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Abstract Background Mammary gland development is a critical process in mammals, crucial for their reproductive success and offspring nourishment. However, the functional roles of key candidate genes associated with teat number, including ABCD4, VRTN, PROX2, and DLST, in this developmental process remain elusive. To address this gap in knowledge, we conducted an in-depth investigation into the dynamic expression patterns, functional implications, and regulatory networks of these candidate genes during mouse mammary gland development. Results In this study, the spatial and temporal patterns of key genes were characterized in mammary gland development. Using time-series single-cell data, we uncovered differences in the expression of A bcd4, Vrtn, Prox2, and Dlst in cell population of the mammary gland during embryonic and adult stages, while Vrtn was not detected in any cells. We found that only overexpression and knockdown of Abcd4 could inhibit proliferation and promote apoptosis of HC11 mammary epithelial cells, whereas Prox2 and Dlst had no significant effect on these cells. Using RNA-seq and qPCR, further analysis revealed that Abcd4 can induce widespread changes in the expression levels of genes involved in mammary gland development, such as Igfbp3, Ccl5, Tlr2, and Prlr, which were primarily associated with the MAPK, JAK-STAT, and PI3K-AKT pathways by functional enrichment. Conclusions These findings revealed ABCD4 as a candidate gene pivotal for regulating mammary gland development and lactation during pregnancy by influencing PRLR expression.

Charcoal, a byproduct of biomass burning, is widely and heterogeneously distributed in fire-affected ecosystems. However, few field studies have been conducted to evaluate the effects of fire-deposited charcoal on the post-fire soil quality. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether charcoal generated during post timber harvest broadcast burning influenced the recovery of individual soil properties and overall soil quality in subtropical forest plantations. Broadcast burning was conducted on experimental Pinus massoniana plantation timber harvest sites in southern China. Surface soils (0–10 cm) were collected in plots established on the burnt sites five years after the disturbance event. Plots were established immediately after burning with three different levels of charcoal input (C0, removal of all visible charcoal; C1, charcoal retained in-situ; C2, charcoal removed from C0 added to C2) and an unburnt control (UB). Thirty-two soil indicators representing soil physical, chemical, and biological properties were determined. The results showed that 11 indicators exhibited significant differences among the treatments, with significantly lower SOM, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), peroxidase (POD) and leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) activities for the C0 and C1 plots than the UB plots (P 0.05). The soil available N, P and exchangeable nutrient contents were not significantly different among the treatments (P > 0.05). Our results indicate that SOM and microbial attributes did not recover five years after the disturbance event and that charcoal appeared to play a positive role in the post-fire soil restoration. Whether the accelerated recovery of soil restoration induced by charcoal might contribute to higher forest productivity needs to be testified in combination with plant growth and performance analysis in the future.

The as-cast (Fe50Mn30Co10Cr10)97C2Mo1 HEA (high entropy alloy) was cold rolled to 90 % (CR90 %), followed by annealing at different temperatures (400 °C, 500 °C, 600 °C). Their microstructure and mechanical properties have been systematically investigated. The results show that this HEA has a single FCC structure, and that annealing at 500 °C and 600 °C leads to the formation of Cr-rich σ phase. The CR90 % HEA exhibits the tensile strength of 1926 MPa and 4 % elongation. However, annealing at 400 °C and 500 °C makes the tensile strength improve to ∼2078 MPa and ∼2060 MPa, respectively, while their plasticity does not change significantly. Annealing at 600 °C results in a significant reduction in the strength (∼1650 MPa) while a slight increase in plasticity. The element segregation and the formation of nano-sized (Fe, Mn)-rich precipitates are contributed to the significant increase in tensile strength of the HEA annealed at 400 °C. Nevertheless, annealing at 600 °C leads to a decrease in the density of defects (e.g. dislocations) caused by cold rolling and the increase in the grain size, which finally resulting in a reduction in strength.

Nanofiltration (NF) has become a widely used technology in water treatment due to its environmental friendliness, energy efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and operational simplicity. However, polyamide (PA) NF membranes still face challenges, including low permeate flux, limited resistance to organic pollutants, and inadequate resilience to residual chlorine. To address these issues, this study developed a thin-film composite (TFC) NF membrane featuring a separation layer of sandwich structure. Initially, a single separation layer of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) NF membrane was prepared, followed by the fabrication of a PA layer on its surface, and ultimately, a second PVA layer was constructed on the PA layer. The experimental results show that the PVA/PA/PVA sandwich structure TFC exhibits high permeability to pure water and robust resistance to both pollution and residual chlorine. The PVA-0.20/PA/PVA-0.20 TFC, prepared with a 0.20%w/v PVA solution, achieved a pure water flux of up to 22.05 L m−2 h−1 bar−1 (LMH/bar), which was 2.92 times higher than that of the control TFC membrane. Additionally, it demonstrated a salt rejection rate exceeding 96% for Na2SO4 and over 99% for Congo Red (CR) and Victoria Blue B (VB). In comparison with the control TFC membrane, the PVA-0.20/PA/PVA-0.20 membrane exhibited significantly enhanced resistance to pollution. Following immersion in a 1000 ppm NaClO solution for 4 h, the rejection rate of the control TFC membrane decreased markedly and that of the PVA-0.20/PA/PVA-0.20 membrane decreased marginally, indicating excellent resistance to residual chlorine. Due to the robust overall performance of the PVA/PA/PVA membrane, it holds potential advantages for application in treating reclaimed water or slightly polluted water.

Abstract In this study, we apply a three‐dimensional (3D) thermomechanically coupled higher‐order ice flow model to simulate the East Rongbuk Glacier (ERG), Mt. Everest. We first diagnostically investigate its present‐day ice dynamic features in 2009 and then prognostically simulate the glacier during the time period 2010–2100. The ice flow model is initialized based on a Robin‐type inversion method by conducting six sensitivity experiments relating to glacier thermal boundary conditions. We apply two different surface mass balance parameterizations in the model, and both of them can reproduce the observed ice volume loss (around 0.1 km3) during 2010–2020. We find that ERG is likely to experience maximum meltwater runoff at the year 2030 under the SSP‐126 scenario, while under SSP‐370 and ‐585 scenarios, the peak water will both likely occur at around 2060. The ice dynamics may contribute more to ice loss as climate warms in time.

The interaction between foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) and the host is extremely important for virus infection, but there are few researches on it, which is not conducive to vaccine development and FMD control. In this study, we designed a porcine genome-scale CRISPR/Cas9 knockout library containing 93,859 single guide RNAs targeting 16,886 protein-coding genes, 25 long ncRNAs, and 463 microRNAs. Using this library, several previously unreported genes required for FMDV infection are highly enriched post-FMDV selection in IBRS-2 cells. Follow-up studies confirmed the dependency of FMDV on these genes, and we identified a functional role for one of the FMDV-related host genes: TOB1 (Transducer of ERBB2.1). TOB1-knockout significantly inhibits FMDV infection by positively regulating the expression of RIG-I and MDA5. We further found that TOB1-knockout led to more accumulation of mRNA transcripts of transcription factor CEBPA, and thus its protein, which further enhanced transcription of RIG-I and MDA5 genes. In addition, TOB1-knockout was shown to inhibit FMDV adsorption and internalization mediated by EGFR/ERBB2 pathway. Finally, the FMDV lethal challenge on TOB1-knockout mice confirmed that the deletion of TOB1 inhibited FMDV infection in vivo. These results identify TOB1 as a key host factor involved in FMDV infection in pigs.

Abstract Biochar is produced by burning biomass under oxygen‐limited conditions, and it has been widely used as a soil amendment to improve soil functions such as nutrient retention. However, whether the impact of biochar application on soil nitrogen (N) transformation and N2O emission varies with the pyrolysis temperature remains unclear, especially in different forest types in subtropical regions. In this study, a 60‐day laboratory incubation experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of biochar with different pyrolysis temperatures (300°C [BC300], 500°C [BC500], and 800°C [BC800]) on net N transformation rates and N2O emission in soils collected from Castanopsis kawakamii dominated natural forest (NF) and Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolate, CF) plantation in subtropical China. The results showed that the application of biochar significantly increased soil ammonium (NH4+) content (p

Effect of cold rolling on microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of a novel (Fe50Mn30Co10Cr10)97C2Mo1 high entropy alloy has been investigated via electron microscopy and tensile testing. The results show that the alloy is mainly deformed via dislocation and twinning due to its low stacking fault energy. With increasing thickness reduction, the dislocation density first increases, up to a maximum of ∼29.3 × 1014 m−2 at CR 60 %, then reduces, to 21.1 × 1014 m−2 at CR 90 %. The width and spacing of the deformation twins gradually decrease with an increase of thickness reduction. TEM examination also reveals that shear bands produce in CR 40 % sample, and that its volume fraction gradually increases with increasing thickness reduction. Such microstructural evolution with cold rolling, gives rise to a quick enhancement of yield strength of the alloy (1926 MPa for CR 90 % vs. 239 MPa for the as-homogenized sample) whereas a clear loss in ductility. However, the cold-rolled samples at low to medium strains show a good combination of strength and ductility, e.g., CR 20 % sample has a yield strength of 800 MPa (, which is 3.3 times higher than that of as-homogenized HEA) and an elongation of 30 %, while 1300 MPa yield strength and 15 % elongation for CR 40 % sample.

Abstract Background Although the accumulation of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data has accelerated the identification of mutations underlying complex traits, its impact on the accuracy of genomic predictions is limited. Reliable genotyping data and pre-selected beneficial loci can be used to improve prediction accuracy. Previously, we reported a low-coverage sequencing genotyping method that yielded 11.3 million highly accurate single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in pigs. Here, we introduce a method termed selective linkage disequilibrium pruning (SLDP), which refines the set of SNPs that show a large gain during prediction of complex traits using whole-genome SNP data. Results We used the SLDP method to identify and select markers among millions of SNPs based on genome-wide association study (GWAS) prior information. We evaluated the performance of SLDP with respect to three real traits and six simulated traits with varying genetic architectures using two representative models (genomic best linear unbiased prediction and BayesR) on samples from 3579 Duroc boars. SLDP was determined by testing 180 combinations of two core parameters (GWAS P-value thresholds and linkage disequilibrium r2). The parameters for each trait were optimized in the training population by five fold cross-validation and then tested in the validation population. Similar to previous GWAS prior-based methods, the performance of SLDP was mainly affected by the genetic architecture of the traits analyzed. Specifically, SLDP performed better for traits controlled by major quantitative trait loci (QTL) or a small number of quantitative trait nucleotides (QTN). Compared with two commercial SNP chips, genotyping-by-sequencing data, and an unselected whole-genome SNP panel, the SLDP strategy led to significant improvements in prediction accuracy, which ranged from 0.84 to 3.22% for real traits controlled by major or moderate QTL and from 1.23 to 11.47% for simulated traits controlled by a small number of QTN. Conclusions The SLDP marker selection method can be incorporated into mainstream prediction models to yield accuracy improvements for traits with a relatively simple genetic architecture, however, it has no significant advantage for traits not controlled by major QTL. The main factors that affect its performance are the genetic architecture of traits and the reliability of GWAS prior information. Our findings can facilitate the application of WGS-based genomic selection.

Abstract Automating retrosynthesis with artificial intelligence expedites organic chemistry research in digital laboratories. However, most existing deep-learning approaches are hard to explain, like a “black box” with few insights. Here, we propose RetroExplainer, formulizing the retrosynthesis task into a molecular assembly process, containing several retrosynthetic actions guided by deep learning. To guarantee a robust performance of our model, we propose three units: a multi-sense and multi-scale Graph Transformer, structure-aware contrastive learning, and dynamic adaptive multi-task learning. The results on 12 large-scale benchmark datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of RetroExplainer, which outperforms the state-of-the-art single-step retrosynthesis approaches. In addition, the molecular assembly process renders our model with good interpretability, allowing for transparent decision-making and quantitative attribution. When extended to multi-step retrosynthesis planning, RetroExplainer has identified 101 pathways, in which 86.9% of the single reactions correspond to those already reported in the literature. As a result, RetroExplainer is expected to offer valuable insights for reliable, high-throughput, and high-quality organic synthesis in drug development.

Compound extreme events pose more grave threats to human health, the natural environment, and socioeconomic systems than do individual extreme events. However, the drivers and spatiotemporal change characteristics of compound extreme events under climate transition remain poorly understood, especially in the arid region of Northwest China. This study examined the spatiotemporal change characteristics and driving mechanisms of extreme temperature and precipitation compound events in Northwest China based on data from 86 national meteorological stations and 11 climate models of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project, Phase 6. The results indicated that (1) the frequency values of heat extremity–dry (1.60/10a) and heat extremity–heavy precipitation (0.60/10a) events increased from 1961 to 2020, and showed a faster uptrend after 1990 than before. (2) Under four shared socioeconomic pathway scenarios, there is also the likelihood of an upward trend in heat extremity–dry and heat extremity–heavy precipitation events in Northwest China by the end of 21 century, especially under SSP585, with probability values of 1.70/10a and 1.00/10a, respectively. (3) A soil moisture deficit leads to decreased evaporation and increased sensible heat by reduction in the soil–atmosphere exchange; the non-adiabatic heating process leads to a higher frequency of hot days. This land–air interaction feedback mechanism is a significant driver of heat extremity–dry events in Northwest China. (4) In the Northwest China region, the warmer trend surpasses the wetter trend, contributing to increased specific humidity, and the vapor pressure deficit may lead to an increasing frequency of extreme precipitation, consequently increasing heat extremity–heavy precipitation events. These results provide new insights for the understanding of compound extreme events, in order to cope with their risks.

The advantage of a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) is that it optimizes the wireless signal transmission environment. It can ameliorate the high loss of high-speed railway (HSR) millimeter-wave (mmWave) communications and increase signal strength by coherently superimposing signals at the receiving end through an appropriate beamforming design. In this paper, an mmWave multiple-input multiple-output communication system for HSR is discussed. The channel modeling takes into account the Doppler effect and the properties of mmWave channels. Aiming at the problem of high coupling of optimization variables, the singular value decomposition method is utilized to decouple them and to achieve the optimal active beamforming design. The original optimization problem is then rewritten into a more manageable form through a sequence of transformations. In order to overcome the restrictions imposed by non-convex constraints, the optimal RIS phase shift is directly calculated using the Riemann gradient descent (RGD) method. In this paper, spectral efficiency (SE) is taken as the optimization objective. Considering the fast time-varying environment of HSR, a step size selection scheme with easier convergence is adopted in the RGD method to complete the joint beamforming design. The numerical simulations demonstrate that the proposed solution outperforms the semi-definite relaxation scheme and the RIS-free auxiliary scheme in terms of SE performance and computational complexity.

In this study, we investigate the differences between two transient, three-dimensional, thermomechanically coupled ice-sheet models, namely, a first-order approximation model (FOM) and a ‘full’ Stokes ice-sheet model (FSM) under the same numerical framework. For all numerical experiments, we take the FSM outputs as the reference values and calculate the mean relative errors in the velocity and temperature fields for the FOM over 100 years. Four different boundary conditions (ice slope, geothermal heat flux, basal topography and basal sliding) are tested, and by changing these parameters, we verify the thermomechanical behavior of the FOM and discover that the velocity and temperature biases of the FOM generally increase with increases in the ice slope, geothermal heat flux, undulation amplitude of the ice base, and with the existence of basal sliding. In addition, the model difference between the FOM and FSM may accumulate over time, and the spatial distribution patterns of the relative velocity and temperature errors are in good agreement.

Abstract Recent advancements in soft robotics have been emerging as an exciting paradigm in engineering due to their inherent compliance, safe human interaction, and ease of adaptation with wearable electronics. Soft robotic devices have the potential to provide innovative solutions and expand the horizons of possibilities for biomedical applications by bringing robots closer to natural creatures. In this review, we survey several promising soft robot technologies, including flexible fluidic actuators, shape memory alloys, cable‐driven mechanisms, magnetically driven mechanisms, and soft sensors. Selected applications of soft robotic devices as medical devices are discussed, such as surgical intervention, soft implants, rehabilitation and assistive devices, soft robotic exosuits, and prosthetics. We focus on how soft robotics can improve the effectiveness, safety and patient experience for each use case, and highlight current research and clinical challenges, such as biocompatibility, long‐term stability, and durability. Finally, we discuss potential directions and approaches to address these challenges for soft robotic devices to move toward real clinical translations in the future.

The molecular weight of nucleic acid aptamers (20 kDa) is lower than the cutoff threshold of the renal filtration (30–50 kDa), resulting in a very short half-life, which dramatically limits their druggability. To address this, we utilized 3-(2,5-dioxo-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)-N-(4-hydroxy-2-oxo-2H-chromen-6-yl)propenamide (HC) and 12-((2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-1-yl)oxy)-12-oxododecanoic acid (DA), two newly designed coupling agents, for synergistic binding to human serum albumin (HSA). Both HC and DA are conjugated to a bone anabolic aptamer (Apc001) against sclerostin to form an Apc001OC conjugate with high binding affinity to HSA. Notably, HC and DA could synergistically facilitate prolonging the half-life of the conjugated Apc001 and promoting its bone anabolic potential. Using the designed blocking peptides, the mechanism studies indicate that the synergistic effect of HC-DA on pharmacokinetics and bone anabolic potential of the conjugated Apc001 is achieved via their synergistic binding to HSA. Moreover, biweekly Apc001OC at 50 mg/kg shows comparable bone anabolic potential to the marketed sclerostin antibody given weekly at 25 mg/kg. This proposed bimolecular modification strategy could help address the druggability challenge for aptamers with a short half-life.

Abstract Background Skull base invasion in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) was shown to be a poor negative prognostic factor, and dual-energy CT (DECT) has heralded a new approach to detect this condition. The study aims to evaluate the value of DECT for detection of skull base invasion in NPC and compare the diagnostic performance of DECT with those of simulated single-energy CT (SECT) and MRI. Methods The imaging findings of 50 NPC patients and 31 participants in control group which underwent DECT examinations were assessed in this retrospective study. The skull base invasions were evaluated using 5-point scale by two blind observers. ROC analysis, Mcnemar test, paired t test, weighted K statistics and intraclass correlation coefficient were performed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of simulated SECT, MRI and DECT. Results Quantitative analysis of DECT parameters showed higher normalized iodine concentration and effective atomic number values in sclerosis and lower values in erosion than those in normal bones (both p

Abstract Using angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements and first principle calculations, we report that the possible unconventional 2q antiferromagnetic (AFM) order in NdSb can induce unusual modulation on its electronic structure. The obvious extra bands observed in the AFM phase of NdSb are well reproduced by theoretical calculations, in which the Fermi-arc-like structures and sharp extra bands are originated from the in-gap surface states. However, they are demonstrated to be topological trivial. By tuning the chemical potential, the AFM phase of NdSb would go through a topological phase transition, realizing a magnetic topological insulator phase. Hence, our study sheds new light on the rare earth monopnictides for searching unusual AFM structure and the potential of intrinsic magnetic topological materials.

Abstract This study aimed to explore how kinesin family member 2C (KIF2C) influences the progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The levels of KIF2C and microRNA-186-3p (miR-186-3p) were examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Through the utilization of cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, colony formation assay, wound closure assay, and Transwell assay, NSCLC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were identified, respectively. NSCLC cell apoptosis was assessed using the TUNEL assay and flow cytometry (FCM) assay. Luciferase reporter analysis was used to investigate the relationship between KIF2C and miR-186-3p. Western blot assays were conducted to investigate the influence of KIF2C on the AKT-GSK3β-β-catenin pathway. The results showed that KIF2C was up‐regulated in NSCLC cells, which predicted poor prognosis. KIF2C overexpression promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of NSCLC cells as well as inhibited NSCLC cell apoptosis. KIF2C was as a key target of miR-186-3p. High expression of KIF2C, meanwhile, increased the levels of β-catenin, p-GSK-3β and phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-AKT). KIF2C downregulation and miR-186-3p upregulation reversed these outcomes. As an oncogenic factor, KIF2C is negatively regulated by miR-186-3p and participates in the progression of NSCLC through the AKT-GSK3β-β-catenin pathway.

Abstract Background Chickens provide globally important livestock products. Understanding the genetic and molecular mechanisms underpinning chicken economic traits is crucial for improving their selective breeding. Influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, metabolites are the ultimate expression of physiological processes and can provide key insights into livestock economic traits. However, the serum metabolite profile and genetic architecture of the metabolome in chickens have not been well studied. Results Here, comprehensive metabolome detection was performed using non-targeted LC–MS/MS on serum from a chicken advanced intercross line (AIL). In total, 7,191 metabolites were used to construct a chicken serum metabolomics dataset and to comprehensively characterize the serum metabolism of the chicken AIL population. Regulatory loci affecting metabolites were identified in a metabolome genome-wide association study (mGWAS). There were 10,061 significant SNPs associated with 253 metabolites that were widely distributed across the entire chicken genome. Many functional genes affect metabolite synthesis, metabolism, and regulation. We highlight the key roles of TDH and AASS in amino acids, and ABCB1 and CD36 in lipids. Conclusions We constructed a chicken serum metabolite dataset containing 7,191 metabolites to provide a reference for future chicken metabolome characterization work. Meanwhile, we used mGWAS to analyze the genetic basis of chicken metabolic traits and metabolites and to improve chicken breeding.

Over the past decades, the cryosphere has changed significantly in High Mountain Asia (HMA), leading to multiple natural hazards such as rock–ice avalanches, glacier collapse, debris flows, landslides, and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). Monitoring cryosphere change and evaluating its hydrological effects are essential for studying climate change, the hydrological cycle, water resource management, and natural disaster mitigation and prevention. However, knowledge gaps, data uncertainties, and other substantial challenges limit comprehensive research in climate–cryosphere–hydrology–hazard systems. To address this, we provide an up-to-date, comprehensive, multidisciplinary review of remote sensing techniques in cryosphere studies, demonstrating primary methodologies for delineating glaciers and measuring geodetic glacier mass balance change, glacier thickness, glacier motion or ice velocity, snow extent and water equivalent, frozen ground or frozen soil, lake ice, and glacier-related hazards. The principal results and data achievements are summarized, including URL links for available products and related data platforms. We then describe the main challenges for cryosphere monitoring using satellite-based datasets. Among these challenges, the most significant limitations in accurate data inversion from remotely sensed data are attributed to the high uncertainties and inconsistent estimations due to rough terrain, the various techniques employed, data variability across the same regions (e.g., glacier mass balance change, snow depth retrieval, and the active layer thickness of frozen ground), and poor-quality optical images due to cloudy weather. The paucity of ground observations and validations with few long-term, continuous datasets also limits the utilization of satellite-based cryosphere studies and large-scale hydrological models. Lastly, we address potential breakthroughs in future studies, i.e., (1) outlining debris-covered glacier margins explicitly involving glacier areas in rough mountain shadows, (2) developing highly accurate snow depth retrieval methods by establishing a microwave emission model of snowpack in mountainous regions, (3) advancing techniques for subsurface complex freeze–thaw process observations from space, (4) filling knowledge gaps on scattering mechanisms varying with surface features (e.g., lake ice thickness and varying snow features on lake ice), and (5) improving and cross-verifying the data retrieval accuracy by combining different remote sensing techniques and physical models using machine learning methods and assimilation of multiple high-temporal-resolution datasets from multiple platforms. This comprehensive, multidisciplinary review highlights cryospheric studies incorporating spaceborne observations and hydrological models from diversified techniques/methodologies (e.g., multi-spectral optical data with thermal bands, SAR, InSAR, passive microwave, and altimetry), providing a valuable reference for what scientists have achieved in cryosphere change research and its hydrological effects on the Third Pole.

Although the rapid expansion of urban rail transit offers convenience to citizens, the issue of subway vibration cannot be overlooked. This study investigates the spatial distribution characteristics of vibration in the Fayuan Temple historic and cultural reserve. It involves using a V001 magnetoelectric acceleration sensor capable of monitoring low amplitudes with a sensitivity of 0.298 V/(m/s2), a measuring range of up to 20 m/s2, and a frequency range span from 0.5 to 100 Hz for in situ testing, analyzing the law of vibration propagation in this area, evaluating the impact on buildings, and determining the vibration reduction scheme. The reserve is divided into three zones based on the vertical vibration level measured during the in situ test as follows: severely excessive, generally excessive, and non-excessive vibration. Furthermore, the research develops a dynamic coupling model of vehicle–track–tunnel–stratum–structure to verify the damping effect of the wire spring floating plate track and periodic pile row. It compares the characteristics of three vibration reduction schemes, namely, internal vibration reduction reconstruction, periodic pile row, and anti-vibration reinforcement or reconstruction of buildings, proposing a comprehensive solution. Considering the construction conditions, difficulty, cost, and other factors, a periodic pile row is recommended as the primary treatment measure. If necessary, anti-vibration reinforcement or reconstruction of buildings can serve as supplemental measures.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a complex functional gastrointestinal disorder primarily characterized by chronic abdominal pain, bloating, and altered bowel habits. Chronic abdominal pain caused by visceral Hypersensitivity (VH) is the main reason why patients with IBS seek medication. Significant research effort has been devoted to the efficacy of acupuncture as a non-drug alternative therapy for visceral-hyperalgesia-induced IBS. Herein, we examined the central and peripheral analgesic mechanisms of acupuncture in IBS treatment. Acupuncture can improve inflammation and relieve pain by reducing 5-hydroxytryptamine and 5-HT3A receptor expression and increasing 5-HT4 receptor expression in peripheral intestinal sensory endings. Moreover, acupuncture can also activate the transient receptor potential vanillin 1 channel, block the activity of intestinal glial cells, and reduce the secretion of local pain-related neurotransmitters, thereby weakening peripheral sensitization. Moreover, by inhibiting the activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor ion channels in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord and anterior cingulate cortex or releasing opioids, acupuncture can block excessive stimulation of abnormal pain signals in the brain and spinal cord. It can also stimulate glial cells (through the P2X7 and prokinetic protein pathways) to block VH pain perception and cognition. Furthermore, acupuncture can regulate the emotional components of IBS by targeting hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis-related hormones and neurotransmitters via relevant brain nuclei, hence improving the IBS-induced VH response. These findings provide a scientific basis for acupuncture as an effective clinical adjuvant therapy for IBS pain.

Two-dimensional materials are promising platforms for the realization of an excitonic insulator state. Here the authors report evidence for an excitonic insulator in a single-layer ZrTe2 based on ARPES measurements.

The as-cast (Fe50Mn30Co10Cr10)97C2Mo1 HEA (high entropy alloy) was prepared and cold-rolled at 70%. Subsequently, annealing heat treatment at different temperatures (900 °C, 950 °C, 1000 °C) was carried out. The microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of the HEA were systematically investigated. The results showed that the HEA annealed at 900 °C and 950 °C exhibited uneven grain size and rich σ precipitation phase at grain boundaries. The grains began to grow and complete recrystallization, and no σ phases were observed in HEA annealed at 1000 °C, which resulted in a higher tensile strength of ~885 MPa and elongation of ~68% compared with other annealed HEAs. The higher volume fraction of annealing twins with 60° orientation was produced in HEA annealed at 1000 °C, which enhanced the tensile strength and plasticity via the Twinning-induced plasticity (TWIP) mechanism.

Massive exudates oversecreted from burn wounds always delay the healing process, accompanied by undesired adhesion, continuous inflammation, and high infection risk. Conventional dressings with limited draining ability cannot effectively remove the excessive exudates but constrain them in the wetted dressings immersing the wound bed. Herein, we fabricate an enhanced fractal self-pumping dressing by floating and accumulating hollow glass microspheres in the hydrogel precursor, that can continuously drain water at a non-declining high speed and effectively promote burn wound healing. Small hollow glass microspheres can split the fractal microchannels into smaller ones with higher fractal dimensions, resulting in higher absorption efficiency. In an in vivo burn wound model on the dorsum of murine, the enhanced fractal self-pumping dressing can significantly reduce the appearance of the wound area and alleviate tissue edema along the healing process. This study sheds light on designing high-efficiency and continuous-draining dressings for clinical applications.

IntroductionNutrient resorption is a key mechanism to conserve nutrients and overcome nutrient limitation in perennial plants. As an important afforested tree species in subtropical regions, Pinus massoniana grows well in nutrient-poor environments, however, the age-related pattern of nutrient acquisition strategy and the underlying mechanisms in P. massoniana plantations remain unclear.MethodsIn this study, concentrations of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) were measured in green and senesced needles, roots and soil samples collected from P. massoniana plantations with different stand ages (9-, 17-, 26-, 34- and 43-year-old) in south China. From these samples, nutrient resorption efficiency (RE) and stoichiometry were calculated.ResultsNeedle PRE significantly decreased with stand age, while there was no clear pattern of NRE along the stand development. Green needle N:P in older stands was significantly lower than in younger ones. Senesced needle C:P and N:P significantly decreased with stand age. Root and soil available P concentrations were significantly higher in older stands than in younger ones, and PRE was negatively correlated with soil available P concentration.DiscussionThere was a shift from “conservative consumption” to “resource spending” P-use strategy, and P limitation decreased with stand development of P. massoniana plantations. The results provide information of changes in nutrients dynamics, which is relevant for the sustainable management of subtropical forest plantations.

Abstract Here, we have evaluated the general genomic structure and diversity and studied the divergence resulting from selection and historical admixture events for a collection of worldwide chicken breeds. In total, 636 genomes (43 populations) were sequenced from chickens of American, Chinese, Indonesian, and European origin. Evaluated populations included wild junglefowl, rural indigenous chickens, breeds that have been widely used to improve modern western poultry populations and current commercial stocks bred for efficient meat and egg production. In‐depth characterizations of the genome structure and genomic relationships among these populations were performed, and population admixture events were investigated. In addition, the genomic architectures of several domestication traits and central documented events in the recent breeding history were explored. Our results provide detailed insights into the contributions from population admixture events described in the historical literature to the genomic variation in the domestic chicken. In particular, we find that the genomes of modern chicken stocks used for meat production both in eastern (Asia) and western (Europe/US) agriculture are dominated by contributions from heavy Asian breeds. Further, by exploring the link between genomic selective divergence and pigmentation, connections to functional genes feather coloring were confirmed.

Conventional single-component quantum dots (QDs) suffer from low recombination rates of photogenerated electrons and holes, which hinders their ability to meet the requirements for LED and laser applications. Therefore, it is urgent to design multicomponent heterojunction nanocrystals with these properties. Herein, we used CdSe quantum dot nanocrystals as a typical model, which were synthesized by means of a colloidal chemistry method at high temperatures. Then, CdS with a wide band gap was used to encapsulate the CdSe QDs, forming a CdSe@CdS core@shell heterojunction. Finally, the CdSe@CdS core@shell was modified through the growth of the ZnS shell to obtain CdSe@CdS@ZnS heterojunction nanocrystal hybrids. The morphologies, phases, structures and performance characteristics of CdSe@CdS@ZnS were evaluated using various analytical techniques, including transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and time-resolved transient photoluminescence spectroscopy. The results show that the energy band structure is transformed from type II to type I after the ZnS growth. The photoluminescence lifetime increases from 41.4 ns to 88.8 ns and the photoluminescence quantum efficiency reaches 17.05% compared with that of pristine CdSe QDs. This paper provides a fundamental study and a new route for studying light-emitting devices and biological imaging based on multicomponent QDs.

Background: Normal tension glaucoma (NTG) is considered a neurodegenerative disease with glaucomatous damage extending to diffuse brain areas. Therefore, this study aims to explore the abnormalities in the NTG structural network to help in the early diagnosis and course evaluation of NTG. Methods: The structural networks of 46 NTG patients and 19 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were constructed using diffusion tensor imaging, followed by graph theory analysis and correlation analysis of small-world properties with glaucoma clinical indicators. In addition, the network-based statistical analysis (NBS) method was used to compare structural network connectivity differences between NTG patients and healthy controls. Results: Structural brain networks in both NTG and NC groups exhibited small-world properties. However, the small-world index in the severe NTG group was reduced and correlated with a mean deviation of the visual field (MDVF) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness. When compared to healthy controls, degree centrality and nodal efficiency in visual brain areas were significantly decreased, and betweenness centrality and nodal local efficiency in both visual and nonvisual brain areas were also significantly altered in NTG patients (all p < 0.05, FDR corrected). Furthermore, NTG patients exhibited increased structural connectivity in the occipitotemporal area, with the left fusiform gyrus (FFG.L) as the hub (p < 0.05). Conclusions: NTG exhibited altered global properties and local properties of visual and cognitive-emotional brain areas, with enhanced structural connections within the occipitotemporal area. Moreover, the disrupted small-world properties of white matter might be imaging biomarkers for assessing NTG progression.

The Qilian Mountains (QMs) act as the “water tower” of the Hexi Corridors, playing an important role in the regional ecosystem security and economic development. Therefore, it is of great significance to understand the spatiotemporal characteristics of precipitation in the QMs. This study evaluated the performance of 21 models of phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) from 1959 to 1988 based on ERA5 and in situ datasets. In addition, the precipitation changing trend from 2015 to 2100 was projected according to four shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs): namely, SSP126, SSP245, SSP370, and SSP585. The results have shown the following: (1) all CMIP6 models could reflect the same precipitation changing trend, based on the observed datasets (−2.01 mm·10a−1), which was slightly lower than that of ERA5 (2.82 mm·10a−1). Multi-mode ensemble averaging (MME) showed that the projected precipitation-change trend of the four scenarios was 5.73, 9.15, 12.23, and 16.14 mm·10a−1, respectively. (2) The MME and ERA5 showed the same precipitation spatial pattern. Also, during the period 1959–1988, the MME in spring, summer, autumn and winter was 130.07, 224.62, 95.96, and 29.07 mm, respectively, and that of ERA5 was 98.57, 280.77, 96.85, and 22.64 mm, respectively. The largest precipitation difference in summer was because of strong convection and variable circulation. (3) From 2015 to 2100, the snow-to-rain ratio was between 0.1 and 1.1, and the snow-to-rain ratio climate tendency rate was concentrated in the range of −10~0.1 mm·10a−1. Both of these passed the significance test (p < 0.05). The projected rainfall of all four SSPs all showed an increasing trend with values of 6.20, 11.31, 5.64, and 20.41 mm·10a−1, respectively. The snowfall of the four SSPs all showed a decreasing trend with values of 0.42, 2.18, 3.34, and 4.17 mm·10a−1, respectively.

Abstract Background Growth traits are of great importance for poultry breeding and production and have been the topic of extensive investigation, with many quantitative trait loci (QTL) detected. However, due to their complex genetic background, few causative genes have been confirmed and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear, thus limiting our understanding of QTL and their potential use for the genetic improvement of poultry. Therefore, deciphering the genetic architecture is a promising avenue for optimising genomic prediction strategies and exploiting genomic information for commercial breeding. The objectives of this study were to: (1) conduct a genome-wide association study to identify key genetic factors and explore the polygenicity of chicken growth traits; (2) investigate the efficiency of genomic prediction in broilers; and (3) evaluate genomic predictions that harness genomic features. Results We identified five significant QTL, including one on chromosome 4 with major effects and four on chromosomes 1, 2, 17, and 27 with minor effects, accounting for 14.5 to 34.1% and 0.2 to 2.6% of the genomic additive genetic variance, respectively, and 23.3 to 46.7% and 0.6 to 4.5% of the observed predictive accuracy of breeding values, respectively. Further analysis showed that the QTL with minor effects collectively had a considerable influence, reflecting the polygenicity of the genetic background. The accuracy of genomic best linear unbiased predictions (BLUP) was improved by 22.0 to 70.3% compared to that of the conventional pedigree-based BLUP model. The genomic feature BLUP model further improved the observed prediction accuracy by 13.8 to 15.2% compared to the genomic BLUP model. Conclusions A major QTL and four minor QTL were identified for growth traits; the remaining variance was due to QTL effects that were too small to be detected. The genomic BLUP and genomic feature BLUP models yielded considerably higher prediction accuracy compared to the pedigree-based BLUP model. This study revealed the polygenicity of growth traits in yellow-plumage chickens and demonstrated that the predictive ability can be greatly improved by using genomic information and related features.

PURPOSE:The present work aims to evaluate whether dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance Imaging (DCE-MRI) can monitor non-invasively the blocking effect on microvessels of the Combretastatin-A4-phosphate (CA4P) and assess the therapeutic efficacy. METHODS:Forty rabbits were implanted the VX2 tumors specimens. Two weeks later, serial MRI (T1 weighted image, T2 weighted image and DCE) were performed at 0 h, 4 h, 24 h, 3 d and 7 d after CA4P (10 mg/kg) or saline treatment. The parameters of DCE (Ktrans, Kep, Ve and iAUC60) of enhancement tumor portions were measured. Then all the tumor samples were stained to count microvessel density (MVD). At last, two-way repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyze the difference between and within groups. The correlation between the Ktrans, Kep, Ve, iAUC60 and MVD was analyzed by using the Pearson correlation analysis and Spearman's rank correlation.RESULTS:The Ktrans and iAUC60 in the CA4P group were lower than the values of the control group at 4 h after treatment, which have significant differences (D-value: -0.133 min-1, 95%CI: -0.169~-0.097 min-1，F = 59.109, p < 0.001 for Ktrans; D-value: -10.533 mmol/sec, 95%CI: -17.147~-3.919 mmol/sec，F = 11.110, and p = 0.003 for iAUC60). In the CA4P group, the Ktrans and iAUC60 reached the minimum values at 4 h. There were significant differences between 4 h and other different time points of the Ktrans and iAUC60 in the treatment group (all p < 0.01). The parameters Ktrans (r = 0.532, P = 0.016 and r = 0.681, P = 0.001, respectively) and iAUC60 (r = 0.580, P = 0.007 and r = 0.568, P = 0.009, respectively) of 7 days showed correlation with MVD in both groups, while Kep and Ve did not show correlation with MVD (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION:The blocking effect of microvessels after CA4P treatment can be evaluated by DCE-MRI, and the parameters of quantitative Ktrans and semi- quantitative iAUC60 can assess the change of the tumor angiogenesis noninvasively.

Glacier melting in the Himalayas provides indispensable water resources for downstream inhabitants. Glacier mass balance (MB) studies have important implications for hazard management of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). However, Himalayan glacier MB results vary considerably among different studies with large uncertainties in satellite-based geodetic measurements, highlighting the necessity for further independent investigations and validation from multiple satellite platforms. Based on InSAR, photogrammetry, and laser altimetry techniques, we generate nine data sets of surface elevation differences (Dh) to study glacier geodetic MB in Rongbuk Catchment at the northern slope of Mt. Qomolangma. The data sets include five consecutive time periods over the last 48 years, i.e., 1974–2000, 2000–2006, 2006–2012, 2012–2015, and 2015–2021, and four overlapping periods of 1974–2012, 1974–2015, 2000–2015, and 1974–2021. The main results are summarized as follows. 1) Based on common reference DEM, geodetic MB was −0.21 ± 0.11 m w.e.a–1 in 1974–2000, −0.22 ± 0.05 m w.e. a–1 in 1974–2015, and −0.20 ± 0.03 m w.e. a–1 in 1974–2021. Geodetic MB presented negative twice since 2000 as measured by ordinary, consecutive short-term analysis, which was −0.41 ± 0.11 m w.e.a–1 in 2000–2006, −0.50 ± 0.54 m w.e.a–1 in 2006–2012, and −0.45 ± 0.11 m w.e.a–1 in 2015–2021. 2) Data validation by in-situ stake-observations at 5350, 5450, and 5500 m a.s.l in 1959–1960 and the 2000s, our results demonstrated convincing altitude effects on glacier change. Between 5150 m a.s.l. and 5800 m a.s.l., Dh presented a more downwasting rate with increasing altitude. While above 5800 m a.s.l., Dh became less negative with increasing altitude, and glaciers presented thickening trend above 6200 m a.s.l. 3) With the difference of Dh by 10 m altitude intervals (DDh), we located a sharp surface lowering zone on the debris-covered glacier tongue at 5240 ± 20 m in the 1970s. We postulated that it could be the glacier terminus under debris cover, which moved upward by 190 ± 20 m in the past five decades. With DDh, we also defined the turning point altitude at 5800 m ± 20 m, where Dh began to increase to be less negative with altitude. Moreover, summer temperature change and the number of melting days clearly explained the Dh change with altitude. 4) Glacier contribution to runoff was estimated by 30 ± 16 % from 1974 to 2021, however, our data also showed that approximately 70 % of runoff was from melting glaciers in 2015–2021, implying an amplifying effect of recent global warming on glacier contributions. In summary, our findings proved that DDh was an effective indicator for exploring mountain glacier change. The varying results revealed here indicates that more studies would be helpful to define and predict glacier, climatic and hydrological changes in the Himalayas with multiple techniques and observations based on a common reference over long term.

With the rapid development of science and technology, high-resolution remote sensing cameras are now widely used in various fields. At the beginning of camera attitude adjustment, residual torque due to state changes can affect platform stability and lead to the degradation of imaging quality. This paper analyzes the effect of external disturbances on the attitude of the satellite platform according to the Newton–Euler method. In order to effectively realize the self-balancing of the torque of the remote sensing camera rotary table and eliminate the influence of the residual torque on the stability of the satellite platform, this study designs a torque balancing mechanism for the two-axis rotary table of a remote sensing camera based on the first-generation balancing mechanism. Firstly, this paper provides a detailed analysis of the mechanism equilibrium principle from the theoretical point of view based on the theories related to momentum moment theorem and momentum moment conservation law. Then, the dynamics model of the torque balancing mechanism is built, and the dynamics simulation analysis is carried out in this paper. The analysis results show that compared with the first-generation torque balancing mechanism, the residual torque of the second-generation torque balancing mechanism is reduced by 66.67%, the peak value of the residual torque is reduced by 57.55%, the mass of the balancing flywheel is reduced by 74.14%, and the torque balancing time is reduced by 42.86%. Finally, two torque balancing mechanism prototypes were fabricated at equal scale for test verification in this paper. The test results show that compared with the first-generation torque balancing mechanism, the residual torque of the second-generation test prototype is reduced by 40%, the peak of the residual torque is reduced by 25%, the mass of the balancing flywheel is reduced by 60.34%, and the torque balancing time is reduced by 51.06%. There are some differences between the simulation analysis and the experimental results, but the overall trend is consistent with the theory. Through theoretical derivation, simulation analysis and experimental verification, the correctness and feasibility of the proposed second-generation torque balancing mechanism are fully confirmed, which has certain reference significance and engineering application value for the torque self-balancing scheme of rotary tables.

The predominant focus of research in high-speed optical wireless communication (OWC) lies in line-of-sight (LOS) links with narrow infrared beams. However, the implementation of precise tracking and steering necessitates delicate active devices, thereby presenting a formidable challenge in establishing a cost-effective wireless transmission. Other than using none-line-of-sight (NLOS) links with excessive link losses and multi-path distortions, the simplification of the tracking and steering process can be alternatively achieved through the utilization of divergent optical beams in LOS. This paper addresses the issue by relaxing the stringent link budget associated with divergent Gaussian-shaped optical beams and narrow field-of-view (FOV) receivers in LOS OWC through the independent optimization of geometrical path loss and fiber coupling loss. More importantly, the geometrical path loss is effectively mitigated by modifying the transverse intensity distribution of the optical beam using manipulations of multi-mode fibers (MMFs) in an all-fiber configuration. In addition, the sufficiently excited higher order modes (HOMs) of MMFs enable a homogenized distribution of received optical powers (ROPs) within the coverage area, which facilitates the mobility of end-users. Comparative analysis against back-to-back links without free-space transmission demonstrates the proposed scheme’s ability to achieve low power penalties. With the minimized link losses, experimental results demonstrate a 10 Gbps error-free (BER < 10−13) LOS OWC downlink transmission at 2.5 m over an angular range of 10° × 10° without using any optical pre-amplifications at a typical PIN receiver. The proposed scheme provides a simple and low-cost solution for high-speed and short-range indoor wireless applications.

Abstract RNA base editing is potential for cellular function research and genetic diseases treating. There are two main RNA base editors, REPAIR and RESCUE, for in vitro use. REPAIR was developed by fusing inactivated Cas13 (dCas13) with the adenine deaminase domain of ADAR2, which efficiently performs adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing. RESCUE, which performs both cytidine-to-uridine (C-to-U) and A-to-I RNA editing, was developed by fusing inactivated Cas13 (dCas13) with the evolved ADAR2. However, the relatively low editing efficiency of the RESCUE system limits its broad application. Here, we constructed an enhanced RESCUE (eRESCUE) system; this dPspCas13b-RESCUE-NES system was generated by fusing inactivated PspCas13b with the evolved ADAR2. We determined the endogenous mRNA A-to-I and C-to-U editing efficiency mediated by the dPspCas13b-RESCUE-NES system in HEK-293T cells. This new RNA base editor was then used to induce 177Ser/Gly conversion of inhibitor kappa B kinase β (IKKβ) by changing the genetic code from AGU to GGU. The results showed that the eRESCUE editor mediates more efficient A-to-I and C-to-U RNA editing than the RESCUE RNA editor, as was previously reported. The 177Ser/Gly conversion of IKKβ, accomplished by converting the genetic code from AGU to GGU, resulted in a decrease in the phosphorylation of IKKβ and downregulation of downstream IKKβ-related genes. In summary, we developed a more efficient RNA base editor, eRESCUE, which may provide a useful tool for biomedical research and genetic disease treatment. Video Abstract

Abstract The currently available RESCUE RNA base editing system demonstrates considerable potential for the treatment of genetic diseases at the transcriptional level. However, the relatively high incidence of off-target events hampers the precise RNA editing, thereby limiting its use in the clinical setting. This study describes a new RNA base editing method, named ecRESCUE, which utilizes inducible stabilization of the protein ecDHFR DD fused at the C-terminal of the original RESCUE system. In vitro experiments in 293T cells showed that the ecRESCUE editor markedly reduced the incidence of off-target single nucleotide polymorphisms without affecting the RNA A-to-I and C-to-U base editing efficiency. Altogether, these results demonstrate that the inducible ecRESCUE system represents an attractive approach to regulate and improve the outcome of the available RNA base editor with reduced off-targeting activity. Video Abstract

Based on the modal decomposition and least square method, full-depth tidal currents and corresponding internal tidal modes can be obtained from limited observations. Through a series of experiments based on direct observations at the mooring MP1 and synthetic observations at the moorings MP2 and MP3 in the South China Sea, the essential observations for reconstructing full-depth tidal currents are determined. Both observations in the upper ocean (especially near the thermocline) and deep layer (below 500 m) are essential in the reconstruction. For the upper ocean, an up-looking acoustic Doppler current profiler near the thermocline is generally essential, which can also be replaced by at least 2-4 current meters (CMs). The number of CM depends on the complexity and range of buoyancy frequency variation. For the deep layer, more observations are needed as water depth increases. The observations with the CM interval/water depth ratios about 0.2 can effectively reconstruct full-depth tidal currents below 500 m based on one barotropic mode and first three baroclinic modes. Significantly, the CMs in the middle of the deep layer are more important than those at two ends of the deep layer, which may provide more cost-effective design at a small loss of accuracy. Furthermore, the CMs with the depth interval/water depth ratios less than 1/8 in the deep layer can effectively reconstruct full-depth tidal currents with high-mode baroclinic motions.

The sedimentary strata in the Lingshan Island area are gaining attention because of their unique sedimentary and tectonic characteristics. However, the provenance and the depositional and tectonic setting in this area remain the focus of controversy. There is a significant slump deposit with lateral length up to 250 m in the Laohuzui section at the top of the Laiyang Group, which differs from the underlying turbidite deposits in morphology and composition. The sandstone in the Laohuzui section was continuously sampled and analyzed for major trace and rare earth elements. The results showed that the Laohuzui section is mixed with a continental margin provenance from the re-cyclic deposition in the arid region, which is different from the continental island arc provenance in the lower part of the Laiyang Group. Through the geochemical study of the igneous gravel contained in the olistolite and the comparison with the igneous rocks in the surrounding area, it is observed that the properties of the igneous gravel are most like those of the igneous rock deposit in the Zhucheng-Taolin area. In addition, the Lingshan Island and the Zhucheng-Taolin areas have similar sedimentary processes, suggesting that both received provenance from the Jiaonan uplift at the end of the Early Cretaceous. This study clarified the depositional processes of the later period of the Laiyang Group deposition in the Lingshan Island area.

The usage of flexible joints has greatly facilitated the widespread application of the Stewart construction mechanism in many advanced fields. This research focuses on the problem that the flexible joints in the Stewart mechanism cause additional stiffness effects on the whole system. A method for solving the additional stiffness of flexible joints combining the finite element method (FEM) is proposed, which avoids the complex theoretical derivation process and allows the advantages of high versatility and accuracy. Three aspects make up the main content. Firstly, based on dynamics theory, the theoretical analysis and demonstration of the method are conducted according to the symmetry characteristics of the Stewart platform. Next, the additional stiffness of a designed Stewart platform with flexible joints was solved following the method proposed, and the obtained results were verified through FEM simulation under the given conditions, which give a maximum natural frequency deviation against the theory of 2.26%. Thirdly, dynamics tests associated with the Stewart platform were conducted, and the deviation between the Stewart Platform’s natural frequencies separately obtained from the tests and the theory does not exceed 5%, which demonstrates the effectiveness and accuracy of the method in engineering applications. This study aims to provide technical support for the development of Stewart mechanisms with flexible joints.

With the development of underwater navigation and underwater communication, it remains difficult to obtain time delay measurements after propagating long distance. This paper proposes an improved high-accuracy time delay measuring method for long distance underwater channel propagation. First, by sending an encoded signal, the signal acquisition is carried out at the receiving end. Then, to improve signal to noise ratio (SNR), bandpass filtering is carried out on the receiving end. Next, considering the random changes in the underwater sound propagation channel, a strategy is proposed to select the optimal time window for cross-correlation. Then, new regulations are proposed to calculate the cross-correlation results. To verify the effectiveness of the algorithm, we compared it with other algorithms under low SNR conditions using Bellhop simulation data. Finally, the accurate time delay is obtained. With underwater experiments over different distances, the method proposed by the paper achieves high accuracy. The error is about 10−3 s. The proposed method makes a contribution to underwater navigation and communication.

Extensive efforts for quantifying regional glacier mass balance in the Qilian Mountains have been made using the geodetic method, but these estimations were rarely extended back to the period before 2000. This study presents glacier mass budgets in the Turgen Daban Range, over the western Qilian Mountain, from 1966/75 to 2020 by means of the digital elevation models generated by the topographic maps and ASTER images. The results show that the glacier mass decreased by −18.79 ± 12.48 m w.e. during the past 50 years. The average mass loss rate is estimated to be −0.19 ± 0.08 m w.e.a−1 for the 1966/75-2006 period and −0.45 ± 0.17 m w.e.a−1 during 2006–2020, respectively, suggesting a remarkable acceleration of glacier mass loss. This may be attributable to the significant increase in air temperature and the insignificant precipitation increase which cannot offset glacier melting caused by increased temperature. Due to the melting and shrinking of glaciers, the area of glacial lakes increases by 2.83 km2 from 1987 to 2020.

Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) controls metabolism and tissue growth through binding to the cognate receptor (GHRHR). Here authors report the structure of the human GHRHR bound to its endogenous ligand and the stimulatory G protein which reveals a characteristic hormone recognition pattern of GHRH by GHRHR.

Soil microorganisms play key roles in biogeochemical cycling in forest ecosystems. However, whether the responses of microbial community with stand development differed in rhizosphere and bulk soils remains unknown. We collected rhizosphere and bulk soil in Chinese fir plantations with different stand ages (7a, 15a, 24a, and 34a) in subtropical China, and determined bacterial and fungal community variation via high-throughput sequencing. The results showed that soil bacterial, but not fungal, community diversity significantly differed among stand ages and between rhizosphere and bulk soils (p < 0.05). The differences in Shannon–Wiener and Simpson’s indices between rhizosphere and bulk soil varied with stand age, with significant higher soil bacterial diversity in rhizosphere than bulk soils in 7a and 34a plantations (p < 0.05), but there were no significant difference in soil bacterial diversity between rhizosphere and bulk soils in 15a and 24a plantations (p > 0.05). Soil microbial community composition varied significantly with stand age but not between the rhizosphere and bulk soil. The dominant bacterial phyla at all ages were Acidobacteria and Proteobacteria, while the dominant fungal phyla were Ascomycota and Basidiomycota in both rhizosphere and bulk soil. They showed inconsistent distribution patterns along stand age gradient (7–34a) in the rhizosphere and bulk soil, suggesting distinct ecological strategy (r-strategist vs. k-strategist) of different microbial taxa, as well as changes in the microenvironment (i.e., nutrient stoichiometry and root exudates). Moreover, bacterial and fungal community composition in rhizosphere and bulk soil were governed by distinct driving factors. TP and NH4+–N are the two most important factors regulating bacterial and fungal community structure in rhizosphere soil, while pH and NO3––N, DON, and TN were driving factors for bacterial and fungal community structure in bulk soil, respectively. Collectively, our results demonstrated that the changes in microbial diversity and composition were more obvious along stand age gradients than between sampling locations (rhizosphere vs. bulk soil) in Chinese fir plantations.

In this work, the facile fabrication of Co3O4 particles/reduced graphene oxide (Co3O4/rGO) composites on Indium tin oxide (ITO) slide was achieved by an electrophoretic deposition and annealing process. The deposition time and ratio of the precursors were optimized. Structural characterization and chemical composition investigation indicated successful loading of Co3O4 particles on graphene sheets. When applied as a non-enzymatic H2O2 sensor, Co3O4/rGO showed significant electrocatalytic activity, with a wide linear range (0.1–19.5 mM) and high sensitivity (0.2247 mA mM−1 cm−2). The good anti-interference ability, reproducibility, and long-term stability of the constructed sensor were also presented. The application of Co3O4/rGO in real sample analysis was evaluated in human urine sample with satisfactory results, indicating the feasibility of the sensor in physiological and medical applications.

To better understand the future evolution of Jiemayangzong Glacier (JMYZG), the headstream of the Yarlung Zangbo River, we simulated its future ice thickness evolution using a two-dimensional higher-order numerical flowline model. Due to the sparsity of in situ observational data, we used a combination of field observations and inversion models of velocity and ice thickness to initialize the model parameters. We validated the parametrizations of the calving scheme by comparing the modeled and observed glacier terminus retreats. To estimate the response of JMYZG to climate change, the ice flow model was forced with different climate scenarios. We found that the JMYZG will retreat under different climate scenarios. By 2100, the volume loss of JMYZG will be approximately 34%, 67% and 81% under SSP1-2.6, SSP3-7.0 and SSP5-8.5, respectively.

The A’nyêmaqên Mountains have the largest concentration of glaciers in the Yellow River basin, which play a crucial role in regulating the runoff regime of the Yellow River. Thus, the quantification of glacier mass balance and its effects on river runoff is greatly required. However, current studies mainly focus on mass changes since 2000. Here, we report for the first time region-wide glacier elevation and mass changes, which were derived from digital elevation models (DEMs) produced from historical topographic maps (TOPO), SRTM retrievals, and ASTER L1A stereo imagery spanning the past 50 years. The results indicated a negative mass balance (−0.24 ± 0.05 m w.e. a−1) of all glaciers for the 1966–2018 timespan. The mass loss rapidly accelerated from −0.16 ± 0.09 m w.e. a−1 in 1966–2000 to −0.36 ± 0.06 m w.e. a−1 during the period from 2000–2018. The rise in mass loss rate from 2000 onwards was mainly associated with the rapidly increased summer warming.

High spatial and temporal resolution products of near-surface air temperature (T2m) over the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) are required as baseline information in a variety of research disciplines. Due to the sparse network of in situ data on the GrIS, remote sensing data and machine learning methods provide great advantages, due to their capacity and accessibility. The Land Surface Temperature (LST) at 780 m resolution from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and T2m observation from 25 Automatic Weather Stations (AWSs) are used to establish a relationship over the GrIS by comparing multiple machine learning approaches. Four machine learning methods—neural network (NN), gaussian process regression (GPR), support vector machine (SVM), and random forest (RF)—are used to reconstruct the T2m at daily and monthly scales. We develop a reliable T2m reconstruction model based on key meteorological parameters, such as albedo, wind speed, and specific humidity. The reconstructions daily and monthly products are generated on a 780 m × 780 m spatial grid spanning from 2007 to 2019. When compared with in situ observations, the NN method presents the highest accuracy, with R of 0.96, RMSE of 2.67 °C, and BIAS of −0.36 °C. Similar to the regional climate model (RACMO2.3p2), the reconstructed T2m can better reflect the spatial pattern in term of latitude, longitude, and altitude effects.