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YpsR, a pivotal regulatory protein in the quorum-sensing (QS) of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis(Y. pstb), is essential for molecular signaling, yet its molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Herein, this study systematically investigates the interactions between YpsR and acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs), shedding light on the selective mechanism of YpsR to various AHL molecules. Using molecular docking and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis, we confirmed YpsR's binding affinities, with the strongest observed for 3OC6-HSL, which notably inhibited Y. pstb growth. Additionally, we engineered a whole-cell biosensor based on YpsR-AHL interaction, which exhibited sensitivity to the signal molecule 3OC6-HSL produced by Y. pstb. Furthermore, key YpsR residues (S32, Y50, W54, D67) involved in AHL binding were identified and validated. Overall, this research elucidates the mechanisms of QS signal recognition in Y. pstb, providing valuable insights that support the development of diagnostic tools for detecting Y. pstb infections.

Abstract Wireless sensing of the wave propagation direction from radio sources lays the foundation for communication, radar, navigation, etc. However, the existing signal processing paradigm for the direction of arrival estimation requires the radio frequency electronic circuit to demodulate and sample the multichannel baseband signals followed by a complicated computing process, which places the fundamental limit on its sensing speed and energy efficiency. Here, we propose the super-resolution diffractive neural networks (S-DNN) to process electromagnetic (EM) waves directly for the DOA estimation at the speed of light. The multilayer meta-structures of S-DNN generate super-oscillatory angular responses in local angular regions that can perform the all-optical DOA estimation with angular resolutions beyond the diffraction limit. The spatial-temporal multiplexing of passive and reconfigurable S-DNNs is utilized to achieve high-resolution DOA estimation over a wide field of view. The S-DNN is validated for the DOA estimation of multiple radio sources over 5 GHz frequency bandwidth with estimation latency over two to four orders of magnitude lower than the state-of-the-art commercial devices in principle. The results achieve the angular resolution over an order of magnitude, experimentally demonstrated with four times, higher than diffraction-limited resolution. We also apply S-DNN’s edge computing capability, assisted by reconfigurable intelligent surfaces, for extremely low-latency integrated sensing and communication with low power consumption. Our work is a significant step towards utilizing photonic computing processors to facilitate various wireless sensing and communication tasks with advantages in both computing paradigms and performance over electronic computing.

A rapid, simple, effective, and green method for the determination of betaine and trigonelline from Lycium chinense Mill. (LCM) and the quantification of the trigonelline in coffee was proposed and validated by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometric (MALDI-TOF MS) detection. Due to without chromatographic separation, the method greatly shortened the detection time. The detection of betaine and trigonelline concentration showed good linearity in the range of 1–100 μg/mL and 0.01–100 μg/mL, with correlation coefficients r2 = 0.9962 and 0.9946, respectively. The good reproducibility and reliability of the method were demonstrated by excellent intraday and interday precisions with RSD

PurposeStatins may have a protective effect against osteoarthritis (including knee osteoarthritis and hip osteoarthritis); however, the link between statins and osteoarthritis risk is incompletely established. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between statins and osteoarthritis risk through Mendelian randomization analysis using pooled information from a large population-wide genome-wide association study (GWAS).MethodsStatin-related single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were obtained from FinnGen’s latest 9th edition database, and data on osteoarthritis, knee osteoarthritis, and hip osteoarthritis were acquired from the IEU OpenGWAS, the UK Biobank, and Arthritis Research UK Osteoarthritis Genetics (ArcOGEN) database, respectively. The inverse-variance weighting method is an important analysis method to estimate the causal effect. Weighted median method, simple median method, weighted median estimator method, and MR–Egger regression were employed to supplement the explanation. Odds ratio and 95%CI were used to evaluate the causal relationship among statins and the osteoarthritis risk, osteoarthritis in the knee, and osteoarthritis in the hip. Second, sensitivity analysis was carried out to validate the reliability of the results. Cochran’s Q test was employed to test heterogeneity, MR–Egger intercept was employed to test whether horizontal pleiotropy existed, and single-nucleotide polymorphisms with potential influence were determined by the one-method analysis.Results(1) The results of the inverse variance weighting method showed Gene prediction indicated that statins were associated with osteoarthritis (OR = 0.998, 95% CI: 0.996–0.999, P = 0.01) and knee osteoarthritis (OR = 0.964, 95% CI: knee (0.940–0.989, P = 0.005) and hip osteoarthritis risk were associated (OR = 0.928, 95% CI: 0.901–0.955, P = 4.28 × 10−7). (2) MR–Egger intercept analysis did not detect potential horizontal pleiotropy (osteoarthritis: P = 0.658; knee osteoarthritis: P = 0.600; and hip osteoarthritis: P = 0.141). (3) The findings provide evidence that statins reduce osteoarthritis risk, osteoarthritis in the knee, and osteoarthritis in the hip, as described in observational studies, and the specific mechanisms by which statins treat osteoarthritis require further investigation.ConclusionThe results of this study, at the genetic level, reveal a negative causal relationship between statins and osteoarthritis, and this causal relationship is also present in knee and hip osteoarthritis. This study provides evidence against the potential of statins in the treatment of osteoarthritis, prompting the clinical treatment of osteoarthritis to consider improving the start and compliance of statins in the future.

Mobile phones are central to modern communication, yet for individuals with tremors, the precision required for touch-based interfaces is a significant hurdle. In pursuit of social equality and to empower those with tremors to interact more effectively with mobile technology, this study introduces an optical see-through Augmented Reality (AR) system equipped with a stabilized filter. This system is specially designed to assist individuals with tremors by stabilizing and translating shaky movements into precise virtual commands, allowing users with hand tremor to perform interactions with mobile more effectively and accurately. The first experiment assessed the stabilized filter’s effectiveness using a one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), comparing task completion times with and without the filter. The results showed a statistically significant improvement in operation times with the filter. Subjective evaluations from participants further corroborated these findings, with users reporting a notably better interaction experience when the filter was applied. Feedback highlighted the filter’s stabilization capabilities and its facilitation of smoother interactions, leading to increased user satisfaction and comfort. The second phase of our research involved a comparative analysis, investigating the interactions of individuals with and without simulated tremors using two distinct interfaces within various environments. The experiment was structured around a matrix of conditions comprising two system types (Mobile and AR), two interface designs (Traditional and our Redesigned Interface), and two user states (Non-simulated and Tremor-simulated). Performance metrics focused on task completion times and user feedback via questionnaires revealed that the AR environment was deemed more conducive to operation by those with simulated tremors, due to improved accessibility and interaction quality. In conclusion, this research confirms that the AR system with the stabilized filter represents a meaningful advancement in assistive technologies for tremor patients. The positive response from the tremor community signals the AR system’s promise in fostering greater technological inclusivity and independence for individuals with motor impairment.

The theory of social-ecological systems (SESs) provides an ideal tool for understanding complex human-nature systems in protected areas. We adopt Ostrom’s SESs framework to analyze the complex interactions within Qilian Mountain National Park (QMNP), an essential ecological security barrier in China. Through qualitative and quantitative analyses of action situations, we identify the interactions among the resource system, resource units, governance system, and actors. The results show that applying the SESF in protected areas is feasible and operable; the development level of ecosystems in QMNP is better than that of the social systems; and the coupling coordination among the four subsystems is at primary coordination (0.6–0.7), indicating that the interaction between four subsystems needs to be strengthened. Moreover, the comprehensive evaluation index and the interactions between subsystems differ among townships, indicating the necessity for tailored management strategies. We emphasize integrating social components into protected areas management to achieve sustainable development and resilience in SESs.

IntroductionPhosphorus (P) fertilizer is critical to maintain a high yield and quality of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). There are several fertilizer types and soil types in China, and the application of a single type of P fertilizer may not be suitable for present-day alfalfa production.MethodsIn order to select the optimal combination of alfalfa and soil type and fertilizer type for improving P utilization efficiency. We conducted a greenhouse pot experiment, calcium superphosphate (SSP), diammonium phosphate (DAP), ammonium polyphosphate (APP), potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KP), and no-fertilizer control treatments were applied to alfalfa in sandy and saline-alkali soils. The response of alfalfa root morphology and rhizosphere processes to different P fertilizers was investigated.Results and discussionThe results showed that shoot biomass of alfalfa was slightly higher in sandy soil than in saline–alkali soil. Shoot biomass of alfalfa increased by 223%-354% in sandy soil under P treatments compared with the control, and total root length increased significantly by 74% and 53% in DAP and SSP treatments, respectively. In saline–alkali soil, alfalfa shoot biomass was significantly increased by 229% and 275% in KP and DAP treatments, and total root length was increased by 109% only in DAP treatment. Net P uptake of alfalfa in DAP treatment was the highest in both soils, which were 0.73 and 0.54 mg plant-1, respectively. Alfalfa shoot P concentration was significantly positively correlated with shoot and root biomass (P < 0.05, 0.01 or 0.001) whereas negatively correlated with acid phosphatase concentration (P < 0.05). Improvement of plant growth and P uptake induced by P fertilizer application was greater in sandy soil than in saline–alkali soil. DAP and KP was the most efficient P fertilizers in both sandy soil and saline–alkali soil.

Studying the dielectric response of topological insulators (TIs) can unveil their unique physical mechanisms such as charge transport and spin-orbit coupling effects. However, due to the manifestation of material's topological nature and band structure primarily in nanofilm, such thickness poses challenges for dielectric testing. To date, research on TI dielectric aspects remains relatively unexplored. Therefore, this paper successfully synthesizes nanofilm of quaternary topological insulator Bi1·2Sb0·8Te0·4Se2.6 (BSTS) using laser molecular beam epitaxy (LMBE) technique. Utilizing a wide-frequency dielectric spectrometer and a comprehensive physical properties measurement system (PPMS), we measured and thoroughly analyzed the dielectric polarization and charge transport characteristics of BSTS. We observed various polarization responses in the frequency range of 101–103 Hz, with the dipole orientation gradually failing to keep pace with the frequency increase in the range of 103–105 Hz, and the relaxation polarization unable to establish itself in the range of 105–107 Hz, with polarization primarily contributed by displacement polarization. Subsequently, we further analyzed the dependence of BSTS dielectric polarization response on temperature and film thickness, which will help reveal the influence of external factors on TI dielectric response, providing crucial insights for controlling TI materials' dielectric response. This not only deepens our understanding of the fundamental physical properties of this novel material but also offers important scientific basis and technological support for its applications in quantum computing, photonics, spintronics, and other fields.

Abstract Traditional Chinese medicine injections (TCMIs) is a new dosage form of Chinese medicine, which plays a unique role in rescuing patients with critical illnesses that are difficult to replace. With the rapid development and widespread application of TCMIs in recent years, their adverse events have emerged and attracted much attention. Among them, pseudo-allergic reactions, i.e., the most significant adverse reactions occurring with the first dose without immunoglobulin E mediated conditions. Currently, studies on the types of TCMIs and antibiotic mechanisms that cause pseudo-allergic reactions are incomplete, and standard models and technical guidelines for assessing TCMIs have not been established. First, this review describes the causes of pseudo-allergic reactions, in which the components and structures responsible for pseudo-allergic reactions are summarized. Second, the mechanisms by which pseudo-allergic reactions are discussed, including direct stimulation of mast cells and complement activation. Then, research models of pseudo-allergic reaction diseases are reviewed, including animal models and cellular models. Finally, the outlook and future challenges for the development of pseudo-allergic reactions in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are outlined. This shed new light on the assessment and risk prevention of pseudo-allergic reactions in TCM and the prevention of clinical adverse reactions in TCM.

Abstract Background Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor among women worldwide. GREB1L is a protein-coding gene. Previous studies have shown that GREB1L plays a vital role in lung and gastric adenocarcinoma. Currently, there is no relevant report about its role in breast cancer. Methods The Cancer Genome Atlas database was used to compare the expression level of GREB1L between tumor and normal tissues. The TISIDB website was used for prognosis analysis. The LinkedOmics database was used to predict the potential biological mechanism of GREB1L in breast cancer. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the GREB1L expression level in breast tissue. Western blotting was used to detect the GREB1L expression level in cell lines. Transwell assays, CCK-8 cell proliferation assays, and colony formation assays were used to detect the migration, invasion, proliferation, and colony formation abilities of cells. Subcutaneous xenograft models were used to detect the in vivo tumor formation abilities of cells. Results GREB1L is highly expressed in breast cancer tissues and breast cancer cells. KEGG enrichment analysis suggested that GREB1L participates in the regulation of the Hedgehog signaling pathway; changes in GREB1L expression affected the migration and invasion abilities of MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Although changes in GREB1L expression did not affect their proliferation and colony formation abilities in vitro and in vivo, they affected the expression of tumor metastasis-related genes in vivo. The overexpression of GREB1L in breast cancer predicted a favorable prognosis. Conclusion These results showed that GREB1L is involved in the development of breast cancer, and it may be a potential molecular marker for predicting the prognosis of breast cancer.

Tremor is a prevalent neurological disorder characterized by involuntary shaking or trembling of body parts. This condition impairs fine motor skills and hand coordination to varying degrees and can even affect overall body mobility. As a result, tremors severely disrupt the daily lives and work of those affected, significantly limiting their physical activity space. This study developed an innovative spatial augmented reality (SAR) system aimed at assisting individuals with tremor disorders to overcome their physical limitations and expand their range of activities. The system integrates eye-tracking and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, enabling users to smoothly control objects in the real world through eye movements. It uses a virtual stabilization algorithm for stable interaction with objects in the real environment. The study comprehensively evaluated the system’s performance through three experiments: (1) assessing the effectiveness of the virtual stabilization algorithm in enhancing the system’s ability to assist individuals with tremors in stable and efficient interaction with remote objects, (2) evaluating the system’s fluidity and stability in performing complex interactive tasks, and (3) investigating the precision and efficiency of the system in remote interactions within complex physical environments. The results demonstrated that the system significantly improves the stability and efficiency of interactions between individuals with tremor and remote objects, reduces operational errors, and enhances the accuracy and communication efficiency of interactions.

The evolution of the H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses has led to the emergence of distinct groups with genetically similar clusters of hemagglutinin (HA) sequences. In this study, a consensus H5 HA sequence was cloned into the baculovirus expression system. The HA protein was expressed in baculovirus-infected insect cells and utilized as the antigen for the production of an oil emulsion-based H5 avian influenza vaccine (rBacH5Con5Mut). Twenty-one-day-old SPF chickens were immunized with this vaccine and then challenged at 21 days post-vaccination with clade 2.3.2.1, clade 2.3.4.4, and clade 7.2 of H5 HPAI viruses. The sera of vaccinated chickens exhibited high hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titers against the rBacH5 vaccine antigen, while lower HI titers were observed against the different challenge virus H5 hemagglutinins. Furthermore, the rBacH5Con5Mut vaccine provided 100% protection from mortality and clinical signs. Virus isolation results showed that oropharyngeal and cloacal shedding was prevented in 100% of the vaccinated chickens when challenged with clade 2.3.2.1 and clade 2.3.4.4 H5 viruses. When the rBacH5Con5Mut vaccine candidate was administrated at one day of age, 100% protection was demonstrated against the challenge of clade 2.3.4.4 virus at three weeks of age, indicating the potential of this vaccine for hatchery vaccination. Overall, A single immunization of rBacH5Con5Mut vaccine candidate with a consensus HA antigen can protect chickens against different clades of H5 HPAI viruses throughout the rearing period of broiler chickens without a boost, thus fulfilling the criteria for an efficacious broad-spectrum H5 avian influenza vaccine.

Phosphorus (P) is a finite natural resource and is increasingly considered to be a challenge for global sustainability. Agriculture in China plays a key role in global sustainable P management. Rhizosphere and soil-based P management are necessary for improving P-use efficiency and crop productivity in intensive agriculture in China. A previous study has shown that the future demand for phosphate fertilizer by China estimated by the LePA model (legacy phosphorus assessment model) can be greatly reduced by soil-based P management (the building-up and maintenance approach). The present study used the LePA model to predict the phosphate demand by China through combined rhizosphere and soil-based P management at county scale under four P fertilizer scenarios: (1) same P application rate as in 2012; (2) rate maintained same as 2012 in low-P counties or no P fertilizer applied in high-P counties until targeted soil Olsen-P (TPOlsen) level is reached, and then rate was the same as P-removed at harvest; (3) rate in each county decreased to 1–7 kg ha–1 yr–1 after TPOlsen is reached in low-P counties, then increased by 0.1–9 kg ha–1 yr–1 until equal to P-removal; (4) rate maintained same as 2012 in low-P counties until TPOlsen is reached and then equaled to P-removal, while the rate in high-P counties is decreased to 1–7 kg ha–1 yr–1 until TPOlsen is reached and then increased by 0.1–9 kg ha–1 yr–1 until equal to P-removal. Our predictions showed that the total demand for P fertilizer by whole China was 693 Mt P2O5 and according to scenario 4, P fertilizer could be reduced by 57.5% compared with farmer current practice, during the period 2013–2080. The model showed that rhizosphere P management led to a further 8.0% decrease in P fertilizer use compared with soil-based P management. The average soil Olsen-P level in China only needs to be maintained at 17 mg kg–1 to achieve high crop yields. Our results provide a firm basis for government to issue-relevant policies for sustainable P management in China.

Abstract Rehabilitation robots can help physiatrists to assist patients in improving their movement ability. Due to the interaction between rehabilitation robots and patients, the robots need to complete rehabilitation training on a safe basis. This paper presents an approach for smooth trajectory planning for a cable-driven parallel waist rehabilitation robot (CDPWRR) based on the rehabilitation evaluation factors. First, motion capture technology is used to collect the motion data of several volunteers in waist twisting. Considering the impact of motion variability, the feature points at the center of the human pelvis are obtained after eliminating unreasonable data through rationality judgments. Then, point-to-point waist training trajectory planning based on quintic polynomial and cycloid functions, and multipoint waist training trajectory planning based on quintic B-spline functions are carried out. The corresponding planned curves and kinematics characteristics using three methods are compared and analyzed. Subsequently, the rehabilitation evaluation factors are introduced to conduct smooth trajectory planning for waist training, and the waist trajectory with better compliance is obtained based on the safety and feasibility of waist motion. Finally, the physical prototype of the CDPWRR is built, and the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed smooth trajectory planning method are proved by numerical analysis and experiments.

Background: Danshen Ligustrazine Injection (DSLI), composed of the extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge and Conioselinum anthriscoides 'Chuanxiong', is commonly used in the clinical treatment of ischemic stroke, which is the most common type of cerebrovascular disease, affected by multiple factors. The brain-gut axis is a new type of influencing factor for ischemic stroke, however, there is a lack of systematic research on the relationship between microbiota and host metabolic phenotype. This study aimed to investigate the host metabolic phenotype-microbiome interface in ischemic stroke and the immunomodulatory effects of DSLI. Methods: In the study, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to primarily analyze the quality markers (Q-markers) and the polyphenols of DSLI. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metabolomics, the variations of microbial composition in different groups were characterized. In addition, a network diagram was constructed to reveal the interrelationship between DSLI-regulated gut microbiota changes and DSLI-regulated brain metabolites in MCAO/R rats. The expression of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in the colon and brain by immunofluorescence and suppressors of cytokine signaling 2 (SOCS2) by western blot were further detected. Results: Diminished metabolic diversity and alterations in the tryptophan metabolism pathway were a feature of IS in the study. The results revealed that Clostri_UCG-014 was positively correlated with indoleacrylic acid, indole-3-methylacetate, and Ruminococcaceae was strongly related with L-tryptophan, 3-methylindole, and indole. The results of immunofluorescence showed that the expression of AhR in the colon and brain tissues of rats in the model group was greatly reduced compared with that in the sham-operated group, and was heavily activated with the treatment of DSLI. The levels of aryl hydrocarbon nuclear receptor ARNT2 and SOCS2 were down-regulated in the brains of Model rats, whereas increased by DSLI, further confirming that the brain-gut microbiota-Trp metabolism exists in the pathological changes of stroke and the intervention mechanism of DSLI. Conclusions: The present study findings suggest Clostri_UCG-014, Ruminococcaceae, and Firmicute_RF39 play an important role in improving the regulation of immune function in stroke through tryptophan metabolites by acting on the AhR-SOCS2 axis.

Abstract Anlotinib, as a promising oral small-molecule antitumor drug, its role in glioma has been only reported in a small number of case reports. Therefore, anlotinib has been considered as a promising candidate in glioma. The aim of this study was to investigate the metabolic network of C6 cells after exposure to anlotinib and to identify anti-glioma mechanism from the perspective of metabolic reprogramming. Firstly, CCK8 method was used to evaluate the effects of anlotinib on cell proliferation and apoptosis. Secondly, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS)-based metabolomic and lipidomic were developed to characterize the metabolite and lipid changes in cell and cell culture medium (CCM) caused by anlotinib in the treatment of glioma. As a result, anlotinib had concentration-dependent inhibitory effect with the concentration range. In total, twenty-four and twenty-three disturbed metabolites in cell and CCM responsible for the intervention effect of anlotinib were screened and annotated using UHPLC-HRMS. Altogether, seventeen differential lipids in cell were identified between anlotinib exposure and untreated groups. Metabolic pathways, including amino acid metabolism, energy metabolism, ceramide metabolism, and glycerophospholipid metabolism, were modulated by anlotinib in glioma cell. Overall, anlotinib has an effective treatment against the development and progression of glioma, and these remarkable pathways can generate the key molecular events in cells treated with anlotinib. Future research into the mechanisms underlying the metabolic changes is expected to provide new strategies for treating glioma.

Context-dependency of mammalian transcriptional elements has hindered the quantitative investigation of multigene expression stoichiometry and its biological functions. Here the authors present a host-orthogonal transcriptional system that drives tunable gene expression in mammalian cells, enabling predictive fine-tuning of multi-gene expression stoichiometry and the production optimization of virus-like particles from mammalian cells.

An airborne bistatic radar working in downward-looking mode confronts two major challenges for low-altitude target detection. One is range cell migration (RCM) and Doppler migration (DM) resulting from the relative motion of the radar and target. The other is the non-stationarity characteristic of clutter due to the radar configuration. To solve these problems, this paper proposes a joint implementation method based on sub-aperture processing to achieve clutter suppression and coherent maneuvering target detection. Specifically, clutter Doppler compensation and sliding window processing are carried out to realize sub-aperture space–time processing, removing the clutter non-stationarity resulting from the bistatic geometric configuration. Thus, the output matrix of clutter suppression in the sub-aperture could be obtained. Then, the elements with the same phase of this matrix are superimposed and rearranged to achieve the reconstructed 2-D range-pluse echo matrix. Next, the aperture division with respect to slow time is conducted and the RCM correction based on modified location rotation transform (MLRT) and coherent integration (CI) are realized within each sub-aperture. Finally, the matched filtering process (MFP) is applied to compensate for the RCM/DM among different sub-apertures to coherently integrate the maneuvering target energy of all sub-apertures. The simulation and measured data processing results prove the validity of the proposed method.

Honeycomb structures serve as the core of sandwich structures in various industries, such as aerospace and rail transit. In this study, a novel design was introduced where hexagonal honeycomb cores were flattened in specific areas to form S-shaped reinforced cores. Compression tests were conducted on S-shaped reinforced honeycomb cores with different rotational structures – left-hand, right-hand, and mixed rotation. The deformation process of these cores was thoroughly investigated. Additionally, a theoretical prediction model was proposed to determine the Young's modulus and peak load of S-shaped reinforced honeycomb cores. The experimental data was compared with the theoretical model to validate its accuracy. Moreover, the study examined the effects of changing the relative density and cell wall angle of S-shaped reinforced honeycomb cores on the peak and specific peak loads. The results demonstrated that the use of S-shaped reinforced structures successfully altered the deformation mode of the honeycomb cores. In particular, the peak loads of S-LL and S-LR specimens were 29.14% and 86.12% higher than that of plain honeycomb, respectively. In summary, increasing the relative density of S-shaped reinforced honeycomb cores proved to enhance the peak load and specific peak load, thereby augmenting the design capabilities of these cores.

This paper presents an investigation on the compressible flow past spanwise wavy wings with an incoming flow of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. The scale adaptive simulation is employed here to solve the Favre-averaged equations. Three wings, with the ratio of wavelengths (λ) to chord length (c) respectively equaling to 1/2 (W4), 1/3 (W6), 1/4 (W8), are aerodynamically investigated. The aerodynamic force and separation were compared. The results obtained show that the lift-to-drag ratio of W-8 is 12.7% and 14.4% higher than W-4 and W-6 because of the larger low-pressure regions, while the lift and drag coefficient curves of W-8 oscillate more strongly. Leading edge separated bubbles and dilation-type recirculation regions are observed in the flow field structures. Spanwise momentum transportation and local airflow downwash effect are generated by the flow around the separation regions. Spanwise momentum transportation and downwash effect play important roles in the flow control mechanism of spanwise wavy wings. Three components of three-dimensional velocity vectors are modally decomposed by dynamic mode decomposition method to reveal the flow control mechanisms and vortex structures. The main modes characterizing the motions of arched vortices and shear layer vortices have been obtained. Strouhal number (St) is adopted to define the periodic oscillations of vortex shedding. The St of the modes are related to the scale of the vortex structures in the flow field. Small-scale eddy motions have been decomposed in high-frequency modes, and thus the modes of the flow field are more meticulous for higher St.

IntroductionQuince A (Cydonia oblonga Mill.), a typical dwarfing rootstock in pear cultivation, is susceptible to iron (Fe) deficiency in calcareous soils. The aim of this study was to compare the strategies in Fe uptake and utilization in dwarfing rootstock quince A (low Fe efficiency) versus a typical vigorous rootstock Pyrus betulifolia (PB) with high Fe efficiency.MethodsQuince A and PB were grown in nutrient solution (pH 6.3) for 4 weeks followed by three pH treatments: pH6.3, pH8.3a (adjusted with hydroxide) and pH8.3b (adjusted with bicarbonate). The Fe uptake and utilization indicators of the rootstocks were assessed at the onset of chlorosis symptoms (after 58 days of treatments).Results and discussionIn contrast to PB, quince A exhibited Fe deficiency chlorosis under bicarbonate (pH8.3b). Bicarbonate stimulated the root proton secretion, inhibited root growth and ferric chelate reductase (FCR) activity in both PB and quince A, whereas high pH without bicarbonate (pH8.3a) stimulated only root proton release. Both species accumulated more Fe in roots under high pH treatments than under pH6.3, resulting in Fe sufficiency in leaves. Both high pH treatments increased the activity of leaf FCR in PB and quince A. However, extractable Fe(II) concentration in leaves was increased by high pH treatments in PB only. This study demonstrated that depressed Fe(III) reduction in leaves caused by bicarbonate rather than high pH explained Fe deficiency in quince A grown in bicarbonate-containing medium.

This study successfully fabricated the quaternary topological insulator thin films of Bi1.2Sb0.8Te0.4Se2.6 (BSTS) with a thickness of 25 nm, improving the intrinsic defects in binary topological materials through doping methods and achieving the separation of transport characteristics between the bulk and surface of topological insulator materials by utilizing a comprehensive Physical Properties Measurement System (PPMS) and Terahertz Time-Domain Spectroscopy (THz-TDS) to extract electronic transport information for both bulk and surface states. Additionally, the dielectric polarization behavior of BSTS in the low-frequency (10–107 Hz) and high-frequency (0.5–2.0 THz) ranges was investigated. These research findings provide crucial experimental groundwork and theoretical guidance for the development of novel low-energy electronic devices, spintronic devices, and quantum computing technology based on topological insulators.

Efficient preparation of high-quality topological insulator nanofilms (TINFs) in large scale is demanding. Using a home-built pulsed laser enhanced molecular epitaxy system (PLEES), we efficiently fabricate TINFs with prefect stoichiometry using Bi2Te3 TINFs as an example. Instead of utilizing multiple beam source furnaces to provide essential elements, hybrid targets containing both pure Bi2Te3 and Te targets are applied in a single epitaxial chamber. Moreover, diffraction pattern of growing Bi2Te3 TINFs are monitored in live by a high-energy electron diffractometer, allowing fast optimization of growth conditions. Scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy demonstrate that the surface morphology of the prepared Bi2Te3 nanofilms with a thickness of 70 nm are flat and dense, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis suggests that the ratio of Bi to Te elements is 2:3. The grazing incidence X-ray diffractometer reveals that the X-ray diffraction peaks of the synthesized nanofilm matches those of the Bi2Te3 standard PDF card. The prepared nanofilm exhibits a weak anti-localization effect at low magnetic fields characterized by physical property measurement system, confirming its unique electrical transporting properties. This work demonstrates that using hybrid targets with optimized growth parameters enable PLEES to efficiently grow high-quality stoichiometric TINFs on a large scale.

Enhanced atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition is threating species diversity in the desert steppe ecoregions. Needlegrass (Stipa breviflora) is the dominant specie in the desert steppe grasslands of China and southern Mongolia, and the response of S. brevifolia to N deposition is not well known. In this study, we conducted an experiment to determine the growth and N uptake of S. breviflora in response to several N addition rates. The results showed that N addition did not change plant growth, emergence rate, plant height, or biomass of S. breviflora, even at a N addition rate of 50 kg N ha−1 yr.−1 with sufficient soil moisture during a 120-day growth period. The absence of a N effect was due to the fact that N uptake in S. breviflora was not improved by N addition. These results indicated that S. breviflora is very conservative with respect to N utilization, which could possibly help it resist enhanced atmospheric N deposition. Moreover, conservative N utilization also enables S. breviflora to survive in N-limiting soils.

Multiple policies have been formulated to promote the development of prefabricated building (PB). However, ineffective policies increase the financial burden of the governments and hinder PB development. This study aims to identify effective policies and develop a practical policy framework to encourage developers to implement PB. Text analysis is to identify the policies related to PBs from the numerous samples. A survey is to verify the effective policies and explore their effects on the developers’ willingness to implement PBs. The findings suggest that the current policy system of PBs is complete but uneven, focusing on environmental policies. The most cost-effective tools are land limitations, tax incentives, and financial support. Besides, policies are interrelated in affecting developers’ willingness to implement PBs. It provides a reference for policy evaluation in application scenarios, which expands the literature research on the policy. Meanwhile, it provides a guide for policymakers to evaluate the effectiveness of policies and formulate practical policy frameworks to promote PB development.

Measurement(s) Proteins and Peptides Technology Type(s) Mass Spectrometry Sample Characteristic - Organism Labeo rohita Sample Characteristic - Location India

Nanocomposite doping is an effective method to improve the dielectric properties of polyethylene. Meanwhile, the introduction of thermal conductivity groups in crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) is also an effective way to improve the thermal conductivity. Nano-zeolite is an inorganic material with a porous structure that can be doped into polyethylene to improve the insulation performance. In this paper, hyperbranched polyarylamide (HBP) with a high thermal conductivity and an auxiliary crosslinking agent (TAIC) was grafted on the surface of ZSM-5 nano-zeolite successively to obtain functionalized nano-zeolite (TAICS-ZSM-5-HBP) (the “S” in TAICS means plural). The prepared functionalized nano-zeolite was doped in polyethylene and grafted under a thermal crosslinking reaction to prepare nanocomposites (XLPE/TAICS-ZSM-5-HBP). The structural characterization showed that the nanocomposite was successfully prepared and that the nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed in the polyethylene matrix. The space charge of the TAICS-ZSM-5-HBP 5wt% nanocomposite under a high electric field was obviously inhibited. The space charge short-circuit test showed that the porous structure of the nano-zeolite introduced more deep traps, which made the trapped charge difficult to break off, hindering the charge injection. The introduction of TAICS-ZSM-5-HBP particles can greatly improve the thermal conductivity of nanocomposites. The thermal conductivity of the XLPE/5wt% and XLPE/7wt% TAICS-ZSM-5-HBP nanocomposites increased by 42.21% and 69.59% compared to that of XLPE at 20 °C, and by 34.27% and 62.83% at 80 °C.

IntroductionIn China, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is often grown on marginal land with poor soil fertility and suboptimal climate conditions. Soil salt stress is one of the most limiting factors for alfalfa yield and quality, through its inhibition of nitrogen (N) uptake and N fixation.MethodsTo understand if N supply could improve alfalfa yield and quality through increasing N uptake in salt-affected soils, a hydroponic experiment and a soil experiment were conducted. Alfalfa growth and N fixation were evaluated in response to different salt levels and N supply levels.Results and discussionThe results showed that salt stress not only significantly decreased alfalfa biomass, by 43%–86%, and N content, by 58%–91%, but also reduced N fixation ability and N derived from the atmosphere (%Ndfa) through the inhibition of nodule formation and N fixation efficiency when the salt level was above 100 mmol Na2SO4 L–1. Salt stress also decreased alfalfa crude protein by 31%–37%. However, N supply significantly improved shoot dry weight by 40%–45%, root dry weight by 23%–29%, and shoot N content by 10%–28% for alfalfa grown in salt-affected soil. The N supply was also beneficial for the %Ndfa and N fixation for alfalfa with salt stress, and the increase reached 47% and 60%, respectively. Nitrogen supply offset the negative effects on alfalfa growth and N fixation caused by salt stress, in part through improving plant N nutrition status. Our results suggest that optimal N fertilizer application is essential to alleviate the loss of growth and N fixation in alfalfa in salt-affected soils.

ObjectiveTo explore the potential mechanism of Shenkang injection (SKI) in the treatment of chronic renal failure based on network pharmacology and molecular docking technology, and to verify the core targets and key pathways by using the renal failure model.MethodsThe active components and targets of Shenkang injection were retrieved by TCMSP database, and the disease related targets were obtained by OMIM, GeneCards and other databases. Then, the intersection was obtained, and were imported into String database for PPI analysis. After further screening of core targets, GO and KEGG analysis were performed. Autodock software was used to predict the molecular docking and binding ability of the selected active ingredients and core targets. Chronic renal failure (CRF) model was established by adenine induction in rats, and the pathological observation of renal tissues was conducted. Meanwhile, the effects of Shenkang injection and its active components on core targets and pathways of renal tissues were verified.ResultsThe results of network pharmacology showed that the main components of Shenkang injection might be hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA)、tanshinol、rheum emodin、Astragaloside IV. Through enrichment analysis of core targets, it was found that Shenkang injection may play an anti-chronic renal failure effect through PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Molecular docking results showed that the above pharmacodynamic components had strong binding ability with the target proteins PI3K and Akt. The results of animal experiments showed that renal function indexes of Shenkang injection group and pharmacodynamic component group were significantly improved compared with model group. HE staining results showed that the pathological status of the kidney was significantly improved in SKI and pharmacodynamic component treatment groups. Immunohistochemical results showed that the renal fibrosis status was significantly reduced in SKI and pharmacodynamic component treatment groups. q-RTPCR and WB results showed that the expression levels of PI3K and Akt were significantly decreased in the treatment groups (P< 0.05).ConclusionsShenkang injection may inhibit PI3K-Akt signaling pathway to play an anti-chronic renal failure role through the pharmacodynamic component hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA), tanshinol, rheum emodin, Astragaloside IV.

Mailuoshutong pill (MLSTP) is a traditional Chinese medicine compound preparation used for the treatment of thromboangiitis obliterans. However, component responsible for those effects are not yet identified, nor with their accurate contents and in-vivo movement, which means the quality markers of MLSTP are still unknown. The aim of this study was to discovery quality markers of MLSTP by developing a new multi-dimensional network strategy based on “Content-Pharmacokinetics-Pharmacology”. 40 analytes were determined by UHPLC-MS/MS in 8 min and the average contents in 11 batches of commercial MLSTP samples were used as the content dimension, the pharmacokinetics and pharmacology dimension were evaluated by five variables based on ADME Prediction and Prediction of Activity Spectra. Each dimension of the characteristic network was quantified by multivariate statistical analysis, and a three-dimensional network was constructed. Finally, Liquiritin, Calycosin-7-glucoside and Albiflorin with larger regression area were preferred as quality markers of MLSTP, which had satisfactory comprehensive properties of content, pharmacokinetic properties and pharmacological activity. In summary, the potential quality markers of MLSTP were identified by multi-dimensional characteristic network of content, pharmacokinetics and pharmacology. Also, the new strategy established in this work provided a valuable perspective for the selection of quality control indicators from compound formula.

BackgroundReliable biomarkers are needed to improve preeclampsia (PE) prediction accuracy. With the investigational tool of peptidomics, we aimed to identify and validate potential serum peptide biomarkers in cohorts suspected for PE development in middle or late pregnancy.MethodsTotally 195 serum samples were prospectively collected from pregnant women with PE-related syndromes who were followed up for PE development until delivery. Serum peptidomic analysis was performed in the discovery cohort of 115 samples using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight coupled with Linear Trap Quadropole Orbitrap mass spectrometry. The candidate biomarkers were further validated using an in-house developed liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method in an independent validation cohort of 80 serum samples.ResultsWe identified 8 peptides that were differentially expressed and originated from fibrinogen alpha chain (FGA), inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H4 (ITIH4) and complement component 3. In the subsequent LC-MS/MS quantitation analysis, the levels of the three peptides (FGA-1033.4, ITIH4-2026.9, ITIH4-2051.1) exhibited a significant difference between the PE-positive and PE-negative groups. Further, the three-peptide panel yielded an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.985 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.965–1.000] and 0.923 (95% CI 0.845–1.000) in the discovery and validation cohorts respectively, with negative predictive values of 98.1–98.8% and positive predictive values of 73.1–85.3% that were much improved when compared with that of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1/placental growth factor (sFlt-1/PlGF) ratio.ConclusionsWe have discovered and validated a novel three-peptide biomarker panel predictive for the occurrence PE in pregnant women.

Abstract Surface-active polymer is a novel multifunctional active polymer applied for enhancing oil recovery which has both viscosity-increasing ability and surface activity. Experiments were carried out to indicate basic physicochemical properties of surface-active polymer and to study on differences of properties between surface-active polymer and other chemical flooding agents, and characteristics of increasing displacement efficiency by surface-active polymer flooding have been tested. Experimental results show that the molecular aggregation conformation, viscosity performance and flow capacity of surface-active polymer were significantly different from those of other chemical flooding agents. Positive effects of viscosity and viscoelastic properties and improvements in interfacial chemical properties are basic characteristics of increasing displacement efficiency by surface-active polymer flooding which are basic principles of surface-active polymer flooding for enhancing oil recovery.

Tremor is a movement disorder that significantly impacts an individual’s physical stability and quality of life, and conventional medication or surgery often falls short in providing a cure. Rehabilitation training is, therefore, used as an auxiliary method to mitigate the exacerbation of individual tremors. Video-based rehabilitation training is a form of therapy that allows patients to exercise at home, reducing pressure on rehabilitation institutions’ resources. However, it has limitations in directly guiding and monitoring patients’ rehabilitation, leading to an ineffective training effect. This study proposes a low-cost rehabilitation training system that utilizes optical see-through augmented reality (AR) technology to enable tremor patients to conduct rehabilitation training at home. The system provides one-on-one demonstration, posture guidance, and training progress monitoring to achieve an optimal training effect. To assess the system’s effectiveness, we conducted experiments comparing the movement magnitudes of individuals with tremors in the proposed AR environment and video environment, while also comparing them with standard demonstrators. Participants wore a tremor simulation device during uncontrollable limb tremors, with tremor frequency and amplitude calibrated to typical tremor standards. The results showed that participants’ limb movement magnitudes in the AR environment were significantly higher than those in the video environment, approaching the movement magnitudes of the standard demonstrators. Hence, it can be inferred that individuals receiving tremor rehabilitation in the AR environment experience better movement quality than those in the video environment. Furthermore, participant experience surveys revealed that the AR environment not only provided a sense of comfort, relaxation, and enjoyment but also effectively guided them throughout the rehabilitation process.

In this paper, we propose a method to generate multi-depth phase-only holograms using stochastic gradient descent (SGD) algorithm with weighted complex loss function and masked multi-layer diffraction. The 3D scene can be represented by a combination of layers in different depths. In the wave propagation procedure of multiple layers in different depths, the complex amplitude of layers in different depths will gradually diffuse and produce occlusion at another layer. To solve this occlusion problem, a mask is used in the process of layers diffracting. Whether it is forward wave propagation or backward wave propagation of layers, the mask can reduce the occlusion problem between different layers. Otherwise, weighted complex loss function is implemented in the gradient descent optimization process, which analyzes the real part, the imaginary part, and the amplitude part of the focus region between the reconstructed images of the hologram and the target images. The weight parameter is used to adjust the ratio of the amplitude loss of the focus region in the whole loss function. The weight amplitude loss part in weighted complex loss function can decrease the interference of the focus region from the defocus region. The simulations and experiments have validated the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Aiming at the problem that the standard RAW mechanism cannot adjust to changes in the network and the grouping depends on continuous AIDs,a RAW regrouping method based on a pseudo-random sequence was proposed.The AP assigned a pseudo-random sequence to the node as the address code during the association phase,and used compound code to carry groups information during the grouping phase.It implemented online regrouping of discontinuous AID nodes and reduced the overhead of regrouping.In order to rationally allocate resources in RAW and solve the problem of load imbalance between groups,a RAW regrouping method based on expected channel time was proposed.Based on channel utilization,the RAW groups,RAW duration,and numbers of RAW were optimized.NS3 simulation results show that the proposed method significantly improves the performance of IEEE 802.11ah protocol networks.

A deployment strategy for antennas is proposed to enhance the field coverage of wireless devices in underground coal mines, which uses the multimodal approach. Based on the attenuation coefficient of each mode, the propagation loss of the vertically polarized modes with n = 1, 2, and 3 and that of the horizontally polarized modes with m = 1, 2, and 3 are less. For the signal propagation in the near-field region of the source, these modes play significant role. According to the coupling of the antenna to the modes, the significant modes can be effectively excited by mounting horizontally polarized antenna on the ceiling or the vertically polarized antenna on the sidewall. For the signal propagation in the far-field region, the (1, 1) mode is significant, and the horizontally polarized excitation is preferred due to smaller attenuation. By comparing the total coupling efficiency of the antenna-radiated power, stronger excitation power can be obtained by mounting the antenna near the center of the ceiling or that of the sidewall. The field strength in the near-field and far-field region coverage can be maximized by optimizing the antenna polarization and position. For verification, a grid-based test system was designed and a series of measurements inside an underground coal mine tunnel were conducted. The measured results have a good agreement with the theoretical ones. In addition, the EM interference caused by the infrastructure in real mines on the signal received by the antennas at different positions was also measured and compared. Results show that the influences of cables with long-term stable loads, such as power cables and communication cables, can be neglected.

Prevention of mechanical and finally electrochemical failures of lithium batteries is a critical aspect to be considered during their design and performance, especially for those with high specific capacities. Internal failure is observed as one of the most serious factors, including loss of electrode materials, structure deformation and dendrite growth. It usually incubates from atomic/molecular level and progressively aggravates along with lithiation. Understanding the internal failure is of great importance for developing solutions of failure prevention and advanced anode materials. In this research, different internal failure processes of anode materials for lithium batteries are discussed. The progress on observation technologies of the anode failure is further summarized in order to understand their mechanisms of internal failure. On top of them, this review aims to summarize innovative methods to investigate the anode failure mechanisms and to gain new insights to develop advanced and stable anodes for lithium batteries. Keywords: Lithium battery, Anode materials, Internal failure

The NADC30-like strain of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a novel strain responsible for substantial economic losses to swine production in China. This study evaluated the cross-protective efficacy of the synergy between live-attenuated and inactivated PRRSV vaccines compared with a single vaccination with PRRS modified-live virus (MLV) vaccine against challenge with NADC30-like strain, v2016/ZJ/09-03. A total of 45 PRRSV free pigs were randomly divided into five groups: (1) strict control (SC); (2) positive control (PC); (3) single MLV dose (M1); (4) primed intramuscularly with MLV and boosted with killed vaccine 3 weeks later (MK1); and (5) intramuscular prime MLV boosted subcutaneously with killed vaccine B 3 weeks later (MK2). Serological tests in MK groups revealed no differences in both anti-N and anti-GP protein antibodies compared with M1 group, and failed to provide further protection against clinical signs, virus shedding, and gross lesions. However, the viremic titer, gross lung lesions, and average daily weight gain were significantly improved in the MLV vaccinated groups, suggesting that MLV provides substantial cross-protection against the NADC30-like virus. Thus, as a booster, the killed vaccine confers minimal additional protection in NADC30-like infected piglets.

Understanding the importance of raw materials is crucial for ensuring high material efficiency in industrial production processes. A common criticality assessment of resources is usually a top view on their supply risk and economic importance. This cannot directly be integrated in a specific process for material manufacturing, which is in high demand to identify the importance of a resource for the process and implement process optimization. In this study, a parameter named resource recirculation factor is introduced, and the criticality assessment model is reformed to facilitate the evaluation of the LED production process from substrate preparation to lamp manufacture. 22 types of materials were selected for evaluation with material flow analysis. The criticalities of gallium and indium, with values of 159.33 and 24.18, were found to be the largest owning to their high supply risk and environmental risk values, which were significantly higher than those of the other materials, such as copper (0.01) and iron (0.27). The high criticality of gallium resulting in trimethyl gallium being the most important material, while trimethyl indium and indium tin oxide (ITO) etchant ranked second and third, respectively. Based on the comparison of the production sections, the epitaxial growth and chip fabrication compressed the two most important sections, which were closely related to the critical metals. Under comprehensive environmental evaluation, the environmental impact of LED production sections was in the order of chip fabrication > substrate preparation > lamp manufacture. The proposed criticality assessment method can provide a basis for the material evaluation and cleaner production of industrial production processes, where comprehensive environmental evaluation can also contribute to the criticality evaluation.

The concept of complementary resistive switching (CRS) has been proposed as a potential solution for mitigating the unwanted sneak path current intrinsic to large-scale crossbar memory arrays. In this study, CRS devices based on egg albumen are fabricated using non-inert Al layers as the top electrodes (TE). The Al/Albumen/indium tin oxide (ITO) single sandwich structure achieves stable and reproducible CRS behavior without requiring a forming process. The application of a compliance current leads to an evolution from CRS to bipolar resistive switching (BRS). Furthermore, the BRS analog switching feature enables the emulation of synaptic functions, like paired-pulse facilitation (PPF) and paired-pulse depression (PPD). Our systematic and in-depth analyses demonstrate that the CRS is due to the interfacial Schottky barriers originating from the Al electrode oxidation. Consequently, the resistance switching behavior in the albumen-based cells with inert Pt top electrodes can further validate this model. These findings provide significant insight into the role of non-inert electrodes and contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the CRS mechanism, which may facilitate the development of high-performance CRS biodevices.

Limited by the low space-bandwidth product of the spatial light modulator (SLM), it is difficult to realize multiview holographic three-dimensional (3D) display. To conquer the problem, a method based on the holographic optical element (HOE), which is regarded as a controlled light element, is proposed in the study. The SLM is employed to upload the synthetic phase-only hologram generated by the angular spectrum diffraction theory. Digital grating is introduced in the generation process of the hologram to achieve the splicing of the reconstructions and adjust the position of the reconstructions. The HOE fabricated by the computer-generated hologram printing can redirect the reconstructed images of multiview into multiple viewing zones. Thus, the modulation function of the HOE should be well-designed to avoid crosstalk between perspectives. The experimental results show that the proposed system can achieve multiview holographic augmented reality (AR) 3D display without crosstalk. The resolution of each perspective is 4K, which is higher than that of the existing multiview 3D display system.

Experiments on surface-active polymer flooding for enhanced oil recovery were carried out by detection analysis and modern physical simulation technique based on reservoirs and fluids in Daqing placanticline oilfield. The experimental results show that the surface-active polymer is different from other common polymers and polymer-surfactant systems in molecular aggregation, viscosity and flow capacity, and it has larger molecular coil size, higher viscosity and viscosifying capacity, and poorer mobility. The surface-active polymer solution has good performance of viscosity-increasing and viscosity retention, and has good performance of viscoelasticity and deformability to exert positive effects of viscosifying and viscoelastic properties. Surface-active polymer can change the chemical property of interface and reduce interfacial tension, making the reservoir rock turn water-wet, also it can emulsify the oil into relatively stable oil-in-water emulsion, and emulsification capacity is an important property to enhance oil washing efficiency under non-ultralow interfacial tension. The surface-active polymer flooding enlarges swept volume in two ways: Microscopically, the surface-active polymer has mobility control effect and can enter oil-bearing pores not swept by water to drive residual oil, and its mobility control effect has more contribution than oil washing capacity in enhancing oil recovery. Macroscopically, it has plugging capacity, and can emulsify and plug the dominant channels in layers with high permeability, forcing the injected fluid to enter the layer with medium or low permeability and low flow resistance, and thus enlarging swept volume. Key words: high water-cut oilfield, reservoir, surface-active polymer, oil-washing efficiency, swept volume, plug by emulsification, enhanced oil recovery

BackgroundOral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most malignant neoplasm in oral cancer. There is growing evidence that its progression involves altered metabolism. The current method of evaluating prognosis is very limited, and metabolomics may provide a new approach for quantitative evaluation. The aim of the study is to evaluate the use of metabolomics as prognostic markers for patients with OSCC.MethodsAn analytical platform, Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Quadrupole/Orbitrap High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS), was used to acquire the serum fingerprinting profiles from a total of 103 patients of OSCC before and after the operation. In total, 103 OSCC patients were assigned to either a training set (n = 73) or a test set (n = 30). The potential biomarkers and the changes of serum metabolites were profiled and correlated with the clinicopathological parameters and survival of the patients by statistical analysis. To further verify our results, we linked them to gene expression using data from the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG).ResultsIn total, 14 differential metabolites and five disturbed pathways were identified between the preoperative group and postoperative group. Succinic acid change-low, hypoxanthine change-high tumor grade, and tumor stage indicated a trend towards improved recurrence-free survival (RFS), whether in a training set or a test set. In addition, succinic acid change-low, hypoxanthine change-high, and tumor grade provided the highest predictive accuracy of the patients with OSCC. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the imbalance in the amino acid and purine metabolic pathway may affect the prognosis of OSCC.ConclusionsThe changes of metabolites before and after operation may be related to the prognosis of OSCC patients. UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS serum metabolomics analysis could be used to further stratify the prognosis of patients with OSCC. These results can better understand the mechanisms related to early recurrence and help develop more effective therapeutic targets.

ObjectiveTo explore metabolic biomarkers related to erosive and reticulated oral lichen planus (OLP) by non-targeted metabolomics methods and correlate metabolites with gene expression, and to investigate the pathological network pathways of OLP from the perspective of metabolism.MethodsA total of 153 individuals were enrolled in this study, including 50 patients with erosive oral lichen planus (EOLP), 51 patients with reticulated oral lichen planus (ROLP), and 52 healthy controls (HC). The ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole-Orbitrap high-resolution accurate mass spectrometry (UHPLC/Q-Orbitrap HRMS) was used to analyze the metabolites of 40 EOLP, 40 ROLP, and 40 HC samples, and the differential metabolic biomarkers were screened and identified. The regulatory genes were further screened through the shared metabolites between EOLP and ROLP, and cross-correlated with the OLP-related differential genes in the network database. A “gene-metabolite” network was constructed after finding the key differential genes. Finally, the diagnostic efficiency of the biomarkers was verified in the validation set and a diagnostic model was constructed.ResultCompared with HC group, a total of 19 and 25 differential metabolites were identified in the EOLP group and the ROLP group, respectively. A total of 14 different metabolites were identified between EOLP and ROLP. Two diagnostic models were constructed based on these differential metabolites. There are 14 differential metabolites shared by EOLP and ROLP. The transcriptomics data showed 756 differentially expressed genes, and the final crossover network showed that 19 differential genes were associated with 12 metabolites. Enrichment analysis showed that alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism were closely associated with the pathogenesis of OLP.ConclusionThe metabolic change of different types of OLP were clarified. The potential gene perturbation of OLP was provided. This study provided a strong support for further exploration of the pathogenic mechanism of OLP.

IntroductionIndividuals with metabolic syndrome (MetS) are at increasing risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). We investigated the common metabolic perturbations of CAD and MetS via serum metabolomics to provide insight into potential associations.MethodsNon-targeted serum metabolomics analyses were performed using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with Q Exactive hybrid quadrupole-orbitrap high-resolution accurate mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS) in samples from 492 participants (272 CAD vs. 121 healthy controls (HCs) as cohort 1, 55 MetS vs. 44 HCs as cohort 2). Cross-sectional data were obtained when the participants were recruited from the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. Multivariate statistics and Student’s t test were applied to obtain the significant metabolites [with variable importance in the projection (VIP) values >1.0 and p values

The cooling properties of different cooling mediums were studied and heat treatment of high chromium cast iron was carried out by different cooling mediums. The results showed that the maximum cooling rate, cooling rate at 300 °C and the quenching liquid cooling capacity of water at 20 °C was 193.6 °C/s, 88.6 °C/s and 2431.1, respectively. With the increase in PAG concentration, the maximum cooling rate and the cooling rate at 300 °C of the coolant decreased. The microstructure of high chromium cast iron treated by water cooling, 10% PAG coolant and 20% coolant was white carbide + tempered martensite + retained austenite, and its impact toughness and fracture toughness were gradually improved. The water-cooled high chromium cast iron had the highest Rockwell hardness of 66.2 HRC, good wear resistance of 0.6103 g and the greatest friction coefficient of 0.4233, the high chromium cast iron treated with 10% PAG had the best wear resistance of 0.5715 and the lowest friction coefficient 0.4182, the high chromium cast iron treated with 20% PAG had the lowest Rockwell hardness 58.1 HRC and the worst wear resistance 0.8213 g.

Summary: With the development of modern industries, the sustainability of critical resources has attracted worldwide attention considering the entire supply chain. With a large industrial sector size in China, a safe supply of metal resources is crucial to ensure the effective operation of the whole industry. Although specific criticality analyses have been applied to identify critical resources in some regions, including Europe and the USA, they are not ready to be directly applied in the case of China because the structure of China’s industry is remarkably different from other areas. In this research, a three-dimensional methodology considering supply safety, domestic economy, and environmental risk is demonstrated, where Chinese industrial conditions are specifically considered. In total, 64 materials were introduced to perform the criticality assessment, and 18 metals were classified with a high criticality degree in the three-dimensional criticality space. With the obtained findings decision-makers can formulate strategic deployment to promote resource management.