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Abstract Pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (Pan-NEN) represent a group of highly heterogeneous cancers, characterized by complex and diverse biological behavior. The objective of this study was to systematically investigate the immunological features of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in Pan-NEN, aiming to identify prognostic biomarkers and explore the therapeutic potential of immunotherapy for Pan-NEN. Tumor and adjacent normal tissues were collected from 56 patients with Pan-NEN. Immunohistochemical analysis was conducted on tumor tissues using a panel of monoclonal antibodies targeting key immune markers. The expression levels of these markers were quantitatively assessed and correlated with clinicopathological features and overall survival. Low expression of CD3, CD8, CD4, CD68, CD163, Foxp3, CD56, CD69, GZMB, HLA-1, HLA-II, PD-1, and PD-L1 were observed in the majority of Pan-NEN patient samples. PD-1 expression was positively correlated with CD4 and Foxp3 expression, while PD-L1 expression was positively correlated with CD68, CD163, and Foxp3 expression; HLA-II expression was positively correlated with GZMB expression. Infiltration of lymphocytes (CD3 + or CD8+) and macrophages (CD68 + or CD163+) and expression of PD-1/PD-L1 were more pronounced in poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma (Pan-NEC) compared to well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (Pan-NET), while CD68 and PD-L1 correlated with advanced disease stage. Conversely, HLA-I antigen expression was commonly downregulated in Pan-NEC. Univariate Cox proportional hazard analysis demonstrated that tumor grade, stage; CD4+, CD68+, and CD163 + cell count; and expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 were significantly associated with poor survival outcomes, while the positive expression of HLA-I was correlated with a more favorable survival prognosis. Furthermore, multivariate Cox proportional hazard analyses revealed that tumor grade, stage, and PD-1 expression are independent prognostic factors. The immunological landscape of Pan-NEN offers potential prognostic value and therapeutic targets. The findings suggest that immunotherapy, particularly targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway, may serve as a promising strategy for the treatment of Pan-NEN, especially for Pan-NEC patients.

Abstract Background The exact mechanisms underlying depression are not well understood. Chronic, low-grade inflammation is believed to play an important role in its development. The present study investigates the potential association between depressive symptoms and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). Methods Seven data cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were extracted. Multivariable logistic regression and a generalized additive model were employed to determine the association. Results Thirty thousand eight hundred ninety-six subjects were analyzed. The results indicated that anhedonia and fatigue were significantly associated with NLR. Additionally, the generalized additive model results indicated a non-linear relationship between anhedonia, sleep disturbance and NLR. Subgroup analyses demonstrated that the correlation between anhedonia and NLR was significant in the above-60-year-old group (OR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.14–2.33) and the male group (OR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.07–2.10). Sleep disturbance was associated with NLR in the female group (OR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.04–1.77). Fatigue was associated with NLR (OR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.02–1.67) in the female group, as was the case in the non-Hispanic White group (OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.02–1.70). Conclusions There were associations between NLR and specific symptoms, and these associations varied across demographic subgroups. There was a non-linear association between anhedonia, sleep disturbance and NLR. These findings could potentially contribute to the advancement of precision medicine within the field of mental health.

Abstract Background The relationship between Triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and clinical outcomes in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between TyG index and all-cause mortality in critically ill patients with AUD. Methods We used data from the multi-parameter intelligent monitoring in intensive care IV (MIMIC-IV) database. The patients were equally divided into quartiles. Kaplan–Meier curves were used for survival analysis. The primary endpoint of the study was 28-day mortality, followed by 1-year mortality. We used Cox proportional hazard models to assess the relationship between TyG index and all-cause mortality at different endpoints. Results A total of 537 AUD patients were included. Using TyG value as a continuous variable (HR 1.460, 95% CI 1.121–1.903, p = 0.005) and categorical variable (HR 1.447–3.477 from Q2 to Q4, with Q1 as reference), elevated TyG value was significantly associated with increased 28-day mortality. TyG was positively associated with 1-year mortality in AUD patients with an HR of 1.295 (95% CI 1.011–1.659, p = 0.041). Conclusion TyG index is positively associated with different clinical outcomes of critically ill AUD patients.

Abstract Community detection is a critical component of network analysis and a hot topic in social computing. Detecting community structure in dynamic networks has important theoretical and practical implications for understanding the intrinsic function of networks and predicting network behavior. However, the majority of existing dynamic community detection methods adopt shallow models, which have limited ability to excavate complex non-linear structures and tend to generate undesirable community structures. In order to obtain an accurate and robust community structure in dynamic networks, we are inspired by network representation learning and utilize the deep learning to detect evolving communities in dynamic networks. In this paper, we propose a novel dynamic community detection method by fusing Deep Learning and Evolutionary Clustering (DLEC). This work attempts to combine deep learning and evolutionary clustering into a unified framework. First, we propose a matrix construction strategy to fully reveal the inherent community structures via the underlying community memberships. Then, we develop a novel multi-layer deep autoencoder framework that consists of multiple non-linear functions to extract the latent deep representation of the dynamic network. Based on the evolutionary clustering framework, a graph regularization term is introduced to ensure the smoothness of the community evolution. Finally, we employ the K-means clustering algorithm on the low-dimensional network space to obtain the community structure. Extensive experimental results on synthetic and real-world networks show that the proposed DLEC algorithm can effectively detect high-quality communities in dynamic networks.

To enhance the effectiveness and specificity of violation behavior management, the behavior security “2-4” model (24Model) and self-organizing mapping network (SOM) are introduced to study the distribution characteristics of violation behavior. The 24Model is used to analyze on-site violations and construct a violation classification system; the violation feature data is trained and learned through SOM, and the clustering features of the department are analyzed in conjunction with the k-means algorithm to generate a visual topology that identifies the key violations. The results indicate the establishment of a three-level classification system for violation behaviors; the study identifies departments with a high frequency of violations and their specific high-frequency violation behaviors; according to the three-level mapping of violations, “failure to reasonably arrange process equipment and working environment”, “failure to effectively maintain equipment and facilities”, “absence from work or duty” are high-frequency violations across the entire mine, which are widely found in most of the mines. According to the mapping of secondary violations, the number of “unsafe operation” is the highest, mainly reflecting “failure to operate according to regulations or operation not in place”, which mostly occurs in the production technology department and the drilling rig team. Adopting targeted measures for key violations and corresponding departments can effectively reduce the possibility of accidents caused by unsafe act.

Abstract Enhancing drought tolerance in crops and understanding the underlying mechanisms have been subject of intense research. The precise function and molecular mechanisms of B-box zinc finger proteins (BBX) remain elusive. Here, we report a natural allele of BBX18 (BBX18 TT ) that encodes a C-terminal truncated protein. While most wild tomato germplasms contain the BBX18 CC allele and show more drought tolerant, modern cultivated tomatoes mostly carry BBX18 TT allele and are more drought sensitive. Knockout of BBX18 leads to improved drought tolerance in transgenic plants of cultivated tomato. Ascorbate peroxidase 1 (APX1) is identified as a BBX18-interacting protein that acts as a positive regulator of drought resistance in tomato. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing analyses reveal that BBX18 binds to a unique cis-acting element of the APX1 promoter and represses its gene expression. This study provides insights into the molecular mechanism underlying drought resistance mediated by the BBX18-APX1 module in plants.

Rigid-flexible composite pavement has gained significant popularity in recent decades. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the research progress concerning rigid-flexible composite pavement, aiming to promote its application and address key issues while identifying future directions. The design theory and methodology of rigid-flexible composite pavement are discussed, followed by a description of its structural and mechanical behavior characteristics. The load stress, temperature stress, and their interactive effects between the asphalt layer and the rigid base were analyzed. It is clarified that the asphalt layer serves a dual role as both a “functional layer” and a “structural layer”. Typical distresses of rigid-flexible composite pavement, which primarily occur in the asphalt layer, were discussed. These distresses include reflective cracking, top-down cracking, rutting, and compressive-shear failure. Generally, the integrity of the rigid base and the interlaminar bonding conditions significantly impact the performance and distress of the asphalt layer. The technology for enhancing the performance of rigid-flexible composite pavement is summarized in three aspects: asphalt layer properties, rigid base integrity, and interlaminar bonding condition. The study concludes that developing high-performance pavement materials based on their structural behaviors is an effective approach to improve the performance and durability of rigid-flexible composite pavement. The integrated design of structure and materials represents the future direction of road design.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a major thread to the global swine industry, lack of effective control strategies. This study explores the regulatory role of a small non-coding RNA, miR-191-5p, in PRRSV infection. We observed that miR-191-5p significantly inhibits PRRSV in porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs), contrasting with negligible effects in MARC-145 and HEK293-CD163 cells, suggesting a cell-specific antiviral effect. Further investigation unveiled that miR-191-5p directly targets the porcine epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), whose overexpression or EGF-induced activation suppresses type I interferon (IFN-I) signaling, promoting PRRSV replication. In contrast, siRNA-or miR-191-5p-induced EGFR downregulation or EGFR inhibitor boosts IFN-I signaling, reducing viral replication. Notably, this miRNA alleviates the suppressive effect of EGF on IFN-I signaling, underscoring its regulatory function. Further investigation revealed interconnections among miR-191-5p, EGFR and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). Modulation of STAT3 activity influenced IFN-I signaling and PRRSV replication, with STAT3 knockdown countering EGFR activation-induced virus replication. Combination inhibition of STAT3 and miR-191-5p suggests that STAT3 acts downstream in EGFR’s antiviral response. Furthermore, miR-191-5p’s broad efficacy in restricting various PRRSV strains in PAMs was identified. Collectively, these findings elucidate a novel mechanism of miR-191-5p in activating host IFN-I signaling to inhibit PRRSV replication, highlighting its potential in therapeutic applications against PRRSV.

BackgroundOral leukoplakia (OL) is the most common potentially malignant disease of the oral cavity. In recent years, studies have identified a correlation between the gut microbiota (GM) and oral cancer, in addition, inflammation-related proteins have been reported to play an important role in the development of OL. However, the causal relationship between gut microbiota and OL, as well as whether cytokines play a mediating role, remain unclear.MethodsIn this Mendelian randomization (MR) study, the genome-wide association studies (GWAS) (n=18340) of the MiBioGen consortium microbiome was used as exposure data. Genetic variation data related to OL were extracted from the Finngen R9 project (513 cases of OL and 411668 controls). The 91 inflammation-related proteins obtained in the literature serve as potential mediators. Two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis was applied to infer causality using Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW), MR Egger, weighted media, simple mode and weighted mode method. Subsequently, sensitivity analysis was conducted to ensure the robustness of the MR results. In addition, we conducted reverse MR analysis to alleviate reverse causality. Finally, we used mediation analysis to determine the pathway mediated by inflammation-related proteins from the gut microbiota to OL.ResultsThe five bacterial taxa in the gut microbiota indicate a potential causal relationship with the development of OL. Notably, family Clostridiaceae1 was negatively correlated with the risk of OL development, while genus Dorea, genus Ruminococcus1, genus Senegalimasilia and genus Veillonella were positively associated with the risk of OL development. In addition, this study identified a potential causal relationship between interleukin-10 receptor subunit alpha (IL-10RA), interleukin-18 receptor 1(IL18-R1) and the occurrence of OL. In addition, intermediary analysis indicates that IL18-R1 mediated the pathway between the gut microbiota genus Senegalimasilia and OL.ConclusionsIn summary, our research emphasize the complex relationship between gut microbiota, inflammation-related proteins and OL. The identified associations and mediating effects provide new insights into potential therapeutic approaches for targeting the gut microbiota in the management of OL, and contribute to its prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

IntroductionThe causality between personality and psychiatric traits and lung cancer (LC) remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate the causality between these traits and LC.MethodsBidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) and bibliometric approaches were conducted to estimate the causality between personality (neuroticism, extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness) and psychiatric (schizophrenia, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], major depressive disorder, autism spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, insomnia, and anxiety) traits and LC and its subtypes (lung squamous cell carcinoma, lung adenocarcinoma, and small cell LC). Summary data of these traits were extracted from large datasets (17,375–462,341 participants). Inverse variance weighting was used as the primary MR analysis, with supplementary models, including MR-Egger and weighted medians. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to detect pleiotropy. Bibliometric data were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, and PubMed. The main mapping techniques adopted were co-word, collaboration, and citation analyses.ResultsSchizophrenia was associated with an increased risk of LC (odds ratio [OR] = 1.077, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.030–1.126, P = 0.001). Moreover, LC increased the risk of ADHD (OR = 1.221, 95% CI = 1.096–1.362, P < 0.001). No significant bidirectional associations were observed between other mental traits and LC and its subtypes. Causality, psychiatry, and psychiatric comorbidity are emerging keywords. Research dynamics and landscapes were revealed.ConclusionThis study suggests that schizophrenia is a risk factor for LC and that LC is a risk factor for ADHD. Furthermore, causality, psychiatry, and psychiatric comorbidity have become emerging research trends in related fields.

Objective Pancreatic cancer is an incurable malignant disease with extremely poor prognosis and a complex tumor microenvironment. We sought to characterize the role of Annexin A1 (ANXA1) in pancreatic cancer, including its ability to promote efferocytosis and antitumor immune responses.Methods The tumor expression of ANXA1 and cleaved Caspase-3 (c-Casp3) and numbers of tumor-infiltrating CD68+ macrophages in 151 cases of pancreatic cancer were examined by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. The role of ANXA1 in pancreatic cancer was investigated using myeloid-specific ANXA1-knockout mice. The changes in tumor-infiltrating immune cell populations induced by ANXA1 deficiency in macrophages were assessed by single-cell RNA sequencing and flow cytometry.Results ANXA1 expression in pancreatic cancer patient samples correlated with the number of CD68+ macrophages. The percentage of ANXA1+ tumor-infiltrating macrophages negatively correlated with c-Casp3 expression and was significantly associated with worse survival. In mice, myeloid-specific ANXA1 deficiency inhibited tumor growth and was accompanied by the accumulation of apoptotic cells in pancreatic tumor tissue caused by inhibition of macrophage efferocytosis, which was dependent on cGAS-STING pathway-induced type I interferon signaling. ANXA1 deficiency significantly remodeled the intratumoral lymphocyte and macrophage compartments in tumor-bearing mice by increasing the number of effector T cells and pro-inflammatory macrophages. Furthermore, combination therapy of ANXA1 knockdown with gemcitabine and anti-programmed cell death protein-1 antibody resulted in synergistic inhibition of pancreatic tumor growth.Conclusion This research uncovers a novel role of macrophage ANXA1 in pancreatic cancer. ANXA1-mediated regulation of efferocytosis by tumor-associated macrophages promotes antitumor immune response via STING signaling, suggesting potential treatment strategies for pancreatic cancer.

In 2018, China implemented the Veterinary Antimicrobial Use Reduction Action to curb the rapid development of antibiotic resistance (AR). However, the AR-related pollutions in animal farms after the reduction policy has been poorly investigated. Here, we performed a comprehensive investigation combining UPLC-MS/MS, metagenomic, and bacterial genomic analyses in eight representative large-scale chicken farms in Guangdong, China. Our results showed that antibiotics and ARGs contaminations were more severe in broiler farms than in layer farms. Notably, diverse tet(X) variants were prevalent in the chicken farms. These tet(X)s was carried by diverse E. coli lineages and obviously correlated with ISCR2 and IS1B transposases. The resistomes in chicken farms was significantly correlated with microbial community, and multiple factor analyses indicated that the joint effect of antibiotics-microbial community-MGEs was the most dominant driver of ARGs. Host tracking identified a variety of ARG bacterial hosts and the co-occurrence of ARGs-MRGs-MGEs. Source tracking indicated that the inherent component represented the main feature of resistomes in different hosts, while ARG transfer between the chicken gut and farm environments were frequent. A multiperspective evaluation of AR risk revealed that the early effect of antibiotic reduction was exhibited by the mitigation of maximum level of risky ARGs, prevalence of environmental AR pathogens, and HGT potential of ARGs mediated by phage structures. Overall, our findings provide insights into the antibiotic and ARG profiles in large-scale chicken farms with different rearing strategies and demonstrate a preliminary view of the performance of antibiotic reduction actions in China.

[ Objective ] In order to enrich the diversity of periphytic diatoms in the Yangtze River Basin , systematic sampling was carried out in this study. [ Methods ] The microstructure and ultrastructure of the diatom samples were observed by light microscope and scanning electron microscope. [ Results ] A newly recorded species of diatom from China , Livingstonia palatkaensis Prasad & Nienow , was found from Jin􀆴e Mountain in Yueyang City , Hunan Province. This genus was also the first to be discovered in China. [ Conclusion ] The discovery of this newly recorded species provided new information on the geographical distribution of this genus.

Abstract Wearable devices are increasingly integral to our daily lives but raise significant concerns about the security of personal data. In contrast, users often skip reading privacy policies when installing apps on wearable devices. This gap between the concerns and behaviors has spurred disputes regarding business ethics between app providers and users when private information is leaked. While much research has explored the reasons underlying users’ skipping behaviors on mobile phones or tablets, there has been limited attention given to wearable devices despite their prevalence. Unlike mobile phones or tablets, wearable devices often have limited capabilities, necessitating users to install essential apps and perceive a strong sense of necessity. This research, using both eye tracking and self-report methods, investigates how this perceived necessity affects users’ attention to privacy policies on wearable devices during app installations and how it interacts with the presence of threat clues – a key factor that influences behaviors toward privacy policies. In Study 1, eye tracking technology is applied to observe the variation in users’ attention toward privacy policies. Results indicate that when users perceive a high (vs. low) necessity for an app, they pay less attention to its privacy policy. This effect is amplified when there are strong threat clues present. In Study 2, based on the process-dissociation procedure (PDP), the cognitive mechanisms underlying user reading behavior are uncovered. The findings show that users with high perceived necessity are less inclined to engage in analytical processing when reading privacy policies, and this tendency is further strengthened by strong threat clues. This research supplements the existing literature on users’ behaviors toward privacy policies on wearable devices, and it also provides practical insights for prompting users to pay more attention to privacy policies and enjoy a secure digital experience.

Abstract The chemokine CXCL8, also known as the neutrophil chemotactic factor, plays a crucial role in mediating inflammatory responses and managing cellular immune reactions during viral infections. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) primarily infects pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAMs), leading to acute pulmonary infections. In this study, we explored a novel long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), termed lnc-CAST, situated within the Cxcl8 gene locus. This lncRNA was found to be highly expressed in porcine macrophages. We observed that both lnc-CAST and CXCL8 were significantly upregulated in PAMs following PRRSV infection, and after treatments with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or lipoteichoic acid (LTA). Furthermore, we noticed a concurrent upregulation of lnc-CAST and CXCL8 expression in lungs of PRRSV-infected pigs. We then determined that lnc-CAST positively influenced CXCL8 expression in PAMs. Overexpression of lnc-CAST led to an increase in CXCL8 production, which in turn enhanced the migration of epithelial cells and the recruitment of neutrophils. Conversely, inhibiting lnc-CAST expression resulted in reduced CXCL8 production in PAMs, leading to decreased migration levels of epithelial cells and neutrophils. From a mechanistic perspective, we found that lnc-CAST, localized in the nucleus, facilitated the enrichment of histone H3K27ac in CXCL8 promoter region, thereby stimulating CXCL8 transcription in a cis-regulatory manner. In conclusion, our study underscores the pivotal critical role of lnc-CAST in regulating CXCL8 production, offering valuable insights into chemokine regulation and lung damage during PRRSV infection.

Enhancing photosynthetic efficiency is a major goal for improving crop yields under agricultural field conditions and is associated with chloroplast biosynthesis and development. In this study, we demonstrate that Golden2-like 1a (BnGLK1a) plays an important role in regulating chloroplast development and photosynthetic efficiency. Overexpressing BnGLK1a resulted in significant increases in chlorophyll content, the number of thylakoid membrane layers and photosynthetic efficiency in Brassica napus, while knocking down BnGLK1a transcript levels through RNA interference (RNAi) had the opposite effects. A yeast two-hybrid screen revealed that BnGLK1a interacts with the abscisic acid receptor PYRABACTIN RESISTANCE 1-LIKE 1–2 (BnPYL1–2) and CONSTITUTIVE PHOTOMORPHOGENIC 9 SIGNALOSOME 5A subunit (BnCSN5A), which play essential roles in regulating chloroplast development and photosynthesis. Consistent with this, BnGLK1a-RNAi lines of B. napus display hypersensitivity to the abscisic acid (ABA) response. Importantly, overexpression of BnGLK1a resulted in a 10% increase in thousand-seed weight, whereas seeds from BnGLK1a-RNAi lines were 16% lighter than wild type. We propose that BnGLK1a could be a potential target in breeding for improving rapeseed productivity. Our results not only provide insights into the mechanisms of BnGLK1a function, but also offer a potential approach for improving the productivity of Brassica species.

Abstract Background Patients-derived xenograft (PDX) model have been widely used for tumor biological and pathological studies. However, the metabolic similarity of PDX tumor to the primary cancer (PC) is still unknown. Methods In present study, we established PDX model by engrafting primary tumor of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and then compared the tumor metabolomics of PC, the first generation of PDX tumor (PDXG1), and the third generation of PDX tumor (PDXG3) by using 1H NMR spectroscopy. Then, we assessed the differences in response to chemotherapy between PDXG1 and PDXG3 and corresponding metabolomic differences in drug-resistant tumor tissues. To evaluate the metabolomic similarity of PDX to PC, we also compared the metabolomic difference of cell-derived xenograft (CDX) vs. PC and PDX vs. PC. Results After engraftment, PDXG1 tumor had a low level of lactate, pyruvate, citrate and multiple amino acids (AAs) compared with PC. Metabolite sets enrichment and metabolic pathway analyses implied that glycolysis metabolisms were suppressed in PDXG1 tumor, and tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA)-associated anaplerosis pathways, such as amino acids metabolisms, were enhanced. Then, after multiple passages of PDX, the altered glycolysis and TCA-associated anaplerosis pathways were partially recovered. Although no significant difference was observed in the response of PDXG1 and PDXG3 to chemotherapy, the difference in glycolysis and amino acids metabolism between PDXG1 and PDXG3 could still be maintained. In addition, the metabolomic difference between PC and CDX models were much larger than that of PDX model and PC, indicating that PDX model still retain more metabolic characteristics of primary tumor which is more suitable for tumor-associated metabolism research. Conclusions Compared with primary tumor, PDX models have obvious difference in metabolomic level. These findings can help us design in vivo tumor metabolomics research legitimately and analyze the underlying mechanism of tumor metabolic biology thoughtfully.

Abstract Background Skin fibrosis affects the normal function of the skin. TGF-β1 is a key cytokine that affects organ fibrosis. The latency-associated peptide (LAP) is essential for TGF-β1 activation. We previously constructed and prepared truncated LAP (tLAP), and confirmed that tLAP inhibited liver fibrosis by affecting TGF-β1. SPACE peptide has both transdermal and transmembrane functions. SPACE promotes the delivery of macromolecules through the stratum corneum into the dermis. This study aimed to alleviate skin fibrosis through the delivery of tLAP by SPACE. Methods The SPACE-tLAP (SE-tLAP) recombinant plasmid was constructed. SE-tLAP was purified by nickel affinity chromatography. The effects of SE-tLAP on the proliferation, migration, and expression of fibrosis-related and inflammatory factors were evaluated in TGF-β1-induced NIH-3T3 cells. F127-SE-tLAP hydrogel was constructed by using F127 as a carrier to load SE-tLAP polypeptide. The degradation, drug release, and biocompatibility of F127-SE-tLAP were evaluated. Bleomycin was used to induce skin fibrosis in mice. HE, Masson, and immunohistochemistry were used to observe the skin histological characteristics. Results SE-tLAP inhibited the proliferation, migration, and expression of fibrosis-related and inflammatory factors in NIH-3T3 cells. F127-SE-tLAP significantly reduced ECM production, collagen deposition, and fibrotic pathological changes, thereby alleviating skin fibrosis. Conclusion F127-SE-tLAP could increase the transdermal delivery of LAP, reduce the production and deposition of ECM, inhibit the formation of dermal collagen fibers, and alleviate the progression of skin fibrosis. It may provide a new idea for the therapy of skin fibrosis.

Abstract Interpolation of probability distributions can be formulated as an optimal transport problem. Positive matrix, which can be viewed as the generalization of probability distribution to higher dimension, is used in quantum theory to describe the state of a quantum system. Here, a quantum‐inspired method for the interpolation of positive matrices is proposed. Particularly, this method employs the quantum state purification of the positive matrices in an extended space. Since pure state controllability can be easily achieved using open‐loop coherent control, the continuous interpolation of positive matrices is given as a completely positive map induced by simulating the optimal control for pure state transfer. The quantum‐inspired interpolation is shape‐preserving with applications to tensor field processing.

Abstract Background A triplet chemotherapy regimen of docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil (TPF) is used to treat head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; however, it is toxic to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). We previously demonstrated that Ganoderma spore lipid (GSL) protect BMSCs against cyclophosphamide toxicity. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of GSL against TPF-induced BMSCs and hematopoietic damage. Methods BMSCs and C57BL/6 mice were divided into control, TPF, co-treatment (simultaneously treated with GSL and TPF for 2 days), and pre-treatment (treated with GSL for 7 days before 2 days of TPF treatment) groups. In vitro, morphology, phenotype, proliferation, senescence, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and differentiation of BMSCs were evaluated. In vivo, peripheral platelets (PLTs) and white blood cells (WBCs) from mouse venous blood were quantified. Bone marrow cells were isolated for hematopoietic colony-forming examination. Results In vitro, GSL significantly alleviated TPF-induced damage to BMSCs compared with the TPF group, recovering their morphology, phenotype, proliferation, and differentiation capacity (p

BackgroundNutritional support has been identified as a potential intervention for cognitive frailty; however, the association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25-(OH)D], vitamin B12, and cognitive frailty remains ambiguous.MethodsThis study utilized data from two cycles (2011–2012, 2013–2014) of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to investigate this relationship. The researchers constructed a 41-item frailty index encompassing diverse aspects of physical functioning, psychological evaluation, and medical conditions, and evaluated each participant individually. The study utilized Spearman's rank correlation coefficient and univariate ordered logistic regression to assess the relationships between variables and cognitive frailty. Recursive feature elimination and cross-validation methods were employed to identify the most influential variables for building and optimizing multivariate ordered logistic regression models. Subgroup analyses and interaction tests were further conducted to validate the identified correlations.ResultsThe findings of this study confirm a negative linear correlation between 25-(OH)D levels and cognitive frailty in older adults. Specifically, a one-unit increase in 25-(OH)D levels was associated with a 12% reduction in the risk of cognitive frailty. The result was further supported by subgroup analyses and interaction tests.ConclusionThe existence of a negatively correlated linear association between 25-(OH)D levels and cognitive frailty in older adults is plausible, but further rigorously designed longitudinal studies are necessary to validate this relationship.

ObjectiveTo investigate the anti-inflammatory activity and mechanism of Baicalin derivative (Baicalin butyl ester, BE).MethodsBE was synthesized and identified using UV-Vis spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry (MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods. Its anti-inflammatory potential was explored by an in vitro inflammation model. Network pharmacology was employed to predict the anti-inflammatory targets of BE, construct protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks, and analysis topological features and KEGG pathway enrichment. Additionally, molecular docking was conducted to evaluate the binding affinity between BE and its core targets. qRT-PCR analysis was conducted to validate the network pharmacology results. The organizational efficiency was further evaluated through octanol-water partition coefficient and transmembrane activity analysis.ResultsUV-Vis, FT-IR, MS, and HPLC analyses confirmed the successfully synthesis of BE with a high purity of 93.75%. In vitro anti-inflammatory research showed that BE could more effectively suppress the expression of NO, COX-2, IL-6, IL-1β, and iNOS. Network pharmacology and in vitro experiments validated that BE’s anti-inflammatory effects was mediated through the suppression of SRC, HSP90AA1, PIK3CA, JAK2, AKT1, and NF-κB via PI3K-AKT pathway. Molecular docking results revealed that the binding affinities of BA to the core targets were lower than those of BE. The Log p-value of BE (1.7) was markedly higher than that of BA (−0.5). Furthermore, BE accumulated in cells at a level approximately 200 times greater than BA.ConclusionBE exhibits stronger anti-inflammatory activity relative to BA, possibly attributed to its better lipid solubility and cellular penetration capabilities. The anti-inflammatory mechanism of BE may be mediated through the PI3K-AKT pathway.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common liver disorder characterized by hepatic steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis. Ganfule (GFL), a traditional Chinese medicine, has demonstrated therapeutic potential in the treatment of NAFLD but the mechanisms involved are not fully understood.To evaluate the biochemical mechanisms of GFL in treating NAFLD by examining its effects on biological networks, key therapeutic targets, histopathological changes and clinical implications. Methods: Chemical component screening, key target prediction, biological functional enrichment analysis, lipid profile localization analysis and complex network analysis were performed on GFL using multi-database mining, network analysis and molecular docking. An NAFLD rat model was then established and treated with different doses of GFL. Histopathological evaluation and western blotting were used to verify the expression levels of key target proteins in GFL-treated NAFLD rats. Results: Network analysis analysis identified 12 core targets, 12 core active ingredients and 7 core Chinese medicinal herbs in GFL potentially involved in the treatment of NAFLD. Biological functional enrichment analysis revealed the involvement of lipid metabolism, apoptosis and intracellular signaling pathways. Molecular docking confirmed a strong affinity between GFL's core compounds and certain target proteins. Histopathological examination of an NAFLD rat model showed reduced hepatocellular steatosis after GFL treatment. Western blotting revealed significant downregulation of PPARA and PPARD protein expression and upregulation of PIK3CG and PRKACA protein expression in NAFLD rats treated with lower doses of GFL. Conclusions: Our results suggest that GFL modulates key proteins involved in lipid metabolism and apoptosis pathways. GFL improved the histopathological features of NAFLD rats by regulating lipid metabolism as well as reducing hepatocyte apoptosis and hepatocellular steatosis. These findings offer insights into the biochemical mechanism of action of GFL and support its use in the treatment for NAFLD.

Abstract To evaluate the association of uric acid (UA) with adverse outcomes and its potential mediator in patients with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) and pulmonary hypertension (PH). We retrospectively analyzed 234 patients with LVDD and PH. The baseline characteristics of patients with low UA (≤ 330 µmol/L) group were compared with high UA (> 330 µmol/L) group. Adverse outcomes included all-cause mortality, cardiac death and heart failure (HF) hospitalization. Their association with UA and the mediator were evaluated using Cox regression and mediation analysis. The mediation proportion was further quantified by the R mediation package. During a mean follow-up of 50 ± 18 months, there were 27 all-cause deaths, 18 cardiovascular deaths and 41 incidents of HF hospitalization. Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed UA was an independent risk factor of adverse outcomes in LVDD and PH patients, even after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, medical histories, systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, eGFR, BNP and medications. The hazard ratios (HRs) for UA (per 10 µmol/L increase) were as below: for all-cause mortality, HR 1.143, 95% CI 1.069–1.221, P

Predicting the potential for recovery of motor function in stroke patients who undergo specific rehabilitation treatments is an important and major challenge. Recently, electroencephalography (EEG) has shown potential in helping to determine the relationship between cortical neural activity and motor recovery. EEG recorded in different states could more accurately predict motor recovery than single-state recordings. Here, we design a multi-state (combining eyes closed, EC, and eyes open, EO) fusion neural network for predicting the motor recovery of patients with stroke after EEG-brain-computer-interface (BCI) rehabilitation training and use an explainable deep learning method to identify the most important features of EEG power spectral density and functional connectivity contributing to prediction. The prediction accuracy of the multi-states fusion network was 82%, significantly improved compared with a single-state model. The neural network explanation result demonstrated the important region and frequency oscillation bands. Specifically, in those two states, power spectral density and functional connectivity were shown as the regions and bands related to motor recovery in frontal, central, and occipital. Moreover, the motor recovery relation in bands, the power spectrum density shows the bands at delta and alpha bands. The functional connectivity shows the delta, theta, and alpha bands in the EC state; delta, theta, and beta mid at the EO state are related to motor recovery. Multi-state fusion neural networks, which combine multiple states of EEG signals into a single network, can increase the accuracy of predicting motor recovery after BCI training, and reveal the underlying mechanisms of motor recovery in brain activity.

Accurate prognostic prediction in patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC) is a core clinical concern and a formidable challenge in neuroscience. Resting-state EEG has shown promise in identifying electrophysiological prognostic markers and may be easily deployed at the bedside. However, the lack of brain dynamic modeling and the spatial mixture of signals in scalp EEG have constrained our exploration of biomarkers and comprehension of the mechanisms underlying consciousness recovery. Here, we introduce EEG source space analysis and brain dynamics to investigate the brain networks of patients with DOC (n = 178) with different outcomes (six-month follow-up), followed by graph theory and high-order topological analysis to explore the relationship between network structure and prognosis, and finally assess the importance of features. We show that a positive prognosis is associated with large-scale lower levels of low-frequency hypersynchrony. Moreover, we provide evidence that this pattern is driven not by all brain states but only by specific states. Analyses reveal that the positive prognosis is attributed to the network retaining lower segregation, higher integration, and stronger stability compared to the negative prognosis. Furthermore, our results highlight the importance of brain networks derived from brain dynamics in prognosis. The prognosis models based on clinical and neural features can achieve acceptable and even excellent performance under different outcome definitions (AUC = 0.714–0.893). Overall, our study offers new perspectives for the identification of prognostic biomarkers and provides avenues for profound insights into the mechanisms underlying consciousness improvement or recovery.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease. The fruits of Illicium verum, which is a medicinal and edible resource, have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. Methods: In this study, we investigated the effects of I. verum extracts (IVEs) on human RA fibroblasts-like synoviocytes (RA-FLS) by using a sensitive and selective ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with high-definition mass spectrometry (UPLC-HDMS) method. We subsequently analyzed the metabolites produced after the incubation of cultured RA-FLS with IVEs. Results: IVEs inhibited the proliferation and suppressed the migration of RA-FLS, and reduced the levels of inflammatory factors including TNF-α and IL-6. Twenty differential metabolites responsible for the effects of IVEs were screened and annotated based on the UPLC-HDMS data by using a cell metabolomics approach. Discussion: Our findings suggest that treating RA-FLS with IVEs can regulate lipid and amino acid metabolism, indicating that this extract has the potential to modify the metabolic pathways that cause inflammation in RA. Conclusions: This might lead to novel therapeutic strategies for managing patients with RA.

IntroductionIn agriculture, especially wheat cultivation, farmers often use multi-variety planting strategies to reduce monoculture-related harvest risks. However, the subtle morphological differences among wheat varieties make accurate discrimination technically challenging. Traditional variety classification methods, reliant on expert knowledge, are inefficient for modern intelligent agricultural management. Numerous existing classification models are computationally complex, memory-intensive, and difficult to deploy on mobile devices effectively. This study introduces G-PPW-VGG11, an innovative lightweight convolutional neural network model, to address these issues.MethodsG-PPW-VGG11 ingeniously combines partial convolution (PConv) and partially mixed depthwise separable convolution (PMConv), reducing computational complexity and feature redundancy. Simultaneously, incorporating ECANet, an efficient channel attention mechanism, enables precise leaf information capture and effective background noise suppression. Additionally, G-PPW-VGG11 replaces traditional VGG11’s fully connected layers with two pointwise convolutional layers and a global average pooling layer, significantly reducing memory footprint and enhancing nonlinear expressiveness and training efficiency.ResultsRigorous testing showed G-PPW-VGG11's superior performance, with an impressive 93.52% classification accuracy and only 1.79MB memory usage. Compared to VGG11, G-PPW-VGG11 showed a 5.89% increase in accuracy, 35.44% faster inference, and a 99.64% reduction in memory usage. G-PPW-VGG11 also surpasses traditional lightweight networks in classification accuracy and inference speed. Notably, G-PPW-VGG11 was successfully deployed on Android and its performance evaluated in real-world settings. The results showed an 84.67% classification accuracy with an average time of 291.04ms per image.DiscussionThis validates the model's feasibility for practical agricultural wheat variety classification, establishing a foundation for intelligent management. For future research, the trained model and complete dataset are made publicly available.

Plant glycoside hydrolase family 9 genes (GH9s) are widely distributed in plants and involved in a variety of cellular and physiological processes. In the current study, nine GH9 genes were identified in the mulberry and were divided into two subfamilies based on the phylogenetic analysis. Conserved motifs and gene structure analysis suggested that the evolution of the two subfamilies is relatively conserved and the glycoside hydrolase domain almost occupy the entire coding region of the GH9s gene. Only segmental duplication has played a role in the expansion of gene family. Collinearity analysis showed that mulberry GH9s had the closest relationship with poplar GH9s. MaGH9B1, MaGH9B6, MaGH9B5, and MaGH9B3 were detected to have transcript accumulation in the stalk of easy-to drop mature fruit drop, suggesting that these could play a role in mulberry fruit drop. Multiple cis-acting elements related to plant hormones and abiotic stress responses were found in the mulberry GH9 promoter regions and showed different activities under exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) and 2,4- dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) stresses. We found that the lignin content in the fruit stalk decreased with the formation of the abscission zone (AZ), which could indirectly reflect the formation process of the AZ. These results provide a theoretical basis for further research on the role of GH9s in mulberry abscission.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) belong to a significant group of probiotic bacteria that provide hosts with considerable health benefits. Our previous study showed that pigs with abundant LAB had more robust immune responses in a vaccination experiment. In this study, 52 isolate strains were isolated from the pigs with superior immune responses. Out of these, 14 strains with higher antibacterial efficacy were chosen. We then assessed the probiotic features of the 14 LAB strains, including such as autoaggregation, coaggregation, acid resistance, bile salt resistance, and adhesion capability, as well as safety aspects such as antibiotic resistance, hemolytic activity, and the presence or absence of virulence factors. We also compared these properties with those of an opportunistic pathogen EB1 and two commercial probiotics (cLA and cLP). The results showed that most LAB isolates exhibited higher abilities of aggregation, acid and bile salt resistance, adhesion, and antibacterial activity than the two commercial probiotics. Out of the 14 strains, only LS1 and LS9 carried virulence genes and none had hemolytic activity. We selected three LAB strains (LA6, LR6 and LJ1) with superior probiotic properties and LS9 with a virulence gene for testing their safety in vivo. Strains EB1, cLA and cLP were also included as control bacteria. The results demonstrated that mice treated LAB did not exhibit any adverse effects on weight gain, organ index, blood immune cells, and ileum morphology, except for those treated with LS9 and EB1. Moreover, the antimicrobial effect of LR6 and LA6 strains was examined in vivo. The results indicated that these strains could mitigate the inflammatory response, reduce bacterial translocation, and alleviate liver, spleen, and ileum injury caused by Salmonella typhimurium infection. In addition, the LR6 treatment group showed better outcomes than the LA6 treatment group; treatment with LR6 substantially reduced the mortality rate in mice. The study results provide evidence of the probiotic properties of the LAB isolates, in particular LR6, and suggest that oral administration of LR6 could have valuable health-promoting benefits.

For bottom-up bone tissue engineering, microcarriers play crucial roles in serving as scaffolds that provide structural support and environmental cues for cell growth. Studies have demonstrated that the physicochemical properties of microcarriers, such as surface structure and chemistry, have significant effects on cell phenotype. However, current research on microcarriers has primarily focused on hydrogels or polymers, neglecting the exploration of hard materials that mimic the bone tissue environment. In this study, a new facile method to fabricate magnetic calcium phosphate (CaP)-based microcarriers were presented. By this method, magnetic calcium phosphate was obtained without changing the surface nanostructure of CaP microspheres. These magnetic CaP microspheres were utilized as cell-adhesive microcarriers, allowing for cell-guided assembly into spherical microtissue under a relatively low number of cells. However, when using CaP microspheres as microcarriers, only loose aggregates were observed. To enhance the biofunctionality of the magnetic CaP microcarriers, bisphosphonate-modified growth differentiation factor-5 (PGDF-5) were synthesized and selectively deposited onto the magnetic CaP surfaces. Coculture with preosteoblastic cells demonstrated that PGDF-5 modified microcarriers effectively improved cell osteogenic differentiation and angiogenesis, thereby facilitating the formation of highly stable cell spheroids. Collectively, all findings suggest that PGDF-5 modified magnetic CaP microcarriers hold great potential as tools for fabricating bottom-up tissue engineered bone-mimicking tissue.

Abstract Fibrosis is the progressive accumulation of excess extracellular matrix and can cause organ failure. Fibrosis can affect nearly every organ including kidney and there is no specific treatment currently. Although Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway has been implicated in development of kidney fibrosis, underlying mechanisms by which EGFR itself mediates kidney fibrosis have not been elucidated. We find that EGFR expression increases in interstitial myofibroblasts in human and mouse fibrotic kidneys. Selective EGFR deletion in the fibroblast/pericyte population inhibits interstitial fibrosis in response to unilateral ureteral obstruction, ischemia or nephrotoxins. In vivo and in vitro studies and single-nucleus RNA sequencing analysis demonstrate that EGFR activation does not induce myofibroblast transformation but is necessary for the initial pericyte/fibroblast migration and proliferation prior to subsequent myofibroblast transformation by TGF-ß or other profibrotic factors. These findings may also provide insight into development of fibrosis in other organs and in other conditions.

Abstract Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects more than 10% population worldwide and becomes a huge burden to the world. Recent studies have revealed multifold interactions between CKD and gut microbiome and their pathophysiological implications. The gut microbiome disturbed by CKD results in the imbalanced composition and quantity of gut microbiota and subsequent changes in its metabolites and functions. Studies have shown that both the dysbiotic gut microbiota and its metabolites have negative impacts on the immune system and aggravate diseases in different ways. Herein, we give an overview of the currently known mechanisms of CKD progression and the alterations of the immune system. Particularly, we summarize the effects of uremic toxins on the immune system and review the roles of gut microbiota in promoting the development of different kidney diseases. Finally, we discuss the current sequencing technologies and novel therapies targeting the gut microbiome.

The triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) has the potential to serve as a high-entropy energy harvester, enabling the self-powered operation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices. True random number generator (TRNG) is a common feature of encryption used in IoT data communication, ensuring the security of transmitted information. The benefits of multiplexing TENG and TRNG in resource-constrained IoT devices are substantial. However, current designs are limited by the usage scenarios and throughput of the TRNG. Specifically, we propose a structurally and environmentally friendly design based on the contact–separation structure, integrating heat fluctuation and charge decay as entropy sources. Furthermore, filtering and differential algorithms are recommended for data processing based on TENG characteristics to enhance randomness. Finally, a TENG-based TRNG is fabricated, and its performance is verified. Test results demonstrate a random number throughput of 25 Mbps with a randomness test pass rate approaching 99%, demonstrating suitability for resource-constrained IoT applications.

The ThMn12-type SmFe12-based rare-earth permanent magnet has attracted widespread attention due to its excellent intrinsic magnetic properties and high-temperature stability. However, the challenge in realizing continuous non-magnetic or weakly magnetic grain boundary phases equilibrated with the SmFe12 main phase hinders the enhancement in extrinsic magnetic properties of the SmFe12-based permanent magnet, especially for the coercivity. In this work, by controlling the cooling rate, the uniform distribution of paramagnetic Fe2Ti phases at grain boundaries is achieved in the SmFe12-based alloy ribbon, resulting in a high coercivity of 7.95 kOe. This improvement is attributed to the elimination of the impurity phase within the SmFe12 main phase and the magnetic isolation effect of the grain boundary phase composed of paramagnetic Fe2Ti, which is directly observed by transmission electron microscopy and further confirmed by micromagnetic simulation. Moreover, first-principles calculations show that the V element can dope into Fe2Ti and facilitate the transition of its paramagnetic state at room temperature. This study provides new insights into constructing weakly magnetic grain boundary phases for SmFe12-based permanent magnets, offering a novel approach to enhance coercivity.

Salinity tolerance is an important physiological index for crop breeding. Roots are typically the first plant tissue to withstand salt stress. In this study, we found that the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase (SlTPP4) gene is induced by abscisic acid (ABA) and salt, and is mainly expressed in roots. Overexpression of SlTPP4 in tomato enhanced tolerance to salt stress, resulting in better growth performance. Under saline conditions, SlTPP4 overexpression plants demonstrated enhanced sucrose metabolism, as well as increased expression of genes related to salt tolerance. At the same time, expression of genes related to ABA biosynthesis and signal transduction was enhanced or altered, respectively. In-depth exploration demonstrated that SlTPP4 enhances Casparian band development in roots to restrict the intake of Na+. Our study thus clarifies the mechanism of SlTPP4-mediated salt tolerance, which will be of great importance for the breeding of salt-tolerant tomato crops.

In this paper, aging precipitates and their high effects on mechanical properties of squeeze-cast Al–5Cu-0.6Li-0.5Mn-0.3Mg-0.15Ti alloy (a novel Al–Cu–Li–Mn alloy) were investigated to reveal strengthening & toughening mechanism. After T6 heat treatment (i.e., solution treatment at 530 °C for 10 h + aging at 180 °C for 8 h), its ultimate tensile strength (UTS), yield strength (YS) and elongation (El.) are 465 MPa, 310 MPa and 16.5%, respectively. Compared with the as-cast Al–Cu–Li–Mn alloy, the UTS and YS are increased by 55% and 63.2%, respectively, with almost no loss in ductility. Interestingly, the product of UTS and El. (i.e., UTS•El.) of the T6-treated Al–Cu–Li–Mn alloy reaches 7.67 GPa%, which is 50.4% higher than that of the as-cast Al–Cu–Li–Mn alloy and better than that of most third-generation or fourth-generation Al–Li and Li-free 2xxx alloys prepared by casting or plastic deformation followed by heat treatment. The uniformly dispersed submicron-sized T (AlxMnyCuz), nano-sized T1 (Al2CuLi) and much smaller θ' (Al2Cu) phases precipitated in the T6-treated Al–Cu–Li–Mn alloy are coherent or semi-coherent with aluminum matrix, which not only enhances strength but also delays strain localization and fracture. In addition, the actual average thickness of T1 and θ′ precipitates are about 2 nm and 3.5 nm, which are much larger than their critical values for the conversion of their strengthening mechanisms. Therefore, the main strengthening mechanism of the squeeze-cast Al–Cu–Li–Mn alloy is the Orowan bypassing mechanism rather than the shearing mechanism.

Abstract This paper studies unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)‐assisted cognitive network, where the UAV can improve the communication quality of edge users. Short packet communication (SPC) is widely used due to its low delay transmission characteristic. Unlike long packet communication in conventional wireless networks, SPC has a non‐negligible packet error rate and its data transmission rate is less than Shannon capacity. Considering the fact that the UAV is usually powered by battery, the energy efficiency (EE) maximisation problem is investigated based on short packet transmission in the UAV‐assisted cognitive network. Firstly, the closed‐form expression of EE is analysed, and then the optimisation problem is formulated by jointly optimising the spectrum sensing time, packet error rate, the flight speed, and the coverage range of UAV. Secondly, the optimisation problem is solved by dividing it into four subproblems. Then, an efficient iterative algorithm is proposed to tackle this problem. Simulation results show that the proposed optimisation scheme can evidently improve the EE performance compared with other benchmark schemes. In addition, the proposed joint optimisation algorithm not only has better convergence than exhaustive method, but also has higher stability than PSO algorithm.

We present the discovery of three pulsars in the globular cluster (GC) M15 (NGC 7078) by the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope. PSR J2129+1210J (M15J) is a millisecond pulsar with a spin period of 11.84 ms and a dispersion measure of 66.68 pc cm ^−3 . Both PSR J2129+1210K and L (M15K and L) are long-period pulsars with spin periods of 1928 ms and 3961 ms, respectively. M15L is the GC pulsar with the longest spin period known. We update the timing solutions of M15A to M15H. As predicted by A. Ridolfi et al., the flux density of M15C keeps decreasing, and the latest detection in our data set was on 2022 December 20. We have also detected M15I’s signal for the first time since its discovery. Current timing suggests that it is an isolated pulsar.

We present early-phase good-cadence (hour-to-day) simultaneous multiband ( ugi and vrz bands) imaging of the nearby supernova SN 2024ggi, which exploded in the nearby galaxy NGC 3621. A quick follow-up was conducted within less than a day after the explosion and continued for ∼23 days. The uvg band light curves display a rapid rise (∼1.4 mag day ^−1 ) to maximum in ∼4 days and absolute magnitude M _g ∼ −17.75 mag. The postpeak decay rate in redder bands is ∼0.01 mag day ^−1 . Different colors (e.g., u − g and v − r ) of SN 2024ggi are slightly redder than SN 2023ixf. A significant rise (∼12.5 kK) in blackbody temperature (optical) was noticed within ∼2 days after the explosion, which successively decreased, indicating shock break out inside a dense circumstellar medium surrounding the progenitor. Using semianalytical modeling, the ejecta mass and progenitor radius were estimated as 1.2 M _☉ and ∼550 R _☉ . The archival deep images ( g , r , i , and z bands) from the Dark Energy Camera Legacy Survey were examined, and a possible progenitor was detected in each band (∼22–22.5 mag) and had a mass range of 14–17 M _☉ .

We present the discovery of eight isolated millisecond pulsars in globular cluster (GC) NGC 6517 using the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST). The spin periods of those pulsars (namely PSR J1801–0857K to R, or NGC 6517K to R) are all shorter than 10 ms. With these discoveries, NGC 6517 is currently the GC with the most known pulsars in the FAST sky. The largest difference in dispersion measure of the pulsars in NGC 6517 is 11.2 cm ^−3 pc, the second among all GCs. The fraction of isolated pulsars in this GC (16 of 17, 94%) is consistent with previous studies indicating an overabundance of isolated pulsars in the densest GCs, especially in those undergoing cluster core collapse. Considering the FAST GC pulsar discoveries, we modeled the GC pulsar population using the empirical Bayesian method described by Turk and Lorimer with the recent counts. Using this approach, we find that the expected number of potential pulsars in GCs seems to be correlated with the central escape velocity; hence, the GCs Liller 1, NGC 6441, M54 (NGC 6715), and ω -Cen (NGC 5139) are expected to host the largest numbers of pulsars.

Plant volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are the key distress signals involved in tritrophic interactions, by which plants recruit predators to protect themselves from herbivores. However, the effect of nitrogen fertilization on VOCs that mediate tritrophic interactions remains largely unidentified. In this study, a maize (Zea mays)-aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi)-ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) tritrophic interaction model was constructed under high-nitrogen (HN) and low-nitrogen (LN) regimens. H. axyridis had a stronger tendency to be attracted by aphid-infested maize under HN conditions. Then, volatiles were collected and identified from maize leaves on which aphids had fed. All of the HN-induced volatiles (HNIVs) elicited an electroantennogram (EAG) response from H. axyridis. Of these HNIVs, 1-nonene was attractive to H. axyridis under simulated natural volatilization. Furthermore, our regression showed that the release of 1-nonene was positively correlated with H. axyridis visitation rates. Supplying 1-nonene to maize on which aphids had fed under LN enhanced attractiveness to H. axyridis. These results supported the conclusion that 1-nonene was the active compound that mediated the response to nitrogen in the tritrophic interaction. In addition, the 1-nonene synthesis pathway was hypothesized, and we found that the release of 1-nonene might be related to the presence of salicylic acid (SA) and abscisic acid (ABA). This research contributes to the development of novel environmentally friendly strategies to optimize nitrogen fertilizer application and to improve pest control in maize crops.

BackgroundRecently, several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of fluvoxamine have been successfully conducted for the treatment of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of fluvoxamine in patients with COVID-19.MethodsMEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and clinicaltrials.gov were searched for RCTs which were performed to evaluate fluvoxamine and placebo up to January 31, 2024. Review Manager 5.3 was used to perform meta-analysis. The risk ratio (RR) and mean difference (MD) was analyzed and calculated with a random effect model.ResultsWe pooled 4,711 participants from six RCTs (2,382 in the fluvoxamine group and 2,329 in the placebo group). Compared to the placebo group, the fluvoxamine group had a significantly lower rate of clinical deterioration (RR, 0.73; P = 0.004; 95% CI, 0.59 to 0.90; I2 = 0%) and hospitalization (RR, 0.76; P = 0.04; 95% CI, 0.59 to 0.99; I2 = 0%). In the meantime, compared with the placebo group, fluvoxamine group did not show any higher risk of AEs (P = 0.13 and 0.91, respectively) in safety outcomes analysis. The subgroup analysis showed that fluvoxamine treatment performed more than 200 mg daily appears to be more effective than those performed less than 200 mg daily in reducing clinical deterioration and hospitalization risks, while not exhibiting higher AE and SAE risks than placebo group.ConclusionFluvoxamine for patients with COVID-19, especially those who take 200 mg or more daily, is superior to the placebo group in reducing clinical deterioration and hospitalization, and did not show any higher risk of AEs and SAEs in safety concerns, which might be a promising intervention for COVID-19.

Transverse thermoelectrics based on Nernst-Ettingshausen effect have been widely investigated in the 20th century. Old results of transverse thermoelectrics have shown low performances and usually require large magnetic fields. In recent years, the surge of topological materials has stimulated the development of high performance transverse thermoelectrics, including both ordinary Nernst effect (ONE) and anomalous Nernst effect (ANE). High transverse thermoelectric performance is achieved by topological semimetals owing to their unique properties such as sharp band dispersion, ambipolar charge carrier transport, and large Berry curvature. In this perspective, we first review the advantages of transverse thermoelectrics and the origin of ONE and ANE phenomena. We then summarize the high transverse thermoelectric performance reported in topological materials and discuss outlooks for advancing transverse thermoelectrics in future studies.

BackgroundPreclinical studies demonstrated that immune checkpoint inhibitors combined with antiangiogenic drugs have a synergistic anti-tumor effect. This present phase II trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of apatinib combined with camrelizumab in patients with recurrent/metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (RM-NPC).MethodsPatients with RM-NPC were administered with apatinib at 250 mg orally once every day and with camrelizumab at 200 mg via intravenous infusion every 2 weeks until the disease progressed or toxicity became unacceptable. The objective response rate (ORR) was the primary endpoint, assessed using RECIST version 1.1. Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), disease control rate (DCR) and safety were the key secondary endpoints. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04350190.ResultsThis study enrolled 26 patients with RM-NPC between January 14, 2021 and September 15, 2021. At data cutoff (March 31, 2023), the median duration of follow-up was 16 months (ranging from 1 to 26 months). The ORR was 38.5% (10/26), the disease control rate (DCR) was 61.5% (16/26), and the median PFS was 6 months (IQR 3.0-20.0). The median OS was 14 months (IQR 6.0-21.25). Treatment-related grade 3 or 4 adverse events occurred in seven (26.9%) patients, and comprised anemia (7.7%), stomatitis (3.8%), headache (3.8%), pneumonia (7.7%), and myocarditis (3.8%). There were no serious treatment-related adverse events or treatment-related deaths.ConclusionIn patients with RM-NPC, apatinib plus camrelizumab showed promising antitumor activity and manageable toxicities.

Objective We retrospectively analyzed the correlation between different endometrial preparation protocols and pregnancy outcomes in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who underwent frozen embryo transfer (FET).Methods A total of 200 PCOS patients who underwent FET were divided into HRT group (n = 65), LE group (n = 65), GnRHa + HRT group (n = 70) according to different endometrial preparation protocols. The endometrial thickness on the day of endometrial transformation, the number of embryos transferred, and the number of high-quality embryos transferred were compared among the three groups. The pregnancy outcomes of FET in the three groups were compared and analyzed, and a further multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the factors influencing FET pregnancy outcomes in PCOS patients.Results Endometrial thickness on the day of endometrial transformation, clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate in GnRHa + HRT group were higher than those in the HRT group and LE group. The results of multivariate regression analysis showed that the pregnancy outcome of PCOS patients undergoing FET was significantly associated with the patient’s age, endometrial preparation protocols, number of embryos transferred, endometrial thickness, and duration of infertility.Conclusion Compared with HRT or LE alone, GnRHa + HRT protocol results in higher levels of endometrial thickness on the day of endometrial transformation, clinical pregnancy rate, and live birth rate. Female age, endometrial preparation protocols, number of embryos transferred, endometrial thickness, and duration of infertility are determined as factors influencing pregnancy outcomes in PCOS patients undergoing FET.

Summary: Desiccant-coated heat exchangers provide a practical solution for the efficient removal of moisture from the air. Here, we present a protocol to synthesize an ultra-hygroscopic polymer to develop a LiCl loaded in curdlan hydrogel (LiCl@Cur)-coated heat exchanger for deep dehumidification. We describe steps for preparing the curdlan gel solution, hydrogel, LiCl solution, and LiCl@Cur. We then detail procedures for preparing curdlan-coated and LiCl@Cur-coated heat exchangers. The coated heat exchanger described in this protocol has a maximum dehumidification capacity of 12 g/kg.For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Pan et al. (2023).1 : Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.