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Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD), a major dementia cause, lacks effective treatment. MRI-based hippocampal volume measurement using artificial intelligence offers new insights into early diagnosis and intervention in AD progression. Objective: This study, involving 483 AD patients, 756 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 968 normal controls (NC), investigated the predictive capability of MRI-based hippocampus volume measurements for AD risk using artificial intelligence and evidence-based medicine. Methods: Utilizing data from ADNI and OASIS-brains databases, three convolutional neural networks (InceptionResNetv2, Densenet169, and SEResNet50) were employed for automated AD classification based on structural MRI imaging. A multitask deep learning model and a densely connected 3D convolutional network were utilized. Additionally, a systematic meta-analysis explored the value of MRI-based hippocampal volume measurement in predicting AD occurrence and progression, drawing on 23 eligible articles from PubMed and Embase databases. Results: InceptionResNetv2 outperformed other networks, achieving 99.75% accuracy and 100% AUC for AD-NC classification and 99.16% accuracy and 100% AUC for MCI-NC classification. Notably, at a 512×512 size, InceptionResNetv2 demonstrated a classification accuracy of 94.29% and an AUC of 98% for AD-NC and 97.31% accuracy and 98% AUC for MCI-NC. Conclusions: The study concludes that MRI-based hippocampal volume changes effectively predict AD onset and progression, facilitating early intervention and prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robots picking apples cause vibration of other fruit on the same branch and fruit may even fall off. This not only affects subsequent picking, but also causes fruit loss. In this research, the branch-fruit system was taken as the research object, and a mixed-mode cohesive contact model was used to simulate the tangential and directional mechanical behaviour of fruit detachment. The branch with apples was simplified as a cantilever beam model, and a multi-body finite element model of a branch with apples was established. The average error of the simulation results was 6.81%. The simulation results demonstrate that the type I picking sequence (picking fruit beginning farther from the trunk) shortened the settling time of the branch with apples than the type II picking sequence (picking fruit beginning closer to the trunk). Field experiments showed that the maximum accelerations of fruit detachment were respectively 3.826 ± 1.859 g , 2.971 ± 1.374 g , 2.246 ± 0.757 g (g = 9.8 m s−2) under three picking patterns (pulling, pull-twisting, and pull-bending). Linear correlations were found between the vibration displacement and settling time of fruit under different picking patterns and sequences. The response index (RI) is defined to comprehensively evaluate the degree of disturbance to other fruits on the same branch during the fruit-picking process. The test results reveal that the use of the type I sequence and pull-bending pattern is better for reducing the overall disturbance to other apples on the same branch. This study provides a technical and theoretical reference for designing the picking pattern and planning the picking sequence of robotic arms. • Proposing a multi-body finite element model for a branch with apples. • Using a mixed-mode cohesive contact model to simulate fruit detachment behavior. • The response index (RI) measures disturbance to adjacent fruits during picking. • Different picking patterns and sequences disturb unpicked fruit differently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we employed a chemical precipitation method to successfully synthesize nanoparticles of gallium-doped hydroxyapatite (Ga-HAp). The microstructure of Ga-HAp was precisely tailored by modulating the concentration of gallium ions. Our findings unequivocally demonstrate that gallium ions exert a pronounced inhibitory influence on the growth of HAp crystals, and this inhibitory potency exhibits a direct correlation with the concentration of gallium. Furthermore, gallium ions facilitate the metamorphosis of HAp nanoparticles, transitioning them from nanoneedles to nanosheets. It is worth noting, however, that gallium ions exhibit a limited capacity to substitute for calcium ions within the crystal lattice of HAp, with the maximum substitution rate capped at 4.85%. Additionally, gallium plays a pivotal role in constraining the release of ions from HAp, and this behavior remains consistent across samples with varying Ga doping concentrations. Our in vitro experiments confirm that Ga-doped HAp amplifies both the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: Interferon- -2b; Nasal spray; SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant; Children EN Interferon- -2b Nasal spray SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant Children 862 864 3 06/20/23 20230701 NES 230701 Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s10875-023-01452-4. Infected young children, not eligible for vaccination and novel antiviral therapies, shed the virus longer, and are more likely to transmit SARS-CoV-2 infection than adults. 1 There were no serious adverse events observed in the nIFN + SC group, all children in the intervention group completed the 3-day nIFN therapy and no patients in either group progressed to a severe form of COVID-19 or died. [Extracted from the article]

This paper proposes an optimal sizing design and cost-benefit evaluation framework for stand-alone renewable microgrid system to serve rural community load usage in Northeast China. The microgrid system combines Photovoltaic arrays (PV), Wind turbines (WT), Tidal turbines (Tid), Battery (Bat) storage and hydrogen storage, respectively. The optimal component sizing is determined based on the actual local hourly meteorological data and load demand during a year using Chameleon swarm algorithm (CSA), with minimum Total net present cost (TNPC) of the microgrid system as the optimization objective and the reliability constraint is considered as Loss of power supply probability (LPSP). Meanwhile, a cost-benefit index is further introduced for conveniently evaluating the overall effectiveness of the microgrid systems. The results of the simulation experiments under the benchmark scenario reveal that the PV/WT/Tid/Bat system is the most viable approach for local load supply among different versions of the microgrid. Additionally, a thorough sensitivity investigation of the optimal sizing of two exemplary microgrid systems based on different energy storage is carried out under different techno-economic scenarios. This study can provide a more efficient and clean electrification scheme and insightful reference for investment in the power-starved Northeast China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The root system is the only vital organ for plants to connect with soil moisture and nutrients and obtain feedback information. This research aimed to explore the response of different spike type winter wheat varieties to plant and row spacing configurations. Multi-spike and large-spike winter wheat varieties were used as materials. By setting different plant row configurations and planting densities, the spatial and temporal distribution of root length density, root diameter, root dry weight density, and the main control factors of root growth and development of winter wheat during the whole growth period were studied. The results showed that the root system was the most widely distributed and the root diameter was the largest in the 0–40 cm soil depth, with an average root system diameter of more than 0.5 mm. The root length density and root diameter peaked at the heading stage, decreased at the maturity stage, and the root dry weight density peaked at the jointing stage. The jointing stage and heading stage are the most vigorous periods of root growth in winter wheat, when the center of gravity of root growth in winter wheat is gradually moving down. Therefore, the rapid growth and elongation time of a root system can be effectively prolonged at the jointing stage and heading stage, and the root growth rate can be improved. Promoting root thickening can effectively meet the needs for water and nutrients, for the formation and filling of aboveground plants and grains, in the later stage, which is conducive to the formation of aboveground dry matter production and final yield. The root distribution was greatest in the 0–60 cm soil depth, accounting for 95.13–97.84% of the total root length. After the heading stage occurs, the upper roots begin to decline in large quantities. Thus, the jointing stage and heading stage require fertilization and other farmland management operations to increase root nutrients for the ground parts and dry matter accumulation to provide sufficient nutrients so that the number of effective panicles, grain weight, and the number of spike grains coordinate to achieve the highest grain yield. Results showed that the highest yield can be achieved with the planting pattern X2M1. A comprehensive analysis showed that the genetic characteristics of winter wheat varieties were different, and there were some differences in the correlation between wheat yield and root system at the different growth stages. The correlation between the root parameters and yield of multi-spike winter wheat during the overwintering-jointing stage was obvious. For large-spike type winter wheat in the jointing stage, the yield correlation is most obvious. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To explore the value of three-dimensional- (3D-) arterial spin labeling (ASL) technique in evaluating cerebral perfusion in patients with unilateral middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and to observe the influencing factors of poor prognosis via long-term follow-up of patients who survived the disease. Methods. The clinical data of 60 patients with unilateral middle cerebral artery (MCA) M1 segment occlusion diagnosed by magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) from January 2018 to January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were examined by routine MRI, MRA, and 3D-ASL, in which two postlabeling delays (PLDs; 1525 ms and 2525 ms) were used in 3D-ASL. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the regions of interest (ROIs) of MCA on the affected side and the mirror side was measured. The clinical data and laboratory indexes of patients were collected and evaluated by clinical scales. With the modified Rankin Score (mRS) as the outcome indicator, patients were assigned to either the poor or the good prognosis group to analyze the factors influencing patient prognosis via univariate and multivariate analyses. Results. Among unilateral MCAO patients, there was a significant difference in the CBF of the affected side between the PLD 1525 ms and 2525 ms groups (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in the CBF of the mirror side (P > 0.05). Compared with the mirror side, 43 cases (71.7%) of the affected CBF presented with hypoperfusion, 9 cases (15.0%) with normal perfusion, and 8 cases (13.3%) with hyperperfusion. Age, NIHSS score, collateral circulation, and homocysteine (Hcy) were identified by multivariate Logistic regression analysis as independent risk factors for adverse outcomes. Conclusion. MCAO can lead to cerebral blood perfusion decline, and 3D-ASL technique can evaluate the post-MCAO cerebral blood perfusion level. Old age, high NIHSS scores, poor collateral circulation, and high Hcy levels are associated with poor clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What is known and Objective: Linezolid, as a substitute for vancomycin, has been used in treating methicillin‐resistant Gram‐positive bacterial infections in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. However, when linezolid induces thrombocytopenia in adults, its side effects in VLBW infants are concerning. This study aimed to investigate the effect of linezolid on haematologic profiles in this specific vulnerable population. Methods: VLBW infants treated with linezolid from January, 2017, to July, 2021, were retrospectively analysed compared with vancomycin as controls. The effects of medications on haematologic parameters were compared on Days 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 14 and 21 after medication initiation. Result and discussion: Totally 40 VLBW infants treated with linezolid were recruited in the study, using 45 VLBW treated with vancomycin as controls. Baseline clinical characteristics, such as gestational age and birth weight, were not significantly different between the two groups. After medication initiation, the white blood cell counts on the Days 5 and 7 in the linezolid group were significantly lower than that in the vancomycin group (D5: 11.6 ± 6.2*10⁹/L vs. 14.5 ± 6.4*10⁹/L, p = 0.013; D7: 10.8 ± 5.9*10⁹/L vs. 14.1 ± 8.0*10⁹/L, p = 0.01), while the platelet counts were significantly lower in the linezolid group on Days 10 and 14 (D10: 219.2 ± 90.5*10⁹/L vs. 287.5 ± 100.4*10⁹/L, p = 0.049; D14: 263.0 ± 110.9*10⁹/L vs. 325.0 ± 155.1*10⁹/L, p = 0.036). For substantial haematologic abnormalities, there were no significant differences in leukopenia, neutropenia, agranulocytosis and thrombocytopenia between the two groups. What is new and Conclusions: In VLBW infants, compared with vancomycin, linezolid tends to induce lower white blood cell and platelet counts transiently, but does not increase the severe forms of haematologic side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The OPLS force field of WIS electrolytes was optimized by scaling atom charges to consider their ionic polarization. • The charge correction of ions depends on the volume of anions. • Perchlorate and nitrate have higher conductivity due to their less ionic coordination number and lower viscosity. • Adjusted force fields facilitate understanding the microstructure and properties of WIS electrolytes. Water-in-salt (WIS) electrolytes have attracted considerable interest in rechargeable batteries and supercapacitors, owing to their wide electrochemical stability window, non-flammability, and safety. A comprehensive understanding of the microstructure in WIS electrolytes provides a crucial theoretical foundation for their further development. In this work, the optimized potentials for liquid simulations (OPLS) force field parameters have been revisited by scaling atom charges to consider their ionic polarization. The ionic conductivity of different WIS electrolytes, calculated using the optimized force field, aligns well with the experimental observations. The polarization effects of ions exhibit augmentation as their size enlarges, which is caused by the enlargement of ion size inducing the asymmetry in the charge distribution. Additionally, the microstructures indicate that nitrates and perchlorates offer superior ionic conductivity, benefiting from a less ionic coordination number and lower viscosity. These insights could be of assistance in selecting force fields and comprehending the microstructure of WIS electrolytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, bifunctional ionomeric capacitive deionization (BICDI) electrode are constructed by using bifunctional ionomer as electrode binder and ion exchange material for the enhancement of desalination performance. Compared with traditional membrane capacitive deionization (MCDI) electrodes, the BICDI electrodes were fabricated by using the poly(arylene alkylene) based ionomer to substitute the PVDF binder and ion exchange membrane (IEM). The BICDI electrode based on bifunctional ionomer exhibits higher hydrophilicity, special ion exchange capability, as well as excellent electrochemical properties in comparsion with that of MCDI electrode counterpart. The built-in ionic groups in poly(arylene alkylene) based ionomers could create interconnected ionic highway between different electrode particles, which encourages effective ion transport. The desalination results validated that the salt adsorption capacity (SAC) of carbon-based BICDI electrodes reached 19.2 mg g−1, which is 2.2 times that of MCDI electrodes during adsorption-desorption cycles. Meanwhile, BICDI electrode possesses exceptional charge efficiency (96.6 %), which is much higher than that of MCDI (76.8 %). In the case of BICDI device, the ionomer utilization rate increased by a factor of 88 compared to that of ion exchange membrane in MCDI device. Especially, the economic cost of the integrated BICDI electrodes module is only $35 m−2, which is much cheaper than that in conventional MCDI system ($520 m−2). It is reasonable to believe that the integrated BICDI electrode incorporated with charged bifunctional ionomer proposed in this work provide novel insights and strategies for the high-performance and large-scale CDI applications. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Managing system frequency dynamics is of vital importance for system operators to securely and stably operate low-inertia power systems (LIPS). This work gives a comprehensive review of measures that have been implemented, proposed, or being developed from the perspective of inertia and fast frequency response (FFR). We first summarize approaches of inertia estimation/forecasting including the classification and the characteristics of each type of method. Then, the approaches used to enhance frequency dynamics with the provision of inertia and FFR by diversified resources from power supply, networks, loads and energy storage are reviewed and discussed from the perspective of control, operation and planning. Further, we summarize the emerging policies and services (inertia and FFR) that have been implemented, or being developed by governments and power system operators to properly operate the LIPS. After that, typical demonstration and implementation projects are presented, involving inertia management and FFR services. Finally, some key findings and future research directions are highlighted. • Approaches of frequency management for LIPS are reviewed from IR and FFR perspectives. • Approaches of inertia and FFR support are reviewed from control, operation and planning perspectives. • Emerging services on inertia and FFR that have been implemented or being developed are summarized. • Typical demonstration and implementation projects about inertia monitoring/forecasting, and IR/FFR support are reviewed by utilizing sources from power supply, networks, DSM and ESSs. • IR and FFR are becoming promising services and have broad prospects in the LIPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • LVP@2C exhibited a maximum Li+ adsorption capacity of 25.8 mg g−1 in 200 mg L−1 of Li+ ion solution. • The LVP@2C maintained a high retention rate of 78 % even after 50 cycles. • The selectivity coefficient of LVP@2C is 444.7 and 351.2 at Mg/Li ratios of 1:5 and Na/Li ratios of 1:15. • The LVP@2C displayed excellent lithium extraction performance in natural Tibet salt lake brine. • The Li+ adsorption and desorption behavior is due to V reversible synergistic valence transitions. Recently, with the rapid development of lithium-ion batteries and electric vehicles, the demand for lithium resources in the world has undoubtedly greatly intensified. Based on the advantages of high selectivity and low energy consumption, capacitive deionization (CDI) technology is well-suited for the selective extraction of lithium resources from salt lakes. Herein, carbon-coated Li 3 V 2 (PO 4) 3 (LVP@C) is developed as a cathode electrode for the first time by using a hybrid CDI device to selectively extract Li+ ions from salt lake brine, due to its high theoretical capacity and excellent cycling capacity. The electrochemical (de)intercalation mechanism of Li+ ions in the LVP@C has been evaluated by electrochemical, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and in-situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques, demonstrating a reversible transition of the V valence state during electrosorption/desorption based on Faradaic redox reaction. The optimized LVP@2C delivers a maximum Li+ electrosorption capacity of 25.8 mg g−1, and still maintains a high retention of 78 % even after 50 cycles. The LVP@2C has lithium selectivity coefficients of 444.7 and 351.2 at high Mg-Li ratios of 1:5 and high Na-Li ratios of 1:15. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations further reveal that the selective electrosorption mechanism in the LVP@2C electrode is mostly ascribed to the smaller hydrated ionic radius and lower ionic diffusion energy barrier of Li+ ions in comparison with Mg2+ ions. Finally, the effectiveness evaluation of the lithium selective extraction from the brine of a natural salt lake in Tibet indicates that the LVP@2C has highly selective electrosorption of lithium (α (Li/Mg) = 187.50, α (Li/K) = 136.11, α (Li/Na) = 116.88, α (Li/Ca) = 4.92) and can serve as a potential electrode for the extraction of lithium from salt lake brine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective  The aim of this study is to identify causes of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) death in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants less than 1,000 g admitted in Chinese tertiary NICUs. Study design  We retrospectively collected data on 607 ELBW infants from 39 level III NICUs from July 2016 to June 2019. The primary causes of death were compared among different gestation age, postnatal age groups, and areas with variable economic status. Results  Among all 607 ELBW NICU deaths, 47.1% were multiple gestation with high rate of in vitro fertilization (IVF) (43.3%); 53.4 and 34.1% received any or full course of antenatal corticosteroid (ACS). The most common causes of ELBW NICU death were respiratory distress syndrome-related neonatal respiratory failure (RDS-NRF, 43.5%), severe infection (19.1%), necrotizing enterocolitis or bowel perforation (9.4%), severe central nervous system injury (8.4%), and bronchopulmonary dysplasia-related respiratory failure (BPD-NRF, 7.7%). Causes of ELBW NICU death varied across postnatal age groups. RDS-NRF was the leading cause of early neonatal death, while severe infection in late neonatal death and BPD in postneonatal EBLW NICU death. RDS-NRF, severe brain injury, and asphyxia were most likely to die at early neonatal age (median age [interquartile range], 2 [0–5], 6 [3–9], and 3 [1–6] days, respectively) while severe infection and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) at late neonatal age, BPD-NRF at postneonatal age. Conclusion  In Chinese tertiary NICUs, the major causes of death in extremely low birth weight infants were RDS, infection, NEC, brain injury and BPD, and they varied with postnatal age. Developing specific prevention strategies for identified causes of death in ELBW NICU may potentially improve ELBW survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective  This study sought to assess whether infants exposed to chorioamnionitis are the optimal population to benefit the most from early postnatal hydrocortisone delivery in preventing bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). This meta-analysis was conducted to discover the efficacy of hydrocortisone in preterm infants with and without chorioamnionitis. Study Design  From the earliest available date until March 2018, studies, review articles, and papers published in PubMed, Ovid, and Web of Science were reviewed. Randomized controlled trials comparing hydrocortisone with placebo/no intervention in preterm infants with a known status of chorioamnionitis exposure were included. Results  Early postpartum low-dose hydrocortisone prevents the combined outcome of neonatal BPD or death in infants weighing less than 1,000 g with chorioamnionitis exposure (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 0.52 [0.32–0.79]; risk difference: –0.15 [–0.24 to –0.06]; number needed to treat: 6 [4–16]) but not in infants without chorioamnionitis exposure. Further secondary analysis showed no significant difference between the hydrocortisone group and the placebo group in individual outcomes of BPD or death, regardless of infant exposure to chorioamnionitis. Conclusion  Early application of low-dose hydrocortisone could potentially prevent BPD or death in infants weighing less than 1,000 g with exposure to chorioamnionitis. This finding provides the basis for further study in this target group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robotic total stations have been widely used in continuous automatic monitoring of dam deformations. In this regard, monitoring accuracy is an important factor affecting deformation analysis. First the displacements calculation methods for dam deformation monitoring with total stations are presented, and the corresponding mean square error formulas are derived. Then for errors caused by atmospheric refraction, two correction methods are described. Simulations were conducted to compare the displacement accuracy calculated through different methods. It indicated that the difference between polar coordinate method and forward intersection is less than 0.5mm within around 400m' monitoring range, and in such cases, the polar coordinate method is preferred, as only one total station is required. Refraction correction tests with observations from two dams demonstrated that both correction methods could effectively enhance the monitoring accuracy. For observation correction, correction through the closest reference point achieves better correction results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fourth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee interpreted the code of the 'governance of China' system, so strengthening the study of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics has become increasingly important. The river chief system is a river basin governance system with distinctive Chinese characteristics, but the existing research lacks in-depth and systematic studies on the proposition of how the river chief system was established. Based on this, this paper constructs a system interpretative framework based on its function, deep structure and mechanism conditions to conduct an in-depth study of this proposition. The research shows that: 1) In terms of function, with the rapid development of economy and society, China's river basin governance system has become increasingly difficult to meet the systematic requirements of water governance, resulting in problems such as the 'Nine Dragons Taming the Water'. Under this background, the river chief system as a connective mechanism emerged timely, which helps to deal with the dilemma of cross-organizational governance of river basin. 2) In terms of deep structure, China's national governance structure is characterized by 'party committee leadership, government responsibility, hierarchical management, and departmental division of labor'. In order to reduce the cost of horizontal cooperation ad integrate the forces of all parties, a problem-solving mechanism ad political and cultural tradition of 'leadership in command and high-level coordination' has been formed for a long time, which has to a great extent shaped the chief system design concept of 'controlling water pollution only after providing effective civil servant management, Providing effective civil servant management only after giving right incentives to motivate government officials'. 3) In terms of mechanism conditions, the introduction of the river chief system was the direct result of the pressure driven by the headline event of blue-green algae outbreak in Taihu Lake. The hierarchical structure of the communist party and government and the government official target management responsibility system have provided organizational coordination advantages and management control basis for its establishment and operation. Generally speaking, the river chief system was not only the result of the insufficient response of the river basin governance system, but also the result of the fusion of the traditional system advantages and the concept of green development. Since the river chief system was born in a crisis, it has been more dependent on the attention of local party and government leaders, so after its regularization, it is necessary to improve the relevant incentive system in order to form a long-term mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reaction mechanisms of PhICl2‐mediated oxidative cyclization were characterized by density functional calculations with the m06 method, in order to unveil the plausible reaction pathway and the substituent effect on the chemoselectivity observed. The reaction of methyl o‐alkynylbenzoate 1 a and PhICl2 was used as a model, and the proposed pathway leading to the cyclization product involves the elementary steps of electrophilic attack, cyclization, intramolecular I/Cl exchange, and nucleophilic substitution, with the rate‐limiting activation barrier of 25.6 kcal/mol. The competing mechanisms of the p‐OMe‐substituted substrate 1 b and PhICl2 were comparatively characterized, and the exclusive formation of dichlorinated products rather than cyclization product should be a result of the kinetic discrimination. The free‐energy barriers of the dichlorination were computed to be 1–4 kcal/mol lower than those of the cyclization. The substituent effect was probed on the basis of geometric parameters and molecular orbitals. It was proposed that the electron‐donating property of the p‐OMe group could stabilize the alkenyl cationic intermediate, which serves a branch point of several competing pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing the piezoelectric polarization strength of materials to promote the photogenerated carrier separation is of great significance for piezoelectric polarization-assisted photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. In this paper, P-BiFeO3 composite photoelectrodes were synthesized by modifying BiFeO3 photoelectrodes with phosphate ions. The maximum photocurrent density of the P-BiFeO3 composite photoelectrodes could reach 0.87 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V vs RHE, which is significantly enhanced compared to the BiFeO3 photocurrent. The enhanced photoelectrochemical activity of the phosphate ion-modified BiFeO3 photoelectrodes may be attributed to the increased visible light absorption and larger active area due to the presence of phosphate groups. Furthermore, the photocurrent density of the P-BiFeO3 composite photoelectrodes after the introduction of the piezoelectric polarisation field reached 2.58 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V vs RHE, which was 2.2 times higher than that of BiFeO3 (1.17 mA cm−2). The presence of phosphate groups on the surface of BiFeO3 photoelectrodes can improve their asymmetry and increase their piezoelectric polarisation intensity, further enhancing the PEC water splitting performance of the material. This study provides a strategy for the design of highly active photoanodes with ionic modification to enhance the piezoelectric polarisation of the material to improve PEC water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoporosis (OP), characterized by an imbalance of bone remodeling between formation and resorption, has become a health issue worldwide. The receptor for advanced glycation end product (RAGE), a transmembrane protein in the immunoglobin family, has multiple ligands and has been involved in many chronic diseases, such as diabetes and OP. Increasing evidence shows that activation of the RAGE signaling negatively affects bone remodeling. Ligands, such as advanced glycation end products (AGEs), S100, β -amyloid (A β), and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), have been well documented that they may negatively regulate the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts and positively stimulate osteoclastogenesis by activating the expression of RAGE. In this review, we comprehensively discuss the structure of RAGE and its biological functions in the pathogenesis of OP. The research findings suggest that RAGE signaling has become a potential target for the therapeutic management of OP. [Display omitted] • The RAGE signaling plays an important role in bone remodeling. • Activation of the RAGE signaling inhibits osteogenic differentiation. • Activation of the RAGE signaling facilitates osteoclastogenesis. • RAGE becomes a potential target for osteoporosis treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Papaver rhoeas L. and P. orientale L., which belong to the family Papaveraceae, are used as ornamental and medicinal plants. The chloroplast genome has been used for molecular markers, evolutionary biology, and barcoding identification. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome sequences of P. rhoeas and P. orientale are reported. Results show that the complete chloroplast genomes of P. rhoeas and P. orientale have typical quadripartite structures, which are comprised of circular 152,905 and 152,799-bp-long molecules, respectively. A total of 130 genes were identified in each genome, including 85 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. Sequence divergence analysis of four species from Papaveraceae indicated that the most divergent regions are found in the non-coding spacers with minimal differences among three Papaver species. These differences include the ycf1 gene and intergenic regions, such as rpoB-trnC, trnD-trnT, petA-psbJ, psbE-petL, and ccsA-ndhD. These regions are hypervariable regions, which can be used as specific DNA barcodes. This finding suggested that the chloroplast genome could be used as a powerful tool to resolve the phylogenetic positions and relationships of Papaveraceae. These results offer valuable information for future research in the identification of Papaver species and will benefit further investigations of these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study was to explore the impact of paternal age on the risk of congenital anomalies and birth outcomes in infants born in the USA between 2016 and 2021. This retrospective cohort study used data from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) database, a data set containing information on live birth in the USA between 2016 and 2021. Newborns were divided into four groups based on their paternal age (< 25, 25–34, 35–44, and > 44 years) and using the 25–34 age group as a reference. The primary outcomes were congenital anomalies involving structural anomalies and chromosome anomalies. Secondary outcomes were preterm birth, low birth weight, severe neonatal perinatal asphyxia, and admission to neonatal intensive care units (NICU). A multivariable logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between paternal age and outcomes. Overall, 17,764,695 live births were included in the final analyses. After adjusting confounding factors, advanced paternal age > 44 years was associated with increased odds of congenital anomalies (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.17, 95%CI 1.12–1.21) compared with the 25–34 age group, mainly for the chromosomal anomalies (aOR = 1.59, 95%CI 1.40–1.78) but not the structure anomalies (aOR = 1.03, 95%CI 0.97–1.09). The risk of preterm delivery, low birth weight, and NICU hospitalization in their infants was increased by advanced parental age as well. Conclusion: Advanced paternal age increases the risk of congenital anomalies, especially chromosomal anomalies in their offspring, implying prenatal genetic counseling is required. What is Known: • There's a rising trend of advanced paternal age, which is associated with an increased likelihood of premature birth and low birth weight in their offspring. However, the exploration between paternal age and congenital abnormalities in offspring was limited and contradictory. What is New: • Infants with a paternal age > 44 years were more likely to be born with congenital anomalies, especially chromosomal anomalies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monodispersed hollow polymer microspheres (HPMs) and hollow carbon microspheres (HCMs) are prepared by a low-cost and rapid spray-drying technique using resorcinol-formaldehyde as precursors. By spraying the precursor solution into a high-temperature chamber, micrometer-scale hollow structure can be immediately obtained. To achieve the required morphology, the factors of influencing the products morphology and purity are systematically optimized. The as-obtained HPMs have a low bulk density of 0.089 g/cm 3 , narrow particle size distribution of 15–80 μm with a mean size of 37 μm, a high floatation ratio of 96.3% and high mechanical strength. Followed by a simple carbonization, HCMs with a bulk density of ca. 0.1 g/cm 3 and a mean size of 23 μm are achieved. This spray-drying strategy could drastically reduce their production times and costs, enabling continuous and scalable synthesis of hollow microspheres for practical use. As a proof-of-concept application, a series of syntactic foam consisting of HPMs and HCMs as fillers and phenolic resin as matrix are prepared via a hot-press molding. The resulting composite materials have low bulk densities but improved mechanical properties, which highlights the possibility for the manufacturing of light-weight materials using these kinds of hollow microspheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hollow carbon spheres (HCSs) represent a special class of functional materials, to which intense interest has been paid in the fields of materials science and chemistry. A major problem with these materials is the lack of sufficient particle engineering and mechanical strength for practical applications and the difficulty of up-scaling. Herein, we report a general, template-free, phase-separation approach, in which the liquid-liquid phase-inversion process and a gas-foaming process are coupled for the first time, for fast and continuous processing of uniform HCSs. The obtained HCSs have particle sizes on the millimeter scale, and a hierarchical structure with an interpenetrating, open-porous, carbon shell and huge external voids, therefore permitting rapid transport of molecules into, throughout, and out of the hollow structure. By evenly dispersing the CNTs in the precursor solution, CNT-reinforced HCSs can be achieved with significantly enhanced mechanical strength, hydrophobicity, and electronic and thermal properties. The resulting CNT-reinforced HCSs offer a viable route to remove the engine oil from water in a fixed-bed system. Moreover, these floatable HCSs can receive and convert sunlight to heat at the water-air interface, resulting in a great enhancement in solar evaporation rate compared to conventional bulk heating schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-surface-area mesoporous carbon microspheres were successfully synthesized by a spraying method with the purpose of removing Cr(VI) from waste water. Various factors influencing the adsorption of Cr(VI), including pH, adsorption temperature, and contact time were studied. As the adsorption process was pH dependent, it showed maximum removal efficiency of Cr(VI) at pH 3.0. Pseudo-second-order model was found to best represent the kinetics of Cr(VI) adsorption. The adsorption parameters were determined using both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models, and Q m value was as high as 165.3 mg/g. The thermodynamic parameters including standard Gibb’s free energy (Δ G 0 ), standard enthalpy (Δ H 0 ) and standard entropy (Δ S 0 ) were investigated for predicting the nature of adsorption, which suggested the adsorption was an endothermic and a spontaneous thermodynamically process. Furthermore, Fe 3 O 4 -loaded MCMs were prepared to rapidly separate the adsorbent from the solution by a simple magnetic process. Fe 3 O 4 -loaded MCMs had a high adsorption capacity of 156.3 mg/g, and a good regeneration ability with a capacity of 123.9 mg/g for the fifth adsorption–desorption cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the fast proliferation of single-phase distributed generation (DG) units and loads integrated into residential microgrids, independent power sharing per phase and full use of the energy generated by DGs have become crucial. To address these issues, this paper proposes a hybrid microgrid architecture and its power management strategy. In this microgrid structure, a power sharing unit (PSU), composed of three single-phase back-to-back (SPBTB) converters, is proposed to be installed at the point of common coupling. The aim of the PSU is mainly to realize the power exchange and coordinated control of load power sharing among phases, as well as to allow full utilization of the energy generated by DGs. Meanwhile, the method combining the modified adaptive backstepping-sliding mode control approach and droop control is also proposed to design the SPBTB system controllers. With the application of the proposed PSU and its power management strategy, the loads among different phases can be properly supplied and the energy can be fully utilized, as well as obtaining better load sharing. Simulation and experimental results are provided to demonstrate the validity of the proposed hybrid microgrid structure and control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent studies have shown that miR-155 play a positive role in the development of carcinoma. This meta-analysis aimed to identify the role of miR-155 in the survival of non-small cell lung cancer patients. Methodology: Eligible studies were identified through database searches. Relevant data were extracted from each eligible study to assess the correlation between miR-155 expression and survival in lung carcinoma patients. The hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the patients’ outcomes in relation to miR-155 were calculated. A total of 6 studies were included for this meta-analysis. For overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), disease-free survival (DFS), and cancer-specific survival (CSS), the combined HRs and 95% CIs were not statistically significant. Additionally, in Asian and America subgroups, greater expression levels of miR-155 were related to poor prognoses for lung cancer (HR 1.71 95% CI: 1.22–2.40, P = 0.002, HR 2.35 95% CI: 1.42–3.89 P = 0.001), while no significant relationship was present in a Europe subgroup (HR 0.75 95%CI: 0.27–2.10, P = 0.587). Conclusions: These results suggest that miR-155 expression is not significantly related to non-small cell lung cancer patients except in patients from Asian and America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on the chloroplast genome of parasitic plants is limited. In particular, the homology between the chloroplast genomes of parasitic and hyperparasitic plants has not been reported yet. In this study, three chloroplast genomes of Taxillus (Taxillus chinensis, Taxillus delavayi, and Taxillus thibetensis) and one chloroplast genome of Phacellaria (Phacellaria rigidula) were sequenced and analyzed, among which T. chinensis is the host of P. rigidula. The chloroplast genomes of the four species were 119,941–138,492 bp in length. Compared with the chloroplast genome of the autotrophic plant Nicotiana tabacum, all of the ndh genes, three ribosomal protein genes, three tRNA genes and the infA gene were lost in the three Taxillus species. Meanwhile, in P. rigidula, the trnV-UAC gene and the ycf15 gene were lost, and only one ndh gene (ndhB) existed. The results of homology analysis showed that the homology between P. rigidula and its host T. chinensis was low, indicating that P. rigidula grows on its host T. chinensis but they do not share the chloroplast genome. In addition, horizontal gene transfer was not found between P. rigidula and its host T. chinensis. Several candidate highly variable regions in the chloroplast genomes of Taxillus and Phacellaria species were selected for species identification study. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the species of Taxillus and Scurrula were closely related and supported that Scurrula and Taxillus should be treated as congeneric, while species in Phacellaria had a close relationship with that in Viscum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An unmanned aerial vehicles assisted height transmission method is proposed. • The uncertainty sources of the proposed method are analyzed. • Experiments show it can achieve an accuracy comparable with third-level levelling. • Higher efficiency can be obtained between obstructed benchmarks. When benchmarks are blocked by obstacles such as buildings, woods, hills, etc., it is time- and energy-consuming to acquire the height differences between them through classical geometric levelling because of the detour. Therefore, this paper proposes the combination of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and robotic total stations in determining height differences across obstacles. Carrying a 360° prism as the target and hovering in the air, the UAV can be sighted by both calibrated and synchronized robotic total stations near two benchmarks to conduct synchronous observations with the help of the automatic target recognition (ATR) and tracking systems. And the height difference between them can be calculated based on the principle of trigonometric levelling. The uncertainty sources that affect the accuracy of the proposed method are analyzed and the main observation procedures for practical use are provided. The results of experiments verify the feasibility, effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Detectable EMEs associated with the dilating fracture of rock specimens. [•] EMEs were recorded only associated with some but not all phases of fracture. [•] Original EMEs were recovered via deconvolution. [•] Frequency features of original EMEs were analyzed. [•] Main bands were less than 60kHz and 280kHz for granodiorite and limestone. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The hydrothermal reaction of eurium(III) salt with substituted imidazole-4, 5-dicarboxylic acid in the presence of aliphatic carboxylate afforded a new lanthanide ploymer, namely, {[Eu3(Heimda)4(μ2-HCOO)·4H2O]·2H2O}n(1) (H3eimda = 1H-2-ethyl-4, 5-imidazole-dicarboxylic acid). The polymer 1 features 2-D double-decker networks based on the Ln4Heimda4tetranuclear cluster as secondary building unit. The extensive hydrogen bonds stabilize the crystal structure, forming 3-D supramolecular tectonics. The luminescence spectra of polymer 1 display weak characteristic f-f transfer of Eu(III) ion,besidesemission based on the ligand. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements show that the end to end bridging fashion of formate results in antiferromagnetic properties occurring between adjacent Eu(III) centers. Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition ofSynthesis and Reactivity in Inorganic, Metal-Organic, and Nano-Metal Chemistryto view the supplemental file. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Isothermal (vapour+liquid) equilibrium data for the binary systems of (CO+methyl propionate) and (CO+ethyl propionate) were measured at temperatures of (293.15, 313.15, 333.15, 353.15, and 373.15)K and at elevated pressures up to 10.00MPa. The measurements were carried out in a cylindrical autoclave with a moveable piston and an observation window. The experimental results were correlated using the Peng–Robinson (PR) equation of state and Peng–Robinson–Stryjek–Vera (PRSV) equation of state with the two-parameter van der Waals II or Panagiotopoulos–Reid mixing rule. The comparisons of the calculation results with experimental values indicate that the PRSV equation of state with van der Waals II mixing rule produced the better correlated results. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Developing piezo-phototronic photocatalysts to substitute conventional photocatalysts may be an extremely challenging strategy for the effective photoeletrochemical (PEC) splitting of water. The coupling of piezoelectric polarization and semiconductor characteristics provides a feasible means to control charge transfer, recombination, or separation through the application of external strain. Herein, we used piezoelectric polarization as a built-in electric field to promote the separation of BiFeO3 photocarriers. Furthermore, we fabricated a Nd, Co co-doped BiFeO3 photoelectrode to reduce the band gap and enhance the absorption of solar light. In this study, the as-fabricated Bi0.8Nd0.2Fe0.9Co0.1O3 displayed an excellent photocurrent density of 2.48 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE, which was 4.42 times that of BiFeO3. After the Bi0.8Nd0.2Fe0.9Co0.1O3 was excited by the piezoelectric effect, its photocurrent density was 3.66 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE, which was 1.48 times that before the ultrasound treatment. The modification of Bi0.8Nd0.2Fe0.9Co0.1O3 improved the charge separation and transfer efficiency and achieved a better visible response and piezoelectric polarization, providing another way for water splitting. Hence, the mechanism solved the above key challenges and provides a promising strategy for solar-driven photoelectrochemical water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The densities of dimethyl carbonate, n-hexane and their mixtures were measured for 12 compositions at five different temperatures varying from (293.15 to 313.15)K and over the pressure range of (0.1 to 40)MPa. The densities of pure substances and their mixtures at atmospheric pressure were measured by a vibrating-tube densimeter. The densities at high pressures were measured by a variable-volume autoclave and precise analytical balance. The excess molar volume, isothermal compressibility, and isobaric expansivity were derived from the experimental densities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Vapor–liquid equilibrium data for the binary systems of carbon monoxide (CO)+diethyl carbonate (DEC) and carbon monoxide+ethyl acetate (EA) were measured at temperatures of 293.2K, 313.2K and 333.2K and the elevated pressures up to 12.00MPa. The measurements were carried out in a cylindrical autoclave with a moveable piston and an observation window. The experimental data were correlated using the Peng–Robisom (PR) equation of state (EOS) and Peng–Robinson–Stryjek–Vera (PRSV) equation of state with the two-parameter van der Waals II or Panagiotopoulos–Reid mixing rule. The interaction parameters were obtained while correlating. The comparison between calculation results and experimental data indicated that the method of PRSV equation of state with van der Waals II produced the better correlated results. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The enthalpies of solution of NaRb[B4O5(OH)4]·4H2O in approximately 1moldm−3 aqueous hydrochloric acid and of RbCl in aqueous (hydrochloric acid+boric acid+sodium chloride) were determined. From these results and the enthalpy of solution of H3BO3 in approximately 1moldm−3 HCl(aq) and of sodium chloride in aqueous (hydrochloric acid+boric acid), the standard molar enthalpy of formation of −(5128.02±1.94)kJmol−1 for NaRb[B4O5(OH)4]·4H2O was obtained from the standard molar enthalpies of formation of NaCl(s), RbCl(s), H3BO3(s) and H2O(l). The standard molar entropy of formation of NaRb[B4O5(OH)4]·4H2O was calculated from the Gibbs free energy of formation of NaRb[B4O5(OH)4]·4H2O computed from a group contribution method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Terbium-activated Y3Al5O12 (YAG:Tb) phosphor nanoparticles with homogeneous grain size and crystallinity have been prepared at 700°C by a novel gel-network coprecipitation route using gelatin as a template. The products were characterized by using TG-DTA, XRD and TEM techniques. The diffraction profile of YAG:Tb nanoparticles could be indexed as a garnet structure and exhibited peak broadening phenomenon, as revealed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) data. The products appeared to be regular spherical or elliptical and sizes ranged from 40 to 55nm. Furthermore, the photoluminescence spectra of the YAG:Tb nanoparticles were investigated to determine the energy level of electron transition related to luminescence processes. The effects of Tb concentration and the average grain size on the PL spectra were also studied. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: ZnO nanoparticles have been synthesized by mean of a novel gel-template combustion method. The products were characterized by using TG-DTA, XRD and TEM techniques. The products appeared to be regularly spherical or elliptical and their sizes ranged from 20 to 30nm.The average particle size increased with increasing sintering temperature. The photoluminescence spectra of the resulting ZnO nanoparticles showed a near-UV emission and a green emission. Furthermore, the dependence of the optical properties on the annealing temperatures and annealing time were also investigated. With the increase of the annealing temperature, the intensity of the green emission at 500nm caused by oxygen vacancies in ZnO rapidly increased, but almost disappeared only at 600°C.The probable mechanism was discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A real-time nonlinear adaptive speed control scheme based on backstepping control technique is proposed for a permanent magnet synchronous motor. In the controller design, the input–output feedback linearization is firstly used to compensate the nonlinearities in the nominal system. Then, adaptive backstepping control approach is adopted to derive the control scheme, which is robust to the parameter uncertainties and load torque disturbance. Simulation and real-time experimental results clearly show that the proposed control scheme can track the speed reference signal generated by a reference model successfully under parameter uncertainties and load torque disturbance without singularity and overparameterization. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The crystal of a new tetraborate, NaCs[B4O5(OH)4]·4H2O was synthesized in CsB5O8·4H2O and NaOH solution at 30 °C for 30 days and its crystal structure was determined from single crystal X-ray diffraction data. The compound is monoclinic, space group P21/c; the unit cell parameters are a=8.240(1), b=11.493(1) and c=12.900(2) A˚, β=92.11(1)°, Z=4, V=1220.8(3) A˚3; Dc=2.281 g cm−1, μ=3.13 mm−1, F(000)=808. The crystal structure was determined from 2078 reflection until R1=0.0228 and wR2=0.0548. The structure contains of layers of isolated [B4O5(OH)4]2− polyanions separated by free water molecules and Cs+ and Na+ cations. A structural comparison between NaCs[B4O5(OH)4]·4H2O and Cs2[B4O5(OH)4]·3H2O was done. The thermal analytical curve of this compound was recorded and its decomposition mechanism was discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The reservoir water level fluctuation zone (WLFZ) is a new and fragile ecosystem that is gaining attention with the construction of large and medium-sized hydropower plants. Compared to the natural riparian zone, it has a greater drop in water level, longer inundation time, more intense impact from alternating wet and dry conditions, and a wider impact on ecological security. The Jinsha River basin is located in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River in China, and several world-class large-scale hydropower projects with dam heights over 100 m have been built, forming a large area of reservoir WLFZ, however, due to the short time since their construction, there are few related studies. In this paper, fixed sample plots were set up in the typical WLFZs of each large reservoir in the Jinsha River basin. In response to the problem of the precipitous terrain and poor accessibility of the Jinsha River basin, a combination of small UAV surveys and field research in July 2020 was used to draw vegetation cover maps and extract topographic data for each site, and quantitatively analyse the community composition, dominant species types, area, coverage, spatial distribution patterns and environmental factors of tolerant vegetation using spatial superposition analysis, neural network models, landscape pattern indices and typical correlation analysis. The results showed that the original drought-tolerant vegetation in the arid river valley WLFZ has evolved into amphibious herbaceous vegetation, with trees and shrubs disappearing and species composition tending to be simpler. 44 species of plants, mainly in the Asteraceae and Gramineae families, were extant, 61% of which were also reported in the Three Gorges Reservoir WLFZ. The water level variation showed convergence in the natural screening process of suitable species in the WLFZ. Moreover, even in the dry valley WLFZs, flood stress showed a more significant filtering effect on vegetation species than drought stress. The vegetation in the WLFZ showed an obvious band-like aggregated distribution along the water level elevation gradient, and the vegetation coverage along the flooding gradient is as follows: upper part of the WLFZ >> middle part > lower part, and mainly concentrated in the gentle area with slope less than 35°. Flooding stress, drought stress and soil substrate deficiency were the main limiting factors for vegetation recovery in the WLFZ. The vegetation restoration of the WLFZ should be adapted to local conditions, and the dominant role of native species should be emphasized. At the early stage of the restoration of the WLFZ, native species should be selected for artificial planting to accelerate the formation of vegetation cover, and gradually advance downwards along the gradient of water level elevation, while for areas of the WLFZ with slopes greater than 35° and large topographic relief, biological engineering measures should be used to help plant establishment, and after a certain stable cover has been formed, natural restoration should be the main focus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug therapy is vital in cancer treatment. Accurate analysis of drug sensitivity for specific cancers can guide healthcare professionals in prescribing drugs, leading to improved patient survival and quality of life. However, there is a lack of web-based tools that offer comprehensive visualization and analysis of pancancer drug sensitivity. We gathered cancer drug sensitivity data from publicly available databases (GEO, TCGA and GDSC) and developed a web tool called Comprehensive Pancancer Analysis of Drug Sensitivity (CPADS) using Shiny. CPADS currently includes transcriptomic data from over 29 000 samples, encompassing 44 types of cancer, 288 drugs and more than 9000 gene perturbations. It allows easy execution of various analyses related to cancer drug sensitivity. With its large sample size and diverse drug range, CPADS offers a range of analysis methods, such as differential gene expression, gene correlation, pathway analysis, drug analysis and gene perturbation analysis. Additionally, it provides several visualization approaches. CPADS significantly aids physicians and researchers in exploring primary and secondary drug resistance at both gene and pathway levels. The integration of drug resistance and gene perturbation data also presents novel perspectives for identifying pivotal genes influencing drug resistance. Access CPADS at https://smuonco.shinyapps.io/CPADS/ or https://robinl-lab.com/CPADS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effect of perinatal interventions on the risk of severe BPD (sBPD) and death in extremely preterm infants (EPIs) and their synergistic effects. This was a secondary analysis of the prospective cohort Chinese Neonatal Network (CHNN). Infants with a birth weight of 500 to 1250 g or 24–28 weeks completed gestational age were recruited. The impacts and the synergistic effects of six evidence-based perinatal interventions on the primary outcomes of sBPD and death were assessed by univariate and multivariable logistic regression modeling. Totally, 6568 EPIs were finally enrolled. Antenatal corticosteroid (adjusted OR, aOR, 0.74; 95%CI, 0.65–083), birth in centers with tertiary NICU (aOR, 0.64; 95%CI, 0.57–0.72), preventing intubation in the delivery room (aOR, 0.65; 95%CI, 0.58–0.73), early caffeine therapy (aOR, 0.59; 95%CI, 0.52–0.66), and early extubating (aOR, 0.42; 95%CI 0.37–0.47), were strongly associated with a lower risk of sBPD and death while early surfactant administration was associated with a lower risk of death (aOR, 0.84; 95%CI, 0.72, 0.98). Compared with achieving 0/1 perinatal interventions, achieving more than one intervention was associated with decreased rates (46.6% in 0/1 groups while 38.5%, 29.6%, 22.2%, 16.2%, and 11.7% in 2/3/4/5/6-intervention groups respectively) and reduced risks of sBPD/death with aORs of 0.76(0.60, 0.96), 0.55(0.43, 0.69), 0.38(0.30, 0.48), 0.28(0.22, 0.36), and 0.20(0.15, 0.27) in 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 intervention groups respectively. Subgroup analyses showed consistent results. Conclusion: Six perinatal interventions can effectively reduce the risk of sBPD and death in a synergistic form. What is Known: • Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a multifactorial chronic lung disease associated with prematurity. The effective management of BPD requires a comprehensive set of interventions. However, the extent to which these interventions can mitigate the risk of severe outcomes, such as severe BPD or mortality, or if they possess synergistic effects remains unknown. What is New: • The implementation of various perinatal interventions, such as prenatal steroids, birth in centers with tertiary NICU, early non-Invasive respiratory support, surfactant administration within 2 hours after birth, early caffeine initiation within 3 days, and early extubation within 7 days after birth has shown promising results in the prevention of severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) or mortality in extremely preterm infants. Moreover, these interventions have demonstrated synergistic effects when implemented in combination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon emission reduction is now a global issue, and the prediction of carbon trading market prices is an important means of reducing emissions. This paper innovatively proposes a second decomposition carbon price prediction model based on the nuclear extreme learning machine optimized by the Sparrow search algorithm and considers the structural and nonstructural influencing factors in the model. Firstly, empirical mode decomposition (EMD) is used to decompose the carbon price data and variational mode decomposition (VMD) is used to decompose Intrinsic Mode Function 1 (IMF1), and the decomposition of carbon prices is used as part of the input of the prediction model. Then, a maximum correlation minimum redundancy algorithm (mRMR) is used to preprocess the structural and nonstructural factors as another part of the input of the prediction model. After the Sparrow search algorithm (SSA) optimizes the relevant parameters of Extreme Learning Machine with Kernel (KELM), the model is used for prediction. Finally, in the empirical study, this paper selects two typical carbon trading markets in China for analysis. In the Guangdong and Hubei markets, the EMD-VMD-SSA-KELM model is superior to other models. It shows that this model has good robustness and validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the work status of clinicians in China and their management strategy alteration for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) during the COVID-19 pandemic. A nationwide online questionnaire survey was conducted in 42 class-A tertiary hospitals across China. Experienced clinicians of HCC-related specialties responded with their work status and management suggestions for HCC patients during the pandemic. 716 doctors responded effectively with a response rate of 60.1%, and 664 were included in the final analysis. Overall, 51.4% (341/664) of clinicians reported more than a 60% reduction of the regular workload and surgeons declared the highest proportion of workload reduction. 92.5% (614/664) of the respondents have been using online medical consultation to substitute for the "face-to-face" visits. Adaptive adjustment for the treatment strategy for HCC was made, including the recommendations of noninvasive and minimally invasive treatments such as transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for early and intermediate stage. Targeted therapy has been the mainstay for advanced stage and also as a bridge therapy for resectable HCC. During the COVID-19 pandemic, online medical consultation is recommended to avoid social contact. Targeted therapy as a bridge therapy is recommended for resectable HCC considering the possibility of delayed surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The crystalline form of a new tetraborate, NaCs[B4O5(OH)4]·4H2O was synthesized and characterized. The enthalpies of solution of NaCs[B4O5(OH)4]·4H2O in approximately 1moldm−3 HCl(aq) and of CsCl in aqueous (HCl+H3BO3 +NaCl) were determined. From these results and the enthalpy of solution of H3BO3 in approximately 1moldm−3 HCl(aq), the enthalpy of solution of NaCl(s) in aqueous (HCl+H3BO3) and the standard molar enthalpies of formation of NaCl(s), CsCl(s), H3BO3(s) and H2O(l), the standard molar enthalpy of formation for NaCs[B4O5(OH)4]·4H2O as being −(5140.55±1.94)kJmol−1. The standard molar entropy of formation of NaCs[B4O5(OH)4]·4H2O was calculated from the thermodynamic relation with the standard molar Gibbs free energy of formation of NaCs[B4O5(OH)4]·4H2O computed from a group contribution method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Nanocrystalline ZnO powders have been synthesized by means of a novel gel-network precipitation method using gelatin as a template at lower temperature condition. The products were characterized by using TG-DTA, XRD and TEM techniques. The products appeared to be regularly spherical or elliptical and their sizes range from 20 to 40nm. The average particle size increased with increasing calcining temperature, and decreased with increasing gelatin concentration. Furthermore, the photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the ZnO nanopowders were also investigated. The relative luminescent intensities for the ultraviolet band and green emission band showed a dependence on preparation conditions. The probable mechanism was discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An indirect inguinal hernia is the most common type of inguinal hernia. Reports of inguinal hernias involving the uterus, ovaries, and even fallopian tubes are rare. Surgical repair of this type of hernia is much more difficult than a normal hernia because of the adhesion between the hernia sac wall and the viscera and the risk of injury during dissociation. We report a case of an indirect inguinal hernia containing the uterus in an adult woman, and we explore the pathogenesis and the laparoscopic surgery performed. When performing inguinal hernia surgery, if computed tomography or ultrasound indicates that the hernia contents are rare uterus or something, we recommend transabdominal preperitoneal repair as the first choice for treatment of adult uterine hernia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Robotic total stations (RTSs) are applied to subway tunnel displacement monitoring. • An automatic subway tunnel displacement monitoring system is developed. • The mathematical models for both short and long monitoring zone are derived and tested. Real-time displacement monitoring is important for ensuring the safety of subway tunnel structures when construction activities are carried out near them. Owing to the special environmental characteristics of tunnels, many displacement monitoring techniques are either inapplicable to subway tunnel structures or have limitations in terms of the accuracy and automation of monitoring. Therefore, this article focuses on the automatic monitoring of subway tunnel displacement using robotic total stations. Using prisms as reflectors, the robotic total stations can perform highly accurate displacement monitoring by measuring angles and distances in a non-contact manner. A mathematical model for displacement monitoring with one total station in a short monitoring zone is developed, and a model for monitoring a long tunnel zone with multiple total stations is derived to guarantee the accuracy of monitoring. An automatic displacement monitoring system with robotic total stations is built, where the data acquisition and data management of the system are detailed through its hardware composition and software functions, respectively. An experiment on a tunnel showed the available monitoring range of a single robotic total station, and the accuracy of monitoring the long zone with multiple robotic total stations was verified. The application of the monitoring system to the Guangzhou Metro Line 2 confirmed its robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the the major functional component of Paeonia suffruticosa , paeonol (PAE) has shown its potential to inhibit the progression of multiple cancer types. In the current study, the mechanism driving the effect of PAE on osteosarcoma (OS) was investigated by focusing on its influence on TLR4-mediated MAPK/NF-κB pathway. Human OS cells were firstly administrated with PAE of different concentrations to assess its effect on the proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis, and TLR4/MAPK/NF-κB pathway in OS cells. Thereafter, the level of TLR4 was induced in OS cells before PAE administration to explore the role of the molecule in the anti-OS function of PAE. The results of in vitro assays were further validated with xenograft mice models. The administration of PAE of two doses both suppressed the proliferation and induced apoptosis in OS cells in a dose-dependent manner. Regarding the effect on the metastasis potential of OS cells, PAE inhibited the migration and invasion potential of the cells, but the effect did not change with concentrations. The administration of PAE also inhibited the expression of TLR4 and deactivated MAPK/NF-κB pathway. Moreover, the induced expression of TLR4 counteracted the anti-OS function of PAE. Further validation with xenograft models also showed that PAE inhibited solid tumor growth and TLR4 expression in OS mice. In conclusion, it was inferred that the anti-OS function of PAE depended on the inhibition of TLR4 and its downstream MAPK/NF-κB pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cholesterol (CHO) is an essential component of the body. However, high CHO levels in the body can damage bone mass and promote osteoporosis. CHO accumulation can cause osteoblast apoptosis, which has a negative effect on bone formation. The pathogenesis of osteoporosis is a complicate process that includes oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and inflammation. Geniposide (GEN) is a natural compound with anti-osteoporotic effect. However, the roles of GEN in osteopathogenesis are still unclear. Our previous studies demonstrated that GEN could reduce the accumulation of CHO in osteoblasts and the activation of ER stress in osteoblasts. However, the molecular mechanism of GEN in inhibiting CHO-induced apoptosis in osteoblasts needs to be further investigated. Methods: MC3T3-E1 cells were treated with osteogenic induction medium (OIM). Ethanol-solubilized cholesterol (100 µM) was used as a stimulator, and 10 µM and 25 µM geniposide was added for treatment. The alterations of protein expression were detected by western blot, and the cell apoptosis was analyzed by a flow cytometer. Results: CHO promoted osteoblast apoptosis by activating ER stress in osteoblasts, while GEN alleviated the activation of ER stress and reduced osteoblast apoptosis by activating the GLP-1R/ABCA1 pathway. Inhibition of ABCA1 or GLP-1R could eliminate the protective activity of GEN against CHO-induced ER stress and osteoblast apoptosis. Conclusion: GEN alleviated CHO-induced ER stress and apoptosis in osteoblasts by mediating the GLP-1R/ABCA1 pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]