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Genome-scale metabolic models (GEMs) have been widely employed to predict microorganism behaviors. However, GEMs only consider stoichiometric constraints, leading to a linear increase in simulated growth and product yields as substrate uptake rates rise. This divergence from experimental measurements prompted the creation of enzyme-constrained models (ecModels) for various species, successfully enhancing chemical production. Building upon studies that allocate macromolecule resources, we developed a Python-based workflow (ECMpy) that constructs an enzyme-constrained model. This involves directly imposing an enzyme amount constraint in GEM and accounting for protein subunit composition in reactions. However, this procedure demands manual collection of enzyme kinetic parameter information and subunit composition details, making it rather user-unfriendly. In this work, we've enhanced the ECMpy toolbox to version 2.0, broadening its scope to automatically generate ecGEMs for a wider array of organisms. ECMpy 2.0 automates the retrieval of enzyme kinetic parameters and employs machine learning for predicting these parameters, which significantly enhances parameter coverage. Additionally, ECMpy 2.0 introduces common analytical and visualization features for ecModels, rendering computational results more user accessible. Furthermore, ECMpy 2.0 seamlessly integrates three published algorithms that exploit ecModels to uncover potential targets for metabolic engineering. ECMpy 2.0 is available at https://github.com/tibbdc/ECMpy or as a pip package (https://pypi.org/project/ECMpy/).

Abstract The mechanism of Y on H/H2 adsorption performance of Mg17Al12 were studied by the density functional theory. We obtained that for the Y-adsorbed systems, Y tended to occupy on the bridge site between adjacent Mg atoms. For the Y-substituted surfaces, Y atoms inclined to replace Mg atoms on the surfaces. We found that hydrogen (H/H2) absorption on the Mg17Al12(110) systems were improved by adding Y, the order of adsorption energy was as follows: clean Mg17Al12(110) > the Y-substituted surfaces > the Y-adsorbed surfaces. In addition, H2 molecules could dissociate on the Y-containing systems without barrier energy. Electronic properties showed that for H2 adsorption, the s states of atomic H mainly hybridized with the d states of Y. The formations of the Y-H bonds and the interactions between Y and H atoms could expound the mechanism for the promoted hydrogenation performance of the Y-containing surfaces.

3-Hydroxypropionic Acid (3-HP) is recognized as a high value-added chemical with a broad range of applications. Among the various biosynthetic pathways for 3-HP production, the β-alanine pathway is particularly noteworthy due to its capacity to generate 3-HP from glucose at a high theoretical titer. In this study, the β-alanine biosynthesis pathway was introduced and optimized in Corynebacterium glutamicum. By strategically regulating the supply of precursors, we successfully engineered a strain capable of efficiently synthesizing 3-HP through the β-alanine pathway, utilizing glucose as the substrate. The engineered strain CgP36 produced 47.54 g/L 3-HP at a yield of 0.295 g/g glucose during the fed-batch fermentation in a 5 L fermenter, thereby attaining the highest 3-HP titer obtained from glucose via the β-alanine pathway.

Abstract Efficient thrombolysis in time is crucial for prognostic improvement of patients with acute arterial thromboembolic disease, while limitations and complications still exist in conventional thrombolytic treatment methods. Herein, our study sought to investigate a novel dual-mode strategy that integrated ultrasound (US) and near-infrared light (NIR) with establishment of hollow mesoporous silica nanoprobe (HMSN) which contains Arginine-glycine-aspartate (RGD) peptide (thrombus targeting), perfluoropentane (PFP) (thrombolysis with phase-change and stable cavitation) and indocyanine green (ICG) (thrombolysis with photothermal conversion). HMSN is used as the carrier, the surface is coupled with targeted RGD to achieve high targeting and permeability of thrombus, PFP and ICG are loaded to achieve the collaborative diagnosis and treatment of thrombus by US and NIR, so as to provide a new strategy for the integration of diagnosis and treatment of arterial thrombus. From the in vitro and in vivo evaluation, RGD/ICG/PFP@HMSN can aggregate and penetrate at the site of thrombus, and finally establish the dual-mode directional development and thrombolytic treatment under the synergistic effect of US and NIR, providing strong technical support for the accurate diagnosis and treatment of arterial thrombosis. Graphical Abstract

Heme, an iron-containing porphyrin derivative, holds great promise in fields like medicine, food production and chemicals. Here, we developed an engineered Corynebacterium glutamicum strain for efficient heme production by combining modular engineering and RBS engineering. The whole heme biosynthetic pathway was methodically divided into 5-ALA synthetic module, uroporphyrinogen III (UPG III) synthetic module and heme synthetic module for further construction and optimization. Three heme synthetic modules were compared and the siroheme-dependent (SHD) pathway was identified to be optimal in C. glutamicum for the first time. To further improve heme production, the expression of genes in UPG III synthetic module and heme synthetic module was coordinated optimized through RBS engineering, respectively. Subsequently, heme oxygenase was knocked out to reduce heme degradation. The engineered strain HS12 showed a maximum iron-containing porphyrin derivatives titer of 1592 mg/L with the extracellular secretion rate of 45.5% in fed-batch fermentation. Our study constructed a C. glutamicum chassis strain for efficient heme accumulation, which was beneficial for the advancement of efficient heme and other porphyrins production.

Abstract Adsorption and activation of C–H bonds by photocatalysts are crucial for the efficient conversion of C–H bonds to produce high-value chemicals. Nevertheless, the delivery of surface-active oxygen species for C–H bond oxygenation inevitably needs to overcome obstacles due to the separated active centers, which suppresses the catalytic efficiency. Herein, Ni dopants are introduced into a monolayer Bi2WO6 to create cascaded active units consisting of unsaturated W atoms and Bi/O frustrated Lewis pairs. Experimental characterizations and density functional theory calculations reveal that these special sites can establish an efficient and controllable C–H bond oxidation process. The activated oxygen species on unsaturated W are readily transferred to the Bi/O sites for C–H bond oxygenation. The catalyst with a Ni mass fraction of 1.8% exhibits excellent toluene conversion rates and high selectivity towards benzaldehyde. This study presents a fascinating strategy for toluene oxidation through the design of efficient cascaded active units.

Abstract Background The development of antiretroviral therapy broadly extends the life expectancy of persons living with HIV (PLHIV). However, stigma and discrimination are still great threat to these individuals and the world's public health care system. Accurate and reproducible measures are prerequisites for robust results. Therefore, it is essential to choose an acceptable measure with satisfactory psychometric properties to assess stigma and discrimination. There has been no systematic review of different stigma and discrimination tools in the field of HIV care. Researchers and clinical practitioners do not have a solid reference for selecting stigma and discrimination measurement tools. Methods We systematically searched English and Chinese databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, PsycINFO, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, The Cochrane Library, CNKI,, and Wanfang, to obtain literature about stigma and discrimination measurement tools that have been developed and applied in the field of HIV. The search period was from 1st January, 1996 to 22nd November 2021. The COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) guideline (2018 version) was applied to assess the risk of bias for each involved study and summarize the psychometric properties of each tool. The modified version of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and, Evaluation (GRADE) method was used to grade the evidence and develop recommendations. Results We included 45 studies and 19 PROMs for HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination among PLHIV. All studies had sufficient methodological quality in content validity, structural validity, internal consistency, and the hypothesis testing of structural validity. Limited evidence was found for cross-cultural validity, stability, and criterion validity. No relevant evidence was found concerning measurement error and responsiveness. The Internalized AIDS-related Stigma Scale (IARSS), Internalized HIV Stigma Scale (IHSS), and Wright's HIV stigma scale (WHSS) are recommended for use. Conclusions This study recommends three PROMs for different stigma and discrimination scenarios, including IARSS for its good quality and convenience, IHSS for its broader range of items, higher sensitivity, and greater precision, and WHSS for its comprehensive and quick screening. Researchers should also consider the relevance and feasibility of the measurements before putting them into practice. Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD42022308579

Bacterial small laccases (SLAC) are promising industrial biocatalysts due to their ability to oxidize a broad range of substrates with exceptional thermostability and tolerance for alkaline pH. Electron transfer between substrate, copper centers, and O2 is one of the key steps in the catalytic turnover of SLAC. However, limited research has been conducted on the electron transfer pathway of SLAC and SLAC-catalyzed reactions, hindering further engineering of SLAC to produce tunable biocatalysts for novel applications. Herein, the combinational use of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopic methods coupled with redox titration were employed to monitor the electron transfer processes and obtain further insights into the electron transfer pathway in SLAC. The reduction potentials for type 1 copper (T1Cu), type 2 copper (T2Cu) and type 3 copper (T3Cu) were determined to be 367 ± 2 mV, 378 ± 5 mV and 403 ± 2 mV, respectively. Moreover, the reduction potential of a selected substrate of SLAC, hydroquinone (HQ), was determined to be 288 mV using cyclic voltammetry (CV). In this way, an electron transfer pathway was identified based on the reduction potentials. Specifically, electrons are transferred from HQ to T1Cu, then to T2Cu and T3Cu, and finally to O2. Furthermore, superhyperfine splitting observed via EPR during redox titration indicated a modification in the covalency of T2Cu upon electron uptake, suggesting a conformational alteration in the protein environment surrounding the copper sites, which could potentially influence the reduction potential of the copper sites during catalytic processes. The results presented here not only provide a comprehensive method for analyzing the electron transfer pathway in metalloenzymes through reduction potential measurements, but also offer valuable insights for further engineering and directed evolution studies of SLAC in the aim for biotechnological and industrial applications.

To systematically review the effect of different types of water sources on dental unit waterline (DUWL) contamination. 5 databases were searched from their inception to December 23, 2023. Two reviewers independently extracted the data and assessed the quality of the literature. The risk ratio (RR) was used as measure of effect size in meta-analysis. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) was used for evaluating quality of the evidence. Meta-analysis was completed by RevMan 5.4.5 studies involving 561 water samples were quantified for meta-analysis. The results indicated that no significant differences were found in view of contamination rate (RR = 1.01; 95 % CI, 0.72–1.41; P = 0.96, I2 = 62 %; GRADE low)and detection rate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (RR = 0.78; 95 % CI, 0.15–4.13; P = 0.77; I2 = 83 %; GRADE very low) between using purified water and tap water as water sources of DUWL. The available evidence suggests that there is no significant difference between purified water and tap water in controlling DUWL contamination. However, the conclusions need to be further validated through more randomized controlled trials with robust design and a large sample size.

Cancer reprogramming is an important facilitator of cancer development and survival, with tumor cells exhibiting a preference for aerobic glycolysis beyond oxidative phosphorylation, even under sufficient oxygen supply condition. This metabolic alteration, known as the Warburg effect, serves as a significant indicator of malignant tumor transformation. The Warburg effect primarily impacts cancer occurrence by influencing the aerobic glycolysis pathway in cancer cells. Key enzymes involved in this process include glucose transporters (GLUTs), HKs, PFKs, LDHs, and PKM2. Moreover, the expression of transcriptional regulatory factors and proteins, such as FOXM1, p53, NF-κB, HIF1α, and c-Myc, can also influence cancer progression. Furthermore, lncRNAs, miRNAs, and circular RNAs play a vital role in directly regulating the Warburg effect. Additionally, gene mutations, tumor microenvironment remodeling, and immune system interactions are closely associated with the Warburg effect. Notably, the development of drugs targeting the Warburg effect has exhibited promising potential in tumor treatment. This comprehensive review presents novel directions and approaches for the early diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients by conducting in-depth research and summarizing the bright prospects of targeting the Warburg effect in cancer.

Small RNAs (sRNAs) are important non-coding RNA regulators that play key roles in the development and pathogenesis of plant pathogens, as well as in other biological processes. However, whether these abundant and varying sRNAs are involved in Phytophthora development or infection remains enigmatic. In this study, sRNA sequencing of 4 asexual stages of Phytophthora capsici (P. capsici), namely, as mycelia (HY), sporangia (SP), zoospores (ZO), cysts (CY), and pepper infected with P. capsici (IN), were performed, followed by sRNA analysis, microRNA (miRNA) identification, and miRNA target prediction. sRNAs were mainly distributed at 25–26 nt in HY, SP, and ZO but distributed at 18–34 nt in CY and IN. 92, 42, 176, 39, and 148 known miRNAs and 15, 19, 54, 13, and 1 novel miRNA were identified in HY, SP, ZO, CY, and IN, respectively. It was found that the expression profiles of known miRNAs vary greatly at different stages and could be divided into 4 categories. Novel miRNAs mostly belong to part I. Gene ontology (GO) analysis of known miRNA-targeting genes showed that they are involved in the catalytic activity pathway, binding function, and other biological processes. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genome (KEGG) analysis of novel miRNA-targeting genes showed that they are involved in the lysine degradation pathway. The expression of candidate miRNAs was validated using quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (qRT–PCR), and miRNAs were downregulated in PcDCL1 or PcAGO1 mutants. To further explore the function of the detected miRNAs, the precursor of a novel miRNA, miR91, was knockout by CRISPR-Cas9, the mutants displayed decreased mycelial growth, sporangia production, and zoospore production. It was found that 503142 (Inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase and related proteins) can be predicted as a target of miR91, and the interaction between miR91 and 503142 was verified using the tobacco transient expression system. Overall, our results indicate that the diverse and differentially expressed sRNAs are involved in the development and pathogenesis of P. capsici.

Ratio-scaled VO2 is the widely used method for quantifying running economy (RE). However, this method should be criticized due to its theoretical defect and curvilinear relationship indicated by the allometric scaling, although no consensus has been achieved on the generally accepted exponent b value of body weight. Therefore, this study aimed to provide a quantitative synthesis of the reported exponents used to scale VO2 to body weight. Six electronic databases were searched based on related terms. Inclusion criteria involved human cardiopulmonary testing data, derived exponents, and reported precision statistics. The random-effects model was applied to statistically analyze exponent b. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses were conducted to explore the potential factors contributing to variation in b values. The probability of the true exponent being below 1 in future studies was calculated. The estimated b values were all below 1 and aligned with the 3/4 power law, except for the 95 % prediction interval of the estimated fat-free body weight exponent b. A publication bias and a slightly greater I2 and τ statistic were also observed in the fat-free body weight study cohort. The estimated probabilities of the true body weight exponent, full body weight exponent, and fat-free body weight exponent being lower than 1 were 93.8 % (likely), 95.1 % (very likely), and 94.5 % (likely) respectively. ‘Sex difference’, ‘age category’, ‘sporting background’, and ‘testing modality’ were four potential but critical variables that impacted exponent b. Overall, allometric-scaled RE should be measured by full body weight with exponent b raised to 3/4.

Proper transcription orchestrated by RNA polymerase II (RNPII) is crucial for cellular development, which is rely on the phosphorylation state of RNPII's carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD). Sporangia, developed from mycelia, are essential for the destructive oomycetes Phytophthora, remarkable transcriptional changes are observed during the morphological transition. However, how these changes are rapidly triggered and their relationship with the versatile RNPII-CTD phosphorylation remain enigmatic. Herein, we found that Phytophthora capsici undergone an elevation of Ser5-phosphorylation in its uncanonical heptapeptide repeats of RNPII-CTD during sporangia development, which subsequently changed the chromosomal occupation of RNPII and primarily activated transcription of certain genes. A cyclin-dependent kinase, PcCDK7, was highly induced and phosphorylated RNPII-CTD during this morphological transition. Mechanistically, a novel DCL1-dependent microRNA, pcamiR1, was found to be a feedback modulator for the precise phosphorylation of RNPII-CTD by complexing with PcAGO1 and regulating the accumulation of PcCDK7. Moreover, this study revealed that the pcamiR1-CDK7-RNPII regulatory module is evolutionarily conserved and the impairment of the balance between pcamiR1 and PcCDK7 could efficiently reduce growth and virulence of P. capsici. Collectively, this study uncovers a novel and evolutionary conserved mechanism of transcription regulation which could facilitate correct development and identifies pcamiR1 as a promising target for disease control.

BackgroundPsychological capital, an intrinsic personal asset, enhances junior nurses’ ability to navigate transition and sustain superior job performance. This study aimed to classify junior nurses into distinct psychological capital profiles and examine their associations with burnout and perceived stress levels.MethodsA cross-sectional study involving 480 junior nurses from three hospitals in Beijing assessed psychological capital, stress, and burnout using e-questionnaires, from July 2021 to August 2022. We employed exploratory latent profile analysis for psychological capital profiling and logistic regression with the best subset method to identify the influential factors.ResultsThe results of the latent profile analysis supported the models of two latent profiles, which were defined as low psychological capital (224, 46.5%) and high psychological capital (256, 53.5%). Logistic regression revealed that introverted nurses and those experiencing moderate to high levels of burnout and stress were more likely to exhibit low psychological capital.ConclusionNursing management should proactively identify and support junior nurses with low psychological capital, with a focus on introverted individuals, to mitigate the impact of stress and burnout.

Abstract Background The objective of this study was to develop and validate a nomogram for the individualized prediction of adverse events in patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection (TAAD) undergoing hybrid total aortic arch repair. Methods From April 2019 to April 2022, we conducted a comprehensive review of the medical records of Stanford type A aortic dissection patients who underwent hybrid total aortic arch repair surgery at our hospital. Patients were separated into two groups based on whether or not a composite adverse event occurred following surgery. Using univariate and multivariate analyses of logistic regression, the prediction model was created. Construct risk prediction models utilizing nomograms and evaluate their precision, discrimination, and clinical utility. Results Age, platelets, serum blood urea nitrogen, and ascending aortic diameter were the variables included in the nomogram by univariate and multivariate analysis. The risk model performed well in internal validation, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.829. The calibration curve demonstrated good agreement between predicted and actual probabilities (Hosmer-Lemeshow test, P = 0.22). Clinical decision analysis curves demonstrate predictive nomograms’ clinical utility. Conclusion This study created and validated a nomogram for predicting the risk of composite endpoint events in TAAD patients undergoing hybrid total aortic arch repair. The nomogram can help determine the severity of a patient’s condition and provide a more personalized diagnosis and treatment.

Abstract The combined rock breaking method with the saw blade and conical pick is proposed to improve the rock breaking efficiency. The numerical simulation of combined rock breaking with the saw blade and conical pick is established to investigate the rock damage mechanism. And verified and modified the numerical simulation model with the rock breaking comprehensive test bench, the quantitative analysis error is less than 0.05, indicated quantitative analysis system is accuracy. The result indicated that the cutting parameters of the saw blade and conical pick affect the rock damage. And the cutting parameters of conical pick and structural parameters of rock plate have been studied to influence rock breaking volume. The research result could help optimize the cutting parameters of the saw blade and conical pick to improve the rock breaking efficiency.

In this paper, we propose a vehicle pedestrian detection and tracking method based on the improved YOLOv7 and DeepSort algorithms. We aim to improve the quality of vehicle pedestrian detection and tracking, addressing the challenges that current commercially available autonomous driving technologies face in complex and changing road traffic situations. First, the NMS (non-maximum suppression) algorithm in YOLOv7 is replaced with a modified Soft-NMS algorithm to ensure that targets can be accurately detected at high densities, and second, the CCBA (coordinate channel attention module) attention mechanism is incorporated to improve the feature extraction and perception capabilities of the network. Finally, a multi-scale feature network is introduced to extract features of small targets more accurately. Finally, the MobileNetV3 lightweight module is introduced into the feature extraction network of DeepSort, which not only reduces the number of model parameters and network complexity, but also improves the tracking performance of the target. The experimental results show that the improved YOLOv7 algorithm improves the average detection accuracy by 3.77% compared to that of the original algorithm; on the MOT20 dataset, the refined DeepSort model achieves a 1.6% increase in MOTA and a 1.9% improvement in MOTP; in addition, the model volume is one-eighth of the original algorithm. In summary, our model is able to achieve the desired real-time and accuracy, which is more suitable for autonomous driving.

ABSTRACT Multi-fungicide resistance (MFR) is a serious environmental problem, which results in the excessive use of fungicides. Fitness penalty, as a common phenomenon in MFR, can partially counteract the issue of resistance due to the weakened vigor of MFR pathogens. Their underlying mechanism and relationship remain unexplained. By Oxford Nanopore Technologies sequencing and dot blot, we found that N6-methyloxyadenine (6mA) modification, the dominate epigenetic marker in Phytophthora capsici, was significantly altered after MFR emerged. Among the differently methylated genes, PcGSTZ1 could efficiently detoxify SYP-14288, a novel uncoupler, through complexing the fungicide with glutathione and induce MFR. Interestingly, PcGSTZ1 overexpression was induced by elevated 6mA levels and chromatin accessibility to its genomic loci. Moreover, the overexpression led to reactive oxygen species burst and ferroptosis in SYP-14288-resistant mutants, which enhanced the resistance and induced fitness penalty in P. capsici through triggering low energy shock adaptive response. Furthermore, this study revealed that the 6mA-PcGSTZ1-ferroptosis axis could mediate intergenerational resistance memory transmission and enabled adaptive advantage to P. capsici. In conclusion, the findings provide new insights into the biological role of 6mA as well as the mechanisms underlying the trade-off between MFR and fitness. These could also benefit disease control through the blockade of the epigenetic axis to resensitize resistant isolates.IMPORTANCEN6-methyloxyadenine (6mA) modification on DNA is correlated with tolerance under different stress in prokaryotes. However, the role of 6mA in eukaryotes remains poorly understood. Our current study reveals that DNA adenine methyltransferase 1 (DAMT1)-mediated 6mA modification at the upstream region of GST zeta 1 (GSTZ1) is elevated in the resistant strain. This elevation promotes the detoxification uncoupler and induces multifungicide resistance (MFR). Moreover, the overexpression led to reactive oxygen species burst and ferroptosis in SYP-14288-resistant mutants, which enhanced the resistance and induced fitness penalty in Phytophthora capsici through triggering low energy shock adaptive response. Furthermore, this study revealed that the 6mA-PcGSTZ1-ferroptosis axis could mediate intergenerational resistance memory transmission and enabled adaptive advantage to P. capsici. Overall, our findings uncover an innovative mechanism underlying 6mA modification in regulating PcGSTZ1 transcription and the ferroptosis pathway in P. capsici.

Summary: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a widely used imaging modality in clinics for medical disease diagnosis, staging, and follow-up. Deep learning has been extensively used to accelerate k-space data acquisition, enhance MR image reconstruction, and automate tissue segmentation. However, these three tasks are usually treated as independent tasks and optimized for evaluation by radiologists, thus ignoring the strong dependencies among them; this may be suboptimal for downstream intelligent processing. Here, we present a novel paradigm, full-stack learning (FSL), which can simultaneously solve these three tasks by considering the overall imaging process and leverage the strong dependence among them to further improve each task, significantly boosting the efficiency and efficacy of practical MRI workflows. Experimental results obtained on multiple open MR datasets validate the superiority of FSL over existing state-of-the-art methods on each task. FSL has great potential to optimize the practical workflow of MRI for medical diagnosis and radiotherapy.

Riboswitches are functional RNA elements that regulate gene expression by directly detecting metabolites. Twenty years have passed since it was first discovered, researches on riboswitches are becoming increasingly standardized and refined, which could significantly promote people's cognition of RNA function as well. Here, we focus on some representative orphan riboswitches, enumerate the structural and functional transformation and artificial design of riboswitches including the coupling with ribozymes, hoping to attain a comprehensive understanding of riboswitch research.

Objective: This study aimed to introduce the development of a social media-based HIV knowledge dissemination platform and evaluate its dissemination effects, users’ feedback, and preferences. Methods: A social media-based HIV knowledge dissemination platform (“Lihui Space”) was developed as a WeChat Official Account (WOA) to disseminate HIV-related information and knowledge to the public and answer subscribers’ questions. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 784 platform subscribers between July 2021 and September 2021 to evaluate users’ experiences with and preferences for the platform. This platform included three content levels about HIV-related information and knowledge: individual level (health self-management), community level (social function), and society level (news and policy), and dissemination information through texts, pictures, videos, and websites. A descriptive analysis was conducted to estimate the dissemination effects of the platform and evaluation scores. Results: As of September 16, 2021, this platform’s WeChat Communication Index (WCI) score was 923.60, the total number of users was 100,008, and the total views in one month was more than 724,000. Participants reported a high level of satisfaction with this platform in terms of overall evaluation (23.36 ± 3.06), readability (18.46 ± 2.63), function evaluation (13.93 ± 1.92), design and structure (22.96 ± 3.36), and interactivity (12.56 ± 2.69). Conclusion: This social media-based platform is currently available in the WeChat application. It is a promising tool for HIV knowledge dissemination and addressing disparities in accessing health care resources.

Abstract Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) has demonstrated its great potential for Adaptive Traffic Signal Control (ATSC) tasks at single‐intersection. In the transportation network multi‐agent environment, cooperative learning among multi‐agents has become a hot research topic. Based on the distributed control model, this paper presents a hybrid reward function model for the dynamic density method of intersections, which emphasizes the priority of emergency vehicles (EMV) while maximizing the traffic efficiency of social vehicles, and solves the problem of sparse reward due to the ambiguous guidance relationship between the multi‐agent Deep Reinforcement Learning (MDRL) state and reward function of the urban road network scenario. On the other hand, based on multi‐agent A2C (MA2C) algorithm, this paper presents Shared Experience MA2C (SEMA2C) between agents. In the transportation network, each intersection represented by an agent has similar task objectives. SMEA2C algorithm takes the current agent as the main body of self‐learning, and utilizes the principle of importance sampling to learn from the experience data of the agents located at adjacent intersections. The experimental results show that the proposed SEMA2C performs well in multi‐agent traffic signal control tasks, and has greater advantages than the similar algorithms.

In order to improve wind power utilization efficiency and reduce wind power prediction errors, a combined prediction model of EMD-KPCA-BilSTM-ATT is proposed, which includes a data processing method combining empirical mode decomposition (EMD) and kernel principal component analysis (KPCA), and a prediction model combining bidirectional long short-term memory (BiLSTM) and an attention mechanism (ATT). Firstly, the influencing factors of wind power are analyzed. The quartile method is used to identify and eliminate the original abnormal data of wind power, and the linear interpolation method is used to replace the abnormal data. Secondly, EMD is used to decompose the preprocessed wind power data into Intrinsic Mode Function (IMF) components and residual components, revealing the changes in data signals at different time scales. Subsequently, KPCA is employed to screen the key components as the input of the BiLSTM-ATT prediction model. Finally, a prediction is made taking an actual wind farm in Anhui Province as an example, and the results show that the EMD-KPCAM-BiLSTM-ATT combined model has higher prediction accuracy compared to the comparative model.

Abundant tuff mineral resources offer a promising solution to the shortage of fly ash (FA) and silica fume (SF) resources as emerging supplementary cementitious materials. However, a lack of clarity on its hydration mechanism has hindered its practical engineering application. In this study, high SiO2-content tuff powder (TP) was examined to assess the mechanical and workability performance of mortar specimens with varying particle sizes of the TP as complete replacements for FA or SF. Microscopic analysis techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential thermal analysis (DTG), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), were employed to elucidate the hydration mechanism of the TP and its feasibility as a substitute for SF or FA. Results indicated that TP primarily functions as nuclei and filler, promoting cement hydration, with smaller particle sizes amplifying the hydration ability and increasing Ca(OH)2 and C-S-H gel content. The specimens with TP (median particle size 7.58 μm) demonstrated 9.2% and 29.9% higher flexural and compressive strengths at 28 days, respectively, compared to the FA specimens of equal mass. However, fluidity decreased by 23.1% accordingly. Due to TP’s smaller specific surface area compared to SF, the TP specimens exhibited higher fluidity but with decreased strength relative to the SF specimens. Overall, TP shows potential as a replacement for FA with additional measures to ensure workability.

The molecular weight (MW) of an enzyme is a critical parameter in enzyme-constrained models (ecModels). It is determined by two factors: the presence of subunits and the abundance of each subunit. Although the number of subunits (NS) can potentially be obtained from UniProt, this information is not readily available for most proteins. In this study, we addressed this gap by extracting and curating subunit information from the UniProt database to establish a robust benchmark dataset. Subsequently, we propose a novel model named DeepSub, which leverages the protein language model and Bi-directional Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU), to predict NS in homo-oligomers solely based on protein sequences. DeepSub demonstrates remarkable accuracy, achieving an accuracy rate as high as 0.967, surpassing the performance of QUEEN. To validate the effectiveness of DeepSub, we performed predictions for protein homo-oligomers that have been reported in the literature but are not documented in the UniProt database. Examples include homoserine dehydrogenase from Corynebacterium glutamicum, Matrilin-4 from Mus musculus and Homo sapiens, and the Multimerins protein family from M. musculus and H. sapiens. The predicted results align closely with the reported findings in the literature, underscoring the reliability and utility of DeepSub.

Laser machining of sapphire faces challenges due to the low laser beam energy absorption. A silicon (Si) plate contacting the rear surface of the sapphire substrate was used as an absorptive material to improve the laser absorption and affect material removal from the rear surface. A near-infrared laser with a wavelength of 1030 nm and pulse duration of 2 ns was focused at the interface, causing Si ablation and generation of a plasma plume with immense recoil pressure. The proposed approach for sapphire machining via enhanced laser absorption at the Si-sapphire interface is illustrated, and a probable material removal mechanism is discussed. Effects of processing parameters on machining depth and surface roughness were investigated using Taguchi L27 orthogonal array design and analysis of variance (ANOVA). It is found that repetition rate has the most significant effect on the machining performance characteristics, among other parameters. Furthermore, a multi-objective optimization was performed to optimize the process by integrating the Taguchi method with Grey Relational Analysis (GRA). The maximum machined depth of 59.1 μm and the minimum surface roughness of 0.145 μm were obtained by conducting confirmation tests at the optimal settings. The optimal processing parameters were obtained corresponding to the repetition rate of 1000 kHz, laser fluence of 1.2 J/cm2, hatching distance of 0.01 mm, scanning speed of 1000 mm/s, and single pass. The integrated Taguchi and GRA methodology offers an alternative for optimizing laser machining processes.

Slow, fine-grained, tide-influenced “Tortoises” and fast, coarse-grained “Hares” represent distinct types of turbidity currents observed in a one-year time series from moorings measuring current speed and sediment properties within the Manila trench.

The suitability evaluation of sea area development plays a fundamental guiding role in marine spatial planning. While most of the existing sea area development suitability studies are aimed at a certain sea use, lacking a systematic guiding framework. In this paper, a method of multi-suitability for sea area development was constructed and applied to the Zhejiang sea area. The suitability evaluation index system was constructed after selecting four types of typical sea uses. Based on the suitability evaluation results, the multi-suitability and compatibility analysis was carried out. Finally, this paper put forward several strategies and suggestions for the compatible development and utilization of the Zhejiang sea area. The evaluation results showed that the spatially suitable areas for various sea uses overlap to varying degrees, and were suitable for multi-development. Besides, there existed certain compatibility between different pairs of sea uses, indicating that it was possible for compatible development and utilization. Based on the analysis of the suitability of sea area development, this paper deeply explored the multiple suitability and compatibility of marine development and utilization, which was of great significance for promoting the full and coordinated development and utilization of marine spatial resources.

Annona is a genus of family Annonaceae within the magnoliids and plays a crucial role in revealing the evolution of magnolias. Annona species provide important fruit resources. Here, we report a chromosome-level genome assembly of A. montana, an edible and ornamental fruit species. Integration with other genomes provides clear evidence that the magnoliids were sisters to eudicots, and the ASTRAL trees showed discordance in the phylogenetic position of magnoliids, which might be caused by incomplete lineage sorting (ILS). Whole genome duplication (WGD) analysis showed that the common ancestor of A. montana and Liriodendron chinense experienced a WGD event, and this WGD event occurred after the splitting of Magnoliales and Laurales. We identified the gene family expansions and contractions in Annonaceae. Based on the identification of MADS-box gene families, we inferred the pathway integrators of morphological regulation, the occurrence of florescence and the development of fruit in A. montana. In addition, we identified key sugar transporter genes and the key enzyme genes related to sugar accumulation in A. montana fruit. The gene function analysis indicated that starch and cell wall degradation might be the main reasons for the softening of A. montana fruit. Furthermore, aromatic alcohols were suggested be the main volatile aromatic compounds in A. montana fruit. Our results provide the genetic basis of fruit development, softening, aroma, and sugar accumulation in A. montana and the evolution and diversification of Annonaceae.

BackgroundKnowledge graph–based recommender systems offer the possibility of meeting the personalized needs of people with dementia and their caregivers. However, the usability of such a recommender system remains unknown. ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the usability of a knowledge graph–based dementia care intelligent recommender system (DCIRS). MethodsWe used a convergent mixed methods design to conduct the usability evaluation, including the collection of quantitative and qualitative data. Participants were recruited through social media advertisements. After 2 weeks of DCIRS use, feedback was collected with the Computer System Usability Questionnaire and semistructured interviews. Descriptive statistics were used to describe sociodemographic characteristics and questionnaire scores. Qualitative data were analyzed systematically using inductive thematic analysis. ResultsA total of 56 caregivers were recruited. Quantitative data suggested that the DCIRS was easy for caregivers to use, and the mean questionnaire score was 2.14. Qualitative data showed that caregivers generally believed that the content of the DCIRS was professional, easy to understand, and instructive, and could meet users’ personalized needs; they were willing to continue to use it. However, the DCIRS also had some shortcomings. Functions that enable interactions between professionals and caregivers and that provide caregiver support and resource recommendations might be added to improve the system’s usability. ConclusionsThe recommender system provides a solution to meet the personalized needs of people with dementia and their caregivers and has the potential to substantially improve health outcomes. The next step will be to optimize and update the recommender system based on caregivers’ suggestions and evaluate the effect of the application.

IntroductionAortic aneurysms (AA) are prevalent worldwide with a notable absence of drug therapies. Thus, identifying potential drug targets is of utmost importance. AA often presents in the elderly, coupled with consistently raised serum inflammatory markers. Given that ageing and inflammation are pivotal processes linked to the evolution of AA, we have identified key genes involved in the inflammaging process of AA development through various bioinformatics methods, thereby providing potential molecular targets for further investigation.MethodsThe transcriptome data of AA was procured from the datasets GSE140947, GSE7084, and GSE47472, sourced from the NCBI GEO database, whilst gene data of ageing and inflammation were obtained from the GeneCards Database. To identify key genes, differentially expressed analysis using the “Limma” package and WGCNA were implemented. Protein-protein intersection (PPI) analysis and machine learning (ML) algorithms were employed for the screening of potential biomarkers, followed by an assessment of the diagnostic value. Following the acquisition of the hub inflammaging and AA-related differentially expressed genes (IADEGs), the TFs-mRNAs-miRNAs regulatory network was established. The CIBERSORT algorithm was utilized to investigate immune cell infiltration in AA. The correlation of hub IADEGs with infiltrating immunocytes was also evaluated. Lastly, wet laboratory experiments were carried out to confirm the expression of hub IADEGs.Results342 and 715 AA-related DEGs (ADEGs) recognized from GSE140947 and GSE7084 datasets were procured by intersecting the results of “Limma” and WGCNA analyses. After 83 IADEGs were obtained, PPI analysis and ML algorithms pinpointed 7 and 5 hub IADEGs candidates respectively, and 6 of them demonstrated a high diagnostic value. Immune cell infiltration outcomes unveiled immune dysregulation in AA. In the wet laboratory experiments, 3 hub IADEGs, including BLNK, HLA-DRA, and HLA-DQB1, finally exhibited an expression trend in line with the bioinformatics analysis result.DiscussionOur research identified three genes - BLNK, HLA-DRA, and HLA-DQB1- that play a significant role in promoting the development of AA through inflammaging, providing novel insights into the future understanding and therapeutic intervention of AA.

ABSTRACT The emergence or reemergence of viruses pose a substantial threat and challenge to the world population, livestock, and wildlife. However, the landscape of antiviral agents either for human or animal viral diseases is still underdeveloped. The far tougher actuality is the case that there are no approved antiviral drugs in the aquaculture industry, although there are diverse viral pathogens. In this study, using a novel epithelial cell line derived from the brain of Micropterus salmoides (MSBr), inflammation and oxidative stress were found to implicate the major pathophysiology of M. salmoides rhabdovirus (MSRV) through transcriptome analysis and biochemical tests. Elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1β [IL-1β], IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α], and gamma interferon [IFN-γ]) and accumulated contents of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as biomarkers of oxidative damage (protein carbonyl and 8-OHdG) were observed after MSRV infection in the MSBr cells. Mangiferin or taurine dampened MSRV-induced inflammation and rescued the oxidative stress and, thus, inhibited the replication of MSRV in the MSBr cells with 50% effective concentration (EC50) values of 6.77 μg/mL and 8.02 μg/mL, respectively. Further, mangiferin or taurine hampered the activation of NF-κB1 and the NF-κB1 promoter as well as the increase of phosphorylated NF-κB (p65) protein level induced by MSRV infection, indicating their antiviral mechanism by suppressing NF-κB signaling. These findings exemplify a practice approach, aiming to dampen and redirect inflammatory responses, to develop broad-spectrum antivirals. IMPORTANCE Aquaculture now provides almost half of all fish for human food in 2021 and plays a significant role in eliminating hunger, promoting health, and reducing poverty. There are diverse viral pathogens that decrease production in aquaculture. We developed a novel epithelial cell line derived from the brain of Micropterus salmoides, which can be used for virus isolation, gene expressing, and drug screening. In this study, we focus on M. salmoides rhabdovirus (MSRV) and revealed its pathophysiology of inflammation and oxidative stress. Aiming to dampen and redirect inflammatory responses, mangiferin or taurine exhibited their antiviral capability by suppressing NF-κB signaling. Our findings exemplify a practice approach to develop broad-spectrum antivirals by dampening and redirecting inflammatory responses.

BackgroundA shift in research interest from separate care problem to care problem clusters among caregivers of people living with dementia may contribute to a better understanding of dementia care. However, the care problems network among caregivers of people living with dementia are still unknown. This study aimed to identify care problem clusters and core care problems, and explore demographic variables associated with these care problem clusters among caregivers of people living with dementia.MethodsParticipants were recruited through memory clinics and WeChat groups. The principal component analysis was applied to identify care problem clusters. The network analysis was conducted to describe the relationships among care problems and clusters. Multiple linear models were used to explore the associated factors for the occurrence of the overall care problems and top three central care problem clusters.ResultsA total of 1,012 carer-patient pairs were included in the analysis. Nine care problem clusters were identified. In the entire care problem network, “deterioration in activities of daily living” was the most core care problem cluster across the three centrality indices, followed by “verbal and nonverbal aggression” and “loss of activities of daily living.” Variables including marital status, years of dementia diagnosis, number of dementia medication type, and caregiver’s educational attainment were associated with the prevalence of these three care problem clusters.ConclusionOur study suggests that there is a need to evaluate care problem clusters for the improvement of care problem management among people living with dementia. It is particularly important to include assessment and treatment of core care problem as an essential component of the dementia care.

Cadmium (Cd) pollution is a global problem affecting soil ecology and plant growth. Abscisic acid (ABA) acts as a growth and stress hormone, regulates cell wall synthesis, and plays an important role in plant responses to stress. There are few studies on the mechanisms behind abscisic acid alleviation of cadmium stress in Cosmos bipinnatus, especially in regards to regulation of the root cell wall. This study examined the effects of different concentrations of abscisic acid at different concentrations of cadmium stress. Through adding 5 μmol/L and 30 μmol/L cadmium, followed by spraying 10 μmol/L and 40 μmol/L ABA in a hydroponic experiment, it was found that under two concentrations of cadmium stress, low concentration of ABA improved root cell wall polysaccharide, Cd, and uronic acid content. Especially in pectin, after the application of low concentration ABA, the cadmium concentration was significantly increased by 1.5 times and 1.2 times compared with the Cd concentration under Cd5 and Cd30 treatment alone, respectively. Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) demonstrated that cell wall functional groups such as -OH and -COOH were increased with exposure to ABA. Additionally, the exogenous ABA also increased expression of three kinds of antioxidant enzymes and plant antioxidants. The results of this study suggest that ABA could reduce Cd stress by increasing Cd accumulation, promoting Cd adsorption on the root cell wall, and activating protective mechanisms. This result could help promote application of C. bipinnatus for phytostabilization of cadmium-contaminated soil.

Background: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) has been demonstrated to be one of the most frequently reported unmet psychological needs among cancer survivors. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the potential triggers and coping strategies for FCR in Chinese cancer survivors. Methods: The study process was conducted using an interpretive phenomenological research method, and Chinese cancer survivors were interviewed face-to-face in a semi-structured interview, using purposive sampling combined with a maximum variance sampling strategy, and the interviews were transcribed, organized, and analyzed by applying Giorgi analysis with the help of NVivo11 software. Results: A total of 10 participants, 4 males and 6 females, were interviewed. Three themes emerged in terms of potential triggers for FCR: (1) intrusive thoughts; (2) disease symptoms; and (3) awaiting medical examination. Two themes regarding positive coping and avoidance coping emerged with regard to coping strategies adopted by cancer survivors when experiencing FCR. Under these 2 themes were 5 sub-themes: (1) seeking medical support; (2) self-health management; (3) spiritual coping; (4) unaccompanied toleration; and (5) attention shifting. Conclusion: FCR as the most common psychological problem for cancer survivors, and it should be given more attention. Early identification and precise intervention for potential triggers of FCR may prevent the emergence and development of FCR. The guidance toward and cultivation of positive coping strategies when cancer survivors experience FCR could be an important direction in future nursing education.

Liquid accumulation often occurs during gas transmission through underwater pipeline, which affects the operation of the underwater compressed air energy storage system. To study the liquid accumulation flow characteristics in the concave pipe with zero net liquid flow, a simulation model was established in FLUENT to analyze the flow process. By analyzing the slugging distance and liquid slug frequency, the multiphase flow model, the turbulence model, and the simulation time step are determined. In the simulation, the height of the liquid accumulation is 10.4 mm and the gas velocity is 5 m/s, a series of interface waves are generated at the entrance of the pipe. However, an unstable interface causes waves to grow rapidly and merge. Also, when the wave crest of the interface wave reaches the upper part of the pipeline, it is blocked. In conclusion, the characteristics of the concave pipe with zero net liquid flow are reflected by the model.

Abstract Circular saw blades are widely used in stone processing. The circular saw blade cutting hard rock numerical simulation model based on ANSYS/LS-DYNA was established to investigate the complex dynamic problem in rock cutting. The failure mechanism of the rock and the influence of cutting parameters on the cutting force and rock fragments were studied by numerical simulation. The results demonstrated that the failure modes of the rock were mainly tensile failure with some shear failure and compressive failure. The cutting force and the number of fragments increased with the feed speed. With the increasing circular saw blade rotational speed, the cutting force and the number of fragments decreased and tended to stabilize. With the distance between the circular saw blades increasing, the cutting force and rock fragments number increase and then maintain basic stability, and when the distance between double circular saw blades reaches 25 mm, it will form a completed rock plate and the interaction of circular saw blades will decrease. The numerical simulation can accurately simulate rock breakage and force when a circular saw blade cuts rock.

This paper selected six representative Landsat, SPOT-5 and GF-1 satellite remote sensing images in the past 50 years between 1970 and 2018. The digital shoreline analysis system was used to analyze the change of continental shoreline in Zhejiang Province by using the area method and the baseline method. Besides, the driving force of shoreline change was also analyzed. The results showed that: (1) The seaward extension of the shoreline mainly occured in Hangzhou Bay, Xiangshan Port, Sanmen Bay, Taizhou Bay, Yueqing Bay and Oujiang Port. The reclamation area was 147 700 hectares, and the average change rate of coastline was 26.72 m/a. (2) Over the past 50 years, the continental coastline of Zhejiang Province had shown an obvious decreasing trend. The coastline had decreased by 184.27 km while the natural coastline decreased by 381.37 km and the artificial coastline increased by 197.10 km. (3) The continental coastline of Zhejiang Province was dominated by artificial coastline with the serious straightness and the decrease of natural shoreline retention. (4) Human activities such as reclamation and reclamation were the main driving factors of shoreline change.

Deepening the all-round cooperation between China and the countries along the Maritime Silk Road is an important driving force for the transformation of the Belt and Road Initiative to high-quality development. Strengthening cooperation in marine spatial planning with countries along the Silk Road should be an important part of the Maritime Silk Road construction and Blue Partnership. On the basis of sorting out the evolution of international and domestic marine spatial planning, the paper discussed the reasons for strengthening the cooperation in marine spatial planning among China and countries along the route. The challenges of lack of understanding of marine science, and difficulties in cross-border data management, etc., were deeply analyzed. In order to further promote the cooperation between China and countries along the route, the cooperation methods and strategies were put forward, such as constructing a land-sea integrated territorial space planning system, creating a focal point for marine spatial planning cooperation, constructing a "trinity" main body layout and establishing a multi-dimensional standardized cooperation mechanism.

Abstract Background 2,3-butanediol is an important platform compound which has a wide range of applications, involving in medicine, chemical industry, food and other fields. Especially the optically pure (2R,3R)-2,3-butanediol can be employed as an antifreeze agent and as the precursor for producing chiral compounds. However, some (2R,3R)-2,3-butanediol overproducing strains are pathogenic such as Enterobacter cloacae and Klebsiella oxytoca. Results In this study, a (3R)-acetoin overproducing C. glutamicum strain, CGS9, was engineered to produce optically pure (2R,3R)-2,3-butanediol efficiently. Firstly, the gene bdhA from B. subtilis 168 was integrated into strain CGS9 and its expression level was further enhanced by using a strong promoter P sod and ribosome binding site (RBS) with high translation initiation rate, and the (2R,3R)-2,3-butanediol titer of the resulting strain was increased by 33.9%. Then the transhydrogenase gene udhA from E. coli was expressed to provide more NADH for 2,3-butanediol synthesis, which reduced the accumulation of the main byproduct acetoin by 57.2%. Next, a mutant atpG was integrated into strain CGK3, which increased the glucose consumption rate by 10.5% and the 2,3-butanediol productivity by 10.9% in shake-flask fermentation. Through fermentation engineering, the most promising strain CGK4 produced a titer of 144.9 g/L (2R,3R)-2,3-butanediol with a yield of 0.429 g/g glucose and a productivity of 1.10 g/L/h in fed-batch fermentation. The optical purity of the resulting (2R,3R)-2,3-butanediol surpassed 98%. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest titer of optically pure (2R,3R)-2,3-butanediol achieved by GRAS strains, and the result has demonstrated that C. glutamicum is a competitive candidate for (2R,3R)-2,3-butanediol production.

Objective: To identify the status of knowledge, attitude, and behaviour toward evidence-based practice (EBP) among Chinese psychiatric nurses, and to examine the influencing factors of EBP behaviour. Methods: We utilised a cross-sectional design. A total of 923 psychiatric nurses from 168 hospitals in 27 provinces in the mainland of China participated in our survey. The EBP questionnaire, the barriers to research utilisation scale and the facilitators to research utilisation scale were used for data collection via WeChat group from July 2018 to April 2019. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyse the influencing factors of psychiatric nurses’ evidence-based practice behaviour. Results: The score of Chinese psychiatric nurses’ EBP attitude, behaviour and knowledge were 4.81 ± 1.34, 4.11 ± 1.36 and 3.53 ± 1.29, respectively. Multiple regression analysis showed that nurses’ EBP behaviour was mainly determined by knowledge and attitude, which together explained 61.8% of the variance. The two top barriers were the dimensions of presentation and research. Facilitators include managerial support, employing nurses with research skills as models and providing advanced education on evidence-based nursing. Conclusion: Psychiatric nurses have positive attitudes toward EBP, but their level of knowledge and behaviour is insufficient. Heavy workload, insufficient time, and a lack of knowledge and skills is the main barrier. Managerial support, employing nurses with research skills as models and providing advanced education are the main facilitators.

Abstract There is lacking research on risk factors and prediction models associated with Post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH). Thus, this present study aimed to analyze the risk factors of PHH and establish a risk-scoring system through a large-scale study. A retrospective study of 382 patients with intracranial hemorrhage assessed age, history and diagnosis, Glasgow coma score (GCS), and fever time. After univariate and logistic regression analysis, a risk scoring system was established according to independent risk factors and evaluated using the area under the curve (AUC). Of the 382 patients, 133 (34.8%) had PHH, 43 (11.3%) received surgical treatment. Factor classification showed that age > 60 years old [odds ratio (OR): 0.347, II = 5 points], GCS 9 (OR: 0.202, III = 7 points), fever time 5–9 (OR: 0.341, II = 5 points), CSF-TP x time > 14,4000 group (OR: 0.267, IV = 6 points), and CSF-TP x time 9,601‒14,400 group (OR: 0.502, III = 3 points) were independent risk factors. The result of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) prediction showed that AUC = 0.790 (0.744‒0.836). Low-risk (IV-VII), moderate (VIII-X), and high-risk group (XI-XIII) incidence of PHH were 11.76%, 50.55%, and 70.00% (p

Giant magnetostrictive actuators (GMAs) are a widely used type of micro-nano actuator, and they are greatly significant in the field of precision engineering. The accuracy of a GMA often depends on its hysteresis model. However, existing models have some limitations, including the difficulty of identifying their parameters and the tradeoff between the quantity of modeling data required and the level of precision achieved. To solve these problems, in this paper, we propose a Preisach inverse model based on equal-density segmentation of the weight function (E-Preisach). The weight function used to calculate the displacement is first discretized. Then, to obtain a finer weight distribution, the discretized geometric units are uniformly divided by area. This can further minimize the output displacement span, and it produces a higher-precision hysteresis model. The process of parameter identification is made easier by this approach, which also resolves the difficulty of obtaining high precision using a small amount of modeling data. The Preisach and the E-Preisach inverse models were investigated and compared using experiments. At frequencies of 1 and 5 Hz, it was found that the E-Preisach inverse model decreases the maximum error of the feedforward compensation open-loop control to within 1 μm and decreases the root-mean-square error in displacement to within 0.5 μm without the need to increase the number of measured hysteresis loops. As a result, the E-Preisach inverse model streamlines the structure of the model and requires fewer parameters for modeling. This provides a high-precision modeling method using a small amount of modeling data; it will have applications in precision engineering fields such as active vibration damping and ultra-precision machining.

BackgroundIn observational and experimental studies, allergic diseases (AD) have been reported to be associated with some types of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), as both share common pathophysiological processes involving inflammation and metabolic disorders. However, the direction of the causal association between them remains unclear. This Mendelian randomization (MR) study aims to examine the bidirectional causality between AD and CVD.MethodsWe utilized publicly available genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics data from European participants in the UK Biobank and the IEU Open GWAS database. Genetic variants associated with AD, asthma, and CVD were identified and used as instrumental variables to investigate the genetically causal association between them. MR analyses were performed using various analytical methods, including inverse variance weighted-fixed effects (IVW-FE), inverse variance weighted-multiplicative random effects (IVW-RE), MR-Egger, weighted median, weighted mode, and maximum likelihood. Sensitivity tests were conducted to assess the validity of the causality.ResultsThe MR analysis with the IVW method revealed a genetically predicted association between AD and essential hypertension [odds ratio (OR)=0.9987, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.9976-0.9998, P=0.024], as well as between asthma and atrial fibrillation (OR=1.001, 95% CI: 1.0004-1.0017, P=6.43E-05). In the reverse MR analyses, heart failure was associated with allergic diseases (OR=0.0045, 95% CI: 1.1890E-04 - 0.1695, P=0.004), while atherosclerosis (OR=8.7371E-08, 95% CI: 1.8794E-14 - 4.0617E-01, P=0.038) and aortic aneurysm and dissection (OR=1.7367E-07, 95% CI: 3.8390E-14 – 7.8567E-01, P=0.046) might be protective factors of asthma. However, after a Bonferroni correction, only the association between asthma and atrial fibrillation remained robust.ConclusionThe MR study revealed that asthma is a predominant risk of atrial fibrillation in European individuals, consistent with most experimental and observational studies. Whether AD affects other CVD and the causality between them needs further investigation.

Intelligent compaction (IC) is an innovative and modified technology used for quality control in subgrade digital construction. However, current intelligent compaction measurement values (ICMVs) cannot provide accurate measurement of the filling layer when the strength of the underlying layer is relatively high. Experimental field tests conducted in the cut to fill subgrade were performed to collect and analyze the variability of ICMV called the vibration modulus (Evib). Furthermore, a new ICMV called the modulus of vibration compaction (Evc) that could remove the interference of the underlying layer and reveal the actual compaction state of filling layer is presented based on the theoretical analysis and numerical simulation method. It was also extracted to study the variability of the filling layer’s compaction state. The results of the above research indicate the influence of the underlying layer’s stiffness on overall compaction quality is remarkable. It was found that it is more likely to achieve the variability control of the compaction state of the filling layer by a new ICMV called Evc. The measured data, improved approaches, and associated conclusions that are presented provide valuable information for researchers and employees considering the use of IC technology.

This paper investigated the reflection of plane waves at the interface of dipolar gradient elastic solids under the control of an external magnetic field. This study focused on the increasing influence of the microstructural effect as the incident wavelength approaches the characteristic length of the microstructure or at higher frequencies. Initially, the dispersion equation for the propagation of elastic waves was derived from the dipole strain gradient theory and Maxwell’s electromagnetic theory. Subsequently, the amplitude ratios of various reflected waves to incident P-waves and incident SV-waves were calculated based on the interface conditions. Finally, the numerical results were used to discuss the impact of the external magnetic field and microstructural characteristic length on the propagation of the reflected wave. It was observed that the microstructural effect generated new wave modes and introduced dispersion characteristics into the elastic waves. Conversely, the external magnetic field primarily influences the amplitude of the elastic wave propagation via the Lorentz force without creating new wave modes or affecting the dispersion properties of the elastic wave in the dipolar gradient elastic solid.

Methane (CH4) is the main pollutant in oil and gas production. The detection and accounting of CH4 is an important issue in the process of greenhouse gas control and emission reduction in oil and gas industry. In this study, a portable CH4 detector based on tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) technology was deployed. The three-dimensional distribution of CH4 in a natural gas purification plant in Sichuan was obtained through vertical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight observations and ground mobile observations. According to the mass balance method, the emission of CH4 on 30 m above ground level (AGL) and 60 m AGL in this site was about 0.012 kg/s (±42% at 1σ) and 0.034 kg/s (±47% at 1σ), respectively, in one day. The vertical distribution showed that the CH4 concentration reached the maximum (2.75 ± 0.19 ppm) with height of 0 to 100 m AGL. The CH4 concentration from 100 to 300 m AGL showed a downward trend with height. Atmospheric instability at high altitude and high wind speed promoted the diffusion of CH4. The CH4 concentrations of horizontal distribution on 30 m AGL and 60 m AGL were 2.48 ± 0.11 ppm and 2.76 ± 0.34 ppm. In the observation of mobile campaigns, the connecting equipment of natural gas treatment facilities was prone to leakage, such as in valves and flanges. CH4 leakage was also detected at the torch mouth, especially when there was an open flame at the torch mouth. During the mobile movement investigation, the downwind measurement (OTM-33A) was applied to determine the overall CH4 emission rate shortly after patrolling the site. This work plays a vital role in optimizing the operation and maintenance of natural gas production stations pipe network, ensuring human safety and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions.

Interleukin-15 (IL15) is a proinflammatory cytokine that could induce the production of inflammatory cytokines. In this study, the α chain of the IL15 receptor of Epinephelus coioides (Ec-IL15Rα), a natural regulator of IL15, was identified, and immune response functions of fish were determined and characterized. Ec-IL15Rα contains a 720 bp open reading frame that encodes 239 amino acids, including four typical conserved cysteine residues with a highly conserved sushi domain. Ec-IL15Rα is closely related to Epinephelus lanceolatus and is the most clustered with teleost. Subcellular localization studies showed that Ec-IL15Rα was situated in the cytoplasm and cell membrane. Ec-IL15Rα was detected in 11 tissues, with the highest expression in the liver and blood. Meanwhile, the Ec-IL15Rα transcriptional levels substantially increased in nine tissues after Vibrio harveyi infection. Ec-IL15Rα was significantly up-regulated in HKLs by ConA, PHA, LPS and poly I:C stimulation. In vitro analysis, the recombinant protein of rEc-IL15Rα stimulates HKL proliferation and IL1R, IL6R, IL10, and IL16 expression. Challenge experiments revealed that IL15Rα protein showed an increase of 6.67–10% survival protection rate after V. harveyi infection. This study provides a better understanding of the immune protection of IL15Rα in vertebrate fish.

In previous studies, natural killer lysin (NK-lysin) emerged as a crucial antimicrobial peptide (AMP) discharged by NK cells and CTLs. The sequence of NK-lysin was cloned and discovered in some fishes, but its function remains unclear. In our study, we obtained a copy of NK-lysin from the spleen of the healthy clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris; AoNK-lysin) through cloning and proceeded to investigate its potential functions and activities. The findings showed that the AoNK-lysin gene’s open reading frame (ORF) had a length of 465 base pairs (bp) and encoded 154 amino acids (aa), which included a saposin B domain and six cysteine residues that are highly conserved, forming three intrachain disulfide bonds to carry out antimicrobial activity. The AoNK-lysin gene was widely present in different tissues, with the skin showing the highest expression, followed by the eye, intestine, and muscle. Additionally, the expression of AoNK-lysin was significantly upregulated in the immune organs (spleen, gill, intestine, and head kidney) of A. ocellaris after being challenged by Singapore group iridovirus (SGIV). Furthermore, a 399 base pair cDNA sequence that encodes the fully developed peptide of AoNK-lysin was successfully inserted into a secretion plasmid called pPIC9K. Subsequently, a significant amount of the recombinant AoNK-lysin protein was efficiently manufactured using the Pichia pastoris expression system. The antibacterial test demonstrated that the AoNK-lysin protein significantly suppressed the growth of various pathogens, particularly Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus iniae, Salmonella typhi, Shigella sonnei, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Aeromonas caviae. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was found to be 7.81 μg/mL. Further analysis of antiviral assays showed all the viral mRNA of SGIV to be significantly reduced after AoNK-lysin protein stimuli in FHM cells. Collectively, these discoveries indicate that AoNK-lysin exhibits features of both direct pathogen-killing abilities and inhibited virus replication.