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Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) represents a progressive condition characterized by the remodeling of pulmonary arteries, ultimately culminating in right heart failure and increased mortality rates. Substantial evidence has elucidated the pivotal role of perivascular inflammatory factors and immune dysregulation in the pathogenesis of PH. Chemokines, a class of small secreted proteins, exert precise control over immune cell recruitment and functionality, particularly with respect to their migration to sites of inflammation. Consequently, chemokines emerge as critical drivers facilitating immune cell infiltration into the pulmonary tissue during inflammatory responses. This review comprehensively examines the significant contributions of CC chemokines in the maintenance of immune cell homeostasis and their pivotal role in regulating inflammatory responses. The central focus of this discussion is directed towards elucidating the precise immunoregulatory actions of CC chemokines concerning various immune cell types, including neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages, lymphocytes, dendritic cells, mast cells, eosinophils, and basophils, particularly in the context of pH processes. Furthermore, this paper delves into an exploration of the underlying pathogenic mechanisms that underpin the development of PH. Specifically, it investigates processes such as cellular pyroptosis, examines the intricate crosstalk between bone morphogenetic protein receptor type 2 (BMPR2) mutations and the immune response, and sheds light on key signaling pathways involved in the inflammatory response. These aspects are deemed critical in enhancing our understanding of the complex pathophysiology of PH. Moreover, this review provides a comprehensive synthesis of findings from experimental investigations targeting immune cells and CC chemokines. Aim of review: In summary, the inquiry into the inflammatory responses mediated by CC chemokines and their corresponding receptors, and their potential in modulating immune reactions, holds promise as a prospective avenue for addressing PH. The potential inhibition of CC chemokines and their receptors stands as a viable strategy to attenuate the inflammatory cascade and ameliorate the pathological manifestations of PH. Nonetheless, it is essential to acknowledge the current state of clinical trials and the ensuing progress, which regrettably appears to be less than encouraging. Substantial hurdles exist in the successful translation of research findings into clinical applications. The intention is that such emphasis could potentially foster the advancement of potent therapeutic agents presently in the process of clinical evaluation. This, in turn, may further bolster the potential for effective management of PH.

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), a major harmful component in PM2.5, is widely present in automobile emissions and atmospheric pollution. BaP exposure directly targets the lungs, often resulting in acute lung injury (ALI). However, comprehensive metabolic and transcriptomic profiles related to BaP-induced ALI remain unexplored. To simulate BaP-induced lung injury, we performed intratracheal instillation of BaP. To investigate how BaP exposure affects lung transcriptome and metabolic profiles, we used RNA sequencing and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). We aimed to understand the underlying mechanisms of BaP-induced lung damage. Metabolomics analyses indicated that in BaP-exposed animals, most fatty acids, carbohydrates, and steroids were significantly reduced, whereas most amino acids and organic acids remained unchanged. Analysis of transcriptomics data showed that fatty acid synthesis decreased and fatty acid oxidation increased, suggesting that lipid breakdown occurs after BaP exposure. Additionally, there were increases in oxidative stress system activity and decreases in immune system function. Finally, BaP altered mitochondrial, lipid, immune system, and fatty acid pathways, as indicated by pathway enrichment analyses. These results show that BaP substantially affects metabolic and inflammatory responses, enhancing the broader understanding of the underlying mechanisms of ALI after BaP exposure.

Abstract Target detection in satellite images is an essential topic in the field of remote sensing and computer vision. Despite extensive research efforts, accurate and efficient target detection in remote sensing images remains unsolved due to the large target scale span, dense distribution, and overhead imaging and complex backgrounds, which result in high target feature similarity and serious occlusion. In order to address the above issues in a comprehensive manner, within this paper, we first propose a Centralised Visual Processing Center (CVPC), this structure is a parallel visual processing center for Transformer encoder and CNN, employing a lightweight encoder to capture broad, long-range interdependencies. Pixel-level Learning Center (PLC) module is used to establish pixel-level correlations and improve the depiction of detailed features. CVPC effectively improves the detection efficiency of remote sensing targets with high feature similarity and severe occlusion. Secondly, we propose a centralised feature cross-layer fusion pyramid structure to fuse the results with the CVPC in a top-down manner to enhance the detailed feature representation capability at each layer. Ultimately, we present a Context Enhanced Adaptive Sparse Convolutional Network (CEASC), which improves the accuracy while ensuring the detection efficiency. Based on the above modules, we designed and conducted a series of experiments. These experiments are conducted on three challenging public datasets, DOTA-v1.0, DIOR, and RSDO, showing that our proposed 3CNet achieves a more advanced detection accuracy while balancing the detection speed (78.62% mAP for DOTA-v1.0, 79.12% mAP for DIOR, and 95.50% mAP for RSOD).

Abstract Asynchronous nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation in human oocytes is believed to cause morphological anomalies after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. Vacuolar protein sorting 34 (VPS34) is renowned for its pivotal role in regulating autophagy and endocytic trafficking. To investigate its impact on oocyte development, oocyte‐specific knockout mice (ZcKO) are generated, and these mice are completely found infertile, with embryonic development halted at 2‐ to 4‐cell stage. This infertility is related with a disruption on autophagic/mitophagic flux in ZcKO oocytes, leading to subsequent failure of zygotic genome activation (ZGA) in derived 2‐cell embryos. The findings further elucidated the regulation of VPS34 on the activity and subcellular translocation of RAS‐related GTP‐binding protein 7 (RAB7), which is critical not only for the maturation of late endosomes and lysosomes, but also for initiating mitophagy via retrograde trafficking. VPS34 binds directly with RAB7 and facilitates its activity conversion through TBC1 domain family member 5 (TBC1D5). Consistent with the cytoplasmic vacuolation observed in ZcKO oocytes, defects in multiple vesicle trafficking systems are also identified in vacuolated human oocytes. Furthermore, activating VPS34 with corynoxin B (CB) treatment improved oocyte quality in aged mice. Hence, VPS34 activation may represent a novel approach to enhance oocyte quality in human artificial reproduction.

The identity of community residents is the basis for passing on the GIAHS (globally important agricultural heritage system) and promoting the sustainable development of heritage sites. However, there is a lack of discussion in the existent literature on its composition and effective mechanisms. Based on the theory of the ABC (Affect–Behavior–Cognition) model, we collected 482 questionnaires from residents of tea communities of the GIAHS. We construct a model of multiple effects of identity on willingness to co-create values based on the perspective of host–guest interaction. The results show that identity has both social identity and self-identity dimensions. It has a valuable effect on the process of host–guest interaction. It stimulates residents’ willingness to co-create value for the GIAHS through the chain-mediating effect of welcoming nature and emotional closeness. The study results reveal the theoretical mechanisms by which the identity of residents influences the multiple behaviors of guests. It also provides an interactive perspective for the study of the participation of the community in the GIAHS. At the same time, it promotes the local practice of value mining and development research in the GIAHS. In addition, it expands the research framework of value co-creation in heritage tourism.

BackgroundProton minibeam radiation therapy (pMBRT) can deliver spatially fractionated dose distributions with submillimeter resolution. These dose distributions exhibit significant heterogeneity in both depth and lateral directions. Accurate characterization of pMBRT doses requires dosimetry devices with high spatial resolution and a wide dynamic range. Furthermore, the dependency of dosimetric measurements on Linear Energy Transfer (LET), as observed in conventional proton therapy, is also present in pMBRT depth dose measurements.PurposeThis work demonstrates the process of performing comprehensive dosimetric measurements to characterize the pMBRT collimator on a clinical single-gantry proton machine, utilizing commercially available dosimetry devices.MethodsThe minibeam collimator is designed to be mounted on the clinical nozzle as a beam-modifying accessory. Three collimators, each with a slit opening of 0.4 mm, are thoroughly evaluated. The center-to-center (c-t-c) distances of the slits for these collimators are 2.8 mm, 3.2 mm, and 4.0 mm, respectively. High spatial resolution dosimetry devices are essential for PMBRT dose characterizations. To meet this requirement, two-dimensional (2D) dose measurement devices, Gafchromic films, are used to measure lateral profiles at various depths. Films are also used for depth dose profile measurements in solid water. Additionally, high-resolution point dose detectors, microDiamond, and Razor diode detectors are employed for lateral profile measurements at various depths. Percent depth dose (PDD) measurements of pMBRT in solid water, with various proton energies, collimators, and air gaps, are performed using Gafchromic films. The film’s LET dependency for proton beams is corrected to ensure accurate pMBRT PDD measurements. The Monte Carlo simulation tool TOPAS is utilized to compare and validate all experimental measurements.ResultsAt depths where LET is not a concern, film dose measurements were consistent with microDiamond and Razor diode point measurements. The point detectors need to be orientated with the thin side aligned to the incoming beam. Comparison of the lateral dose profiles extracted from TOPAS simulations, films, microDiamond, and Razor diode detectors shows a passing rate exceeding 98% in 1D gamma analysis at 3% 0.1 mm criteria.However, when the microDiamond detector is orientated to face the pMBRT beam, its spatial resolution may not be sufficient to capture the peak and valley dose accurately. Nevertheless, an accuracy within 2% can still be achieved when comparing the average dose. The PDD measurements show that the peak valley dose ratio (PVDR) of pMBRT can be altered at different depths with different air gaps using the same collimator or different collimators of different c-t-c distances.ConclusionOur study demonstrates that comprehensive dose measurements for pMBRT can be conducted using standard clinical dose measurement devices. These measurements are indispensable for guiding and ensuring accurate dose reporting in pre-clinical studies using the pMBRT technique.

In response to the intensification of global warming, extreme weather events, such as tropical cyclones (TCs) and cold waves (CWs) have become increasingly frequent near the eastern Guangdong coast, significantly affecting the structure and material transport of coastal waters. Based on nearshore-measured and remote sensing reanalysis data in the winter of 2011 and summer of 2012 on the eastern Guangdong coast, this study analyzed the nearshore hydrodynamic evolution process, influencing mechanism, and marine environmental effects under the influence of TCs and CWs, and further compared the similarities and differences between the two events. The results revealed significant seasonal variations in the hydrological and meteorological elements of the coastal waters, which were disrupted by the passage of TCs and CWs. The primary influencing factors were TC track and CW intensity. The current structure changed significantly during the TCs and CWs, with the TC destroying the original upwelling current and the CW affecting the prevailing northeastward current. Wind is one of the major forces driving nearshore hydrodynamic processes. According to the synchronous analysis of research data, the TC-induced water level rise is primarily attributed to the combined effects of wind stress curl and the Ekman effect, whereas the water level rise associated with CW is primarily linked to the Ekman effect. The water transport patterns during the TC and CW differed, with transport concentrated on the right side of the TC track and within the coastal strong-wind zones, respectively. Additionally, the temporal frequency domain of wavelet analysis highlighted the distinct nature of TC and CW signals, with 1–3 d and 4–8 d, respectively, and with TC signals being short-lived and rapid compared to the more sustained CW signals. This study enhances our understanding of the response of coastal hydrodynamics to extreme weather events on the eastern Guangdong coast, and the results can provide references for disaster management and protection of nearshore ocean engineering under extreme events.

This study focuses on developing and implementing zero-carbon buildings through the integration of multiple systems to meet China’s carbon neutrality goals. It emphasizes the significant role of the building sector in carbon emissions and highlights the challenge of increasing energy consumption conflicting with China’s “dual carbon” targets. To address this, the research proposes a comprehensive framework that combines multifunctional envelope structure (MES) systems, photovoltaic power generation, energy storage, direct current (DC) systems, flexible energy management (PEDF), and regional energy stations. This framework integrates different technologies such as phase change materials, radiation cooling, and carbon mineralized cement, aiming to reduce carbon emissions throughout the building’s lifecycle. The method has been successfully applied in the Yazhou Bay Zero Carbon Post Station project in Sanya, Hainan, with precise calculations of carbon emission reductions. The carbon emission calculations revealed a reduction of 44.13 tons of CO2 annually, totaling 1103.31 tons over 25 years, primarily due to the rooftop photovoltaic systems. It demonstrates that the multi-system integration can reduce carbon emissions and contribute to China’s broader carbon neutrality goals. This approach, if widely adopted, could accelerate the transition to carbon-neutral buildings in China.

To address the common issues of lacking indicator system identification, causal relationship quantification, and path simulation analysis in the current research on safety performance in prefabricated construction, a method for improving safety performance in prefabricated construction based on the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) and NK model is proposed. Firstly, through theoretical analysis and literature review, the indicator system for safety performance in prefabricated construction is identified using the grounded theory. Secondly, expert research and quantitative analysis are combined to analyze the causal relationship of the indicators using the DEMATEL method. Then, the DEMATEL method is integrated with the NK model to carry out a key indicator adaptability modeling analysis and three-dimensional simulation. Finally, a case study is conducted to validate the usability and effectiveness of the proposed model and method. The results show that X6 (construction and implementation of safety management system) had the highest impact on the other indicators, and X14 (quality and safety status of prefabricated components) was most influenced by other indicators. X6 (construction and implementation of safety management system), X1 (personnel safety awareness and attitude), X14 (quality and safety status of prefabricated components), and X12 (construction site working environment) were identified as key performance indicators. “X6 (construction and implementation of safety management system) → X1 (personnel safety awareness and attitude) → X14 (quality and safety status of prefabricated components) → X12 (construction site working environment)” was considered the optimal path to improve construction safety performance.

Abstract The timescales incorporated into the Primary Frequency Standard (PFS) exhibit excellent stability and accuracy. However, during the dead time of PFS, the reliability of the timescale can be compromised. To address this issue, a resilient timekeeping algorithm with a Multi-observation Fusion Kalman Filter (MFKF) is proposed. This algorithm fuses the frequency measurements from hydrogen masers with various reference frequency standards, including PFS and commercial cesium beam atomic clocks. The simulation results show that the time deviation and instability of the timescale generated by MFKF are improved compared to those with Kalman filtering. The experimental results demonstrate that even within 70 days of PFS dead time the resilient timescale generated by MFKF can operate reliably. Furthermore, it is theoretically proven that MFKF produces a smaller post-covariance than that with single-observation Kalman filtering.

Abstract One-pot synthesis of heterocyclic aromatics with good optical properties from phenolic β-O-4 lignin segments is of high importance to meet high value added biorefinery demands. However, executing this process remains a huge challenge due to the incompatible reaction conditions of the depolymerization of lignin β-O-4 segments containing γ-OH functionalities and bioresource-based aggregation-induced emission luminogens (BioAIEgens) formation with the desired properties. In this work, benzannulation reactions starting from lignin β-O-4 moieties with 3-alkenylated indoles catalyzed by vanadium-based complexes have been successfully developed, affording a wide range of functionalized carbazoles with up to 92% yield. Experiments and density functional theory calculations suggest that the reaction pathway involves the selective cleavage of double C-O bonds/Diels-Alder cycloaddition/dehydrogenative aromatization. Photophysical investigations show that these carbazole products represent a class of BioAIEgens with twisted intramolecular charge transfer. Distinctions of emission behavior were revealed based on unique acceptor-donor-acceptor-type molecular conformations as well as molecular packings. This work features lignin β-O-4 motifs with γ-OH functionalities as renewable substrates, without the need to apply external oxidant/reductant systems. Here, we show a concise and sustainable route to functional carbazoles with AIE properties, building a bridge between lignin and BioAIE materials.

Abstract Artificial aggregation‐induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) have flourished in bio‐applications with the development of synthetic chemistry, which however are plagued by issues like singularity in structures and non‐renewability. The unique structures and renewability of biomass moieties can compensate for these drawbacks, but their properties are hard to design and regulate due to their confined structures. Therefore, it appears to be a reasonable approach to derive AIEgens from abundant biomass (BioAIEgens), integrating the bilateral advantages of both synthetic and natural AIEgens. In this work, the blue‐violet emissive coumarin with its lactone structure serving as a rare natural acceptor, is utilized to construct donor‐π‐acceptor typed BioAIE isomers incorporating the propeller‐like and electron‐donating triphenylamine (TPA) unit. The results show that Cm‐p‐TPA undergoes charge transfer with its keto form, emitting red light at 600 nm, which can be applied to monitor Cu2+ concentration during mitophagy using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy because of the excellent biocompatibility, photostability, and specific recognition to Cu2+. This work not only demonstrates the feasibility of utilizing positional isomerization to modulate excited‐state evolutions and resultant optical properties, but also provides evidence for the rationality of constructing biologically‐active BioAIEgens via a biomass‐derivatization concept.

Abstract Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) continue to exert a significant impact on global mortality rates, encompassing conditions like pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), atherosclerosis (AS), and myocardial infarction (MI). Oxidative stress (OS) plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis and advancement of CVDs, highlighting its significance as a contributing factor. Maintaining an equilibrium between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant systems not only aids in mitigating oxidative stress but also confers protective benefits on cardiac health. Herbal monomers can inhibit OS in CVDs by activating multiple signaling pathways, such as increasing the activity of endogenous antioxidant systems and decreasing the level of ROS expression. Given the actions of herbal monomers to significantly protect the normal function of the heart and reduce the damage caused by OS to the organism. Hence, it is imperative to recognize the significance of herbal monomers as prospective therapeutic interventions for mitigating oxidative damage in CVDs. This paper aims to comprehensively review the origins and mechanisms underlying OS, elucidate the intricate association between CVDs and OS, and explore the therapeutic potential of antioxidant treatment utilizing herbal monomers. Furthermore, particular emphasis will be placed on examining the cardioprotective effects of herbal monomers by evaluating their impact on cardiac signaling pathways subsequent to treatment. Graphical Abstract

Objective: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a disease associated with impaired quality of life and heredity. This study aimed to investigate the association of allergic rhinitis in preschool children with exposure to indoor environment-related factors early in life. Methods: In August 2019, the authors implemented a study among 2020 preschool children in Urumqi City using a case-control design. The study included parental reports for the occurrence of AR in children, parental history of respiratory disease, and indoor environmental correlates of maternal exposure from 1 year prior to pregnancy until the child's age of 0-1 year. Results: Mode of birth (cesarean section) (OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.02∼1.67), father with AR (OR = 2.67, 95% CI = 2.08∼3.44), mother with AR (OR = 3.70, 95% CI = 2.88∼4.74), mother with asthma (OR = 3.11, 95% CI = 1.18∼8.20), and mother with newly purchased furniture in the parents' residence during pregnancy (OR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.03∼2.14) were risk factors for AR in children. Conclusions: The focus of allergic rhinitis should be on children with a family history of AR and asthma and cesarean delivery. Primary prevention efforts for AR in preschool children are avoiding exposure of children to indoor environmental hazardous factors early in life.

ObjectiveTo examine the prevalence and influencing factors of physician-diagnosed allergic rhinitis and parent-reported rhinitis-related symptoms among preschool children in Urumqi city, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region for providing evidence to the prevention and control of the illness in the children. MethodsA self-administered survey was conducted among 10 000 children aged 2 – 7 years in 60 kindergartens selected with stratified random cluster sampling in Urumqi city during August – December 2019. A questionnaire was designed based on the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) and Dampness in Buildings and Health (DBH) and the questionnaire was answered by the children's parents or guardians. The data collected were analyzed using SPSS 26.0. ResultsOf the 8 153 preschool children with valid information, 7.6% were reported having been diagnosed as allergic rhinitis and 27.4% ever having experienced rhinitis-related symptoms. The results of unconditional multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the children with following characteristics were more likely to have allergic rhinitis: at elder age (5 – 7 year vs. 2 years: odds ratio[OR] = 1.36, 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.04 – 1.80), being only child (OR = 1.24, 95%CI: 1.04 – 1.48), being born by cesarean section (versus vaginal delivery: OR = 1.21, 95%CI: 1.02 – 1.44), paternal history of rhinitis (OR = 2.50, 95% CI: 2.10 – 2.98), maternal history of rhinitis (OR = 3.29, 95%CI: 2.76 – 3.91), paternal history of asthma (OR = 1.95, 95%CI: 1.02 – 3.74), with larger living space ( ≥ 75 m2 vs. < 75 m2: OR = 1.25, 95%CI: 1.01 – 1.56), maternal exposure to new furniture at home during pregnancy (OR = 1.79, 95%CI:1.28 – 2.51), and having indoor decoration at home at the age of 0 – 1 year (OR = 1. 82, 95%CI: 1.19 – 2.79) ; while the children being girl (OR = 0.79, 95%CI: 0.67 – 0.94) and living in a house with lime/cement as wallcovering (versus wallpaper: OR = 0.39, 95%CI: 0.16 – 0.98) were less likely to have allergic rhinitis; the results also revealed significant influencing factors of rhinitis-related symptoms as following: being only child (OR = 1.22, 95%CI: 1.10 – 1.36), being born by cesarean section (versus vaginal delivery: OR = 1.14, 95%CI: 1.02 – 1.26), paternal history of rhinitis (OR = 2.16, 95% CI: 1.93 – 2.42), maternal history of rhinitis (OR = 2.38, 95%CI: 2.13 – 2.67), paternal history of asthma (OR = 2.22, 95%CI: 1.34 – 3.69), living in a house with the floor covered by composite material (versus wood: OR = 1.53, 95%CI: 1.28 – 1.84) or tile/stone/cement (versus wood: OR = 1.28, 95%CI: 1.11 – 1.49 ), maternal exposure to new furniture at home during pregnancy (OR = 1.28, 95%CI: 1.03 – 1.60), with beddings being aired in sunny day frequently (OR = 1.42, 95%CI: 1.18 – 1.71), and with indoor cultivation of flowering plant at home at the age of 0 – 1 year (OR = 1.27, 95%CI: 1.11 – 1.46) and protective factors including being girl (OR = 0.87, 95%CI: 0.78 – 0.96), longer duration of exclusive breastfeeding (≥ 6 months vs. < 6 months: OR = 0.86, 95%CI: 0.77 – 0.96), and living in a house with material other than water based paint/emulsion paint/oily paint/board/lime/cement/seaweed mud as wallcovering (versus wallpaper: OR = 0.43, 95%CI: 0.29 – 0.64). ConclusionAmong preschool children in Urumqi city, the prevalence of allergic rhinitis and rhinitis-related symptoms were relatively high and mainly influenced by genetic factors and residential indoor environment.

Abstract Background Pneumonia is a common disease worldwide in preschool children. Despite its large population size, China has had no comprehensive study of the national prevalence, risk factors, and management of pneumonia among preschool children. We therefore investigated the prevalence of pneumonia among preschool children in Chinese seven representative cities, and explore the possible risk factors of pneumonia on children, with a view to calling the world's attention to childhood pneumonia to reduce the prevalence of childhood pneumonia. Methods Two group samples of 63,663 and 52,812 preschool children were recruited from 2011 and 2019 surveys, respectively. Which were derived from the cross-sectional China, Children, Homes, Health (CCHH) study using a multi-stage stratified sampling method. This survey was conducted in kindergartens in seven representative cities. Exclusion criteria were younger than 2 years old or older than 8 years old, non-permanent population, basic information such as gender, date of birth and breast feeding is incomplete. Pneumonia was determined on the basis of parents reported history of clearly diagnosed by the physician. All participants were assessed with a standard questionnaire. Risk factors for pneumonia, and association between pneumonia and other respiratory diseases were examined by multivariable-adjusted analyses done in all participants for whom data on the variables of interest were available. Disease management was evaluated by the parents’ reported history of physician diagnosis, longitudinal comparison of risk factors in 2011 and 2019. Results In 2011 and 2019, 31,277 (16,152 boys and 15,125 girls) and 32,016 (16,621 boys and 15,395 girls) preschool children aged at 2–8 of permanent population completed the questionnaire, respectively, and were thus included in the final analysis. The findings showed that the age-adjusted prevalence of pneumonia in children was 32.7% in 2011 and 26.4% in 2019. In 2011, girls (odds ratio [OR] 0.91, 95%CI [confidence interval]0.87–0.96; p = 0.0002), rural (0.85, 0.73–0.99; p = 0.0387), duration of breastfeeding ≥ 6 months(0.83, 0.79–0.88; p

Abstract Stroke has caused tremendous social stress worldwide, yet despite decades of research and development of new stroke drugs, most have failed and rt-PA (Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator) is still the accepted treatment for ischemic stroke. the complexity of the stroke mechanism has led to unsatisfactory efficacy of most drugs in clinical trials, indicating that there are still many gaps in our understanding of stroke. Pyroptosis is a programmed cell death (PCD) with inflammatory properties and are thought to be closely associated with stroke. Pyroptosis is regulated by the GSDMD of the gasdermin family, which when cleaved by Caspase-1/Caspase-11 into N-GSDMD with pore-forming activity can bind to the plasma membrane to form small 10–20 nm pores, which would allow the release of inflammatory factors IL-18 and IL-1β before cell rupture, greatly exacerbating the inflammatory response. The pyroptosis occurs mainly in the border zone of cerebral infarction, and glial cells, neuronal cells and brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) all undergo pyroptosis after stroke, which largely exacerbates the breakdown of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and thus aggravates brain injury. Therefore, pyroptosis may be a good direction for the treatment of stroke. In this review, we focus on the latest mechanisms of action of pyroptosis and the process by which pyroptosis regulates stroke development. We also suggest potential therapeutic stroke drugs that target the pyroptosis pathway, providing additional therapeutic strategies for the clinical management of stroke. The role of pyroptosis after stroke. After stroke, microglia first rush to the damaged area and polarize into M1 and M2 types. Under the influence of various stimuli, microglia undergo pyroptosis, release pro-inflammatory factors, and are converted to the M1 type; astrocytes and neuronal cells also undergo pyroptosis under the stimulation of various pro-inflammatory factors, leading to astrocyte death due to increased osmotic pressure in the membrane, resulting in water absorption and swelling until rupture. BMECs, the main structural component of the BBB, also undergo pyroptosis when stimulated by pro-inflammatory factors released from microglia and astrocytes, leading to the destruction of the structural integrity of the BBB, ultimately causing more severe brain damage. In addition, GSDMD in neutrophils mainly mediate the release of NETs rather than pyroptosis, which also aggravates brain injury. IL-10=interleukin-10; TGF-β = transforming growth factor-β; IL-18=interleukin-18; IL-1β = interleukin-1β; TNF-α = tumor necrosis factor-α; iNOS=induced nitrogen monoxide synthase; MMPs=Matrix metalloproteinases; GSDMD = gasdermin D; BMECs=brain microvascular endothelial cells; BBB = blood-brain barrier.

Abstract Pulmonary hypertension (PH) was a cardiovascular disease with high morbidity and mortality. PH was a chronic disease with complicated pathogenesis and uncontrollable factors. PH was divided into five groups according to its pathogenesis and clinical manifestations. Although the treatment and diagnosis of PH has made great progress in the past ten years. However, the diagnosis and prognosis of the PAH had a great contrast, which was not conducive to the diagnosis and treatment of PH. If not treated properly, it will lead to right ventricular failure or even death. Therefore, it was necessary to explore the pathogenesis of PH. The problem we urgently need to solve was to find and develop drugs for the treatment of PH. We reviewed the PH articles in the past 10 years or so as well as systematically summarized the recent advance. We summarized the latest research on the key regulatory factors (pyroptosis, apoptosis, necroptosis, ferroptosis, and endoplasmic reticulum stress) involved in PH. To provide theoretical basis and basis for finding new therapeutic targets and research directions of PH.

IntroductionPhylogenetic relatedness is one of the important factors in the community assembly process. Here, we aimed to understand the large-scale phylogenetic relationship between alien plant species at different stages of the invasion process and how these relationships change in response to the environmental filtering process at multiple spatial scales and different phylogenetic extents.MethodsWe identified the alien species in three invasion stages, namely invasive, naturalized, and introduced, in China. The occurrence records of the species were used to quantify two abundance-based phylogenetic metrics [the net relatedness index (NRI) and the nearest taxon index (NTI)] from a highly resolved phylogenetic tree. The metrics were compared between the three categories of alien species. Generalized linear models were used to test the effect of climate on the phylogenetic pattern. All analyses were conducted at four spatial scales and for three major angiosperm families.ResultsWe observed significantly higher NRI and NTI values at finer spatial scales, indicating the formation of more clustered assemblages of phylogenetically closely related species in response to the environmental filtering process. Positive NTI values for the invasive and naturalized aliens suggested that the presence of a close relative in the community may help the successful naturalization and invasion of the introduced alien species. In the two-dimensional phylogenetic space, the invasive species communities significantly differed from the naturalized and introduced species, indicating that established alien species need to be phylogenetically different to become invasive. Positive phylogenetic measures for the invasive aliens across the spatial scales suggested that the presence of invasive aliens could facilitate the establishment of other invasive species. Phylogenetic relatedness was more influenced by temperature than precipitation, especially at a finer spatial scale. With decreased temperature, the invasive species showed a more clustered assemblage, indicating conservatism of their phylogenetic niche. The phylogenetic pattern was different at the family level, although there was a consistent tendency across families to form more clustered assemblages.DiscussionOverall, our study showed that the community assemblage became more clustered with the progression of the invasion process. The phylogenetic measures varied at spatial and taxonomic scales, thereby highlighting the importance of assessing phylogenetic patterns at different gradients of the community assembly process.

The dyes in printing and dyeing wastewater are harmful to the human body and the environment. It is essential to develop practical and effective adsorbents to deal with them. In this study, an Fe-doped, ZIF-67 derived Fe/Co/C composite material with strong magnetism was successfully synthesized. The effects of pH, initial concentration, and adsorption time on the properties of the adsorbent were investigated. To further improve the removal efficiency and enhance the practicality, potassium peroxymonosulfate (PMS) was added to the system due to its Fenton-like effect. Then, an Fe/Co/C composite was used with PMS to remove Congo red (CR) with a 98% removal of 250 mg·L−1. Moreover, for its high saturation magnetization of 85.4 emu·g−1, the Fe/Co/C composite can be easily recovered by applying a magnetic field, solving the problem that powdery functional materials are difficult to recover and, thus, avoiding secondary pollution. Furthermore, since the composite material was doped before carbonization, this synthetic strategy is flexible and the required metal elements can be added at will to achieve different purposes. This study demonstrates that this Fe-doped, ZIF-67 derived magnetic material has potential application prospects for dye adsorption.

The sewage treatment system based on particle swarm optimization algorithm to improve energy efficiency is analyzed. Firstly, this paper takes particle swarm optimization algorithm and activated sludge sewage treatment method as the research object, and with the help of experimental analysis method, the analysis of particle swarm optimization algorithm to improve the energy efficiency of sewage treatment system has achieved good results. From the experimental results of sewage treatment system, it plays an important role in realizing the effective treatment of sewage and improving the economic and social benefits of sewage treatment. Then, particle swarm optimization algorithm can play an effective role in sewage treatment system. Therefore, actively promoting the application of this algorithm can improve the energy efficiency of sewage treatment system. Finally, the optimal control solution of sewage treatment based on improved particle swarm optimization algorithm is successfully applied to a municipal sewage treatment plant, which effectively saves electric energy. The experimental results show that the solution designed in this paper can also be applied to other sewage plants using activated sludge oxidation ditch process, and has certain popularization value.

ObjectiveRandom skin flaps have many applications in plastic and reconstructive surgeries. However, distal flap necrosis restricts wider clinical utility. Mitophagy, a vital form of autophagy for damaged mitochondria, is excessively activated in flap ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, thus inducing cell death. Aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2), an allosteric tetrameric enzyme, plays an important role in regulating mitophagy. We explored whether ALDH2 activated by N-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylmethyl)-2,6-dichlorobenzamide (Alda-1) could reduce the risk of ischemic random skin flap necrosis, and the possible mechanism of action.MethodsModified McFarlane flap models were established in 36 male Sprague-Dawley rats assigned randomly to three groups: a low-dose Alda-1 group (10 mg/kg/day), a high-dose Alda-1 group (20 mg/kg/day) and a control group. The percentage surviving skin flap area, neutrophil density and microvessel density (MVD) were evaluated on day 7. Oxidative stress was quantitated by measuring the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Blood perfusion and skin flap angiogenesis were assessed via laser Doppler flow imaging and lead oxide-gelatin angiography, respectively. The expression levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), ALDH2, PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1), and E3 ubiquitin ligase (Parkin) were immunohistochemically detected. Indicators of mitophagy such as Beclin-1, p62, and microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3) were evaluated by immunofluorescence.ResultsAlda-1 significantly enhanced the survival area of random skin flaps. The SOD activity increased and the MDA level decreased, suggesting that Alda-1 reduced oxidative stress. ALDH2 was upregulated, and mitophagy-related proteins (PINK1, Parkin, Beclin-1, p62, and LC3) were downregulated, indicating that ALDH2 inhibited mitophagy through the PINK1/Parkin signaling pathway. Treatment with Alda-1 reduced neutrophil infiltration and expressions of inflammatory cytokines. Alda-1 significantly upregulated VEGF expression, increased the MVD, promoted angiogenesis, and enhanced blood perfusion.ConclusionALDH2 activation can effectively enhance random skin flap viability via inhibiting PINK1/Parkin-dependent mitophagy. Moreover, enhancement of ALDH2 activity also exerts anti-inflammatory and angiogenic properties.

Abstract With the increase of large shopping malls, there are many large parking spaces in complex environments, which increases the difficulty of finding vehicles in such environments. To upgrade the consumer's experience, some car manufacturers have proposed detecting parking space numbers in parking spaces. The detection of parking space number in parking spaces in complex environments has problems such as the diversified background of parking space numbers, tilted direction of parking space numbers, and small parking space number scale. Since no scholar has proposed a high‐performance method for such problems, a parking space number detection model based on the multi‐branch convolutional attention is presented. Firstly, using ResNet50 as the backbone network, a multi‐branch convolutional structure is proposed in the backbone network, which aims to process and fuse the feature map through three parallel branches, and enhance the network to represent ability information by convolutional attention, learn global features to selectively strengthen the features containing helpful information, and improve the ability of the model to detect the parking space number area. Secondly, a high‐level feature enhancement unit is designed to adjust the features channel by channel, obtain more spatial correlation, and reduce the loss of information in the process of feature map generation. The data results of the model on the parking space number dataset CCAG show that the precision, recall, and F‐measure are 84.8%, 84.6%, and 84.7%, respectively, which has certain advantages for parking space number detection.

Abstract Background The progression of Biliary Atresia (BA) is associated with the number of reactive ductular cells (RDCs) whose heterogeneity in origin and evolution in humans remains unknown. SOX9-positive liver progenitor-like cells (LPLCs) have been shown to participate in RDCs and new hepatocyte formation during cholestatic liver regeneration in an animal model, which implies the possibility that hepatocyte-reprogrammed LPLCs could be a source of RDCs in BA. The present study aimed to elucidate the characteristics of SOX9-positive LPLCs in BA for exploring new possible therapeutic targets by manipulating the bi-differentiation process of LPLCs to prevent disease progression. Methods Twenty-eight patients, including 24 patients with BA and 4 patients with Congenital Choledochal Cyst as the control group, were retrospectively recruited. Liver biopsy samples were classified histologically using a 4-point scale based on fibrosis severity. LPLCs were detected by SOX9 and HNF4A double positive staining. Single immunohistochemistry, double immunohistochemistry, and multiple immunofluorescence staining were used to determine the different cell types and characteristics of LPLCs. Results The prognostic predictors of BA, namely total bile acid (TBA), RDCs, and fibrosis, were correlated to the emergence of LPLCs. SOX9 and HNF4A double-positive LPLCs co-stained rarely with relevant markers of portal hepatic progenitor cells (portal-HPCs), including CK19, CK7, EPCAM, PROM1 (CD133), TROP2, and AFP. Under cholestasis conditions, LPLCs acquired superior proliferation and anti-senescence ability among hepatocytes. Moreover, LPLCs arranged as a pseudo-rosette structure appeared from the periportal parenchyma to the portal region, which implied the differentiation from hepatocyte-reprogrammed LPLCs to RDCs with the progression of cholestasis. Conclusions LPLCs are associated with disease progression and prognostic factors of BA. The bipotent characteristics of LPLCs are different from those of portal-HPCs. As cholestasis progresses, LPLCs appear to gain superior proliferation and anti-senescence ability and continually differentiate to RDCs.

GATA binding protein 6 (GATA6) is an important transcription factor of cardiovascular endothelial cells, has the potential to regulate the process of cardiac development. Consequently, its abnormal expression is related to congenital heart disease.Human GATA6 gene clones were on chromosome 18 q11.1- q 11.2, consists of 7 exons and 6 intron.Now, a human embryonic stem cell line with GATA6 c.620_647del (p.S208Afs*77) mutation was generated. Interestingly, the ESC line displayed a normal karyotype, pluripotency and morphology of stem cells.This cell line has the ability to undergo differentiation into three germ layers in vivo.

Abstract Target detection based on remotely sensed images, which has recently attracted much attention, is a fundamental but challenging task. In remote sensing images, the problem of difficult recognition of small targets or targets with a large aspect ratio arises because the targets have the characteristics of small proportion, dense distribution, and multidirectionality. To address the above problems, this article proposes an improved multiscale feature cross‐layer fusion remote sensing target detector based on YOLOv5. First, this method introduces the circular smooth label technique, using YOLOv5 as a rotation detector to solve the angular boundary condition and angle prediction problem for large aspect ratio targets. Second, the explicit visual centre module is introduced to solve the problem of missed detection in target‐dense distribution tasks. Finally, a multiscale feature cross‐layer fusion structure (S‐160) is proposed based on YOLOv5, which improves the detection accuracy of each scale target by fusing shallow and deep feature information and introduces new large‐scale features for small target detection to solve the problem that ultrasmall targets in remote sensing images cannot be recognised. Our experiments were conducted on three public remote sensing datasets, DOTA, DIOR‐R, and HRSC2016, and the average accuracy (mAP) on the datasets was 76.50%, 70.34%, and 97.68%, respectively, demonstrating the substantial detection performance of the proposed method.

Background Our study aims to provide information about workplace smoke-free (SF) policy coverage in mainland China and to assess the relationship between workplace SF policies and secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure, current smoking, smoking harm awareness and quitting intention among smokers. Method Data from the 2018 Asia Best Workplace Mainland China programme were used to address these aims. This cross-sectional study included 14,195 employees from the 2018 survey and 14,953 employees from the 2019 survey. Logistic regression with year-fixed effects was applied to these data. The dependent variables were SHS exposure, smoking or smoking harm awareness. The explanatory variable was the SF workplace policy. Results A total of 21,275 participants (73.0%) reported working under SF policies. The overall prevalence of smoking and SHS exposure were 20.3% and 52.5%, respectively. The workplace SF policy was significantly associated with lower SHS exposure (OR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.45–0.51), lower current smoking employees (OR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.76–0.87) and higher awareness of smoking harm (OR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.61–1.91). However, workplace SF policy was not significantly associated with quitting intention (OR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.84–1.16). Conclusion Our study identified that although most companies had established workplace SF policies, the overall prevalence of SHS exposure remained very high. Workplace SF policy is associated with lower SHS exposure, lower overall current smoking and higher awareness of smoking harm. These findings provide valuable evidence to promote such policies in all workplaces.

Abstract The BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) is essentially a precise time measurement and time synchronization system for a large-scale space near the Earth. General relativity is the basic theoretical framework for the information processing in the master control station of BDS. Having introduced the basic conceptions of relativistic space–time reference systems, the space–time references of BDS are analyzed and the function and acquisition method of the Earth Orientation Parameters (EOP) are briefly discussed. The basic space reference of BDS is BeiDou Coordinate System (BDCS), and the time standard is the BDS Time (BDT). BDCS and BDT are the realizations of the Geocentric Terrestrial Reference System (GTRS) and the Terrestrial Time (TT) for BDS, respectively. The station coordinates in the BDCS are consistent with those in International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF)2014 at the cm–level and the difference in scale is about $$1.1 \times 10^{ - 8}$$ 1.1 × 10 - 8 . The time deviation of BDT relative to International Atomic Time (TAI) is less than 50 ns and the frequency deviation is less than $$2 \times 10^{ - 14}$$ 2 × 10 - 14 . The Geocentric Celestial Reference System (GCRS) and the solar Barycentric Celestial Reference System (BCRS) are also involved in the operation of BDS. The observation models for time synchronization and precise orbit determination are established within the GCRS framework. The coordinate transformation between BDCS and GCRS is consistent with the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS). In the autonomous operation mode without the support of the ground master control station, Earth Orientation Parameters (EOP) is obtained by means of long-term prediction and on-board observation. The observation models for the on-board astrometry should be established within the BCRS framework.

Oil spills have always been a threat to the marine ecological environment; thus, it is important to identify and divide oil spill areas on the ocean surface into segments after an oil spill accident occurs to protect the marine ecological environment. However, oil spill area segmentation using ordinary optical images is greatly interfered with by the absorption of light by the deep sea and the distribution of algal organisms on the ocean surface, and it is difficult to improve segmentation accuracy. To address the above problems, a hyperspectral ocean oil spill image segmentation model with multiscale feature fusion (MFFHOSS-Net) is proposed. Specifically, the oil spill segmentation dataset was created using hyperspectral image data from NASA for the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, small-size images after the waveband filtering of the hyperspectral images were generated and the oil spill images were annotated. The model makes full use of having different layers with different characteristics by fusing feature maps of different scales. In addition, an attention mechanism was used to effectively fuse these features to improve the oil spill region segmentation accuracy. A case study, ablation experiments and model evaluation were also carried out in this work. Compared with other models, our proposed method achieved good results according to various evaluation metrics.

To date we have a myriad of luminogenes at our deposal but many of them face problems like weakened emission in the aggregated state as well as poor sustainability. Here, the authors develop a class of rosin-derived luminogens with aggregation induced emission properties providing good biocompatibility and demonstrate their application in organelle imaging.

Introduction and spread of the halophyte Spartina alterniflora is one of the largest continental-scale biological invasion events in Asia and the Americas. Rapid globalization and broad environmental tolerance of the species increase the chance of novel invasions. Thus, we aimed to identify susceptible regions to inform prevention and control activities.A comprehensive global occurrence dataset and corresponding bioclimatic variables were used to characterize the species' climatic niche and predict current and future potential distributions. Conservatism of climatic niche between native and non-native ranges was tested, and climatic niche dynamics were analysed at spatial and temporal scales. The ensemble of eight species distribution models and eight climate change models was used to map the potential distribution of S. alterniflora under current and future climate conditions. We investigated the susceptibility of threatened ecosystems like mangroves and protected areas to S. alterniflora invasion to better inform management decisions.Our study revealed wide climatic tolerance and significant niche expansion of the species from humid regions of its native range to dry and arid environments of its non-native range with a very short lag period. With a marginal increase in temperature and precipitation in the future, range expansion was predicted towards higher latitude and more inland areas. The mangroves area, salt marshes, and protected areas that are at risk of ongoing and future invasions were identified. Given the invasion potential of S. alterniflora, the areas identified as climatically susceptible for the species’ establishment, both in current and future climates, should be prioritized for management actions.

Objective: To determine the effect of Shu Xue Tong treatment on random skin flap survival. Methods: Twenty-four male Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were administered Shu Xue Tong or normal saline. On postoperative day 7, flap survival area, flap angiogenesis angiography, blood flow and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Notch1, and Delta-like ligand 4 (Dll4) expression were assessed. Results: The mean flap survival area, blood vessel regeneration, microcirculatory flow, and expression of VEGF were enhanced with Shu Xue Tong treatment relative to the control. However, in Shu Xue Tong-treated rat flap, Notch1 and Dll4 levels were significantly reduced. Conclusions: These results demonstrate the beneficial action of Shu Xue Tong on random skin flap survival and suggest that its mechanism of action involves the promotion of angiogenesis via the VEGF-Notch1/Dll4 signaling pathway.

Abstract Phylogeographic forces driving evolution of sea‐dispersed plants are often influenced by regional and species characteristics, although not yet deciphered at a large spatial scale for many taxa like the mangrove species Heritiera littoralis. This study aimed to assess geographic distribution of genetic variation of this widespread mangrove in the Indo‐West Pacific region and identify the phylogeographic factors influencing its present‐day distribution. Analysis of five chloroplast DNA fragments’ sequences from 37 populations revealed low genetic diversity at the population level and strong genetic structure of H. littoralis in this region. The estimated divergence times between the major genetic lineages indicated that glacial level changes during the Pleistocene epoch induced strong genetic differentiation across the Indian and Pacific Oceans. In comparison to the strong genetic break imposed by the Sunda Shelf toward splitting the lineages of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, the genetic differentiation between Indo‐Malesia and Australasia was not so prominent. Long‐distance dispersal ability of H. littoralis propagules helped the species to attain transoceanic distribution not only across South East Asia and Australia, but also across the Indian Ocean to East Africa. However, oceanic circulation pattern in the South China Sea was found to act as a barrier creating further intraoceanic genetic differentiation. Overall, phylogeographic analysis in this study revealed that glacial vicariance had profound influence on population differentiation in H. littoralis and caused low genetic diversity except for the refugia populations near the equator which might have persisted through glacial maxima. With increasing loss of suitable habitats due to anthropogenic activities, these findings therefore emphasize the urgent need for conservation actions for all populations throughout the distribution range of H. littoralis.

Purpose: Proton beam therapy can significantly reduce cardiopulmonary radiation exposure compared with photon-based techniques in the postmastectomy setting for locally advanced breast cancer. For patients with metallic port tissue expanders, which are commonly placed in patients undergoing a staged breast reconstruction, dose uncertainties introduced by the high-density material pose challenges for proton therapy. In this report, we describe an intensity modulated proton therapy planning technique for port avoidance through a hybrid single-field optimization/multifield optimization approach. Methods and Materials: In this planning technique, 3 beams are utilized. For each beam, no proton spot is placed within or distal to the metal port plus a 5 mm margin. Therefore, precise modeling of the metal port is not required, and various tissue expander manufacturers/models are eligible. The blocked area of 1 beam is dosimetrically covered by 1 or 2 of the remaining beams. Multifield optimization is used in the chest wall target region with blockage of any beam, while single-field optimization is used for remainder of chest wall superior/inferior to the port. Results: Using this technique, clinical plans were created for 6 patients. Satisfactory plans were achieved in the 5 patients with port-to-posterior chest wall separations of 1.5 cm or greater, but not in the sixth patient with a 0.7 cm separation. Conclusions: We described a planning technique and the results suggest that the metallic port-to-chest wall distance may be a key parameter for optimal plan design.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a non-specific colorectal disease caused by multifaceted triggers. Although conventional treatments are effective in the management of IBD, high cost and frequent side effects limit their applications and have turned sufferers toward alternative and complementary approaches. Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge (Danshen) is an herbal medicine that reportedly alleviates the symptoms of IBD. A large body of research, including clinical trials in which Danshen-based products or botanical compounds were used, has unmasked its multiple mechanisms of action, but no review has focused on its efficacy as a treatment for IBD. Here, we discussed triggers of IBD, collected relevant clinical trials and analyzed experimental reports, in which bioactive compounds of Danshen attenuated rodent colitis in the management of intestinal integrity, gut microflora, cell death, immune conditions, cytokines, and free radicals. A network pharmacology approach was applied to describe sophisticated mechanisms in a holistic view. The safety of Danshen was also discussed. This review of evidence will help to better understand the potential benefits of Danshen for IBD treatment and provide insights for the development of innovative applications of Danshen.

Owing to the development of the social economy, the geographical environment and ocean utilization patterns of urban coastal zones have changed. This change, in turn, has influenced the socio-economic development of urban coastal zones. Based on the Geographic Information System technology, the area, coastline length, and shoreland use function of reclamation areas were obtained from the geographic charts (1954–2020) and remote sensing data (1988–2017) of Quanzhou Bay. In this study, we analyzed the geomorphologic change process and the relationship between land use patterns and economic development in Quanzhou Bay from the perspectives of hydrodynamics, sediments, and human activity. Our results indicated that over the past 70 years, the bay area has reduced by 21.5%. The length of the coastline decreased from 208.36 km in 1959 to 149.11 km in 1988, whereas the shape index of the bay (SIB) decreased from 3.09 to 2.41 during the same period. Between 1988 and 2017, the coastline increased to 162.91 km, causing the SIB to increase to 2.72. The artificial index of the bay increased from 0.28 in 1959 to 0.90 in 2017. The intensity of bay the development (IBD) first increased from 0.27 in 1959 to 0.77 in 2006. During the transition to a more modern society (2006 to present), the IBD slightly decreased to 0.73 in 2017. Affected by human activity, the transformation of the reclaimed land in Quanzhou Bay can be divided into four stages that are closely linked to the economic development in the region. In the early industrialization period, reclaimed land in the region was used for agricultural production, whereas in the mid-industrialization period, it was gradually transformed into a combination of industrial (29.8%) and agricultural (56.1%) lands. In the later period of industrialization, the reclaimed land was gradually converted into urban industrial and port lands. Finally, with further refinement and upgrading of economic and industrial structures, the socio-economic and environmental benefits from coastal reclamation projects have been increasing, whereas the proportion of economic benefits (in the total benefits) has been decreasing. The results of this study can provide decision-making references for the optimization of utilization patterns and the economic development of reclamation lands in coastal areas.

This paper focuses on a comparative study of different ultrasonic feature-based C-scan testing imaging methods for characterizing refill friction stir spot welding (RFSSW) joints, and accurately identifying and measuring the nugget boundary. The aim is to explore a suitable method for nugget characterization and automatic size analysis. The research indicates that the frequency-domain C-scan imaging method outperforms the time-domain C-scan imaging method in accurately characterizing the nugget. Furthermore, the C-scan imaging method based on the feature value of the base material zone (BMZ) echo signal performs better than the method based on the nugget echo signal. The tested nugget sizes obtained by using the –6 dB drop-off method to identify the boundaries in the C-scan images are generally larger than the metallographic measurement values. A novel method is proposed in this paper, using the difference in main frequency amplitude values between the BMZ and the nugget as the feature value for the C-scan testing image, and employing the Hough circle transformation for an automatic extraction of joint size. This method achieves improved nugget characterization and higher accuracy in size analysis.

Objective: The purpose of our experiment was to determine whether morroniside can improve the survival of ischemic skin flaps in rats. Methodology: A total of 40 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups (control group and treatment group). Modified McFarlane flaps were performed (causally based, 9 cm × 3 cm). The percentage of survival of each flap was calculated. Flap blood flows were measured by Laser-Doppler flowmeter. Flap vasculature was assessed by angiography after Lead oxide-gelatin injection. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was evaluated by immunochemistry. Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) level and malondiadehyde (MDA) content were determined using assay kits. Results: At the seventh postoperative day, the morroniside-treated rats showed a higher percentage of flap survival than the control rats. Flap perfusion and the level of vascular endothelial growth factor were significantly elevated in the morroniside-treated group. In the treatment group, the distal section of the flap was nearly saturated with contrast agent, while in the control group, the contrast agent perfused only half of the flap. In the treatment group, morroniside administration significantly increased SOD level and reduced MDA content. Conclusion: Morroniside can enhance ischemic flap survival.

With the development of social economy and human activities, the geomorphology and hydrodynamic conditions of coasts have been dramatically changed, causing serious environmental pollution and resource depletion. Taking Quanzhou Bay as an example, this study combined geomorphologic change with a hydrodynamic model to simulate the change in tidal currents in different periods. The results show a change in the coastline was the main cause of hydrodynamic change during the industrialization reform. During the past 70 years, the tidal prism decreased year by year, and the average velocity of the tidal current in the channel decreased by 33.7% and 30.8% at flood and ebb tide, respectively. In the early stages of industrialization, reclamation land was used in a single way. The tidal prism decreased by 22.2% and 29.8% in the spring and neap tide, respectively. In the middle and later stages, the tidal current velocity increased, and reclamation land was used in a variety of ways. In modern society, the reclamation land-use type was unitary. Based on this research, we show the influence of human activities on the evolution of the bay’s geomorphology and provide suggestions for the management of the bay.

Random skin flaps are often used in plastic surgery, but the complications of marginal flap ischemia and necrosis often limit their wider clinical application. Apigenin (Api) is a flavonoid found in various fruits and vegetables. Api has been shown to promote angiogenesis, as well as reduce oxidative stress, membrane damage, and inflammation. In this study, we assessed the effects of Api treatment on random skin flap survival. Dorsal McFarlane skin flaps were transplanted into rats, which were randomly divided into three groups: control (normal saline), low-dose Api (20 mg/kg), and high-dose Api (50 mg/kg). Seven days after the surgery, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured. Histological analyses were performed to determine flap survival and tissue edema. H&E staining was performed to assess the histopathological changes in skin flaps, and the levels of microvascular density (MVD) were determined. Laser doppler flowmetry was used to assess microcirculation blood flow. Flap angiography was performed by injection of lead oxide/gelatin. The expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interlukin-1β (IL-lβ) were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Rats in the high-dose Api group exhibited higher average flap survival area, microcirculatory flow, increased SOD activity, and higher VEGF expression levels compared with the other two groups. Furthermore, the levels of MDA and pro-inflammatory cytokines were significantly decreased in rats treated with high-dose Api. Our findings suggest the potential usefulness of Api in preventing skin flap tissue necrosis.

In phased array ultrasonic sector scanning testing, echoes from defects near the detection surface are often overlapped with interface echoes and cannot be characterized. Based on linear acoustic theory, a mathematical model combining the background subtraction and the sum of squares differences algorithm is established to extract the characteristics of near-detection-surface defect echoes. The upper surface of the artificial notch defect is used as a near-detection-surface defect for detection. Specially, linear interpolation algorithm is used to suppress the effect of residual interface echo on the defect echo feature extraction and the effect of different interpolation factors is analyzed. The defect location and size were calculated based on the extracted defect characteristics. The simulation and experimental results indicate that the model can effectively extract the near-detection-surface defect echoes characteristics. Furthermore, when the interpolated signal reaches at least 500 MHz, residual interface echoes can be effectively suppressed. More importantly, according to the extracted defect echo characteristics, the localization and quantitative accuracies of near-surface defects can reach 0.2 mm and 0.3 mm, respectively. These findings provide an effective strategy for phased array ultrasonic sector scanning testing of near-detection-surface defects.

Summary: The growth plate (GP) comprising sequentially differentiated cell layers is a critical structure for bone elongation and regeneration. Although several key regulators in GP development have been identified using genetic perturbation, systematic understanding is still limited. Here, we used single-cell RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) to determine the gene expression profiles of 217 single cells from GPs and developed a bioinformatics pipeline named Sinova to de novo reconstruct physiological GP development in both temporal and spatial high resolution. Our unsupervised model not only confirmed prior knowledge, but also enabled the systematic discovery of genes, potential signal pathways, and surface markers CD9/CD200 to precisely depict development. Sinova further identified the effective combination of transcriptional factors (TFs) that regulates GP maturation, and the result was validated using an in vitro EGFP-Col10a screening system. Our case systematically reconstructed molecular cascades in GP development through single-cell profiling, and the bioinformatics pipeline is applicable to other developmental processes. Video Abstract: : Li et al. have developed an unsupervised clustering approach called Sinova to analyze single-cell RNA-seq data. By using this pipeline to analyze single-cell RNA-seq data from developing GPs in mice, they have generated a spatial and temporal map of the GP and identified molecular networks involved in GP development.

Camellia renshanxiangiae is a vulnerable species distributed in China with unique hairy anthers and faint scent. Here, we report the characterization of its complete chloroplast (cp) genome using Illumina pair-end sequencing data. The total chloroplast genome size was 156,665 bp, including two inverted repeats (IRs) of 26,071 bp each, separated by a large single copy (LSC) and a small single copy (SSC) of 86,277 bp and 18,246 bp, respectively. A total of 131 genes, including 36 tRNA, 8 rRNA, and 87 protein-coding genes, were identified. Phylogenetic analysis showed that C. renshanxiangiae clustered with Camelia species (C. sinensis, C. crapnelliana).

Diffuse Optical Tomography (DOT) is an optical imaging modality that has various clinical applications. However, the spatial resolution and quantitative accuracy of DOT is poor due to strong photon scatting in biological tissue. Structural a priori information from another high spatial resolution imaging modality such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has been demonstrated to significantly improve DOT accuracy. In addition, a contrast agent can be used to obtain differential absorption images of the lesion by using dynamic contrast enhanced DOT (DCE-DOT). This produces a relative absorption map that consists of subtracting a reconstructed baseline image from reconstructed images in which optical contrast is included. In this study, we investigated and compared different reconstruction methods and analysis approaches for regular endogenous DOT and DCE-DOT with and without MR anatomical a priori information for arbitrarily-shaped objects. Our phantom and animal studies have shown that superior image quality and higher accuracy can be achieved using DCE-DOT together with MR structural a priori information. Hence, implementation of a combined MRI-DOT system to image ICG enhancement can potentially be a promising tool for breast cancer imaging.

In this qualitative study, the authors extend the previous research and present findings from a study investigating post-secondary theoretically-based study strategy courses. In Texas, these courses are known as learning frameworks courses, offered for college credit, and derive full-formula funding from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Researchers focused on learning frameworks courses offered at Texas public community colleges in the Fall 2016 and Spring 2017 semesters. A total of 44 course coordinators or their designees were interviewed via phone or email. Using content analysis, researchers coded data into content categories and thematic units. Findings provide historical, administrative and curricula perspectives including primary distinctions among course topics; theoretical perspectives (or lack thereof); textbooks, resources, and assessment selections; and instructor training. The authors recommended the development of statewide resources to assist institutions in meeting statewide curricula requirements.