain is proposed based on the characteristics of the acoustic emission signal. The K-value, which represents the beginning of the critical state of a complex acoustic emission signal system, is further defined by the improved method of b_value in the natural time domain. For beech, the analysis of critical state time based on characteristic parameters can predict the "collapse" time 8.01 s in advance, while for camphor pines, 3.74 s in advance. K-value can be analyzed at least 3 s in advance of the system "crash" time for beech and 4 s in advance of the system "crash" time for camphor pine. The results show that compared with traditional time-domain acoustic emission signal analysis, natural time-domain acoustic emission signal analysis can discover more available feature information to characterize the state of the signal. Both the characteristic parameters and Natural_Time_b_value analysis in the natural time domain can effectively characterize the time when the complex acoustic emission signal system enters the critical state. Critical state analysis can provide new ideas for wood health monitoring and complex signal processing, etc.

We investigated dual carbon isotopes within the vertical water column at sites 67-1 and 67-2 of the western equatorial Indian Ocean to determine the source and age of particulate organic carbon (POC) and thus evaluated the contributions of modern and fossil (aged) POC. The concentration of POC ranged from 7 to 47.3 μgC L−1, δ13CPOC values ranged from –31.8 to –24.4‰, and Δ14CPOC values ranged from –548 to –111‰. Higher values of δ13CPOC and Δ14CPOC near the surface indicated an influence of autochthonous POC, whereas decreasing trends toward the bottom suggested a contribution of aged OC sources to the total POC pool. The contribution of fossil POC was lower near the surface, accounting for only 12% and 6% of the total POC at sites 67-1 and 67-2, respectively; however, in the deeper layers below 1,000 m, the contribution of fossil POC increased to 52% and 44% of the total POC at the two sites. Mechanisms for the increased contributions of fossil OC within deeper POC include the inflow of aged OC from sediments resuspended near slopes, the adsorption of old dissolved organic carbon in deep water masses, and the impact of aged OC that may originate from hydrothermal sources. This study highlights the importance of aged OC in the carbon cycle of the equatorial Indian Ocean.

Abstract Background and aims Laparoscopic resection has been reported as effective and safe for gastric schwannoma (GS) in the form of case reports. However, study on laparoscopic surgery in patients with GS larger than 30 mm has been rarely reported. To this end, the present study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic resection for the treatment of GS larger than 30 mm and its long-term outcomes. Methods This is a retrospective case series study of patients with GS larger than 30 mm who underwent laparoscopic resection at our hospital between January 2014 and December 2020. Clinical pathology, surgical and follow-up data were collected and analyzed. Results A total of 10 patients with a mean age of 51.6 years were included. Seven tumors were located in gastric body, 2 in antrum and 1 in fundus. Laparoscopic gastric wedge resection was performed in 7 patients, while laparoscopic gastric local resection was performed in 3 patients. All patients achieved complete resection. The mean operation time was 112.6 ± 34.3 min, and the mean postoperative hospital stay was 13.8 ± 5.1 days. Postoperative gastroplegia occurred in 2 patients and was treated with conservative therapy. No recurrence, metastasis or residue was found during the follow-up of mean 45.1 months. Conclusions Laparoscopic resection is a safe and effective method for treating GS larger than 30 mm with favorable long-term follow-up outcomes. Laparoscopic resection may be considered as the first-line treatment for GS larger than 30 mm.

This paper examines the impact of the tariff increase implemented by the U.S. in 2018 on Chinese firms' export and subsequent employment adjustment. Under the influence of front run shipment and expected stock pile, the export volume increased by 10% after the tariff increase in 2018. While firm employment remains stable, the average working hour and wage increased. In 2019, with the impact of tariff increase gradually emerging, the export volume declined significantly. However, Chinese exporter did not cut jobs on a large scale. Instead, they reduced the per capita working hour and other employment costs, leading to a simultaneous decline in wage and non-cash benefits. The latter contributes to more than 42% of the decline. Our study indicates that the impact of tariff on employment is mainly reflected in the intensive rather than extensive margin.

Background: Eucommia ulmoides Oliver is a unique high-quality natural rubber tree species and rare medicinal tree species in China. The rapid characterization of E. ulmoides gene function has been severely hampered by the limitations of genetic transformation methods and breeding cycles. The polyethylene glycol (PEG)-mediated protoplast transformation system is a multifunctional and rapid tool for the analysis of functional genes in vivo, but it has not been established in E. ulmoides. Methods: In this study, a large number of highly active protoplasts were isolated from the stems of E. ulmoides seedlings by enzymatic digestion, and green fluorescent protein expression was facilitated using a PEG-mediated method. Results: Optimal enzymatic digestion occurred when the enzyme was digested for 10 h in an enzymatic solution containing 2.5% Cellulase R-10 (w/v), 0.6% Macerozyme R-10 (w/v), 2.5% pectinase (w/v), 0.5% hemicellulase (w/v), and 0.6 mol/L mannitol. The active protoplast yield under this condition was 1.13 × 106 protoplasts/g fresh weight, and the protoplast activity was as high as 94.84%. Conclusions: This study established the first protoplasm isolation and transient transformation system in hard rubber wood, which lays the foundation for subsequent functional studies of E. ulmoides genes to achieve high-throughput analysis, and provides a reference for future gene function studies of medicinal and woody plants.

Previous studies have investigated the characteristics and influencing factors of plume bulge in the Pearl River Estuary (PRE) using observations and numerical simulations. However, the understanding of how river discharge affects plume bulge is not consistent, and the response mechanism of plume bulge to changes in river discharge has not been revealed in detail. In this study, a three-dimensional hydrodynamic Finite-Volume Coastal Ocean Model (FVCOM) is constructed, and five experiments were set to characterize the horizontal and vertical distribution of the plume bulge outside the PRE under different river discharge conditions during spring tide. The physical mechanisms of plume bulge generation and its response mechanisms to river discharge were discussed through standardized analysis and momentum diagnostic analysis. The results indicate that the plume bulge is sensitive to changes in river discharge. When the river discharge is relatively low (e.g., less than 11,720 m3/s observed in the dry season), the bulge cannot be formed. Conversely, when the river discharge is relatively high (e.g., exceeding 23,440 m3/s observed in flood season), the bulge is more significant. The plume bulge is formed by the anticyclonic flow resulting from the action of the Coriolis force on the strongly mixed river plume. The bulge remains stable under the combined effects of barotropic force, baroclinic gradient force, and Coriolis force. The reduction of river discharge weakens the mixing of freshwater and seawater, resulting in the reduction of both the volume and momentum of the river plume, and the balance between advective diffusion and Coriolis forces are altered, resulting in the plume, which is originally flushed out from the Lantau Channel, not being able to maintain the anticyclonic structure and instead floating out along the coast of the western side of the PRE, with the disappearance of the plume bulge. Due to the significant influence of plume bulges on the physical and biogeochemical interactions between estuaries and terrestrial environments, studying the physical mechanisms behind the formation of plume bulges is crucial.

This study scrutinizes interannual (2003–2023) variations in coastal upwelling along the Guangdong Province during summers (June–August) in the northeastern South China Sea (NESCS) by comprehensively applying the moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) remote sensing sea surface temperature (SST) and chlorophyll concentration (CHL) data and the model reanalysis product. The results show that SST and upwelling intensity in the sea area have significant (p < 0.05) rising trends in the last 21 years. The CHL shows an upward but insignificant trend, which is affected simultaneously by the rise in SST and the enhancement of upwelling. Further analysis reveals that the interannual variations in upwelling are robustly related to the wind fields’ variations in the coastal region. A clockwise/counter-clockwise anomaly in the wind field centered on the NESCS facilitates alongshore/onshore winds near the Guangdong coast, which can strengthen/weaken coastal upwelling. Based on the correlation between wind field variations and large-scale climate factors, long-term variations in the upwelling intensity can be primarily predicted by the Oceanic Niño Index.

The concept of the carbon cycle in the old goaf of a coal mine based on CO2 utilization and storage was put forward adhering to the principle of low-carbon development, utilization of space resources in old goafs, and associated gas resources development. Firstly, the evolution characteristics of overburden fissures in the goaf of the case was studied using a two-dimensional physical similarity simulation test, the sealing performance of the caprocks after stabilization was analyzed, and the fissures were counted and classified. Then, the process of gaseous CO2 injection in the connected fissure was simulated by Ansys Fluent software, and the migration law and distribution characteristics of CO2 under the condition of gaseous CO2 injection were analyzed. Finally, the estimation models of free CO2 storage capacity in the old goaf were constructed considering the proportion of connected fissure and the effectiveness of CO2 injection. The CO2 storage capacity in the old goaf of the case coal mine was estimated. The results showed that a caprock group of “hard-thickness low-permeability hard-thickness” was formed after the caprock-fissures system in the goaf of the case tended to be stable vertically. The connected fissure, occlude cracks, and micro-fractures in the goaf accounted for 85.5%, 8.5%, and 6% of the total fissures, respectively. Gaseous CO2 first migrated to the bottom of the connected fissure after CO2 was injected into the goaf, then spread horizontally along the bottom of the connected fissure after reaching the bottom, and finally spread longitudinally after filling the bottom of the entire connected fissure. The theoretical and effective storage capacities of free CO2 at normal temperature and pressure in the old goaf of the case were 9757 and 7477 t, respectively. The effective storage capacity of free CO2 at normal temperature and pressure in the old goaf after all minefield mined was 193404 t. The research can provide some reference for the coal mining industry to help the goal of “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality”.

Highlights High quality and strongly oriented perovskite films are prepared by two step doctor blading in air. Methylammonium chloride induced low dimensional intermediate phase regulates the crystallization and orientation of the perovskite. Two step doctor bladed perovskite solar cells achieve a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 23.14%, while 1.03 cm2 PSCs and 10.93 cm2 mini modules achieve PCEs of 21.20% and 17.54%, respectively.

Continental marginal seas are key systems in the global carbon cycle. Carbon stocks represent the ability to store carbon, thus quantifying the carbon stocks in marine sediments would help to better understand their importance in the carbon cycle. In this study, 17 sediment cores in the mud areas of the South Yellow Sea and the East China Sea were measured for total organic carbon (TOC) and its stable isotope (δ13C), and dry bulk density; and from which the carbon stocks and carbon stock accumulation rate as well as marine/terrestrial carbon stocks/carbon stock accumulation rate were calculated. The carbon stocks in the mud area of the South Yellow Sea showed a decreasing trend during 1855 to 1950 caused by the relocation of the Yellow River Estuary in 1855, but increased after 1950s due to increased sediment input via the enhancement of South Shandong Coastal Current. In the Min-Zhe belt of the East China Sea, carbon stocks showed an overall high marine proportion due to the phytoplankton bloom induced by high nutrient level, but the decreased carbon stocks in recent decades were mainly caused by the construction of reservoirs in the Yangtze River that reduced sediment transports. The average carbon stocks in 1 m sediments from the South Yellow Sea (45.2 t ha-1) and Min-Zhe belt (52.8 t ha-1) were low compared to that of global marine sediments (66.6 t ha-1), while the carbon stock accumulation rate showed much higher values (0.1 t ha-1 yr-1 in South Yellow Sea and 0.31 t ha-1 yr-1 in the Min-Zhe belt) because of higher sedimentation rates. Although carbon stocks of Chinese marginal seas were also lower than that of the tidal flats (70.7 t ha-1) and wetland (123.6 t ha-1) in China, their much larger area could store 0.75 Pg C in marine sediments. Our temporal records suggest that anthropogenic activities have reduced carbon stocks in the marginal seas since 1950, causing carbon to re-enter the atmosphere to impact climate changes.

Pisha sandstone (PS) is a unique geological structure in the Yellow River basin in China and is a general term for a rock interlayer composed of sandstone, sand shale, and muddy sandstone. The collapsibility of PS results in a high erosion rate and poor vegetation due to its low diagenetic potential and weak structural strength. This study showed that PS can be converted into geopolymer cement by mixing with a suitable alkali activator. PS was converted to geopolymer cement for construction to control soil erosion and conserve the soil and water in this area. Slag was used as a mineral additive to improve the performance of alkali-active PS geopolymer cement in this study. The influence of slag replacement level, NaOH dosages, and curing age on the compressive strength of alkali-activated PS was investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/energy dispersive X-ray (EDS), thermogravimetric analyses (TG/DTG), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to analyze the hydration products and microstructure of alkali-activated PS. The results showed that when the samples had 40 wt.% slag, 1.5 wt.% NaOH, and 4.0 wt.% Na2SiO3, their compressive strength could reach 82.0 MPa at 90 days. Compared with the samples with activator and without activator, the compressive strength increased by 6,664% and 9,011%, respectively. The hydration products were C-S-H gel, geopolymer gel, and calcium carbonate crystals. With 10 wt.% slag as a mineral additive, 1.5 wt.% NaOH, and 4 wt.% Na2SiO3 as an activator, the carbonation ratio of C-S-H gel was 49.3%.

Optical thermometry has the distinct superiority of non-invasive, non-contact, and high spatial resolution. However, the simultaneous improvement of temperature sensitivity and resolution remains challenging. Herein, the tunable emission colors can be realized via energy transfer in Bi3+-Sm3+ co-doped La3Ta0.8Sb0.2O7, which further applied for fluorescence temperature sensing and imaging. With the partial substitution of Sb5+ with Ta5+, the emission peak of La3SbO7:0.04Bi3+ shiftes from 530 nm to 460 nm, together with a 2.1-fold enhancement of emission intensity. The emission shifted from bright blue to purple under 365 nm excitation based on the energy transfer. The energy transfer efficiency from Bi3+ to Sm3+ can reach 41.6 % via dipole–dipole interaction. The La3Ta0.8Sb0.2O7:(0.04Bi3+,0.005Sm3+) phosphors exhibit maximum relative sensitivity (Sr) of 1.32 %K−1 (@498 K) and absolute sensitivity (Sa) of 0.059 K−1 (@417 K), which have excellent temperature resolution and repeatability. Thus, the energy transfer in co-coped phosphors can simultaneously improve the temperature sensitivity and resolution for fluorescence temperature sensing. Besides, the phosphor/PDMS films can exhibit obvious thermochromic imaging.

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are a heterogeneous group of primary solid tumors, arising in GI tract from the esophagus to rectum. Matrix stiffness (MS) is a critical physical factor for cancer progression; however, its importance in tumor progression remains to be comprehensively recognized. Herein, we conducted a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis of MS subtypes across seven GI-cancer types. Using unsupervised clustering based on literature-derived MS-specific pathway signatures, the GI-tumor samples were divided into three MS subtypes, termed as the Soft, Mixed and Stiff. Then, distinct prognoses, biological features, tumor microenvironments and mutation landscapes among three MS subtypes were revealed. The Stiff tumor subtype was associated with the poorest prognosis, the most malignant biological behaviors, and the immunosuppressive tumor stromal microenvironment. Furthermore, multiple machine learning algorithms were used to develop an 11-gene MS-signature to identify the MS subtypes of GI-caner and predict chemotherapy sensitivity, which were further validated in two external GI-cancer cohorts. This novel MS-based classification on GI-cancers could enhance our understanding of the important role of MS in tumor progression, and may have implications for the optimization of individualized cancer management.

With the advancement of engineering techniques, underground shield tunneling projects have also started incorporating emerging technologies to monitor the forces and displacements during the construction and operation phases of shield tunnels. Monitoring devices installed on the tunnel segment components generate a large amount of data. However, due to various factors, data may be missing. Hence, the completion of the incomplete data is imperative to ensure the utmost safety of the engineering project. In this research, a missing data imputation technique utilizing Random Forest (RF) is introduced. The optimal combination of the number of decision trees, maximum depth, and number of features in the RF is determined by minimizing the Mean Squared Error (MSE). Subsequently, complete soil pressure data are artificially manipulated to create incomplete datasets with missing rates of 20%, 40%, and 60%. A comparative analysis of the imputation results using three methods—median, mean, and RF—reveals that this proposed method has the smallest imputation error. As the missing rate increases, the mean squared error of the Random Forest method and the other two methods also increases, with a maximum difference of about 70%. This indicates that the random forest method is suitable for imputing monitoring data.

The construction of large-diameter shield tunnels underwater involves complex variations in water and earth load outside the tunnel segment, as well as intricate mechanical responses. This study analyzes the variation laws of external loads, axial forces, and bending moments acting on the segment ring during the shield assembly and removal from the shield tail. It accomplishes this through the establishment of an on-site monitoring system based on the Internet of Things (IoT) and proposes a Bayesian-genetic algorithm model to estimate the water and earth pressure. The fluctuation section exhibits a peak load twice as high as that in the stable section. These variations are influenced by Jack thrust, shield shell force, and grouting pressure. The peak load observed in the fluctuation section is twice as high as the load observed in the stable section. During the shield tail removal process, the internal forces undergo significant fluctuations due to changes in both load and boundary conditions, and the peak value of the axial force during the fluctuation section is eight times higher than that during the stable section, while the peak value of the bending moment during the fluctuation section is five times higher than that during the stable section. The earth and water pressure calculated using the inversion analysis method, which relies on the measured internal forces, closely matches the actual measured values. The results demonstrate that the accuracy of the water and earth pressure obtained through inversion analysis is twice as high as that obtained using the full coverage pressure method. These results can serve as a valuable reference for similar projects.

High-performance coding solutions are urgently needed for the storage and transmission of 3D point clouds due to the development of 3D data acquisition facilities and the increasing scale of acquired point clouds. Video-based point cloud compression (V-PCC) is the most advanced international standard for compressing dynamic point clouds. However, it still has serious issues of time consumption and the large size of the occupancy map. Considering the aforementioned issues, based on V-PCC, we propose the Voxel Selection-based Refining Segmentation (VS-RS), which is used to accelerate the refining segmentation process of the point cloud. Furthermore, the data-adaptive patch packing (DAPP) is proposed to reduce the size of the occupancy map. In order to specify the effect of the improvement, we also designed novel evaluation indicators. Experimental results show that the proposed method achieves a Bjøntegaard Delta rate (BD-rate) gain of −1.58% in the V-PCC benchmark. Additionally, it reduces encoding time by up to 31.86% and reduces the size of the occupancy map by up to 20.14%.

For Qin-zither with Literati and artistic temperament, there are high requirements for visual aesthetic in the restoration of damaged lacquer surface. In order to avoid the subjectivity and uncertainty of the traditional restoration method, the role of visual aesthetic in Qin-zither lacquer restoration is studied. This article proposes using the figure-ground visual relationship to analyze the figure-ground relationship between the patching surface and the original surface, assisting in restoration decision-making. During the repair process, the main lacquer patching range and shape are determined based on the visual balance of the composition. According to the final aesthetic effect, the grinding and painting repair method is selected to achieve a beautiful patching lacquer surface with different color layers in harmony with the original lacquer part. In the process of Qin-zither restoration, the visual aesthetic is permeated in the processing of figure and ground relationship, the harmony between the patching surface and the original lacquer part and the creation of lacquer layer.

The confining pressure has a great effect on the internal force of the tunnel. During construction, the confining pressure which has a crucial impact on tunnel construction changes due to the variation of groundwater level and applied load. Therefore, the safety of tunnels must have the magnitude of confining pressure accurately estimated. In this study, a complete tunnel confining pressure time axis was obtained through high-frequency field monitoring, the data are segmented into a training set and a testing set. Using GRU and RNN models, a confining pressure prediction model was established, and the prediction results were analyzed. The results indicate that the GRU model has a fast-training speed and higher accuracy. On the other hand, the training speed of the RNN model is slow, with lower accuracy. The dynamic characteristics of soil pressure during tunnel construction require accurate prediction models to maintain the safety of the tunnel. The comparison between GRU and RNN models not only highlights the advantages of the GRU model but also emphasizes the necessity of balancing speed accuracy in tunnel construction confining pressure prediction modeling. This study is helpful in improving the understanding of soil pressure dynamics and developing effective prediction tools to promote safer and more reliable tunnel construction practices.

The use of modular steel construction (MSC) achieves a minimum of on-site work and the potential for removability and reuse. In order to realize the overall disassembly of module buildings and the rapid off-site reconstruction after disassembly, special requirements are put forward for the joints of MSCs. The existing joints of MSCs have some problems, such as the difficulty in the erection of the joints for middle column connection and their inability to be reused. In order to solve these key technical problems, an improved version of the demountable self-locking joint is proposed based on the previous plug-in self-locking joint. For this new type of joint, a full-scale test consisting of four specimens was carried out. The results of functional tests verify that the joint has good demountability. The seismic behavior of the joint under seismic load was investigated by cyclic loading tests. Then, finite element (FE) models were developed and validated through the test results. The results of finite element parameter analysis show that joint boxes are very important to the initial stiffness of this kind of joint, but the thickness of the joint box and the diameter of the stud have little influence on the seismic behavior of the joint.

The recent report of superconductivity in nitrogen-doped lutetium hydride (Lu-H-N) at 294 K and 1 GPa brought hope for long-sought-after ambient-condition superconductors. However, the failure of scientists worldwide to independently reproduce these results has cast intense skepticism on this exciting claim. In this work, using a reliable experimental protocol, we synthesized Lu-H-N while minimizing extrinsic influences and reproduced the sudden change in resistance near room temperature. With quantitative comparison of the temperature-dependent resistance between Lu-H-N and the pure lutetium before reaction, we were able to clarify that the drastic resistance change is most likely caused by a metal-to-poor-conductor transition rather than by superconductivity. Herein, we also briefly discuss other issues recently raised in relation to the Lu-H-N system.