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The intervertebral disk (IVD) is the largest avascular structure in the human body. Transport of small molecules in IVD is mainly through diffusion from the endplates and the peripheral blood vessels surrounding IVD. Studies have investigated the structure, chemical components, and water content in IVD, but to our knowledge no study has investigated the effect of mechanical loading on oxygen transport in IVD. The objective of this study was to determine the strain-dependent behavior of oxygen diffusivity in IVD tissue. A one-dimensional steady-state diffusion experiment was designed and performed to determine the oxygen diffusivity in bovine annulus fibrosus (AF). The oxygen diffusivity was calculated using equation derived from Fick's law. A total of 20 AF specimens (d =6 mm, h~0.5 mm) from bovine coccygeal IVD were used to determine oxygen diffusivity at three levels of compressive strain. The average oxygen diffusivity (mean [+ or -] SD) of bovine AF in the axial direction was 1.43 [+ or -] 0.242 x [10.sup.-5] [cm.sup.2]/s (n=20) at 4.68 [+ or -] 1.67% compressive strain level, 1.05 [+ or -] 0.282 x [10.sup.-5] [cm.sup.2]/s (n=20) at 14.2 [+ or -] 1.50% strain level and 7.71 [+ or -] 1.63 x [10.sup.-6] [cm.sup.2]/s (n = 20) at 23.7 [+ or -] 1.34% strain level. There was a significant decrease in oxygen diffusivity with increasing level of compressive strain (ANOVA, p [DOI: 10.1115/1.3127254] Keywords: compression, nutrition, transport, intervertebral disk, diffusion coefficient, spine

In the present study a 1-D dynamic permeation of a monovalent electrolyte solution through a negatively charged-hydrated cartilaginous tissue is analyzed using the mechano-electrochemical theory developed by Lai et al. (1991) as the constitutive model for the tissue. The spatial distributions of stress, strain, fluid pressure, ion concentrations, electrical potential ion and fluid fluxes within and across the tissue have been calculated. The dependencies of these mechanical, electrical and physicochemical responses on the tissue fixed charge density, with specified modulus, permeability diffusion coefficients, and frequency and magnitude of pressure differential are determined. The results demonstrate that these mechanical, electrical and physicochemical fields within the tissue are intrinsically and nonlinearly coupled, and they all vary with time and depth within the tissue.

This paper describes a new apparatus and method for measuring swelling dependent electrical conductivity of charged hydrated soft tissues. The apparatus was calibrated using a conductivity standard. Swelling dependent specific conductivity of porcine annulus fibrosis (AF) samples was determined. The conductivity values for porcine AF were similar to those for human and bovine articular cartilage found in the literature. Results revealed a significant linear correlation between specific conductivity and water content for porcine AF tissues tested in phosphate buffered saline (PBS). [DOI: 10.1115/1.1516571]

A new mixture theory was developed to model the mechano-electrochemical behaviors of charged-hydrated soft tissues containing multi-electrolytes. The mixture is composed of n + 2 constituents (1 charged solid phase, 1 noncharged solvent phase, and n ion species). Results from this theory show that three types of force are involved in the transport of ions and solvent through such materials: (1) a mechanochemical force (including hydraulic and osmotic pressures); (2) an electrochemical force; and (3) an electrical force. Our results also show that three types of material coefficients are required to characterize the transport rates of these ions and solvent: (1) a hydraulic permeability; (2) mechano-electrochemical coupling coefficients; and (3) an ionic conductance matrix. Specifically, we derived the fundamental governing relationships between these forces and material coefficients to describe such mechano-electrochemical transduction effects as streaming potential, streaming current, diffusion (membrane) potential, electro-osmosis, and anomalous (negative) osmosis. As an example, we showed that the well-known formula for the resting cell membrane potential (Hodgkin and Huxley, 1952a, b) could be derived using our new n + 2 mixture model (a generalized triphasic theory). In general, the n + 2 mixture theory is consistent with and subsumes all previous theories pertaining to specific aspects of charged-hydrated tissues. In addition, our results provided the stress, strain, and fluid velocity fields within a tissue of finite thickness during a one-dimensional steady diffusion process. Numerical results were provided for the exchange of [Na.sup.+] and [Ca.sup.++] through the tissue. These numerical results support our hypothesis that tissue fixed charge density ([c.sup.F]) plays a significant role in modulating kinetics of ions and solvent transport through charged-hydrated soft tissues.

To overcome the shortcomings existing in the roller drafting system of air jet spinning, a set of combing roller-drafting system has been introduced to substitute the roller drafting system in air jet spinning. Moreover, a funnel-shaped fibre conveyer, a disc fibre collector and a swirl twister have been designed to accomplish the spinning process, which was named disc swirl spinning. Experimental spinning proves that combing roller drafting device wears little. Its remarkable advantage lies in the high efficiency of drafting. The rotational speed of jet stream in nozzle can be well utilized, which promises a high productivity. The relationship between the drafting process parameters of disc swirl spinning and yarn properties, such as tenacity and peeling-off-resistance, has been investigated and the data suggest that yarn properties keep stable when combing roller speed is 6000-7000 rpm, feeding quantity is 1.695-2 g/min, sliver linear density is 2-2.58 g/m, feeding tension is 0.012 N and the unwinding tension of the core filaments is 0.06 N. Furthermore, the appearance of disc swirl spun yarn is compared with that of air jet spun yarn. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) photos show that yarn structure of disc swirl spun yarn is similar to that of air jet spun yarn. The core is bound by the outer fibres and it is nearly parallel and no twist. However, the outer fibres of disc swirl spun yarn cover yarn body totally, which is different with that of air jet spun yarn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coordinated development of the water–food–ecology (WFE) nexus is a practical issue that has to be addressed urgently for northwest China's (WTL) sustainable development. Optimizing the linkage relationship and accomplishing the rational distribution of resources from the perspective of the supply and demand for ecosystem services (ESSD) are imperative. Thus, in this study, a numerical indicator system for ESSD from the perspective of the WFE nexus was constructed with the incorporation of the water and carbon footprint. Based on this premise, the ecological management zoning method was enhanced by integrating supply and demand risks, and optimization suggestions were proposed for various zones. The results showed that (1) carbon sequestration (CS), food production (FP), and water yield (WY) supply and demand significantly increased between 2000 and 2021. High ESSDs were concentrated in the west side of northwest China. Maize, wheat, cotton, vegetables, and garden fruits had a higher demand for ecosystem services (ESs). (2) The three ESSDs were bound in a synergistic relationship. The synergy between supply exhibited significant spatial heterogeneity, while the synergies between demand showed similar distribution patterns. (3) Regarding quantity matching, the supply for FP and CS surpassed demand, while the WY supply could not meet the demand. The three ESs' supply and demand deficits rose. Ecological supply–demand ratio (ESDR) regional differentiation for the three ESs was apparent. Regarding spatial matching, FP and CS concentrated on low supply–low demand, while WY focused on high supply–high demand. FP risk was concentrated in Qaidam Basin, whereas WY risk was mostly in Hexi inland river basin (HX), the Yellow River Basin area (HH), and both sides of the "Qice line". (4) The ecological management zones were formed by integrating WTL's three dominant weak functional zones, four categorized strategy regions, and four governance models. This study can serve as a scientific benchmark for regional ecological management, which is significant in ensuring northwest China's water, food, and ecological safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of terrestrial- and satellite-based quantum key distribution (QKD) experiments has markedly advanced global-scale quantum networks, showcasing the growing maturity of quantum technologies. Notably, the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as relay nodes has emerged as a promising method to overcome the inherent limitations of fiber-based and low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite connections. This paper introduces a protocol for measurement-device-independent QKD (MDI-QKD) using photon orbital angular momentum (OAM) encoding, with UAVs as relay platforms. Leveraging UAV mobility, the protocol establishes a secure and efficient link, mitigating threats from untrusted UAVs. Photon OAM encoding addresses reference frame alignment issues exacerbated by UAV jitter. A comprehensive analysis of atmospheric turbulence, state-dependent diffraction (SDD), weather visibility, and pointing errors on free-space OAM-state transmission systems was conducted. This analysis elucidates the relationship between the key generation rate and propagation distance for the proposed protocol. Results indicate that considering SDD significantly decreases the key rate, halving previous data results. Furthermore, the study identifies a maximum channel loss capacity of 26 dB for the UAV relay platform. This result is pivotal in setting realistic parameters for the deployment of UAV-based quantum communications and lays the foundation for practical implementation strategies in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous variable measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (CV-MDI-QKD) removes all known or unknown side-channel attacks on detectors. However, it is difficult to fully implement assumptions in the security demonstration model, which leads to potential security vulnerabilities inevitably existing in the practical system. In this paper, we explore the impact of imbalanced modulation at transmitters on the security of the CV-MDI-QKD system mainly using a coherent state and squeezed state under symmetric and asymmetric distances. Assuming two different modulation topologies of senders, we propose a generalized theoretical scheme and evaluate the key parameter achievable of the protocol with the mechanism of imbalanced modulation. The presented results show that imbalanced modulation can achieve a relatively nonlinearly higher secret key rate and transmission distances than the previous protocol which is the balanced modulation variance used by transmitters. The advantage of imbalanced modulation is demonstrated for the system key parameter estimation using numerical simulation under different situations. In addition, the consequences indicate the importance of imbalanced modulation on the performance of CV-MDI-QKD protocol and provide a theoretical framework for experimental implementation as well as the optimal modulated mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the development of the mixture theory in modeling the mechano-electrochemical behaviors of charged-hydrated soft tissues which contains multi-electrolytes. What the mixture is composed of; Reference to the definition of the passive transport of electrolyte solution; Information on the provided numerical results.

Cartilage degeneration is a characteristic of osteoarthritis (OA), which is often observed in aging populations. This degeneration is due to the breakdown of articular cartilage (AC) mechanical and tribological properties primarily attributed to lubrication failure. Understanding the reasons behind these failures and identifying potential solutions could have significant economic and societal implications, ultimately enhancing quality of life. This review provides an overview of developments in the field of AC, focusing on its mechanical and tribological properties. The emphasis is on the role of lubrication in degraded AC, offering insights into its structure and function relationship. Further, it explores the fundamental connection between AC mechano-tribological properties and the advancement of its degradation and puts forth recommendations for strategies to boost its lubrication efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese pearleaf crabapple tree, belonging to the Rosaceae family and with the scientific name Malus asiatica, bears fruits that serve as both food and medicine. The Horqin Right Wing Front Banner is a critical node for ecological security in the northern border regions of China, exerting significant influence on ecological health in China. Additionally, the resources in this region are limited, and residents have historically relied solely on maize cultivation for sustenance. Therefore, local measures combining ecological conservation and economic development have been implemented in vigorously promoting the Chinese pearleaf crabapple industry. Hence, it is necessary to study the ecological suitability of the local Chinese pearleaf crabapple. In this study, 15 evaluation indicators are employed for this purpose, with the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) used to calculate single-factor weights. Additionally, GIS is utilized to establish membership functions for achieving dimensionless evaluation indicators, as well as a weighted index and model used to compute comprehensive suitability scores. Using the natural breakpoint method, the overall scores were categorized into five groups: most suitable, more suitable, barely suitable, unsuitable, and not applicable. The validation of zoning results includes verification of existing planting locations and conducting principal component analysis of the characteristics and yield of Chinese pearleaf crabapple to ensure the accuracy of the zoning. It is found that the validation results are generally consistent with the zoning results. The results indicate that the most suitable, more suitable, suitable, barely suitable, and unsuitable represent 16.49%, 32.07%, 30.36%, 14.52%, and 6.55% of the total zoning area, respectively. These findings can be applied to land use planning and in expanding the planting area of Chinese pearleaf crabapple. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of cell-based biomaterial alternatives holds significant promise in tissue engineering applications, but it requires accurate mechanical assessment. Herein, we present the development of a novel 3D-printed confined compression apparatus, fabricated using clear resin, designed to cater to the unique demands of biomaterial developers. Our objective was to enhance the precision of force measurements and improve sample visibility during compression testing. We compared the performance of our innovative 3D-printed confined compression setup to a conventional setup by performing stress relaxation testing on hydrogels with variable degrees of crosslinking. We assessed equilibrium force, aggregate modulus, and peak force. This study demonstrates that our revised setup can capture a larger range of force values while simultaneously improving accuracy. We were able to detect significant differences in force and aggregate modulus measurements of hydrogels with variable degrees of crosslinking using our revised setup, whereas these were indistinguishable with the convectional apparatus. Further, by incorporating a clear resin in the fabrication of the compression chamber, we improved sample visibility, thus enabling real-time monitoring and informed assessment of biomaterial behavior under compressive testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Alpha navigation system is the only operating radio system based on very-low-frequency (VLF) signals that can be used to research VLF navigation, timing, and ionospheric characteristics. The detection of the Alpha navigation signal is the key step in the Alpha receiver; however, the received Alpha navigation signal is susceptible to noise and mutual interference, which deteriorates signal detection performance. This paper presents a multichannel orthogonal correlation method for Alpha navigation signal detection. Once the three frequency signals of the Alpha navigation system are obtained using a notch filter, station identification is realized using a multichannel orthogonal correlation method and signal format. The selection of key parameters and the detection performance under noise and mutual interference are analyzed. This method's detection probability exceeds 90% when the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is greater than −10 dB. The influence of mutual interference on the signal correlation peak is less than 1% when the signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) of the mutual interference is greater than −28 dB. The proposed method is verified using an actual signal collected using an Alpha receiver. The results show that an Alpha signal can be detected at an extremely low SNR. This method has strong practicability and satisfies the application requirements of an Alpha receiver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumers are concerned about employing green processing technologies and natural ingredients in different manufacturing sectors to achieve a "clean label" standard for products and minimize the hazardous impact of chemical ingredients on human health and the environment. In this study, we investigated the effects of gelatinized starch dispersions (GSDs) prepared from six plant sources (indica and japonica rice, wheat, corn, potatoes, and sweet potatoes) on the formulation and stability of oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions. The effect of gelatinization temperature and time conditions of 85–90 °C for 20 min on the interfacial tension of the two phases was observed. Emulsification was performed using a primary homogenization condition of 10,000 rpm for 5 min, followed by high-pressure homogenization at 100 MPa for five cycles. The effects of higher oil weight fractions (15–25% w/w) and storage stability at different temperatures for four weeks were also evaluated. The interfacial tension of all starch GSDs with soybean oil decreased compared with the interfacial tension between soybean oil and water as a control. The largest interfacial tension reduction was observed for the GSD from indica rice. Microstructural analysis indicated that the GSDs stabilized the O/W emulsion by coating oil droplets. Emulsions formulated using a GSD from indica rice were stable during four weeks of storage with a volume mean diameter (d4,3) of ~1 µm, minimal viscosity change, and a negative ζ-potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The damping system ensured by the osteochondral (OC) unit is essential to deploy the forces generated within load-bearing joints during locomotion, allowing furthermore low-friction sliding motion between bone segments. The OC unit is a multi-layer structure including articular cartilage, as well as subchondral and trabecular bone. The interplay between the OC tissues is essential in maintaining the joint functionality; altered loading patterns can trigger biological processes that could lead to degenerative joint diseases like osteoarthritis. Currently, no effective treatments are available to avoid degeneration beyond tissues' recovery capabilities. A thorough comprehension on the mechanical behaviour of the OC unit is essential to (i) soundly elucidate its overall response to intra-articular loads for developing diagnostic tools capable of detecting non-physiological strain levels, (ii) properly evaluate the efficacy of innovative treatments in restoring physiological strain levels, and (iii) optimize regenerative medicine approaches as potential and less-invasive alternatives to arthroplasty when irreversible damage has occurred. Therefore, the leading aim of this review was to provide an overview of the state-of-the-art—up to 2022—about the mechanical behaviour of the OC unit. A systematic search is performed, according to PRISMA standards, by focusing on studies that experimentally assess the human lower-limb joints' OC tissues. A multi-criteria decision-making method is proposed to quantitatively evaluate eligible studies, in order to highlight only the insights retrieved through sound and robust approaches. This review revealed that studies on human lower limbs are focusing on the knee and articular cartilage, while hip and trabecular bone studies are declining, and the ankle and subchondral bone are poorly investigated. Compression and indentation are the most common experimental techniques studying the mechanical behaviour of the OC tissues, with indentation also being able to provide information at the micro- and nanoscales. While a certain comparability among studies was highlighted, none of the identified testing protocols are currently recognised as standard for any of the OC tissues. The fibril-network-reinforced poro-viscoelastic constitutive model has become common for describing the response of the articular cartilage, while the models describing the mechanical behaviour of mineralised tissues are usually simpler (i.e., linear elastic, elasto-plastic). Most advanced studies have tested and modelled multiple tissues of the same OC unit but have done so individually rather than through integrated approaches. Therefore, efforts should be made in simultaneously evaluating the comprehensive response of the OC unit to intra-articular loads and the interplay between the OC tissues. In this regard, a multidisciplinary approach combining complementary techniques, e.g., full-field imaging, mechanical testing, and computational approaches, should be implemented and validated. Furthermore, the next challenge entails transferring this assessment to a non-invasive approach, allowing its application in vivo, in order to increase its diagnostic and prognostic potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a major cause of lower back pain. The pathophysiological development of IDD is closely related to the stimulation of various stressors, including proinflammatory cytokines, abnormal mechanical stress, oxidative stress, metabolic abnormalities, and DNA damage, among others. These factors prevent normal intervertebral disc (IVD) development, reduce the number of IVD cells, and induce senescence and apoptosis. Stress-activated protein kinases (SAPKs), particularly, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), control cell signaling in response to cellular stress. Previous studies have shown that these proteins are highly expressed in degenerated IVD tissues and are involved in complex biological signal-regulated processes. Therefore, we summarize the research reports on IDD related to JNK and p38 MAPK. Their structure, function, and signal regulation mechanisms are comprehensively and systematically described and potential therapeutic targets are proposed. This work could provide a reference for future research and help improve molecular therapeutic strategies for IDD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Litostrophus scaber, which is the first mitogenome of the genus Litostrophus. The mitogenome is a circular molecule with a length of 15,081 bp. The proportion of adenine and thymine (A + T) was 69.25%. The gene ND4L used TGA as the initiation codon, while the other PCGs utilized ATN (A, T, G, C) as the initiation codons. More than half of the PCGs used T as an incomplete termination codon. The transcription direction of the L. scaber mitogenome matched Spirobolus bungii, in contrast to most millipedes. Novel rearrangements were found in the L. scaber mitogenome: trnQ -trnC and trnL1- trnP underwent short-distance translocations and the gene block rrnS-rrnL-ND1 moved to a position between ND4 and ND5, resulting in the formation of a novel gene order. The phylogenetic analysis showed that L. scaber is most closely related to S. bungii, followed by Narceus magnum. These findings enhance our understanding of the rearrangement and evolution of Diplopoda mitogenomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus (PEDV) is one of the main pathogens causing diarrhea in piglets and fattening pigs. The clinical signs of PED are vomiting, acute diarrhea, dehydration, and mortality resulting in significant economic losses and becoming a major challenge in the pig industry. PEDV possesses various crucial structural and functional proteins, which play important roles in viral structure, infection, replication, assembly, and release, as well as in escaping host innate immunity. Over the past few years, there has been progress in the study of PEDV pathogenesis, revealing the crucial role of the interaction between PEDV viral proteins and host cytokines in PEDV infection. At present, the main control measure against PEDV is vaccine immunization of sows, but the protective effect for emerging virus strains is still insufficient, and there is no ideal safe and efficient vaccine. Although scientists have persistently delved their research into the intricate structure and functionalities of the PEDV genome and viral proteins for years, the pathogenic mechanism of PEDV remains incompletely elucidated. Here, we focus on reviewing the research progress of PEDV structural and nonstructural proteins to facilitate the understanding of biological processes such as PEDV infection and pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) has shown large-scale global spread since its discovery in Hong Kong in 2012. In this study, a total of 4897 diarrheal fecal samples were collected from the Guangxi province of China from 2020 to 2023 and tested using RT-qPCR. In total, 362 (362/4897, 7.39%) of samples were positive for PDCoV. The S, M, and N gene sequences were obtained from 34 positive samples after amplification and sequencing. These PDCoV gene sequences, together with other PDCoV S gene reference sequences from China and other countries, were analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Chinese PDCoV strains have diverged in recent years. Bayesian analysis revealed that the new China 1.3 lineage began to diverge in 2012. Comparing the amino acids of the China 1.3 lineage with those of other lineages, the China 1.3 lineage showed variations of mutations, deletions, and insertions, and some variations demonstrated the same as or similar to those of the China 1.2 lineage. In addition, recombination analysis revealed interlineage recombination in CHGX-MT505459-2019 and CHGX-MT505449-2017 strains from Guangxi province. In summary, the results provide new information on the prevalence and evolution of PDCoV in Guangxi province in southern China, which will facilitate better comprehension and prevention of PDCoV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Since 2010, the highly pathogenic variants of PEDV have spread widely around the world, posing a huge threat to the pig industry. The lack of an efficient vaccine at present makes it challenging to prevent PEDV from spreading throughout China. In this review, we outline the etiology, epidemiology, and antigenicity of PEDV and propose control strategies. We hope to provide basic information for an understanding of PEDV etiology and the formulation of effective control measures. Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is a porcine enteric coronavirus, which is one of the main causative agents of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED), with 100% morbidity and 80–100% mortality in neonatal piglets. Since 2010, large-scale PED caused by highly pathogenic variants of PEDV has occurred successively in China and other countries in the world, posing a great threat to the global pig industry. It has been demonstrated in many investigations that the classic attenuated vaccine strain, PEDV CV777, is insufficient to fully protect against the PEDV variants. Moreover, the maternally derived antibodies elicited by inactivated vaccines also cannot completely protect piglets from infection. In addition, feedback feeding poses a risk of periodic PEDV recurrence in pig farms, making it challenging to successfully limit the spread of PEDV in China. This review focuses on the etiology, epidemiology, antigenicity, and control strategies of PEDV in China and provides information for the formulation of effective control measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to investigate the spatiotemporal variation of annual precipitation and extreme precipitation within the Songhua River Basin (SRB). It utilized precipitation data collected from 60 meteorological stations within the SRB during the period 1968–2019. Employing Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analysis, it decomposed spatiotemporal characteristics of annual precipitation in the SRB. Through Pearson correlation analysis, application of the cross-wavelet transform, and wavelet coherence analysis, the current study explored the correlation between geographical factors, local air temperature, circulation factors, and annual and extreme precipitation. The results indicated an increasing trend for annual precipitation and for most indices of extreme precipitation within the SRB, apart from the consecutive dry days (CDD). Spatially, a general pattern of "more in the east and less in the west" was observed. Annual precipitation types in the basin were resolved into two modes with the first mode showing a general tendency of more (or less) precipitation over the entire basin, while the second mode exhibited less (or more) precipitation in the western areas and more (or less) in the eastern areas. Longitude, latitude, and altitude significantly impacted annual precipitation and extreme precipitation. Local air temperature notably affected the consecutive wet days (CWD). The West Pacific Subtropical High (WPSH) exerts a strong influence on the annual precipitation and extreme precipitation within the basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child maltreatment (CM) is a major global public health issue, and a strong association exists between CM and aggression. However, the underlying mechanism of this association has not been understood to date. The objective of this study was to explore the mediating role of irritability in the association between CM and aggression in Chinese early adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-report questionnaire to evaluate the levels of CM, aggression, and irritability in 5,724 middle school students from the Anhui Province, China. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesis of the mediating effect of irritability on the relationship between CM and aggression. We further investigated gender differences in this association using multiple group analyses. CM was positively related to both irritability and aggression, and irritability was positively associated with aggression (p <.01). The mediating effects of irritability between CM and aggression were significant (β =.107, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.077–0.133, p <.05). Males had a higher indirect effect size of the pathway from CM to aggression via irritability compared with females. Overall, irritability was a crucial mediator in the relationship between CM and aggression in Chinese adolescents, and males were more prone to engage in aggression compared with females through the pathway of irritability. Therefore, early irritability characteristics should be carefully monitored in adolescents, and they should be provided adequate support to acquire critical emotion regulation skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using agricultural and forestry wastes as raw materials, adsorbent materials were prepared for dye adsorption in wastewater, which can minimize the environmental load and fully realize sustainability by treating waste with waste. Taking lignosulfonate as a raw material, due to its molecular structure having more reactive groups, it is easy to form composite materials via a chemical oxidation reaction with an aniline monomer. After that, using a sodium lignosulfonate/polyaniline composite as the precursor, the activated high-temperature pyrolysis process is used to prepare porous carbon materials with controllable morphology, structure, oxygen, sulfur, and nitrogen content, which opens up a new way for the preparation of functional carbon materials. When the prepared O-N-S co-doped activated carbon materials (SNC) were used as adsorbents, the adsorption study of cationic dye methylene blue was carried out, and the removal rate of SNC could reach up to 99.53% in a methylene blue solution with an initial concentration of 100 mg/L, which was much higher than that of undoped lignocellulosic carbon materials, and the kinetic model conformed to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The adsorption equilibrium amount of NC (lignosulfonate-free) and SNC reached 478.30 mg/g and 509.00 mg/g, respectively, at an initial concentration of 500 mg/L, which was consistent with the Langmuir adsorption isothermal model, and the adsorption of methylene blue on the surface of the carbon material was a monomolecular layer. The adsorption of methylene blue dye on the carbon-based adsorbent was confirmed to be a spontaneous and feasible adsorption process by thermodynamic parameters. Finally, the adsorption of SNC on methylene blue, rhodamine B, Congo red, and methyl orange dyes were compared, and it was found that the material adsorbed cationic dyes better. Furthermore, we also studied the adsorption of SNC on different kinds of heavy metal ions and found that its adsorption selectivity is better for Cr3+ and Pb2+ ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the antifungal properties of Agaricus blazei Murrill, a valuable medicinal and edible fungus. Six compounds (1–6) were first isolated from A. blazei using various isolation techniques and identified using spectroscopic methods. These compounds include linoleic acid, 1,1′-oxybis(2,4-di-tert-butylbenzene), glycerol monolinoleate, volemolide (17R)-17-methylincisterol, (24s)-ergosta-7-en-3-ol, and dibutyl phthalate. This study also assesses the antifungal activities of these compounds against Trichophyton mentagrophology, Trichophyton rubrum, Candida albicans, and Cryptococcus neoformans. The results demonstrate varied sensitivities against these pathogenic fungi, with compound 2 showing significant inhibition against T. mentagrophology, compound 3 showing significant inhibition against T. rubrum, and compound 6 showing significant inhibition against C. albicans. This study underscores the medicinal potential of A. blazei as an antifungal agent and sheds light on its valuable research implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aging is a natural, gradual, and inevitable process associated with a series of changes at the molecular, cellular, and tissue levels that can lead to an increased risk of many diseases, including cancer. The most significant changes at the genomic level (DNA damage, telomere shortening, epigenetic changes) and non-genomic changes are referred to as hallmarks of aging. The hallmarks of aging and cancer are intertwined. Many studies have focused on genomic hallmarks, but non-genomic hallmarks are also important and may additionally cause genomic damage and increase the expression of genomic hallmarks. Understanding the non-genomic hallmarks of aging and cancer, and how they are intertwined, may lead to the development of approaches that could influence these hallmarks and thus function not only to slow aging but also to prevent cancer. In this review, we focus on non-genomic changes. We discuss cell senescence, disruption of proteostasis, deregualation of nutrient sensing, dysregulation of immune system function, intercellular communication, mitochondrial dysfunction, stem cell exhaustion and dysbiosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chuanzang black (CB) pig is a new crossbred between Chinese local breeds and modern breeds. Here, we investigated the growth performance, plasma indexes, carcass traits, and meat quality characteristics of conventional DLY (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) crossbreed and CB pigs. The LC-MS/MS-based metabolomics of pork from DLY and CB pigs, as well as the relationship between the changes in the metabolic spectrum and meat quality, were analyzed. In this study, CB pigs presented lower final body weight, average daily gain, carcass weight, and eye muscle area than DLY pigs (p ˂ 0.05). Conversely, the ratio of feed to gain, marbling score, and meat color score of longissimus dorsi (LD) were higher in CB than DLY pigs (p ˂ 0.05). Moreover, psoas major (PM) showed a higher meat color score and a lower cooking loss in CB than DLY pigs (p ˂ 0.05). Interestingly, CB pigs showed lower myofiber diameter and area but higher myofiber density than DLY pigs (p ˂ 0.05). Furthermore, the mRNA expression levels of MyHC I, PPARδ, MEF2C, NFATC1, and AMPKα1 were higher in CB than DLY pigs (p ˂ 0.05). Importantly, a total of 753 metabolites were detected in the two tissues (e.g., psoas major and longissimus dorsi) of CB and DLY pigs, of which the difference in metabolite profiles in psoas major between crossbreeds was greater than that in longissimus dorsi. Specifically, palmitic acid, stearic acid, L-aspartic acid, corticosterone, and tetrahydrocorticosterone were the most relevant metabolites of psoas major meat quality, and tetrahydrocorticosterone, L-Palmitoylcarnitine, arachidic acid, erucic acid, and 13Z,16Z-docosadienoic acid in longissimus dorsi meat were positively correlated with meat quality. The most significantly enriched KEGG pathways in psoas major and longissimus dorsi pork were galactose metabolism and purine metabolism, respectively. These results not only indicated improved meat quality in CB pigs as compared to DLY pigs but may also assist in rational target selection for nutritional intervention or genetic breeding in the swine industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous structure is an important three-dimensional morphological feature of the peripheral nerve guidance conduit (NGC), which permits the infiltration of cells, nutrients, and molecular signals and the discharge of metabolic waste. Porous structures with precisely customized pore sizes, porosities, and connectivities are being used to construct fully permeable, semi-permeable, and asymmetric peripheral NGCs for the replacement of traditional nerve autografts in the treatment of long-segment peripheral nerve injury. In this review, the features of porous structures and the classification of NGCs based on these characteristics are discussed. Common methods for constructing 3D porous NGCs in current research are described, as well as the pore characteristics and the parameters used to tune the pores. The effects of the porous structure on the physical properties of NGCs, including biodegradation, mechanical performance, and permeability, were analyzed. Pore structure affects the biological behavior of Schwann cells, macrophages, fibroblasts, and vascular endothelial cells during peripheral nerve regeneration. The construction of ideal porous structures is a significant advancement in the regeneration of peripheral nerve tissue engineering materials. The purpose of this review is to generalize, summarize, and analyze methods for the preparation of porous NGCs and their biological functions in promoting peripheral nerve regeneration to guide the development of medical nerve repair materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the high impact of extreme disasters, this paper comprehensively evaluates power grid performance from a new low-carbon toughness perspective. First, considering the increase in carbon emissions and the recovery time of carbon emissions, low-carbon resilience indicators are proposed. At the same time, considering the power-regulation effect of the phase-shifter transformer, the fault and response model of a power grid under an ice disaster is established, and then, a comprehensive evaluation index system of low-carbon toughness of the power grid is constructed. The weight determination is carried out using the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process-entropy-based weight method, while the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation center of gravity method is used to evaluate the power grid comprehensively. Finally, examples are presented to verify the feasibility of the proposed method, emphasizing its potential for evaluating the comprehensive performance of low-carbon and toughness of the power grid in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China is the world's largest potato producer, and the potato's role in ensuring food security and rural development is irreplaceable. Therefore, how to achieve sustainable growth in potato production has attracted widespread attention from academia. However, few existing studies have analyzed how to achieve sustainable growth in main potato-producing areas based on farmers' micro perspectives in terms of both technical efficiency and output elasticity of input factor. This paper investigates the output elasticities of input factors, technical efficiency, and its influencing factors among 398 potato farmers from China's main potato-producing regions in 2021 to fill this knowledge gap. The stochastic frontier production is applied to calculate the technical efficiency and elasticities of input factors in main potato-producing areas. The Tobit model is utilized to analyze influencing factors of technical efficiency. Our findings indicate that the technical efficiency of the main potato production regions is 0.67, with an efficiency loss of 0.33. And, the output elasticity of land input and labor input is negative, and the output elasticity of capital input is positive. Moreover, the factors that affect the technical efficiency in main potato-producing areas include age, whether to be a village leader, income from other crops, labor input, potato price, and disaster impact. Our findings suggest that the agricultural authorities should strengthen the cultivation of potato producers, control the scale of potato production, and optimize the allocation of input factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The extrusion process was studied to replace the traditional process of making mung bean vermicelli. The physical and sensory properties were studied of pure mung bean vermicelli made using a single‐screw extruder with different feed moisture contents of mung bean starch (35%, 40%, 45% or 50%). The degree of starch gelatinisation, water absorption, cooking loss and diameter of extruded vermicelli increased with increased feed moisture content. The extrusion temperature provided a more transparent vermicelli product at a higher feed moisture content. Compared with the commercial product using the traditional method, the extruded mung bean vermicelli had greater lightness (L*) and yellowness (b*) for the dried vermicelli and greater blueness (b*) for the cooked vermicelli. The tensile strength and elasticity decreased significantly with increased feed moisture content. The extruded mung bean vermicelli was ranked as 'well satisfied' by the panellists, especially, the vermicelli with a feed moisture content of 50%, which had the highest score in overall acceptability compared with the other conditions, including the commercial vermicelli. In conclusion, the extrusion method could be applied to produce good quality, pure mung bean vermicelli instead of the traditional method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sclera is considered as the principal load-bearing tissue within the eye. The sclera is negatively charged; thus, it exhibits mechanical response to electrical stimulation. We recently demonstrated the electroactive behavior of sclera by performing experimental measurements that captured the deformation of the tip of scleral strips subjected to electric voltage. We also numerically analyzed the electromechanical response of the tissue using a chemo-electro-mechanical model. In the pre-sent study, we extended our previous work by experimentally characterizing the deformation profile of scleral strips along their length under electrical stimulation. In addition, we improved our previous mathematical model such that it could numerically capture the large deformation of samples. For this purpose, we considered the transient variability of the fixed charge density and the coupling between mechanical and chemo-electrical phenomena. These improvements in-creased the accuracy of the computational model, resulting in a better numerical representation of experimentally measured bending angles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum teleportation is one of the fundamental primitives of quantum cryptography. In order to achieve a wider range of high-capacity information transfer, we propose a free-space quantum teleportation (QT) protocol with orbital angular momentum (OAM) multiplexed continuous variable (CV) entangled states. The preparation of the entangled states is accomplished by the spontaneous four-wave mixing (SFWM) process occurring in a hot 85 Rb vapor cell, and the mode selection for the Bell-state measurement is achieved by employing the balanced homodyne detection technique. The fidelity of teleporting EPR entangled states carrying different topological charges via a Kolmogorov-type atmospheric turbulence channel is derived, and the superiority of enhancing the system channel capacity via OAM multiplexing is demonstrated. Our work provides a feasible scheme to implement high-capacity quantum communication in atmospheric environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a syndrome characterized by acute and severe decompensation of chronic liver disease (CLD) correlated with multiple organ failure, poor prognosis, and increased mortality. In 40–50% of ACLF cases, the trigger is not recognized; for many of these patients, bacterial translocation associated with systemic inflammation is thought to be the determining factor; in the other 50% of patients, sepsis, alcohol consumption, and reactivation of chronic viral hepatitis are the most frequently described trigger factors. Other conditions considered precipitating factors are less common, including acute alcoholic hepatitis, major surgery, TIPS insertion, or inadequate paracentesis without albumin substitution. Host response is likely the primary factor predicting ACLF severity and prognosis, the host immune response having a particular significance in this syndrome, together with the inflammatory cascade. The management of ACLF includes both the prevention of the precipitating factors that lead to acute liver decompensation and the support of vital functions, the prevention and management of complications, the estimation of prognosis, and the opportunity for liver transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the spinal cord has traditionally been considered a bundle of long fibers connecting the brain to all parts of the body, the study of its role has long been limited to peripheral sensory and motor control. However, in recent years, new studies have challenged this view pointing to the spinal cord's involvement not only in the acquisition and maintenance of new motor skills but also in the modulation of motor and cognitive functions dependent on cortical motor regions. Indeed, several reports to date, which have combined neurophysiological techniques with transpinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS), have shown that tsDCS is effective in promoting local and cortical neuroplasticity changes in animals and humans through the activation of ascending corticospinal pathways that modulate the sensorimotor cortical networks. The aim of this paper is first to report the most prominent tsDCS studies on neuroplasticity and its influence at the cortical level. Then, a comprehensive review of tsDCS literature on motor improvement in animals and healthy subjects and on motor and cognitive recovery in post-stroke populations is presented. We believe that these findings might have an important impact in the future making tsDCS a potential suitable adjunctive approach for post-stroke recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Central nervous system (CNS) involvement in anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) at diagnosis is rare and leads to poor prognosis with the use of the standard ALCL99 protocol alone. CNS-directed intensive chemotherapy, such as an increased dose of intravenous MTX, increased dose of dexamethasone, intensified intrathecal therapy, and high-dose cytarabine, followed by cranial irradiation, has been shown to improve survival in this population. In this paper, the authors describe a 14-year-old male with an intracranial ALCL mass at onset who received CNS-directed chemotherapy followed by 23.4 Gy of whole-brain irradiation. After the first systemic relapse, the CNS-penetrating ALK inhibitor, alectinib, was applied; it has successfully maintained remission for 18 months without any adverse events. CNS-penetrating ALK inhibitor therapy might prevent CNS relapse in pediatric ALK-positive ALCL. Next-generation ALK inhibitors could be introduced as a promising treatment option, even for primary ALCL with CNS involvement, which could lead to the omission of cranial irradiation and avoid radiation-induced sequalae. Further evidence of CNS-penetrating ALK inhibitor combined therapy for primary ALK-positive ALCL is warranted to reduce radiation-induced sequalae in future treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allogenic tendons grafts sourced from intrasynovial tendons are often used for tendon reconstruction. Processing is achieved through repetitive freeze–thaw cycles followed by lyophilization. Soaking the lyophilized tendon in saline (0.9%) for 24 h is the standard practice for rehydration. However, data supporting saline rehydration over the use of other hydrating solutions are scant. The purpose of the current study was to compare the effects of different rehydration solutions on biomechanical properties of lyophilized tendon allograft. A total of 36 canine flexor digitorum profundus tendons were collected, five freeze–thaw cycles followed by lyophilization were performed for processing, and then divided into three groups rehydrated with either saline solution (0.9%), phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), or minimum essential medium (MEM). Flexural stiffness, tensile stiffness, and gliding friction were evaluated before and after allograft processing. The flexural moduli in both fibrous and fibrocartilaginous regions of the tendons were measured. After lyophilization and reconstitution, the flexural moduli of both the fibrocartilaginous and non-fibrocartilaginous regions of the tendons increase significantly in the saline and MEM groups (p < 0.05). Compared to the saline and MEM groups, the flexural moduli of the fibrocartilaginous and non-fibrocartilaginous regions of tendons rehydrated with PBS are significantly lower (p < 0.05). Tensile moduli of rehydrated tendons are significantly lower than those of fresh tendons for all groups (p < 0.05). The gliding friction of rehydrated tendons is significantly higher than that of fresh tendons in all groups (p < 0.05). There is no significant difference in either tensile moduli or gliding friction between tendons treated with different rehydration solutions. These results demonstrate that allograft reconstitution can be optimized through careful selection of hydrating solution and that PBS could be a better choice as the impact on flexural properties is lower. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional raw materials rich in various effective nutrients and active ingredients that are of stable quality can be obtained from the liquid fermentation of edible and medicinal fungi. In this review, we systematically summarize the main findings of this comparative study that compared the components and efficacy of liquid fermented products from edible and medicinal fungi with those from cultivated fruiting bodies. Additionally, we present the methods used in the study to obtain and analyze the liquid fermented products. The application of these liquid fermented products in the food industry is also discussed. With the potential breakthrough of liquid fermentation technology and the continued development of these products, our findings can serve as a reference for further utilization of liquid fermented products derived from edible and medicinal fungi. Further exploration of liquid fermentation technology is necessary to optimize the production of functional components from edible and medicinal fungi, and to enhance their bioactivity and safety. Investigation of the potential synergistic effects of combining liquid fermented products with other food ingredients is also necessary to enhance their nutritional values and health benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality and maturation of an oocyte not only play decisive roles in fertilization and embryo success, but also have long-term impacts on the later growth and development of the fetus. Female fertility declines with age, reflecting a decline in oocyte quantity. However, the meiosis of oocytes involves a complex and orderly regulatory process whose mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. This review therefore mainly focuses on the regulation mechanism of oocyte maturation, including folliculogenesis, oogenesis, and the interactions between granulosa cells and oocytes, plus in vitro technology and nuclear/cytoplasm maturation in oocytes. Additionally, we have reviewed advances made in the single-cell mRNA sequencing technology related to oocyte maturation in order to improve our understanding of the mechanism of oocyte maturation and to provide a theoretical basis for subsequent research into oocyte maturation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) and associated conditions are an important problem in modern medicine. The onset of IDD may be in childhood and adolescence in patients with a genetic predisposition. With age, IDD progresses, leading to spondylosis, spondylarthrosis, herniated disc, spinal canal stenosis. One of the leading mechanisms in the development of IDD and chronic back pain is an imbalance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. However, classical therapeutic strategies for correcting cytokine imbalance in IDD do not give the expected response in more than half of the cases. The purpose of this review is to update knowledge about new and promising therapeutic strategies based on the correction of the molecular mechanisms of cytokine imbalance in patients with IDD. This review demonstrates that knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of the imbalance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines may be a new key to finding more effective drugs for the treatment of IDD in the setting of acute and chronic inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]