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Increasing the proportion of bainite and martensite phases is one of the effective ways to enhance the toughness of medium-carbon low-alloy steel(42CrMo). In this paper, the surface heat treatment of 42CrMo steel is carried out by using a laser heat source to achieve complete austenitization, then with electromagnetic induction heating for several times to implement insulation, and eventually to promote bainite phase transformation. In conjunction with the temperature history curves, OM, SEM, and EBSD are used to characterize the bainite morphology and percentage of bainite via different parameters of the hybrid process. The results demonstrate that the hybrid process combined with twice electromagnetic induction heating can yield a considerable proportion of bainite phase in 42CrMo steel. The resulting duplex structure, consisting of bainite and a minor fraction of martensite, exhibits a significant increase (81.1%) in tensile strength, while maintaining similar impact toughness. The elongation after fracture only has a slight reduction of 5.5% compared to that of the substrate. This innovative process provides a practical alternative to traditional bainite isothermal treatment method which must perform in a heat treatment furnace. Therefore, it is presented as a promising solution for enhancing the mechanical properties of medium-carbon low-alloy high strength steels.

Magnetorheological finishing (MRF) is one of the candidate technologies for the efficient polishing of single crystal silicon carbide (SiC). It is of great importance to improve the efficiency of MRF and reduce the costs by improving the catalytic activity and corrosion resistance of iron-based magnetic particles while maintaining the magnetic properties. In this work, α-Fe2O3 and TiH2 powders were used as raw materials, and Fe–Ti–O composite powders for MRF were prepared by three processes: ball milling + reduction (R1), ball milling + calcination (R2) and ball milling + calcination + reduction (R3). The effects of TiH2 content (5 wt%-15 wt%) on the phase composition, microstructure, catalytic activity and corrosion resistance of the composite powders were investigated. The results demonstrated that submicron α-Fe2O3/TiH2 mixed powders with uniform composition were obtained by ball milling. Compared to the powders prepared by the R1 and R2 routes, the Fe–Ti–O composite powders prepared by the R3 were composed of Fe2TiO4 particles (500–800 nm) and iron-rich particles (30–200 nm). The iron-rich particles were uniformly distributed on the surface of the agglomerated Fe2TiO4 spheres, forming a unique ''Ferrero'' structure. When the TiH2 content was 15 wt%, the Fe–Ti–O composite powders exhibited the required saturation magnetization (Ms) for MRF (61.0 emu/g), the highest catalytic activity and the best corrosion resistance.

Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology is the main means of reducing NOX emissions. Urea injection structure parameters (i.e., the hole number in a nozzle, spray angle, the distance between the nozzle and the front section of the catalyst) and operating parameters (i.e., exhaust gas temperature, gas hourly space velocity, ammonia-to-nitrogen ratio (ANR)) of the SCR systems have a significant impact on denitrification efficiency (deNOX). A three-dimensional simulation model is developed to investigate the impact of diverse parameters on deNOX. The influence of temperature, ANR and space velocity on the deNOX of SCR system is studied by using the control variable method. The simulation model is modified according to the SCR catalyst gas distribution test results. A diesel bench experiment is conducted to test the deNOX of the SCR system of D2 cycle and two additional operating points to verify the accuracy of the numerical simulation model. Based on this model, the influence of key factors on the deNOX of SCR system is studied. In SCR system, the optimal urea injection angle is about 75°, the optimal number of nozzle holes is 4, the distance between the optimal urea injection point and the front section of the catalyst is 8 times of the pipe diameter, and the optimal operating temperature is 300 ∼ 420℃. The influence trend of ANR on deNOX at different temperatures is obtained. This provides a theoretical support for the realization of SCR system in the future.

Abstract Sustainable photoactivated room temperature phosphorescent materials exhibit great potential but are difficult to obtain. Here, we develop photoactivated room temperature phosphorescent materials by covalently attaching lignin to polylactic acid, where lignin and polylactic acid are the chromophore and matrix, respectively. Initially the phosphorescence of the lignin is quenched by residual O2. However, the phosphorescence is switched on when the residual oxygen is consumed by the triplet excitons of lignin under continuous UV light irradiation. As such, the lifetime increases from 3.0 ms to 221.1 ms after 20 s of UV activation. Interestingly, the phosphorescence is quenched again after being kept under an atmosphere of air for 2 h in the absence of UV irradiation due to the diffusion of oxygen into the materials. Using these properties, as-developed material is successfully used as a smart anti-counterfeiting logo for a medicine bottle and for information recording.

Abstract Connected and autonomous driving technologies offer a novel solution for intersection control optimization. Connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) can access signal plans and optimize trajectories to minimize delays and reduce fuel consumption. However, optimizing trajectories for individual vehicles significantly increases complexity, especially for joint optimization of traffic signals and vehicle trajectories. Given the current technical, regulatory, and policy constraints, a superior intersection management approach is necessary before fully automated driving is achieved. This paper introduces an adaptive coupling control (ACC) method based on vehicle platooning to optimize signal timings and vehicle trajectories in mixed traffic. Initially, vehicle platoon segmentation is conducted, led by CAVs. The study then proposes a single‐layer coupled optimization model based on vehicle platoons, simplifying the joint optimization model. To address logistic constraint difficulties, a linearization of the coupled model (LCM) method is developed. Numerical experiments demonstrate that the ACC method significantly reduces vehicle delay and fuel consumption. At high CAV penetration rates (0.8 < R

An increasing population, climate change, and diminishing natural resources present severe threats to global food security, with traditional breeding and genetic engineering methods often falling short in addressing these rapidly evolving challenges. CRISPR/Cas systems have emerged as revolutionary tools for precise genetic modifications in crops, offering significant advancements in resilience, yield, and nutritional value, particularly in staple crops like rice and maize. This review highlights the transformative potential of CRISPR/Cas technology, emphasizing recent innovations such as prime and base editing, and the development of novel CRISPR-associated proteins, which have significantly improved the specificity, efficiency, and scope of genome editing in agriculture. These advancements enable targeted genetic modifications that enhance tolerance to abiotic stresses as well as biotic stresses. Additionally, CRISPR/Cas plays a crucial role in improving crop yield and quality by enhancing photosynthetic efficiency, nutrient uptake, and resistance to lodging, while also improving taste, texture, shelf life, and nutritional content through biofortification. Despite challenges such as off-target effects, the need for more efficient delivery methods, and ethical and regulatory concerns, the review underscores the importance of CRISPR/Cas in addressing global food security and sustainability challenges. It calls for continued research and integration of CRISPR with other emerging technologies like nanotechnology, synthetic biology, and machine learning to fully realize its potential in developing resilient, productive, and sustainable agricultural systems.

Abstract Meniscus pathologies (damage, extrusion) and synovitis are associated with knee osteoarthritis (KOA); however, whether synovitis mediates the relationship between meniscus pathologies and KOA radiographic progression remains unclear. We conducted an observational study in the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) cohort, with a 48-month follow-up. Meniscus pathology and synovitis were measured by MRI osteoarthritis knee score (MOAKS) at baseline and 24 months, and a comprehensive synovitis score was calculated using effusion and Hoffa synovitis scores. The knee osteoarthritis radiographic progression was considered that Kellgren–Lawrence (KL) grade and joint space narrowing (JSN) grade at 48 months were increased compared to those at baseline. This study included a total of 589 participants, with KL grades mainly being KL1 (26.5%), KL2 (34.1%), and KL3 (30.2%) at baseline, while JSN grades were mostly 0 at baseline. A logistic regression model was used to analyze the relationship between meniscus pathology, synovitis, and KOA progression. Mediation analysis was used to evaluate the mediation effect of synovitis. The average age of the participants was 61 years old, 62% of which were female. The medial meniscus extrusion was longitudinally correlated with the progression of KL (odds ratio [OR]: 2.271, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.412–3.694) and medial JSN (OR: 3.211, 95% CI: 2.040–5.054). Additionally, the longitudinal correlation between medial meniscus damage and progression of KOA (OR: 1.853, 95% CI: 1.177–2.941) and medial JSN (OR: 1.655, 95% CI: 1.053–2.602) was significant. Synovitis was found to mediate the relationship between medial meniscus extrusion and KL and medial JSN progression at baseline (β: 0.029, 95% CI: 0.010–0.053; β: 0.022, 95% CI: 0.005–0.046) and beyond 24 months (β: 0.039, 95% CI: 0.016–0.068; β: 0.047, 95% CI: 0.020–0.078). However, we did not find evidence of synovitis mediating the relationship between meniscal damage and KOA progression. Synovitis mediates the relationship between medial meniscus extrusion (rather than meniscus damage) and KOA progression.

Abstract Objectives This study aims to compare the efficacy of peripheral add multifocal soft contact lenses (SCLs) (excluding bifocal SCLs) with single vision contact lenses or spectacles in controlling myopia progression. Method A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the Pubmed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases until October 2023. The literature was thoroughly screened based on predetermined eligibility criteria. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for dichotomous data and weighted mean differences (WMD) for continuous data. Results A total of 11 articles comprising 787 participants were included in this meta-analysis. Our pooled results demonstrated that the peripheral add multifocal SCLs groups exhibited significantly reduced refraction progression (MD = 0.20; 95%CI, 0.14 ∼ 0.27; P

Abstract In industrial production, workers need to wear safety helmets at all times. However, due to different lighting, viewing angles, and the tendency of people to block each other, the precision of target detection is not high enough. Aiming at this problem, a real-time detection of helmets was achieved by improving the YOLOv5 algorithm. This algorithm introduces the lightweight network structure FasterNet, which uses partial convolution as the main operator to reduce the amount of calculations and parameters of the network; the boundary regression loss function Wise-IoU loss function with a dynamic focusing mechanism replaces the original loss function in YOLOv5; finally, the CBAM attention mechanism is introduced to obtain global context information and improve the detection ability of small targets. The experimental results show that the parameters of the improved YOLOv5 model are reduced by 12.68%, the computational amount is reduced by 10.8%, the mAP is increased from 88.3 to 92.3%, and the inference time is reduced by 81.5%, which is better than the performance of the original model and can detect helmet wearing effectively and in real time.

Abstract There is interest in developing sustainable materials displaying circularly polarized room-temperature phosphorescence, which have been scarcely reported. Here, we introduce biobased thin films exhibiting circularly polarized luminescence with simultaneous room-temperature phosphorescence. For this purpose, phosphorescence-active lignosulfonate biomolecules are co-assembled with cellulose nanocrystals in a chiral construct. The lignosulfonate is shown to capture the chirality generated by cellulose nanocrystals within the films, emitting circularly polarized phosphorescence with a 0.21 dissymmetry factor and 103 ms phosphorescence lifetime. By contrast with most organic phosphorescence materials, this chiral-phosphorescent system possesses phosphorescence stability, with no significant recession under extreme chemical environments. Meanwhile, the luminescent films resist water and humid environments but are fully biodegradable (16 days) in soil conditions. The introduced bio-based, environmentally-friendly circularly polarized phosphorescence system is expected to open many opportunities, as demonstrated here for information processing and anti-counterfeiting.

Crayfish, as a new consumer trend, has become one of the most popular freshwater aquatic foods in China, and its processed product output has been increasing year by year. In this study, the effect of multi-frequency power ultrasound (MFPU) pretreatment in various working modes including mono-, dual- and tri-frequency on the enzymatic hydrolysis and Maillard reaction of crayfish was investigated. Additionally, the underlying mechanism was also explored. Results showed that the degree of hydrolysis (DH) of crayfish was 23.89 %, while it increased to 40.78 % after MFPU pretreatment at 20/40 kHz dual-frequency, indicating that MFPU pretreatment significantly (p

Enhancing photosynthesis is a pivotal strategy for achieving sustainable plant production. Blue and red light facilitate plant growth since these wavelengths are readily absorbed by chlorophyll pigments and power crucial photosynthetic processes. In this investigation, double light conversion films were prepared by incorporating biomass-derived carbon dots into a polyvinyl alcohol matrix (CDs@PVAs). The study conclusively demonstrated that CDs@PVAs can convert ultraviolet and green light from sunlight into blue and red light. Using 2-week-old Athaliana plants as the model organism, the Athaliana plants were covered with CDs@PVAs and then exposed to simulated sunlight (0.57 mW cm−2) for 1 hour. The Fv/Fm value in the presence of the CDs@PVAs was approximately 12% higher than without the film, indicating a significant boost in photosynthesis. Analysis of gene expression showed that the CDs@PVAs cause significant upregulation of genes associated with photosynthesis. These double light conversion films thus emerge as promising contenders for eco-friendly plant cultivation methods that circumvent reliance on electric power. Their potential applications in agriculture are substantial, underscoring their significance in promoting sustainable practices.

ABSTRACTA comprehensive control methodology has been developed to address challenges such as temperature fluctuations, inconsistent depth penetration, and compositional integrity variations during laser-induction hybrid strengthening performed with consistent power parameters. This approach synergistically integrates a fuzzy controller and a decoupling compensator. In the initial part of this study, a temperature field model was utilized to investigate the effects of different process factors on temperature profiles. The analysis of step response data facilitated the development of mathematical models that delineate the correlation between the input factors and output responses. Subsequently, a decoupling compensation technique was used to reduce the coupling effects between temperature and its rate of change. A fuzzy controller was then developed to reduce the system's reliance on mathematical models, hence improving the accuracy of the control strategy. The results indicate that the application of fuzzy PI control and the implementation of decoupling compensation, the control strategy successfully improves the performance of the controller by minimizing parameter interactions. This strategy also incorporates real-time adjustment of PI parameters. Compared to conventional PI control, this method offers improved response speed and reduced overshoot. The laser-induction hybrid strengthening technique ensures superior temperature control, maintaining steady-state temperature precision within a 1% tolerance.

Lithium slag (LS) is a waste residue generated during lithium extraction, posing significant environmental challenge due to its extensive accumulation. This study proposes a method of utilizing thermally activated LS as the sole precursor for geopolymer synthesis. The thermal activation mechanism of LS was investigated using XRD, FTIR, ICP, and SEM techniques, while exploring the optimal composition for LS geopolymers(LSG). The research revealed that heating at 700 °C increased the amorphous content of LS from 15.9 % to 48.1 %, altering the chemical structure of its aluminosilicates and enhancing its leaching capacity in alkaline environments, thereby boosting its reactivity. The activator modulus and alkali equivalent were found to significantly influence the strength and microstructure of LSG. As the modulus increased from 1.0 to 1.4, geopolymer strength initially rose before declining, whereas strength progressively increased with alkali equivalent from 0.10 to 0.16. The geopolymer synthesized with a modulus of 1.2 and alkali equivalent of 0.16 exhibited the highest compressive strength of 53.1 MPa after 28 days. Test results indicated that the internal structure of LSG primarily comprised unreacted particles, N(C)-A-S-H gel, and microcracks. The increased alkali equivalent facilitated the dissolution of Si4+ and Al3+ within LS, intensifying geopolymerization to produce more N(C)-A-S-H gel, thereby densifying the structure and significantly enhancing compressive strength. This study elucidates the mechanism by which high-temperature calcination enhances LS reactivity, as well as the impact of activator on compressive strength and microstructural properties of LSG, offering new insights into the engineering applications of LS in high-performance cementitious materials.

Abstract Photocured room temperature phosphorescent (RTP) materials hold great potential for practical applications but are scarcely reported. Here, we develop photocured RTP materials (P-Lig) using a combination of lignosulfonate, acrylamide, and ionic liquid (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide). With this design, lignosulfonate simultaneously serves as RTP chromophore and photoinitiator. Specifically, lignosulfonate in the ionic liquid generates radicals to polymerize the acrylamide upon UV irradiation. The resulting lignosulfonate is automatically confined in an as-formed crosslinked matrix to provide RTP. As such RTP with an emission lifetime of ~110 ms is observed from the confined lignosulfonate in P-Lig. Additionally, energy transfer occur between P-Lig and Rhodamine B (RhB), triggering red afterglow emission when P-Lig is in situ loaded with RhB (P-Lig/RhB). As a demonstration of potential applications, the P-Lig and P-Lig/RhB are used as photocured RTP coatings and RTP inks for fabricating 3D materials and for information encryption.

This paper proposes a method based on the attention mechanism combined with a pointer network for rapidly generating sequences of Active debris removal (ADR) missions. Initially, the paper introduces the problem and modeling of ADR missions, establishing the multi-target planning problem as a time-dependent traveling salesman problem (TDTSP) considering the time dimension. Subsequently, during the spacecraft transfer process, it considers using continuous-thrust transfer, utilizing Pontryagin’s minimum principle to transform the fuel-optimal continuous-thrust transfer problem into a two-point boundary value problem (TPBVP), then rapidly generating a continuous-thrust dataset to train a surrogate model for evaluating continuous-thrust cost. Furthermore, PN-attention is proposed, which is derived from a pointer network (PN) model that incorporates attention computation, aimed at learning the sequence planning of ADR problems. In the validation and discussion section, PN-attention’s performance in solving ADR problems is compared with various heuristic algorithms, verifying its effectiveness, optimality, generalizability, and solution speed.

Gas recognition has been widely used in many fields such as air quality monitoring in dangerous areas. However, existing recognition methods suffer from two limitations: first, the recognition accuracy is not high. Due to the stochastic nature of air turbulence, gas features are not steady. The global features are sensitive to feature variations. Existing methods are based on global similarity, ignoring local similarity. Samples may be dissimilar in respect of global similarity, but are similar in terms of local similarity; Second, most existing recognition methods are based on the closed-set assumption that the gases categories in the train and test set are same. However, in real world applications, the test set may have non-overlapping gas category with the train set. To address above limitations, biclustering is used to extract local similarity. However, original biclustering method is not suitable for extraction. Since original biclustering method is used to find all kinds of biclusters, here we just want to find column nearly constant bicluster Therefore, a modified biclustering method is proposed. The local similarity can be used to construct classifier to recognize gas with adaboost. However, original adaboost cannot be used for open-set recognition. Thus a modified adaboost that uses two thresholds is proposed to recognize the unknown gases. To assess the efficacy of the proposed method, it is tested on public dataset. Experiment results demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms several state-of-the-art methods in respect of several evaluation measures on both closed-set and open-set cases.

With the increasing integration of renewable energy sources into the power grid and the continuous expansion of grid infrastructure, real-time preventive control becomes crucial. This article proposes a real-time prediction and correction method based on the extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) algorithm. The XGBoost algorithm is utilized to evaluate the real-time stability of grid static voltage, with the voltage stability L-index as the prediction target. A correction model is established with the objective of minimizing correction costs while considering the operational constraints of the grid. When the L-index exceeds the warning value, the XGBoost algorithm can obtain the importance of each feature of the system and calculate the sensitivity approximation of highly important characteristics. The model corrects these characteristics to maintain the system’s operation within a reasonably secure range. The methodology is demonstrated using the IEEE-14 and IEEE-118 systems. The results show that the XGBoost algorithm has higher prediction accuracy and computational efficiency in assessing the static voltage stability of the power grid. It is also shown that the proposed approach has the potential to greatly improve the operational dependability of the power grid.

Legged soccer robots present a significant challenge in robotics owing to the need for seamless integration of perception, manipulation, and dynamic movement. While existing models often depend on external perception or static techniques, our study aims to develop a robot with dynamic and untethered capabilities. We have introduced a motion planner that allows the robot to excel in dynamic shooting and dribbling. Initially, it identifies and predicts the position of the ball using a rolling model. The robot then pursues the ball, using a novel optimization-based cycle planner, continuously adjusting its gait cycle. This enables the robot to kick without stopping its forward motion near the ball. Each leg is assigned a specific role (stance, swing, pre-kick, or kick), as determined by a gait scheduler. Different leg controllers were used for tailored tiptoe trajectory planning and control. We validated our approach using real-world penalty shot experiments (5 out of 12 successful), cycle adjustment tests (11 out of 12 successful), and dynamic dribbling assessments. The results demonstrate that legged robots can overcome onboard capability limitations and achieve dynamic mobility and manipulation.

ObjectiveTo explore the clinical benefits of 125I seed implantation for iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RAIR-DTC).MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on 36 patients with RAIR-DTC who underwent radioactive 125I seed implantation from January 2015 to February 2022, involving 73 lesions. Prescription dose: 80~120 Gy. All cases were followed up at 1, 3, and 5 months postoperatively to monitor changes in tumor size, serum thyroglobulin (Tg), and serum anti-thyroglobulin antibody levels in thyrotropin-inhibited states, pain scores, and postoperative adverse reactions. The data were processed and analyzed using IBM SPSS 26.0. LER (Local Effective Rate) and LCR (Local Control Rate) were expressed as n (%), tumor diameter, Tg, and pain scores were represented as Median (Q1, Q3). Pairwise comparisons were conducted using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and a p-value of less than 0.05 indicated statistical significance.ResultsTumor size was significantly reduced after treatment (all P < 0.001): tumor length diameters were 32.67 (17.70, 45.72) mm, 27.45 (12.30, 39.98) mm, 20.70 (11.98, 37.58) mm, and 20.39 (10.56, 33.20) mm in the preoperative, 1-, 3-, and 5-months postoperative periods, respectively. Additionally, two consecutive post-treatment results were more minor and statistically significant than the previous results (P < 0.001). The LER at 1-, 3-, and 5-months post-surgery was 23.73%, 38.98%, and 52.54%, respectively, while the LCR at the same time points was 98.31%, 96.61%, and 94.92%, respectively. Patients’ serum Tg levels decreased significantly after surgery. (P < 0.001). Serum Tg levels were measured before surgery and 1-, 3-, and 5-months post-surgery. The results showed that serum Tg levels were 249.45 (79.39, 4718.75) ng/ml, 193.40 (44.53, 2829.00) ng/ml, 192.10 (25.58, 1758.00) ng/ml, and 136.25 (16.57, 1553.25) ng/ml, respectively. Two consecutive post-treatment results were more minor and statistically significant than the previous results (P < 0.001). The patients’ pain symptoms were significantly relieved after 125I brachytherapy (P < 0.001). The pain scores before 125I seed implantation and at 1, 3, and 5 months after the operation were 5.00 (4.00, 6.00), 3.00 (2.25, 4.00), 2.00 (2.00, 3.00), and 2.00 (1.00, 3.00), respectively.ConclusionMost lesions treated with 125I seed implantation in RAIR-DTC patients showed shrinkage and improved pain symptoms.Clinical trial registrationhttps://www.clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT06362772.

Разом з режимами обробки, властивостями матеріалу деталі та порошку та інш., від якості «фокусування» газопорошкового струменя (ГПС) в зону дії лазерного випромінювання цілком та повністю залежить продуктивність, якість та економічні показники лазерного газопорошкового наплавлення (ЛГПН), швидкого виготовлення виробів по технології направленого лазерного плавлення та легування поверхні виробів. На жаль, в літературі майже не висвітлено етапи та методи проектування систем подачі ГПС в зону дії сфокусованого лазерного випромінювання, прості методи вимірювання його параметрів та контролю. Розробка методики проектування та створення систем подачі ГПС в зону дії сфокусованого лазерного випромінювання, які задіяні при реалізації процесів ЛГПН та простих методів контролю параметрів ГПС. При досягнені поставленої мети (крім евристичних) використовуються чисельні методи векторної оптики, газової динаміки та методи обробки відеозображень. Розроблені оригінальні системи для реалізації ЛГПН, що забезпечують підвищення продуктивність операції, яка виконується за рахунок зменшення масових витрат порошкового матеріалу. Встановлено, що в просторі проектування, багатоканальні системи подачі ГПС в зону дії сфокусованого лазерного випромінювання (в порівнянні з одноканальними або коаксіальними системами) забезпечують підвищення продуктивності операції, яка виконується (особливо при обробці поверхонь, які лежать під кутом до горизонту) та дозволяють подавати в зону обробки порошкові суміші різного хімічного складу.

RH (Rathu Heenati), an indica rice cultivar from Sri Lanka, is highly resistant to several different biotypes of brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens Stål, BPH). In contrast, another indica rice cultivar, TN1 (Taichung Native 1), is highly susceptible to all biotypes of BPH. To reveal the molecular biological mechanism of biotic and abiotic stress mediated by BPH suction in two rice cultivars, RH and TN1, the genome-wide gene expressional profiling of these two rice varieties at 6 h after BPH infestation and needle puncturing was conducted by performing transcriptome analysis. In total, six samples (T6C, T6N, T6B, R6C, R6N, and R6B) were collected after performing different treatments for this expressional analysis. The results provide important information for the further isolation of BPH-resistance genes from RH as well as research on the mechanism of BPH resistance in RH. The transcriptome results revealed that TN1 (a BPH-susceptible rice variety) and RH (a BPH-resistant rice variety) harbor different pathways that respond to the physical injury of acupuncture and BPH infestation. The susceptible variety TN1 is more sensitive to the physical damage caused by acupuncture, whereas in the resistant variety RH, the response to insect damage is more rapid and direct. By comparing the gene changes of various plant hormones between the two varieties under different stresses, it was found that, in addition to the traditional SA and ET pathways related to the feeding induction of piercing-sucking pests, the expression patterns of JAZ-related genes in the JA signaling pathway also changed under two stresses (acupuncture induction and brown planthopper feeding induction), while the IAA hormone pathway-related genes in the susceptible variety TN1 also changed significantly after brown planthopper feeding. Furthermore, the results of this study help us to understand the biological process of rice responses to BPH and provide a promising direction to identify BPH-resistance-related genes in RH.

Abstract Objective We aimed to screen novel biomarkers for osteoarthritis (OA) using bioinformatic methods and explore its regulatory mechanism in OA development. Methods Differentially expressed genes were screened out from GSE98918 and GSE82107 datasets. Protein–protein interaction network and enrichment analysis were employed to search for hub gene and regulatory pathway. Hematoxylin–eosin, Safranin O-Fast green staining, and immunohistochemistry were performed to assess pathological damage. TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Real-time quantitative PCR was applied to verify expression of hub genes in OA model. The expression of key protein and pathway proteins was determined by western blot. Furthermore, Cell Counting Kit-8 and flow cytometry were conducted to explore the role of hub gene in chondrocytes. Results We identified 6 hub genes of OA, including ITGB1, COL5A1, COL1A1, THBS2, LAMA1, and COL12A1, with high prediction value. ITGB1 was screened as a pivotal regulator of OA and cAMP pathway was selected as the key regulatory pathway. ITGB1 was down-regulated in OA model. ITGB1 overexpression attenuated pathological damage and apoptosis in OA rats with the reduced levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6. ITGB1 overexpression activated cAMP pathway in vivo and vitro models. In vitro model, ITGB1 overexpression promoted cell viability, while inhibited apoptosis. ITGB1 overexpression also caused a decrease of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 concentrations. cAMP pathway inhibitor reversed the positive effect of ITGB1 on OA cell model. Conclusion ITGB1 is a novel biomarker for OA, which inhibits OA development by activating the cAMP pathway.

Abstract Background Pediatric uveitis may cause severe impairment of vision in children and affect their quality of life as well as cognitive ability. This study aims to evaluate the functional vision, visual-related and health-related quality of life, and cognitive ability in pediatric uveitis. Methods Children with uveitis aged 5–16 years old completed six validated instruments to assess functional visual ability with Cardiff Visual Ability Questionnaire for Children (CVAQC), vision-related quality of life with Impact of Vision Impairment for Children (IVI-C), health-related quality of life with Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), cognitive ability with Chinese Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (C-WISC), and depression and anxiety evaluation with Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD). Results The CVAQC, IVI-C, and PedsQL scores of pediatric uveitis were significantly lower than that of normal levels. Full-scale intelligence quotient (IQ) and performance IQ were significantly lower in pediatric uveitis patients with impaired vision in their best eye (visual acuity

The effective welding of a 6 mm thick TA2 pure titanium medium-thickness plate was achieved by laser–arc hybrid welding (LAHW) with helium–argon mixed shielding gas. Conducted research on the influence of helium–argon mixed shielding gas on plasma and arc characteristics during welding, and its further impact on the microstructure, internal porosity defects, tensile properties, and corrosion resistance of welded joints was explored. The study demonstrated that under the shielding gas with 75% helium, the arc width narrowed significantly from 6.96 mm to 2.61 mm, achieving a 63% reduction, which enhanced the concentration of arc heat flux density. Achieved a well-formed weld with no surface spatter and significantly reduced the internal porosity rate from 3.02% to 0.47%, which is an 84% decrease. Tensile fractures are located in the base material, all exhibiting plastic failure. The corrosion resistance of the welded joint initially increased and then decreased with the increase of helium content in the shielding gas, peaking at 75% helium content.

Stout beer was selected as the research object to screen angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptides. The peptide sequences of stout beer were identified using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-Orbitrap mass spectrometry with de novo, and 41 peptides were identified with high confidence. Peptide Ranker was used to score the biological activity and six peptides with a score ≥ 0.5 were screened to predict their potential ACE inhibitory (ACEI) activity. The toxicity, hydrophilicity, absorption, and excretion of these peptides were predicted. In addition, molecular docking between the peptides and ACE revealed a significant property of the peptide DLGGFFGFQR. Furthermore, molecular docking conformation and molecular dynamics simulation revealed that DLGGFFGFQR could be tightly bound to ACE through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction. Lastly, the ACEI activity of DLGGFFGFQR was confirmed using in vitro evaluation and the IC50 value was determined to be 24.45 μM.

Objective To explore the value of immunoglobulin in differential diagnosis of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), hepatitis E and liver cirrhosis. Methods Blood samples were collected from 121 patients with PBC and 107 healthy people. The serum r-glutamyltransferase (r-GT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), immunoglobulin IgG and IgM, total cholesterol (TCH) and lipoprotein (a)[Lp(a)] were detected by biochemical routine tests; Blood routine counted white blood cells (WBC) and platelets (PC); The IgG and IgM antibodies of HEV were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results r-GT, ALP, IgG and IgM in PBC patients increased significantly (P＜0.05) accompanied by significant decrease in WBC and PC values (P＜0.05). In patients with PBC cirrhosis, IgG increased significantly (P＜0.05), while WBC and PC values decreased significantly(P＜0.05). IgG and IgM in patients with PBC+cirrhosis+HEV antibody positive increased significantly(P＜0.05), while WBC and PC values decreased significantly (P＜0.05). Conclusions The increase of IgG and IgM might be used as diagnostic markers for the development of cirrhosis in PBC patients with HEV infection.

Abstract. Background:. Dysfunction of the gap junction channel protein connexin 43 (Cx43) contributes to myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced ventricular arrhythmias. Cx43 can be regulated by small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) modification. Protein inhibitor of activated STAT Y (PIASy) is an E3 SUMO ligase for its target proteins. However, whether Cx43 is a target protein of PIASy and whether Cx43 SUMOylation plays a role in I/R-induced arrhythmias are largely unknown. Methods:. Male Sprague–Dawley rats were infected with PIASy short hairpin ribonucleic acid (shRNA) using recombinant adeno-associated virus subtype 9 (rAAV9). Two weeks later, the rats were subjected to 45 min of left coronary artery occlusion followed by 2 h reperfusion. Electrocardiogram was recorded to assess arrhythmias. Rat ventricular tissues were collected for molecular biological measurements. Results:. Following 45 min of ischemia, QRS duration and QTc intervals statistically significantly increased, but these values decreased after transfecting PIASy shRNA. PIASy downregulation ameliorated ventricular arrhythmias induced by myocardial I/R, as evidenced by the decreased incidence of ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation, and reduced arrythmia score. In addition, myocardial I/R statistically significantly induced PIASy expression and Cx43 SUMOylation, accompanied by reduced Cx43 phosphorylation and plakophilin 2 (PKP2) expression. Moreover, PIASy downregulation remarkably reduced Cx43 SUMOylation, accompanied by increased Cx43 phosphorylation and PKP2 expression after I/R. Conclusion:. PIASy downregulation inhibited Cx43 SUMOylation and increased PKP2 expression, thereby improving ventricular arrhythmias in ischemic/reperfused rats heart.

Abstract Photothermal devices and thermoelectric cells hold great promise for energy generation but integration of the two remains a considerable challenge in real‐life power supply for sensors. Here, a novel photo‐thermo‐electric hydrogel (PTEH‐Interlocking) was constructed by the synthesis of a photothermal layer on a thermoelectric hydrogel with the redox pair Fe(CN)63−/Fe(CN)64−. The smart design of using the oxidation of pyrogallic acid by Fe(CN)63− to construct the photothermal layer for photo‐to‐heat conversion protected the redox couple of the thermogalvanic ion pair from ultraviolet damage, as well as triggered the formation of an interlocking structure at the interface of the photothermal layer and the thermoelectric hydrogel. The as‐prepared PTEH‐Interlocking has shown a high Seebeck coefficient and rapid heat transfer, boosting the photo‐thermo‐electric conversion. As a demonstration of a practical application, the PTEH‐Interlocking cells are successfully used as the energy supply for a mechanical sensor.

This research endeavors to characterize the primary factors that influence the formation of Ordovician karst caves in the Keping area of China. A 3D digital model of the cave structure and fracture sets was generated using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The characterization of fracture and cavity development involved the examination of thin sections, fluid inclusion testing, and the analysis of C and O isotopes. Key parameters controlling karst development were identified through the application of multiple linear regressions and statistical analysis. The Ordovician limestone karst cave exhibited four distinct fracture sets. Set 1 consisted of partially filled fractures with a sub-horizontal orientation and a striking direction of SEE, interpreted to have formed during the Middle-Late Caledonian orogeny. Set 2 comprised inclined tensile-shear fractures with a striking direction of NEE, likely formed during the Early Hercynian orogeny. Set 3 included fully filled conjugate shear fractures with variable orientations, which developed during the Indo-Yanshanian orogeny. Set 4 comprised high-angle shear fractures with striking directions of NNE 20–40° and NEE 60–80°, formed during the Himalayan orogeny. Two stages of cave filling deposition were identified. Stage I coincided with the Middle-Late Caledonian Set 1 fractures and can be attributed to the circulation of freshwater fluid. Stage II occurred concurrently with the Early Hercynian Set 2 fractures and can be attributed to deep hydrothermal fluid circulation. The karst caves are interconnected and aligned along a fault zone. The Ordovician limestone possesses high permeability, which facilitates karst development. The lithologies in the Aksu area play a crucial role in cavity formation and dissolution. The development of cavities is influenced by the combined patterns of the fracture system, with larger fault and fracture zones resulting in larger cave sizes. As one moves away from the fault zone, limestone dissolution decreases, resulting in less pronounced karst development.

Most protective clothing on the market today cannot provide both comfort properties and protectability, which would not match the requirement for preventing or killing the rapidly growing and changing virus. Hence, a novel breathable and waterproof composite fabric used in protective clothing was designed through the hot-press process with three functional layers. The waterproof ability, moisture permeability, mechanical property, electricity and bactericidal ability of three layers and composite fabric were studied. Results showed that the moisture permeability of coated thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) membrane reached 19854 g m2 d−1. The composite fabric had still excellent moisture permeability of up to 13956 g m2 d−1 and water contact angle of 151.7°. The coated TPU membrane had good tensile strength and acid resistance. The voltage and current of composite fabric after 7 days were approximately 0.336 V and 1.4 μA. The composite fabric had a 97.5 % filtering effect for NaCl aerosols, a 99 % bacteriostatic rate, and the ability to withstand the Phy-X174 phage with a diameter of 0.027 μm. This composite fabric based on the principle of moisture permeability and weak electric field could be used in protective clothing, which would be of theoretical significance and guiding practical production.

Psoriasis (PSO) is a common skin disease affecting approximately 1%–3% of the population, and the incidence rate is increasing yearly. PSO is associated with a dramatically increased risk of cardiovascular disease, the most common of which is atherosclerosis (AS). In the past, inflammation was considered to be the triggering factor of the two comorbidities, but in recent years, studies have found that lipid metabolism disorders increase the probability of atherosclerosis in patients with psoriasis. In this review, we discuss epidemiological studies, clinical treatment methods, risk factors, and lipid metabolism of psoriasis and atherosclerosis comorbidities.

Abstract Producing afterglow room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) from natural sources is an attractive approach to sustainable RTP materials. However, converting natural resources to RTP materials often requires toxic reagents or complex processing. Here we report that natural wood may be converted into a viable RTP material by treating with magnesium chloride. Specifically, immersing natural wood into an aqueous MgCl2 solution at room temperature produces so-called C-wood containing chloride anions that act to promote spin orbit coupling (SOC) and increase the RTP lifetime. Produced in this manner, C-wood exhibits an intense RTP emission with a lifetime of ~ 297 ms (vs. the ca. 17.5 ms seen for natural wood). As a demonstration of potential utility, an afterglow wood sculpture is prepared in situ by simply spraying the original sculpture with a MgCl2 solution. C-wood was also mixed with polypropylene (PP) to generate printable afterglow fibers suitable for the fabrication of luminescent plastics via 3D printing. We anticipate that the present study will facilitate the development of sustainable RTP materials.

Background and objective Since the popularization of computed tomography (CT) technology, the detection rate of pulmonary ground glass nodules (GGNs) with imaging follow-up as the main management method has increased significantly. The purpose of this study is to quantitatively analyze the changes of pulmonary GGNs during the follow-up process with three-dimensional reconstruction technology, explore the natural progression of pulmonary GGNs, and provide effective basis for clinical guidance for patients to conduct reasonable management of nodules. Methods A total of 115 cases of pulmonary GGNs with regular follow-up in the Combined Outpatient Department of Zhoushan Hospital from March 2015 to November 2022 were enrolled. Quantitative imaging features of nodules were extracted by semi-automatic segmentation of 3D Slicer software to evaluate the growth of nodules and clinical intervention during follow-up. Results The average baseline age of the patients was (56.9±10.1) yr. The mean follow-up time was (48.8±18.9) months. The two-dimensional diameter of baseline CT scan was (7.9±2.9) mm, and the maximum three-dimensional diameter was (10.1±3.4) mm. The two-dimensional diameter of the last CT scan was (9.9±4.7) mm, and the maximum three-dimensional diameter was (11.4±5.1) mm. A total of 27 cases (23.5%) showed an increase during follow-up, with a median volume doubling time of 822 days and a median mass doubling time of 1,007 days. 32 cases were surgically resected, including 6 cases of invasive adenocarcinoma (IAC), 16 cases of minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA), 8 cases of adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) and 2 cases of atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH). Five nodules underwent surgical intervention due to the progression of two-dimensional diameter, which was pathologically confirmed as pre-invasive lesions, but their three-dimensional maximum diameter showed no significant change. Nodular morphology, lobulated sign, spiculated sign and vacuole signs all promoted the growth of nodules in univariate analysis. There were significant differences in age, baseline diameter, mean CT value, median CT value, 10% and 90% percentile CT number between the growth group and the stable group (P

Coupling tourism development (TD), scientific and technological innovation (ST), and ecological environment (EE) is crucial to regional sustainable development, and it is necessary to explore the spatial and temporal characteristics. The study constructs a coordinated development evaluation index system for the three subsystems. And the spatiotemporal characteristics of the coupling coordination between TD, ST, and EE were revealed by applying the entropy method, coupling coordination model and based on the panel data of 30 regions in China from 2005 to 2020. The results show that: (1) the comprehensive development index and coupling coordination degree show an increasing trend, focusing on the stages of endangered and mild imbalance recession;(2) Most regions are in a state of high coupling and low coordination, mainly concentrated in tourism lagging or science and technology lagging; (3) the coupling coordination shows a spatial pattern as the moderate imbalance in the northwest and the relative balance in the southeast, with a vast regional disparities and clustering characteristics; and (4) the gray prediction model shows that the coupling coordination degree will continue the upward trend in the future. In a nutshell, this research presents a novel framework and results that can be used as an evaluation index and policy insights for coupling TD, ST, and EE.

Abstract Since the discovery of conducting polyacetylene in the 1970s, intrinsically conducting polymers (ICPs) have attracted great attention because of their interesting structure, properties, and applications. Notably different from conventional conductors such as metals and doped semiconductors, ICPs have high mechanical flexibility and are light weight. In addition, their properties can be easily tuned by controlling the doping level, modifying the chemical structure, or forming composites with organic or inorganic materials. Their application in bioelectronics is particularly interesting because they have good biocompatibility and good mechanical matching with biological tissues. In this article, the methods to increase the mechanical stretchability of ICPs are first reviewed because high stretchability is often required for bioelectronic applications while pristine ICPs generally have limited stretchability. The application of ICPs as stretchable electrodes for epidermal biopotential detection and neural interfaces is discussed. Then, the employment of ICPs as the electrodes or sensing material of mechanical sensors is reviewed. They also have important application in controllable drug delivery. Last, their applications in the wearable energy harvesting and storage devices including thermoelectric generators and supercapacitors are also covered.