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Abstract Long noncoding RNAs have emerged as key players in the progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC). Among them, ZEB1-AS1 was identified as an upregulated candidate in HNSC through comprehensive analysis of RNA-sequencing datasets. Here, elevated ZEB1-AS1 expression was correlated with poor prognosis in HNSC patients. Further investigations demonstrated that downregulation of ZEB1-AS1 induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition and increased sensitivity to cisplatin in Cal27 cells, while its upregulation reversed these effects, underscoring its pivotal role in tumor metastasis and cisplatin resistance in Cal27 cells. Mechanistically, ZEB1-AS1, located in cytoplasm and nucleus, directly regulated the expression of ZEB1, thereby influencing the expression of μ opioid receptor (MOR) and implicating in cancer progression. To advance clinical translation, we employed a nucleus-targeting nanoparticle platform for efficient delivery of a mixture of antisense oligonucleotides and siRNA (Silencer), effectively manipulating ZEB1-AS1 expression in vitro and in vivo. Besides, a predictive model for HNSC patients was developed by analyzing the expression levels of ZEB1-AS1, ZEB1, and MOR in the HNSC datasets. Our study underscored the critical role of ZEB1-AS1 in HNSC and its potential as a therapeutic target. By elucidating its functional mechanisms and utilizing a nucleus-targeting nanoparticle platform for efficient delivery, we proved the potential of ZEB1-AS1-targeted therapies in HNSC.

Abstract Background We investigated the association between sleep problems and cardiometabolic risks and the potential linking effect of metabolites and metabolic pathways based on multi-layered research, including observational, mendelian randomization (MR), and metabolomics analysis. Methods A cross-sectional analysis of the 2015–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) dataset was conducted to identify the association between sleep problems and cardiometabolic risks. A subsequent MR study based on genetic data was performed to explore the causal correlation of significant associations in the NHANES study. The underlying alteration of metabolism was explored by constructing zebrafish models and wide-targeted metabolomics analysis. Results The cross-sectional analysis of the NHANES database revealed a significant association of snoring with obesity [OR = 2.65, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.87, 3.74]; sleep apnea with hypertension (OR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.14, 2.48) and obesity (OR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.96); trouble sleeping with hypertension (OR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.18, 2.86), obesity (OR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.07, 2.26), and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) (OR = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.02, 2.25). MR analysis verified the causal relationship between genetically proxied sleep apnea or snoring and obesity. The decreased activity levels and altered expression levels of six circadian genes (bmal1b, cry1aa, cry1ab, clock1a, per1b, per2) were identified in the zebrafish of the sleep disorder group. Multiple metabolites related to disturbed glucose metabolism (e.g., 20-HETE), lipid metabolism (e.g., inosine), and vascular-related metabolites (e.g., riboflavin) were finally identified, indicating the latent effect of metabolism. Conclusions This study identified the chain of sleep-circadian rhythm-metabolism-cardiometabolic risks. These findings can promote improved prevention implementation and therapeutic strategies.

Abstract Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) stands as a prevalent and detrimental arrhythmic disorder, characterized by intricate pathophysiological mechanisms. The availability of reliable and reproducible AF models is pivotal in unraveling the underlying mechanisms of this complex condition. Unfortunately, the researchers are still confronted with the absence of consistent in vitro AF models, hindering progress in this crucial area of research. Methods Human induced pluripotent stem cells derived atrial myocytes (hiPSC-AMs) were generated based on the GiWi methods and were verified by whole-cell patch clamp, immunofluorescent staining, and flow cytometry. Then hiPSC-AMs were employed to establish the AF model by HS. Whole-cell patch clamp technique and calcium imaging were used to identify the AF model. The stability of 29 reference genes was evaluated using delta-Ct, GeNorm, NormFinder, and BestKeeper algorithms; Results HiPSC-AMs displayed atrial myocyte action potentials and expressed the atrial-specific protein MLC-2 A and NR2F2, about 70% of the cardiomyocytes were MLC-2 A positive. After HS, hiPSC-AMs showed a significant increase in beating frequency, a shortened action potential duration, and increased calcium transient frequency. Of the 29 candidate genes, the top five most stably ranked genes were ABL1, RPL37A, POP4, RPL30, and EIF2B1. After normalization using ABL1, KCNJ2 was significantly upregulated in the AF model; Conclusions: In the hiPSC-AMs AF model established by HS, ABL1 provides greater normalization efficiency than commonly used GAPDH.

The high-resolution and nondestructive co-reference measurement of the inner and outer three-dimensional (3D) surface profiles of laser fusion targets is difficult to achieve. In this study, we propose a laser differential confocal (LDC)–atomic force probe (AFP) method to measure the inner and outer 3D surface profiles of laser fusion targets at a high resolution. This method utilizes the LDC method to detect the deflection of the AFP and exploits the high spatial resolution of the AFP to enhance the spatial resolution of the outer profile measurement. Nondestructive and co-reference measurements of the inner profile of a target were achieved using the tomographic characteristics of the LDC method. Furthermore, by combining multiple repositionings of the target using a horizontal slewing shaft, the inner and outer 3D surface profiles of the target were obtained, along with a power spectrum assessment of the entire surface. The experimental results revealed that the respective axial and lateral resolutions of the outer profile measurement were 0.5 and 1.3 nm, while the respective axial and lateral resolutions of the inner profile measurement were 2.0 nm and approximately 400.0 nm. The repeatabilities of the root-mean-square deviation measurements for the outer and inner profiles of the target were 2.6 and 2.4 nm, respectively. We believe our study provides a promising method for the high-resolution and nondestructive co-reference measurement of the inner and outer 3D profiles of laser fusion targets.

Abstract Monofluoroalkenes serve as nonhydrolyzable mimetics of amides and are frequently encountered in drug candidates. Herein we report a regio-, enantio-, and stereoselective NiH-catalyzed ipso- and migratory defluorinative olefin cross-coupling employing readily available olefins and gem-difluoroalkenes under mild conditions. This approach enables the efficient synthesis of a broad array of structurally diverse monofluoroalkenes bearing a tertiary allylic stereogenic center. Mechanistically, the challenging migratory defluorinative olefin cross-coupling process is successfully realized through a ligand relay catalytic strategy, enabling the formal C(sp3)–H/C(sp2)–F activation with high levels of regio-, stereo-, and enantiocontrol.

Abstract Lenvatinib, a multitarget kinase inhibitor, has been proven to be effective in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. It has been previously demonstrated that tumour associated macrophages (TAMs) in tumour tissues can promote HCC growth, invasion and metastasis. Furthermore, lenvatinib has certain immunomodulatory effects on the treatment of HCC. However, the role of lenvatinib in macrophage polarization during HCC treatment has not been fully explored. In this study, we used a variety of experimental methods both in vitro and in vivo to investigate the effect of lenvatinib on TAMs during HCC progression. This study is the first to show that lenvatinib can alter macrophage polarization in both humans and mice. Moreover, macrophages treated with lenvatinib in vitro displayed enhanced classically activated macrophages (M1) activity and suppressed liver cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. Furthermore, during the progression of M1 macrophage polarization induced by lenvatinib, STAT-1 was the main target transcription factor, and inhibiting STAT-1 activity reversed the effect of lenvatinib. Overall, the present study provides a theoretical basis for the immunomodulatory function of lenvatinib in the treatment of HCC.

Abstract Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic and recurrent inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract, including two subtypes: Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Metabolic disorders are important factors in the development of IBD. However, the evidence for the causal relationship between blood metabolites and IBD remains limited. A two-sample MR analysis was applied to evaluate relationships between 486 blood metabolites and IBD. The inverse variance weighted method was chosen as the primary MR analysis method. False discovery rate correction was used to control for false positives in multiple testing. Following complementary and sensitivity analyses were conducted using methods such as weight median, MR-egger, weighted mode, simple mode, Cochran Q test, and MR-PRESSO. Moreover, we performed replication, meta-analysis, Steiger test, and linkage disequilibrium score regression to enhance the robustness of the results. Additionally, we performed metabolic pathway analysis to identify potential metabolic pathways. As a result, we identified four significant causal associations between four blood metabolites and two IBD subtypes. Specifically, one metabolite was identified as being associated with the development of CD (mannose: odds ratio (OR) = 0.19, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.08–0.43, P = 8.54 × 10–5). Three metabolites were identified as being associated with the development of UC (arachidonate (20:4n6): OR = 0.18, 95% CI 0.11–0.30, P = 2.09 × 10–11; 1, 5-anhydroglucitol: OR = 2.21, 95% CI 1.47–3.34, P = 1.50 × 10–4; 2-stearoylglycerophosphocholine: OR = 2.66, 95% CI 1.53–4.63, P = 5.30 × 10–4). The findings of our study suggested that the identified metabolites and metabolic pathways can be considered as useful circulating metabolic biomarkers for the screening and prevention of IBD in clinical practice, as well as candidate molecules for future mechanism exploration and drug target selection.

ObjectivesThe inter-ship structure between double-layer shells is an important bridge for the transmission of acoustic vibration from pressure shell to light shell. To reduce the impact on the acoustic vibration radiation level of ships, a double-layer acoustic bridge inter-ship structure is proposed and its acoustic vibration transmission characteristics studied.MethodsThe finite element method is used to establish a finite-length double-layer cylindrical shell acoustic vibration radiation model of an inter-board double-layer acoustic bridge. The differences between the sound and vibration transmission of the double-layer acoustic bridge and those of a traditional single-layer acoustic bridge structure are compared and analyzed. Finally, the influence of the double-layer acoustic bridge's structure, structural parameters and axial distribution spacing on its acoustic radiation and vibration transmission characteristics is revealed.ResultsThe results show that the double-layer acoustic bridge connection structure between double cylindrical shells has a better noise reduction effect than the traditional single-layer acoustic bridge structure. The effect of the "2-1" double-layer acoustic bridge structure model on reducing vibration transmission between double cylindrical shells is better than that of "1-2" and "2-2" double-layer acoustic bridge structures. Three different "1-1" double-layer acoustic bridge connection structures show similar vibration transmission reduction effects. The spacing of the bottom acoustic bridge ribs and the width of the transverse plate have a great influence on the vibration transmission reduction effect of the double-layer shell structure, while the height of the acoustic bridge has little effect. The closer the axial distribution of double-layer acoustic bridges between double cylindrical shells, the worse the vibration transmission reduction effect.ConclusionsThe results of this study can provide references for the shock absorption and noise reduction design of the inter-board structures of ships.

It is crucial to develop a comprehensive method for estimating the aboveground biomass (AGB) of trees, shrubs, grasslands, and sparse tree areas in ecologically fragile dry, hot valley regions with vertical zonation. Multi-source remote-sensing data can fulfill this requirement, providing help in monitoring the health of ecosystems and providing a basis for regional biodiversity conservation and restoration. Sentinel-2A satellite imagery was used to classify the forests, shrubs, and grasslands in Yuanmou County, Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. The Gaofen-2 satellite (GF-2) was used to extract the canopy width and calculate tree biomass in the valley-type savanna region. These data were combined with remote-sensing factors and measured survey data, and random forest (RF) and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) models were used to estimate the biomass. Using GF-2 images to segment sparse tree areas effectively reduced the overestimation of low-resolution remote-sensing images, enabling the AGB of sparse trees to be accurately estimated. The biomass estimations based on the Sentinel-2A images attained coefficient of determination (R2) values of 0.45 and 0.47 for the forest, 0.55 and 0.61 for the shrubs, and 0.32 and 0.37 for the grasslands using RF and XGBoost models, respectively, demonstrating variable effectiveness across vegetation types. In addition, the XGBoost model was more robust than the RF model for all three vegetation types. Our methodology provides scientific support for the sustainable development of ecologically fragile dry, hot valleys and savanna areas.

Biological soil crusts (BSCs) play an essential role in soil stabilization and nutrient cycling in arid environments, being a hotspot of microbial activity including soil enzyme production. However, the changes in microbial communities of the BSCs from different age are poorly understood. In over a 60-year dune revegetation chronosequence (2021, 2016, 1973, and 1962) in the southeastern Tengger Desert, China, we compared the development of BSCs and underlying sands using metagenome sequencing and enzyme assays. In both BSCs and the underlying sand substrate, enzyme activity increased along the time series but was always greater for BSCs than the substrate, emphasizing the potential for nutrient cycling activity. A clear trend in community composition and co-occurrence network complexity was observed in the BSCs: the family-level taxonomic network of BSCs became more connected in the older age BSCs, while in the substrate, there was no such trend. Unexpectedly, considering their low relative abundance and diversity, archaea emerged as major keystones in establishing community networks, being key to network stability. In the underlying substrate, by contrast, archaea did not play this key role. During the time series of BSCs, the dominant archaeal groups were Nitrososphaeria, Methanomicrobia, Halobacteria, and an unclassified Thaumarchaeota, mainly linked to functional genes related to carbon and nitrogen, such as CHB2, xylA, amyA, amoB, nxrA, nxrB, and nirB. This suggests that in BSCs, the key role of archaea relates to their role in nitrogen cycling. This perspective adds to the emerging view that archaea play an important role in community structure and function in dryland environments.

Emergency response plans for tunnel vehicle accidents are crucial to ensure human safety, protect critical infrastructure, and maintain the smooth operation of transportation networks. However, many decision-support systems for emergency responses still rely significantly on predefined response strategies, which may not be sufficiently flexible to manage unexpected or complex incidents. Moreover, existing systems may lack the ability to effectively respond effectively to the impact different emergency scenarios and responses. In this study, semantic web technologies were used to construct a digital decision-support system for emergency responses to tunnel vehicle accidents. A basic digital framework was developed by analysing the knowledge system of the tunnel emergency response, examining its critical elements and intrinsic relationships, and mapping it to the ontology. In addition, the strategies of previous pre-plans are summarised and transformed into semantic rules. Finally, different accident scenarios were modelled to validate the effectiveness of the developed emergency response system.

Climatic extremes, especially extreme droughts, are occurring more frequently and profoundly impacting biogeochemical processes. However, the relative importance of microbial communities on soil nutrient cycling and community maintenance under natural extreme drought events remains elusive. During a record-breaking drought in the Yangtze River Basin (YRB) in the summer of 2022, we collected ambient soils and drought-affected bare and vegetated soils in ecological buffer zones from two sites with similar soil and vegetation characteristics along the YRB, and examined the relative contribution of soil bacterial communities in supporting multi-nutrient cycling index (MNCI) involving carbon-, nitrate- and phosphorus-cycling and their associations with microbial network. Extreme drought decreased (p < 0.05) bacterial α-diversity but increased MNCI in vegetated soils at both sites, while both remained unchanged (p > 0.05) in bare soils, possibly as a result of vegetation releasing rhizodeposits under drought which selectively recruited bacterial communities. Bacterial community compositions were shifted (p < 0.05) only in vegetated soils, and they exerted more influence than α-diversity on soil MNCI. Notably, the Anaerolineae, identified as a biomarker enriched in vegetated soils, had close associations with enzyme activities and soil MNCI at both sites, suggesting their potential recruitment by vegetation to withstand drought. Furthermore, key ecological clusters (Module 1) in bacterial co-occurrence networks at both sites supported (p < 0.05) higher MNCI, despite no substantial variation in network structure due to drought. Specifically, the most important taxa within Module 1 for predicting soil MNCI revealed by random forest modeling analysis (R2 = 0.44 - 0.63, p < 0.001), such as B1-7BS, SBR1031 and Nocardioides, could be deeply involved in soil nitrogen-cycling, suggesting an essential role of specialized interactions of bacterial communities in maintaining soil multifunctionality. Overall, this study demonstrates that changes in biomarkers and functional taxa under extreme drought may better reflect the biological mechanisms involved in microbial communities impacting ecosystem function, which may aid in forecasting the ecological consequences of ongoing climate change in the ecological buffer zones along the YRB.

Summary: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive loss of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord, and there are no effective drug treatments. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) has garnered attention as a promising noninvasive neuromodulation method. In this study, we investigate its effects on the motor cortex and underlying mechanisms using the SOD1G93A mouse model of ALS. Our results show that LIPUS treatment delays disease onset and prolongs lifespan in ALS mice. LIPUS significantly increases cerebral blood flow in the motor cortex by preserving vascular endothelial cell integrity and increasing microvascular density, which may be mediated via the ion channel TRPV4. RNA sequencing analysis reveals that LIPUS substantially reduces the expression of genes associated with neuroinflammation. These findings suggest that LIPUS applied to the motor cortex may represent a potentially effective therapeutic tool for the treatment of ALS.

Scaffold materials, seed cells and growth factors are referred to as the three elements of bone tissue engineering (BTE). However, the physical properties and biocompatibility of these scaffolds and the safety and cost of their growth factors limit their clinical application. Therefore, it is critical to develop a novel scaffold modified with efficient growth factors that meets the requirements of BTE. Herein, 3D-printed poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid)/hydroxyapatite (PLGA/HA) composite scaffolds modified with new fusion peptides, which can effectively promote the regeneration and repair of bone defects, were developed. 3D-printed PLGA/HA composite scaffolds with appropriate HA contents were prepared and had appropriate mechanical properties. In addition, the surface of the 3D-printed PLGA/HA composite scaffold was modified with new fusion peptides to provide osteogenic, antimicrobial, and angiogenesis-promoting effects. In vitro experiments showed that the fusion peptide-modified scaffolds had good biocompatibility and a certain degree of antibacterial activity. Moreover, the fusion peptide-modified scaffolds significantly improved the migration ability of BMSCs and Ea.hy926 cells, promoted the expression of osteogenesis-related factors (BMP2, RUNX2, ALP, OPN) in BMSCs, and promoted the expression of angiogenesis-related factors (VEGF and HIF-1α) in Ea.hy926 cells. In vivo experiments showed that the fusion peptide-modified scaffolds had good osteogenic ability. This study reveals considerable application potential for bone defect repair and provides a new option of scaffold material for BTE.

ABSTRACT: Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the molecular epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance of invasive pneumococcal isolates from children in Shenzhen, China, in the early stage of the pneumococcal 13-valent conjugated vaccine (PCV-13) era from 2018 to 2020. Methods: Invasive pneumococcal strains were isolated from hospitalized children with invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPDs) from January 2018 to December 2020. The serotype identification, multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed on all culture-confirmed strains. Results: Sixty-four invasive strains were isolated mainly from blood (70.3%). Prevalent serotypes were 23F (28.1%), 14 (18.8%), 19F (15.6%), 6A/B (14.1%), and 19A (12.5%), with a serotype coverage rate of 96.9% for PCV13. The most common sequence types (STs) were ST876 (17.1%), ST271 (10.9%), and ST320 (7.8%). Half of the strains were grouped in clonal complexes (CCs): CC271 (21.9%), CC876 (20.3%), and CC90 (14.1%). Meningitis isolates showed a higher resistance rate (90.9% and 45.5%) to penicillin and ceftriaxone than the rate (3.8% and 9.4%) of non-meningitis isolates. The resistance rates for penicillin (oral), cefuroxime, and erythromycin were 53.13%, 73.4%, and 96.9%, respectively. The dual ermB and mefA genotype was found in 81.3% of erythromycin-resistant strains. The elevated minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of β-lactam antibiotics and dual-genotype macrolide resistance were related mainly to three major serotype-CC combinations: 19F-CC271, 19A-CC271, and 14-CC876. Conclusion: Invasive pneumococcus with elevated MICs of β-lactams and increased dual ermB and mefA genotype macrolide resistance were alarming. Expanded PCV13 vaccination is expected to reduce the burden of paediatric IPD and to combat antibiotic-resistant pneumococcus in Shenzhen.

Abstract Random media pose limitations on the imaging capability of photoelectric detection devices. Currently, imaging techniques employed through random media primarily operate within the laser wavelength range, leaving the imaging potential of terahertz waves unexplored. In this study, we present an approach for terahertz bistatic three-dimensional imaging (TBTCI) of hidden objects through random media. By deducing the field distribution of bistatic terahertz time-domain spectroscopy system, and proposing an explicit point spread function of the random media, we conducted three-dimensional imaging of hidden objects obscured by the random media. Our proposed method exhibits promising applications in imaging scenarios with millimeter-wave radar, including non-invasive testing and biological imaging.

High levels of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) induce psoriasis. Currently, the treatment of psoriasis has the disadvantages of penetration difficulty, suppression of normal immunity, and skin irritation. In this study, biguanide chitosan microneedles (BGC-MNs) were prepared to treat psoriasis by removing cfDNA from the dermis through the skin barrier. The effects of chitosan with different bisguanidine contents on DNA-binding capacity, biocompatibility, and inflammation inhibition were compared, revealing that chitosan containing 20% bisguanidine (BGC2) was found to have the best overall performance. In vitro, BGC2 effectively cleared cfDNA and inhibited the production of inflammatory factors. BGC-MN made from BGC2 had good mechanical and solubility properties. In vivo, BGC-MNs cleared cfDNA, reduced the level of inflammatory factors in the dermis, and exerted a good therapeutic effect on mice with psoriasis. These results suggested that BGC-MNs provided a new approach to treating psoriasis in terms of scavenging cfDNA and exerting anti-inflammatory effects.

The early-age cracking of concrete is one of the most critical parameters affecting the performance of concrete structures. It is attributed to both the internal and external influences such as early age restrained shrinkage, thermal deformation as well as the applied load. In this paper, a detailed review of the causes of early-age cracking is first presented, followed by the factors affecting the concrete cracking including raw materials quality problems, improper construction measures, external environmental influences and structural design flaws. Then the preventive measures for concrete cracking are summarized. The potential for the application and development of structural health monitoring and artificial intelligence techniques for early-age cracking of concrete is also discussed. Through the comprehensive review of the early-age cracking of concrete, the research direction for the subsequent research on early-age cracking of concrete is pointed out. The current problems and concerns of concrete cracking are also prospected.

Background: Mitochondrial DNA plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of autoimmune diseases (ADs). However, the association between mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-CN) and ADs risk is controversial. In this study, Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis and meta-analysis were performed using three sets of independent instrumental variables (IVs) to investigate the potential association between mtDNA-CN and 20 types of ADs. Methods: The three sets of IVs were drawn primarily from participants in the UK Biobank and the Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology consortium using different methods. Outcome data for ADs were investigated using summary statistics from the FinnGen cohort. The potential causal associations were assessed using inverse-variance weighting (IVW), MR-Egger, and weighted median methods. Sensitivity analysis and the Steiger test were used to verify the robustness of the MR estimates. In addition, a meta-analysis was conducted to pool the results from three IV groups. Results: Overall, genetically predicted mtDNA-CN was not associated with ADs risk (OR = 1.046, 95 % CI: 0.964–1.135, P = 0.283). However, subgroup analyses showed positive causal associations of mtDNA-CN with autoimmune hypothyroidism (OR = 1.133, 95 % CI: 1.016–1.262, P = 0.024) and rheumatoid arthritis (OR = 1.219, 95 % CI: 1.028–1.445, P = 0.023). In contrast, there was no causal association between mtDNA-CN and atopic dermatitis as well as psoriasis, ulcerative colitis, adult-onset Still disease, type1 diabetes, Crohn disease, sarcoidosis, ankylosing spondylitis, multiple sclerosis, autoimmune hyperthyroidism, primary sclerosing cholangitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, alopecia areata, myasthenia gravis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, dermatopolymyositis, and vitiligo. Conclusions: This MR analysis showed mtDNA-CN is causally associated with an increased risk of autoimmune hypothyroidism and rheumatoid arthritis at the genetic level. The findings have important implications for the use of mtDNA-CN as a biomarker for risk assessment of autoimmune hypothyroidism and rheumatoid arthritis in clinical practice.

IntroductionNutritional literacy (NL) has a critical influence on food choices. The objective of the present study was to examine the association of NL with nutrition label use.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in Bengbu, China. In total, 955 adults were interviewed using a questionnaire designed for the present study to collect information on demographics, lifestyle, nutrition label use, and NL. Binary logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for nutrition label use and its predictive variables.ResultsIn total, 40.4% of the participants reported looking at nutrition label when purchasing prepackaged foods. NL was significantly positively associated with nutrition label use and specifically with checking nutrition facts table, purported nutrition benefits and purported health benefits. In terms of specific facets of NL, nutrition knowledge, applying skills, and critical skills were associated with nutrition label use. After stratification by monthly income and education, the association between NL and nutrition label use was discovered only in individuals with low monthly income. Additionally, nutrition knowledge was associated with nutrition label use only in adults with high education level, whereas applying skills were associated with nutrition label use only in those with low education level.ConclusionThe use of nutrition label remains low among Chinese community residents, especially the purported nutritional benefits and purported health benefits. NL is positively associated with nutrition label use, especially with respect to functional and critical NL, with differences based on socioeconomic status. The findings highlight the need for NL interventions targeting individuals with different levels of education and income to encourage use of nutrition label in China.

Abstract Objective Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) plays an important role in respiratory tract infections, and adherence to lung epithelial cells is the first step in lung infections. To explore the role of NTHi in childhood lung infections, a comparative study was conducted on the adherence of strains isolated from sputum culture and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid to A549 lung epithelial cells. Methods Haemophilus influenzae strains were obtained from the sample bank of Shenzhen Children’s Hospital, and identified as NTHi via PCR detection of the capsule gene bexA. NTHi obtained from healthy children’s nasopharyngeal swabs culture were selected as the control group, and a comparative study was conducted on the adherence of strains isolated from sputum culture or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients to A549 cells. Results The adherence bacterial counts of NTHi isolated from the nasopharyngeal cultures of healthy children to A549 cells was 58.2 CFU. In patients with lung diseases, NTHi isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was 104.3 CFU, and from sputum cultures was 115.1 CFU, both of which were significantly higher in their adherence to A549 cells compared to the strains isolated from the healthy control group. There was no significant difference in adherence between the strains isolated from sputum cultures and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (t = 0.5217, p = 0.6033). Conclusion NTHi played an important role in childhood pulmonary infections by enhancing its adherence to lung epithelial cells.

Dense false target jamming generates a large number of false targets around the real target, leading to dual jamming effects of deception and suppression. This severely affects the target detection ability of the radar. Therefore, this study proposes a range-Doppler two-dimensional jamming reconstruction algorithm based on the interpulse code agile waveform to suppress dense false target jamming. Based on the range-gating characteristics of the interpulse code agile waveform, the jamming and target echo reconstruction in the range-Doppler domain is realized by alternate inversion. Reconstruction jamming is eliminated by the iterative cancellation method. First, the jamming and target echo are processed by constructing receiving filter banks with different range intervals. Second, a joint mismatched filter bank is used to make the range sidelobe structure of each pulse filter output approximately the same. This reduces the divergence energy along the Doppler dimension after the pulse Doppler processing of the interpulse code agile waveform. The filter matrix is then constructed using the energy distribution characteristics of the jamming and target echo in different range-Doppler regions. Finally, accurate jamming and target echo reconstruction are achieved by alternate inversion to suppress dense false target jamming. Simulation results demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed algorithm in terms of jamming suppression and running time compared with traditional algorithms. These procedures significantly improve the target detection capability of the radar in strong jamming scenarios.

Brain metastases are a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. However, progress in their treatment has been limited over the past decade, due to an incomplete understanding of the underlying biological mechanisms. Employing accurate in vitro and in vivo models to recapitulate the complexities of brain metastasis offers the most promising approach to unravel the intricate cellular and physiological processes involved. Here, we present a comprehensive review of the currently accessible models for studying brain metastasis. We introduce a diverse array of in vitro and in vivo models, including cultured cells using the Transwell system, organoids, microfluidic models, syngeneic models, xenograft models, and genetically engineered models. We have also provided a concise summary of the merits and limitations inherent to each model while identifying the optimal contexts for their effective utilization. This review serves as a comprehensive resource, aiding researchers in making well-informed decisions regarding model selection that align with specific research questions.

Abstract Background Indoor air pollution causes severe psychological stress and promotes depression. A better understanding of the impact of solid fuel consumption and socioeconomic indicators on mental health is critical to promote successful aging. In this study, we analyzed the relationship of depression with socioeconomic status (SES) and solid fuel use, and illustrated the mediating role of solid fuel use in the relationship between SES and depression. Methods 9250 participants from the 2018 wave of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey were included in this study. A logistic regression analysis was used to calculate odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of depression for different types of fuel consumption. The stepwise approach and the Sobel test were used to test the mediation effect. Results Older people who reported the consumption of solid fuels showed higher odds of having depressive symptoms (OR = 1.16, 95% CI:1.03, 1.31). In model with depression as the outcome variable, the ORs of low education level and low annual household income level were 1.30 (95% CI: 1.15, 1.47) and 1.43 (95% CI: 1.28, 1.59) respectively. Solid fuel consumption accounted for 38.40% of the effect of a low education level and 54.73% of the effect of low income on depression. Conclusions Solid fuel use and SES are associated with depression, and solid fuel use may act as a potential mediator connecting socioeconomic indicators and depression.

To address the difficulty faced by network security operation and maintenance personnel in timely and accurate identification of required data during network security event analysis, a recommendation algorithm based on a knowledge graph for network security events was proposed.The algorithm utilized the network threat framework ATT＆amp;CK to construct an ontology model and establish a network threat knowledge graph based on this model.It extracted relevant security data such as attack techniques, vulnerabilities, and defense measures into interconnected security knowledge within the knowledge graph.Entity data was extracted based on the knowledge graph, and entity vectors were obtained using the TransH algorithm.These entity vectors were then used to calculate data similarity between entities in network threat data.Disposal behaviors were extracted from literature on network security event handling and treated as network security data entities.A disposal behavior matrix was constructed, and the behavior matrix enabled the vector representation of network threat data.The similarity of network threat data entities was calculated based on disposal behaviors.Finally, the similarity between network threat data and threat data under network security event handling behavior was fused to generate a data recommendation list for network security events, which established correlations between network threat domains based on user behavior.Experimental results demonstrate that the algorithm performs optimally when the fusion weight α=7 and the recommended data volume K=5, achieving a recall rate of 62.37% and an accuracy rate of 68.23%.By incorporating disposition behavior similarity in addition to data similarity, the algorithm better represents factual disposition behavior.Compared to other algorithms, this algorithm exhibits significant advantages in recall rate and accuracy, particularly when the recommended data volume is less than 10.

Abstract Introduction Schatzker IV tibial plateau fractures usually have a worse prognosis due to their high variability and the accompanied bony and soft tissue injuries. This study aimed to introduce an injury mechanism-based new classification of Schatzker IV tibial plateau fractures and evaluate its reliability. Additionally, this study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of operative Schatzker IV tibial plateau fractures treated according to the surgical sequences determined by the new classification. Materials and methods A total of 63 cases of operative Schatzker IV tibial plateau fractures that were treated following the new surgical sequences were enrolled in our study. The CT images of these patients were reviewed and classified twice according to the new 3D classification by 4 independent observers. The reliability of the classification was calculated through kappa analysis. The classification-determined surgical sequence was evaluated by observing the postoperative efficacy during the follow-up. Results Both the intra-observer (the mean k = 0.897, CI 0.806–0.971) and inter-observer (the mean k = 0.883, CI 0.786–0.961) reliability of 3D-classification showed excellent agreement according to Landis and Koch. All the patients were followed up for 6–28 months (average 12.8 months). As for the evaluation of the postoperative efficacy, according to KSS, 53 cases were rated as excellent, 8 cases as good, and 2 cases as fair results. Conclusions The new proposed classification showed high intra-observer and inter-observer reliability in our study. The surgical sequence determined by the classification can help surgeons to acquire good reduction and rigid internal fixation. Therefore the new classification of Schatzker IV tibial plateau fractures and the derived surgical sequences are worthy of further popularization and application in clinical trials.

With the research on unmanned ships conducted by the International Maritime Organization, the European Union and China, the navigation risk of unmanned ships has become a hot topic around the world. Based on the research and development history and current situation of unmanned ships at home and abroad, focusing on the three key elements of “Unmanned Ship, shore-based control personnel, external navigation environment”, this study establishes a navigation risk index system for unmanned ships under complex navigation conditions, considering the particularity of the unmanned ship, its perception ability, environmental understanding, situation judgment, communication ability and other indicators. The analytic hierarchy process is used to solve the weight of all kinds of navigation risk factors, and a consistency test of the established index system is carried out. Through expert investigation, the fuzzy membership set of risk indexes is established, and a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model is established to evaluate the navigation risk of unmanned ships under complex navigation conditions. To avoid the situation of single-factor information being inundated, this study adopts the method of fuzzy comprehensive evaluation from a low level to a high level, and it verifies the algorithm through cases, which proves the validity and rationality of the proposed risk assessment method.

As the largest non-gravitational force, solar radiation pressure (SRP) causes significant errors in precise orbit determination (POD) of the BeiDou global navigation satellite system (BDS-3) medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellite. This is mainly due to the imperfect modeling of the satellite’s cuboid body. Since the BDS-3’s inter-satellite link (ISL) can enhance the orbit estimation of BDS-3 satellites, the aim of this study is to establish an a priori SRP model for the satellite body using 281-day ISL observations to reduce the systematic errors in the final orbits. The adjustable box wind (ABW) model is employed to refine the optical parameters for the satellite buses. The self-shadow effect caused by the search and rescue (SAR) antenna is considered. Satellite laser ranging (SLR), day-boundary discontinuity (DBD), and overlapping Allan deviation (OADEV) are utilized as indicators to assess the performance of the a priori model. With the a priori model developed by both ISL and ground observation, the slopes of SLR residual for the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) and Shanghai Engineering Center for Microsatellites (SECM) satellites decrease from −0.097 cm/deg and 0.067 cm/deg to −0.004 cm/deg and −0.009 cm/deg, respectively. The standard deviation decreased by 21.8% and 26.6%, respectively. There are slight enhancements in the average values of DBD and OADEV, and a reduced β-dependent variation is observed in the OADEV of the corresponding clock offset. We also found that considering the SAR antenna only slightly improves the orbit accuracy. These results demonstrate that an a priori model established for the BDS-3 MEO satellite body can reduce the systematic errors in orbits, and the parameters estimated using both ISL and ground observation are superior to those estimated using only ground observation.

Oscillating fins are devices designed to produce thrust through periodic undulating movements. However, these structures lack flexibility and often provide thrust in only one fixed direction. Observation and biological references suggest that the dorsal fin rays of seahorses can tilt longitudinally in the spine direction, changing the thrust direction. This study aims to analyze the dynamic effects of seahorse dorsal fin inclining and design a flexible bionic thruster based on this principle. Computational fluid dynamics analysis hypothesizes that fin inclination controls the net force direction in the vertical plane. A force sensor and pulley system test platform were constructed to examine the influences of wave features and the inclination angle on thrust in both vertical and horizontal directions, with discrete fin surfaces used to eliminate force interference. Force testing and snapshots indicate that wave velocity positively impacts net force magnitude, while fin inclination allows for control over force orientation. This tiltable oscillating fin thruster possesses more degrees of freedom, leading to better flexibility and providing controllable thrust orientation.

Abstract Complementary to the design of a single structurally complex chiral ligand to promote each step in transition‐metal catalysis, multiligand relay catalysis through dynamic ligand exchange with each step in the catalytic cycle promoted by its best ligand provides an attractive approach to enhance the whole reaction reactivity and selectivity. Herein, a regio‐ and enantioselective NiH‐catalyzed migratory hydroarylation process with a simple combination of a chain‐walking ligand and an asymmetric arylation ligand, producing high‐value chiral α‐(hetero)aryl‐substituted amines and their derivatives under mild conditions, is reported. The potential synthetic applications of this transformation are demonstrated by the concise synthesis of (S)‐nicotine and a CDK8 inhibitor.

Abstract This study explored the combined effects of vitamin B12 and fumarate supplementation on methane (CH4) emission and propionate synthesis in dairy cows through simulated rumen fermentation in vitro. The experimental animals were 3 cows with an average milk yield of 23 ± 2.8 kg/d, a body weight of 618 ± 100 kg, and a parity of 3 ± 1 that were selected as rumen fluid donors. The TMR diet fed to cows is a fermentation substrate. Experiments adopted 2 × 2 factorial design, including control group, vitamin group (1 mg/g DM vitamin B12), fumarate group (100 mg/g DM), and combined addition group (1 mg/g DM vitamin B12 and 100 mg/g DM). All treatments had no effect on the dry matter degradation (DMD). Both vitamin B12 and fumarate reduced CH4 emission, increased the propionate concentration, and reduced the acetate/propionate ratio without any observed interaction. Vitamin B12 made Prevotella and Prevotellaceae_ UCG‐003 increase in quantity, and fumarate increased the abundance of Succinivibrionaceae_UCG‐002 and Selenomonas, both of which are propionate‐producing bacteria. At the species level, the supplementation of vitamin B12 and fumarate slightly changed the abundance of some strains, but it was not statistically significant. Shifts in the abundance of propionate‐producing bacteria and methanogenic archaea species suggest an increase in propionate production and a decrease in CH4 emission. In conclusion, the addition of vitamin B12 and fumarate changed the fermentation mode of the rumen and reduced the emission of CH4 by affecting the structure of the rumen microbial community, but no obvious interaction was found between the two.

The dynamic replacement of soil organic carbon represents a pivotal mechanism through which water erosion modulates soil–atmosphere CO2 fluxes. However, the extent of this dynamic replacement of soil inorganic carbon within this process remains unclear. In our study, we focused on Yuanmou County, China, a prototypical region afflicted by water erosion, as our study area. We leveraged the WaTEM/SEDEM model to quantify the dynamic replacement of soil carbon, accounted for the average annual net change in soil carbon pools, and used isotope tracer techniques to track and measure the process of the coupled carbon–water cycling. This comprehensive approach enabled us to scrutinize the dynamic replacement of soil carbon under water erosion and delineate its ramifications for the carbon cycle. Our findings unveiled that the surface soil carbon reservoir in the Yuanmou area receives an annual replacement of 47,600 ± 12,600 tons following water erosion events. A substantial portion, amounting to 39,700 ± 10,500 tons, stems from the dynamic replacement of soil inorganic carbon facilitated by atmospheric carbon. These results underscore the critical role of the dynamic replacement of soil inorganic carbon in altering the soil–atmosphere CO2 fluxes under water erosion, thereby influencing the carbon cycle dynamics. Consequently, we advocate for the integration of water erosion processes into regional carbon sink assessments to attain a more comprehensive understanding of regional carbon dynamics.

Precast concrete structures are popular in the building industry because of their high efficiency and environmental friendliness. In this paper, the U-type reinforcement ferrule connection technique was applied to study the seismic performance of precast concrete shear walls. Five shear wall finite element models and four shear wall specimens were prepared. Both experiments and finite element analysis were conducted to explore the impact of parameters on the work performance of precast reinforced concrete shear walls, such as the variety of post-cast concrete, the form of horizontal joints, and the buckle length of U-type reinforcements. On this basis, the mechanism of failure as well as the characteristics of hysteresis, ductility, and energy dissipation capacity were analyzed. According to the analytical results, the cast in situ reinforced concrete shear wall is inferior to the precast shear wall with post-cast epoxy resin concrete in terms of seismic performance. In addition, the specimen with a keyway on the horizontal joint interface outperforms the specimen without a keyway. With an increase in the buckle length of the U-type reinforcement, there is a rise in the sectional height and stiffness of the hidden beam at the bottom of the wall, while the horizontal load-bearing capacity of the wall is improved. However, its ductility and energy dissipation capacity are decreased. As revealed by a thorough analysis, the construction scheme most suitable for precast shear wall horizontal joints adopts epoxy resin concrete as the post-cast material, the buckle length of U-type reinforcements is approximately one-third the height of the horizontal joint, and there is a keyway at the interface of the joint.

BackgroundCross-sectional evidence suggests that persistently short or long sleep duration is associated with sensory impairment. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the associations between sleep duration and altered sleep duration with sensory impairment in Chinese older adults.MethodsLongitudinal data (2008–2014) obtained through the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) were analyzed. Sleep duration was classified as normal (7–8 h), short (

In liver tumor surgery, the recognition of tumor margin and radical resection of microcancer focis have always been the crucial points to reduce postoperative recurrence of tumor. However, naked-eye inspection and palpation have limited effectiveness in identifying tumor boundaries, and traditional imaging techniques cannot consistently locate tumors in real time. As an intraoperative real-time navigation imaging method, NIR fluorescence imaging has been extensively studied for its simplicity, reliable safety, and superior sensitivity, and is expected to improve the accuracy of liver tumor surgery. In recent years, the research focus of NIR fluorescence has gradually shifted from the first near-infrared window (NIR-I, 700–900 nm) to the second near-infrared window (NIR-II, 1000–1700[Formula: see text]nm). Fluorescence imaging in NIR-II reduces the scattering effect of deep tissue, providing a preferable detection depth and spatial resolution while significantly eliminating liver autofluorescence background to clarify tumor margin. Developing fluorophores combined with tumor antibodies will further improve the precision of fluorescence-guided surgical navigation. With the development of a bunch of fluorophores with phototherapy ability, NIR-II can integrate tumor detection and treatment to explore a new therapeutic strategy for liver cancer. Here, we review the recent progress of NIR-II fluorescence technology in liver tumor surgery and discuss its challenges and potential development direction.

Tripartite-motif 56 (TRIM56) is a member of the TRIM family, and was shown to be an interferon-inducible E3 ubiquitin ligase that can be overexpressed upon stimulation with double-stranded DNA to regulate stimulator of interferon genes (STING) to produce type I interferon and thus mediate innate immune responses. Its role in tumors remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the expression of the TRIM56 gene and its prognostic value in pan-cancer, identifying TRIM56 expression as an adverse prognostic factor in glioma patients. Therefore, glioma was selected as the primary focus of our investigation. We explored the differential expression of TRIM56 in various glioma subtypes and verified its role as an independent prognostic factor in gliomas. Our research revealed that TRIM56 is associated with malignant biological behaviors in gliomas, such as proliferation, migration, and invasion. Additionally, it can mediate M2 polarization of macrophages in gliomas. The results were validated in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we utilized single-cell analysis to investigate the impact of TRIM56 expression on cell communication between glioma cells and non-tumor cells. We constructed a multi-gene signature based on cell markers of tumor cells with high TRIM56 expression to enhance the prediction of cancer patient prognosis. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that TRIM56 serves as a reliable immune-related prognostic biomarker in glioma.

BackgroundPCV13 introduction in China has led to a significant reduction of vaccine serotype Streptococcus pneumoniae. However, non-vaccine serotypes with highly resistance and invasiveness were often reported in the post-pneumococcal conjugate vaccine era and there was regional differences.MethodsA total of 669 S. pneumoniae strains were collected from the respiratory tracts of hospitalized children at Shenzhen Children’s Hospital in 2021 and 2022. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) characteristics were assessed through antibiotic susceptibility testing performed with the VITEK 2 compact system. AMR genes and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in pbp1a, pbp2b, and pbp2x were identified via analysis of whole genome sequencing data. Statistical examination of the data was conducted employing chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests.ResultsWe found that non-vaccine serotypes strains had accounted for 46.6% of all the pneumococcal isolated strains. The most common non-vaccine serotype is 23A, with a prevalence rate of 8.9%, followed by 15A (6.6%), 6E (5.7%), 34 (3.2%), and 15B (2.9%). The multidrug resistance rates (MDR) of vaccine serotypes were 19F (99.36%), 19A (100%), 23F (98.08%), 6B (100%), and 6C (100%). Meanwhile, the MDR of non-vaccine serotypes were 15B (100.00%), 6E (100%), 15C (100%), 34 (95.24%), and 23A (98.31%). Resistance rates of 6E to more than six antibiotic classes reached 89.47%, which is similar to 19F (83.33%) and 19A (90%). Unique resistance profiles were also identified for non-vaccine serotypes, including significantly higher resistance to chloramphenicol in 6E, 15B, and 15C than in 19F and 19A. Furthermore, through genome sequencing, we revealed strong correlation of cat-TC with chloramphenicol resistance, patA/patB with tetracycline resistance, ermB and pmrA with erythromycin resistance.ConclusionThe introduction of PCV13 into China from 2017 has led to a shift in the dominant composition of pneumococcal strains. There has been a notable rise and spread of multidrug-resistant non-vaccine serotypes among children. Specifically, the non-vaccine serotype 6E, which was not widely reported in China previously, has emerged. To comprehend the resistance mechanisms, it is crucial to further investigate the molecular and genetic characteristics of these non-vaccine serotypes.

Bisphenol A (BPA), as a kind of widely exerted environmental hazardous material, brings toxicity to both humans and animals. This study aimed to investigate the role of glutamine (Gln) in intestinal inflammation and microbiota in BPA-challenged piglets. Thirty-two piglets were randomly divided into four groups according to 2 factors including BPA (0 vs. 0.1%) and Gln (0 vs. 1%) supplemented in basal diet for a 42-day feeding experiment. The results showed BPA exposure impaired piglet growth, induced intestinal inflammation and disturbed microbiota balance. However, dietary Gln supplementation improved the growth performance, while decreasing serum pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in BPA-challenged piglets. In addition, Gln attenuated intestinal mucosal damage and inflammation by normalizing the activation of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-p38/MAPK-nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway caused by BPA. Moreover, dietary Gln supplementation decreased the abundance of Actinobacteriota and Proteobacteria, and attenuated the decreased abundance of Roseburia, Prevotella, Romboutsia and Phascolarctobacterium and the content of short-chain fatty acids in cecum contents caused by BPA exposure. Moreover, there exerted potential relevance between the gut microbiota and pro-inflammatory cytokines and cecal short-chain fatty acids. In conclusion, Gln is critical nutrition for attenuating BPA-induced intestinal inflammation, which is partially mediated by regulating microbial balance and suppressing the TLR4/p38 MAPK/NF-κB signaling.

Study region: The Taihu Lake is located at the downstream of the Yangtze River, China, which serves various functions such as regional flood control, drought resistance, and drinking water for many vital cities in China such as Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou. Since 1950 s, Taihu Lake has experienced three stages of anthropogenic management. Due to these managements, the natural hydrologic properties of Taihu Lake are gradually disappearing, and the Taihu Lake tends to become an artificially controlled lake. Study focus: To understand how anthropogenic activities have impacted the hydrological regime of Taihu Lake at different stages, this study has analyzed daily average water level of Taihu Lake for 70 years and daily average precipitation data of the Taihu Lake Basin for 60 years. And finally it reveals the natural and anthropogenic effects on trend, amplitude, period and extreme water level of Taihu Lake. New hydrological insights for the region: The multi-year average water level of Taihu Lake witnesses an increment of 0.23 m, and the contribution from anthropogenic activities account for 34.78%. The maximum decrements of frequency of extreme high and low water level drops by 29.55% and 7.69% recently due to anthropogenic activities. The anthropogenic activities on the hydrological regime in Taihu Lake has become increasingly pronounced, and these hydrological changes are beneficial for basin flood control and water resources.

By modifying the mass and stiffness parameters of a structure, a subset of its natural frequencies can be assigned. However, such an assignment is usually accompanied with changes of the remaining frequencies, known as ‘spillover’. Eigenvalue or frequency spillover often needs to be avoided in engineering. In this paper, a new and general method is proposed for assigning a subset of the natural frequencies of a structure with a low level of spillover through structural modifications. The method combines a multi-population genetic algorithm and a radial basis function neural network and is implemented in a MATLAB-PYTHON-ABAQUS data interaction system. It is suitable for theoretical models (for example, finite element models) of general structures. By means of three numerical examples, the ability of the method to assign subsets of frequencies to discrete and discretised continuous structures while maintaining low spillover is demonstrated.

Ratoon rice, the cultivation of a second crop from the stubble after the main harvest, is recognized as an eco-friendly and resource-saving method for rice production. Here, a field experiment was carried out in the Yangtze River region to investigate the impact of varying stubble heights on the grain quality of ratoon rice, as well as to compare the grain quality between the main and ratoon season. This study, which focused on 12 commonly cultivated rice varieties, conducted a comprehensive analysis assessing milling characteristics, appearance, and cooking quality. The results show that ratoon rice crops exhibited a higher milled rice rate and head rice rate compared to the main rice crops. Conversely, chalky rice percentage, chalkiness degree, and amylose content were lower in ratoon rice crops. Principal component analysis grouped eight relevant quality indicators of rice quality which were concentrated into three categories, with amylose content identified as the key indicator of rice quality for distinguishing between different stubble heights. Random forest results reveal a robust and significant correlation between appearance quality index and amylose content. Subordinate function analysis indicated that a stubble height of 30 cm resulted in optimal rice quality, with Lingliangyou 211 exhibiting the highest quality and Xiangzao Xian 32 the lowest. Overall, our study suggests that ratoon rice crops generally outperform main rice crops in terms of quality, with the optimal measurement at a stubble height of 30 cm. This study holds substantial importance for selecting appropriate stubble heights for ratoon rice crops and enhancing overall rice quality.

Improving the precision of aboveground biomass (AGB) estimation in lowland tropical forests is crucial to enhancing our understanding of carbon dynamics and formulating climate change mitigation strategies. This study proposes an AGB estimation method for lowland tropical forests in Xishuangbanna, which include various vegetation types, such as Pinus kesiya var. langbianensis, oak, Hevea brasiliensis, and other broadleaf trees. In this study, 2016 forest management inventory data are integrated with remote sensing variables from Landsat 8 OLI (L8) and Sentinel 2A (S2) imagery to estimate forest AGB. The forest age and aspect were utilized as stratified variables to construct the random forest (RF) models, which may improve the AGB estimation accuracy. The key findings are as follows: (1) through variable screening, elevation was identified as the main factor correlated with the AGB, with texture measures derived from a pixel window size of 7 × 7 perform best for AGB sensitivity, followed by 5 × 5, with 3 × 3 being the least effective. (2) A comparative analysis of imagery groups for the AGB estimation revealed that combining L8 and S2 imagery achieved superior performance over S2 imagery alone, which, in turn, surpassed the accuracy of L8 imagery. (3) Stratified models, which integrated aspect and age variables, consistently outperformed the unstratified models, offering a more refined fit for lowland tropical forest AGB estimation. (4) Among the analyzed forest types, the AGB of P. kesiya var. langbianensis forests was estimated with the highest accuracy, followed by H. brasiliensis, oak, and other broadleaf forests within the RF models. These findings highlight the importance of selecting appropriate variables and sensor combinations in addition to the potential of stratified modeling approaches to improve the precision of forest biomass estimation. Overall, incorporating stratification theory and multi-source data can enhance the AGB estimation accuracy in lowland tropical forests, thus offering crucial insights for refining forest management strategies.

During the process of establishing the analytical quaternion ship domain model, the impact of ship traffic conditions and navigator state was not taken into consideration. However, the significance of these factors in the ship domain cannot be ignored. To create a more realistic representation of changes in the ship domain in real navigation environments, this study further considers the influence of ship encounter course, waterway traffic intensity, relative ship velocity, and the navigator state based on the quaternion ship domain model. As a result, a new dynamic quaternion ship domain model is proposed. To assess the changes in the size and shape of the ship domain under various navigation environments, ship domain scaling and shape transformation functions are introduced. Specifically, this study focuses on analyzing the ship traffic near the Lao Tie Shan Waterway, simulating the size and shape changes of the ship domain during the navigation process in this area. The findings indicate that the size of the ship domain dynamically adjusts to the traffic conditions. Additionally, when the navigator state is excellent, the ship domain takes on an irregular diamond shape with the smallest area, whereas when the navigator state is poor, the shape approximates a rectangle with the largest area. Furthermore, the dynamic quaternion ship domain model proposed in this study is compared to the ship domain models put forth by Goodwin, Davis, and co-authors. The results demonstrate that the dynamic quaternion ship domain model is more compatible and suitable for open waters compared to the static quaternion ship domain model.

Summary: Dental implants make it possible to replace teeth in more sophisticated ways. Nevertheless, peri-implantitis is one of the leading causes of implant failure, which can be avoided with proper soft tissue sealing. The aim of this study was to achieve the promotion of the synthesis of peri-implant epithelial hemidesmosome through Histatin 1 and porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) hydrogel to form a good peri-implant seal. The results show that hydrogel can improve the biological barrier function around implants by combining antibacterial, promoting soft tissue healing and promoting epithelial bonding. This means that the morphology and anti-infection ability of soft tissue are enhanced, which ensures the long-term stability of the implant.SIS-Hst1 hydrogel has certain clinical application in the prevention and early treatment of peri-implantitis. In conclusion, Hst1-SIS hydrogel, as a local administration system, provides experimental evidence for the prevention of peri-implant disease.

IntroductionSupernumerary robotic limbs (SRL) is a novel category of wearable robotics. Unlike prostheses (compensation for human limbs) and exoskeletons (augmentation of human limbs), SRL focuses on expanding human limbs and enhancing human activities, perception, and operation through the mutual collaboration of mechanical limbs and human limbs. The SRL of lower limbs are attached to the human waist, synchronized with the human walking in the forward direction, and can carry weight independently in the vertical direction.MethodsIn order to enhance the synchronization performance of the human-machine system during walking and minimize interference with human gait, it is essential to investigate the coupling dynamics within the human-SRL system. To facilitate our research, this paper focuses on relatively ideal working conditions: level road surfaces, no additional weight-bearing on the SRL, and humans walking in a straight line without any turns. We build upon the passive dynamic walking theory and utilize the human-SRL system model established by MIT to develop a coupling system model. Through numerical simulations, we identify the optimal values for the stiffness and damping coefficients of the human-machine connection. Additionally, we have designed the wheel-legged SRL structure and constructed the SRL control system for experimental validation.ResultsIt is found that a better synchronization of the human-machine walking process can be achieved by configuring suitable spring and damping units in the human-machine connection part.DiscussionIn this study, we explored the concept of SRL and its potential benefits for enhancing human motion, conducting simulations and experiments based on the coupled dynamics of human-SRL systems. The results indicate that by equipping the human-machine connection component with suitable spring and damping units, synchronization during the walking process can be improved.

Tight sandstone gas in coal-bearing strata has become an important unconventional gas worldwide. This research aims at understanding the impacts of coal evolution on diagenesis and reservoir quality of sandstones by means of thin section, cathode luminescence (CL), scanning electron microscope (SEM), stable isotope analysis, and fluid inclusions. The results show that carbonate cement was the main type of cement developed in tight sandstone reservoirs, of which the carbonate ions were jointly provided by coal layers and reaction in adjacent mudstones. For sandstones close to coal layers, their carbonate ions were mainly controlled by coal evolution and there was various carbonate cement developed due to cations supplied by seawater and the intense dissolution of volcanic fragments and feldspars. Combined with coal thermal simulation and burial history, it implies that at different maturity stages of coal evolution, its impact on sandstone diagenesis was different. In the early stage, the main product was CO 2 , which caused the dissolution of early calcite and promoted intense compaction. In the mature stage, CO 2 and other hydrocarbon gases were released, resulting in more dissolution and silica cementation. In the over-mature stage, the main product was methane, and CO 2 that did not spill out preserved by forming carbonate cement. The coal evolution had a strong impact on the reservoir quality of sandstone with large grain sizes, but little effect on medium- and fine-grained sandstones. High porosity and low permeability reservoirs were usually formed in small conglomerates and coarse-grained sandstones away from coal layers. While low porosity and high permeability reservoirs were distributed close to coal layers. This study aids in understanding the formation mechanism of tight sandstone reservoirs in coal measures and provides theoretic support for further exploration.

Abstract. Introduction/Objective:. Acute pain episodes are a major cause of health care utilization (HCU) in sickle cell disease (SCD), and adolescence is associated with increased pain frequency. We sought to determine whether there were differences in acute pain trajectories by sex and frequency of pain episodes among adolescents with SCD who presented to the emergency department (ED). Methods:. Retrospective review of electronic health records from a large, multicampus, pediatric SCD program. Results:. Of the 113 adolescents included, the mean age was 16.6 (SD 0.9), 41.6% (n = 47) were female, 77.9% (n = 88) had HbSS or a similarly severe genotype, and 43.4% (n = 49) had ≥3 episodes of HCU for pain, which we defined as having history of high HCU for pain. Those with a history of high HCU for pain had higher mean pain intensity scores at presentation, were more likely to receive either intravenous or intranasal opioids, and were more likely to be hospitalized. In a model considering the 3-way interaction between sex, history of high HCU for pain, and follow-up time from the initial pain intensity score, adjusted for opioid per kilogram body weight, and prescription of hydroxyurea, adolescent female patients with high HCU for pain had the slowest decline in pain intensity during treatment for acute pain in the ED. Conclusion:. Sex and history of high HCU for pain are associated with acute pain trajectories in adolescents with SCD presenting to the ED. These novel findings should be confirmed in future prospective studies.

Introduction: Chronic relapsing ulcerative colitis (CRUC) is classified as an inflammatory bowel disease, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been recognized for its therapeutic benefits in treating CRUC. According to TCM principles, the prevailing syndromes in CRUC are yang deficiency and dampness stagnation (YDDS). The objective of this study is to establish a novel animal model of CRUC exhibiting the YDDS syndrome. Methods: Initially, the rats were administered hydrocortisone succinate sodium through subcutaneous injection, followed by the administration of senna folium granule solution. Subsequently, the rats underwent three cycles of dextran sulfate sodium solution ingestion. Results: Upon completion of the modeling process, it was observed that the disease activity index, colonic mucosal damage index score, colon weight/length ratio, colonic histopathology score, and tissue damage index scores of the model rats were elevated, while the colon length and spleen index exhibited a decrease compared to the control group. The pathological alterations in the model rats included the presence of shallow or deep ulcers and acute or chronic inflammation throughout the process of CRUC modeling. Additionally, our findings indicate a correlation between the proximity of the ulcer to the anal verge, the severity of the lesion, and the presence of precancerous glands, glandular disappearance, crypt abscesses, and tissue destruction. Furthermore, the expression levels of IL6, IL10, IFNG, and TNFA in the colon tissues were significantly elevated in the model rats compared to the control group. Notably, the end-stage lesions observed in CRUC exhibited greater severity when compared to those observed in cases of acute ulcerative colitis. Discussion: In conclusion, we have successfully developed a rat model of CRUC with YDDS syndrome, which can be utilized to investigate the effectiveness and underlying mechanisms of TCM in treating CRUC.

Abstract Therapy resistance remains a huge challenge for current breast cancer treatments. Exploring molecular mechanisms of therapy resistance might provide therapeutic targets for patients with advanced breast cancer and improve their prognosis. RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play an important role in regulating therapy resistance. Here we summarize the functions of RBPs, highlight their tremendously important roles in regulating therapy sensitivity and resistance and we also reveal current therapeutic approaches reversing abnormal functions of RBPs in breast cancer.

ABSTRACT: The compound 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP) is a promising methane inhibitor, which performs well in inhibiting methane emission and does not affect animal feed intake and digestibility. However, it causes a significant increase in hydrogen production while suppressing methane emission, resulting in a waste of feed energy. Vitamin B12 is a key factor in the propionate production pathway and thus plays an important role in regulating the hydrogen utilization pathway. In this study, the effects of 3-NOP combined with vitamin B12 supplementation on rumen fermentation and microbial compositional structure in dairy cattle were investigated by simulating rumen fermentation in vitro. Experiments were performed using a 2 × 2-factorial design: two 3-NOP levels (0 or 2 mg/g dry matter) and 2 vitamin B12 levels (0 or 2 mg/g dry matter). Three experiments were performed, each consisting of 4 treatments, 4 replicates, and 4 blanks containing only inoculum. The combined supplementation of 3-NOP and vitamin B12 reduced methane emission by 12% without affecting dry matter digestibility. The combined addition of 3-NOP and vitamin B12 significantly increased the concentration of propionate and reduced the concentration of acetate and the acetate to propionate ratio. At the bacterial level, 3-NOP increased the relative abundances of Christensenellaceae_R-7_group and Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20_group. Vitamin B12 increased the relative abundances of unclassified_f__Prevotellaceae and Prevotellaceae_UCG-003 and decreased the relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20_group. At the archaeal level, the combination of 3-NOP and vitamin B12 increased the relative abundances of Methanobrevibacter_ sp._ Abm4, OTU1125, and OTU95 and decreased the relative abundances of uncultured_methanogenic_archaeon_g__Methanobrevibacter, OTU1147, OTU1056, and OTU55. The results indicated that 3-NOP combined with vitamin B12 could alleviate rumen hydrogen emission and enhance the inhibition of methane emission compared with 3-NOP alone.