Research on fault identification of high-voltage circuit breakers with characteristics of voiceprint information

High voltage circuit breakers are one of the core equipment in power system operation, and the voiceprint signals generated during operation contain extremely rich information. This paper proposes a fault identification method for high voltage circuit breakers based on voiceprint information data. Firstly, based on the developed voiceprint information data acquisition device, the voiceprint information of a certain high voltage circuit breaker is obtained; Secondly, an improved S-transform is proposed in the article, which generates an amplitude matrix based on the S-transform of voiceprint information; Then, through the matrix Singular value decomposition method, the fault feature quantity of voiceprint information is extracted from the time-frequency angle, and the diagnosis system of the support vector machine model is established, and the system is trained to realize the fault identification of the high-voltage circuit breaker; Finally, through experimental simulation calculations, it was shown that the accuracy of the proposed fault identification method in different operating conditions reached 92.6%, verifying the good accuracy and robustness of the proposed method and equipment.

Numerical simulation and fast method for the 0D-1D multi-scale coupled model and its application in ischemic brain tissue blood flow problems

As living standards rise, more and more people are paying attention to their own health, especially issues such as cerebral thrombosis, cerebral infarction, and other cerebral blood flow problems. An accurate simulation of blood flow within cerebral vessels has emerged as a crucial area of research. In this study, we focus on microcirculatory blood flow in ischemic brain tissue and employ a 0D-1D geometric multi-scale coupled model to characterize this process. Given the intricate nature of human cerebral vessels, we apply a numerical method combining the finite element method and the third-order Runge-Kutta method to resolve the coupled model. To enhance computational efficiency, we introduce a fast method based on the reduced-order extrapolation algorithm. Our numerical example underscores the stability of the method and convergence accuracy toO h 3 + τ 3 $$ O\left({h}^3+{\tau}^3\right) $$ , while significantly improving the accuracy and efficiency of blood flow simulation, making the mechanism analysis more accurate. Additionally, we present examples detailing variations and distribution of intracranial pressure and blood flow in ischemic brain tissue throughout a cardiac cycle. Both reduced vascular compliance and vascular stenosis can have adverse effects on intracranial cerebral pressure and blood flow, leading to insufficient local oxygen supply and negative effects on brain function. Meanwhile, there will also be corresponding changes in volume flow and pulsatile blood pressure.

Targeted delivery of HSP90 inhibitors for efficient therapy of CD44-positive acute myeloid leukemia and solid tumor-colon cancer

Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) is overexpressed in numerous cancers, promotes the maturation of numerous oncoproteins and facilitates cancer cell growth. Certain HSP90 inhibitors have entered clinical trials. Although less than satisfactory clinical effects or insurmountable toxicity have compelled these trials to be terminated or postponed, these results of preclinical and clinical studies demonstrated that the prospects of targeting therapeutic strategies involving HSP90 inhibitors deserve enough attention. Nanoparticulate-based drug delivery systems have been generally supposed as one of the most promising formulations especially for targeting strategies. However, so far, no active targeting nano-formulations have succeeded in clinical translation, mainly due to complicated preparation, complex formulations leading to difficult industrialization, incomplete biocompatibility or nontoxicity. In this study, HSP90 and CD44-targeted A6 peptide functionalized biomimetic nanoparticles (A6-NP) was designed and various degrees of A6-modification on nanoparticles were fabricated to evaluate targeting ability and anticancer efficiency. With no excipients, the hydrophobic HSP90 inhibitor G2111 and A6-conjugated human serum albumin could self-assemble into nanoparticles with a uniform particle size of approximately 200 nm, easy fabrication, well biocompatibility and avoidance of hepatotoxicity. Besides, G2111 encapsulated in A6-NP was only released less than 5% in 12 h, which may avoid off-target cell toxicity before entering into cancer cells. A6 peptide modification could significantly enhance uptake within a short time. Moreover, A6-NP continues to exert the broad anticancer spectrum of Hsp90 inhibitors and displays remarkable targeting ability and anticancer efficacy both in hematological malignancies and solid tumors (with colon tumors as the model cancer) both in vitro and in vivo. Overall, A6-NP, as a simple, biomimetic and active dual-targeting (CD44 and HSP90) nanomedicine, displays high potential for clinical translation.

A novel method-based reinforcement learning with deep temporal difference network for flexible double shop scheduling problem

This paper studies the flexible double shop scheduling problem (FDSSP) that considers simultaneously job shop and assembly shop. It brings about the problem of scheduling association of the related tasks. To this end, a reinforcement learning algorithm with a deep temporal difference network is proposed to minimize the makespan. Firstly, the FDSSP is defined as the mathematical model of the flexible job-shop scheduling problem joined to the assembly constraint level. It is translated into a Markov decision process that directly selects behavioral strategies according to historical machining state data. Secondly, the proposed ten generic state features are input into the deep neural network model to fit the state value function. Similarly, eight simple constructive heuristics are used as candidate actions for scheduling decisions. From the greedy mechanism, optimally combined actions of all machines are obtained for each decision step. Finally, a deep temporal difference reinforcement learning framework is established, and a large number of comparative experiments are designed to analyze the basic performance of this algorithm. The results showed that the proposed algorithm was better than most other methods, which contributed to solving the practical production problem of the manufacturing industry.

Queen bee gut microbiota extends honeybee lifespan by inhibiting insulin signaling

Queen and worker bees are natural models for aging research, as their lifespans vary considerably independent of genetic variation. Investigating the reasons why queens live longer than workers is of great significance for research on the universal processes of aging in animals. The gut microbiome has received attention as a vital regulator of host health, while its precise role in honeybee aging needs further investigation. The effects and mechanisms behind the relationship between gut microbiota and worker lifespan were measured by transplanting queen bee gut bacteria (QG) and worker bee gut bacteria (WG) into microbiota-free (MF) workers. The transplantation of QG to MF bees significantly extended the workers' lifespans compared with MF and WG bees. Untargeted metabolomics identified 49 lifespan-related differential metabolites, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis of these revealed three lifespan-related metabolic pathways: insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling, immune, and ketone body metabolism pathways. Further verification showed that QG inhibited the expression of insulin-like peptides (ILPs), and the expression of ILPs was lower in natural queens than in natural workers. QG transplantation also stimulated the expression of antioxidant genes and lowered oxidative damage products in natural queen bees. However, gut microbiota transplantation failed to mimic the immune properties and ketone body metabolism profiles of natural queens and workers. Concisely, QG could increase the antioxidant capacity to extend lifespan by inhibiting insulin signaling. These findings may help determine the mechanisms behind queen longevity and provide further insights into the role of gut symbionts.

IMPORTANCE

Queen and worker bees share the same genetic background but have vastly different lifespans. The gut microbiome regulates host health, suggesting that differences in lifespan between queen and worker bees could be related to gut bacteria. Herein, we used an innovative method to transplant gut microbiota from adult queen or worker bees to microbiota-free bees. The transplantation of queen gut microbiota to microbiota-free bees extended their lifespan. Insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling, a highly conserved metabolic pathway related to lifespan, displayed identical expression profiles in natural queen bees and microbiota-free bees transplanted with queen microbiota. This finding significantly expands our understanding of the relationships between intestinal bacteria, host health, and the biology of aging.

STAT3 mediates ECM stiffness-dependent progression in ovarian cancer

The treatment of ovarian cancer remains a medical challenge and its malignant progression is connected with obvious changes in both tissue and cell stiffness. However, the accurate mechanical-responsive molecules and mechanism remains unclear in ovarian cancer. Based on our previous results combined with the crucial regulatory role of STAT3 in the malignant progression of various cancer types, we want to investigate the relationship between STAT3 and matrix stiffness in ovarian cancer and further explore the potential mechanisms. Collagen-coated polyacrylamide gels (1, 6, and 60 kPa) were prepared to mimic soft or hard matrix stiffness. Western blotting, qRT-PCR, flow cytometry, IHC, EdU assays, and TEM were used to evaluate the effect of STAT3 in vitro under different matrix stiffnesses. Furthermore, a BALB/c nude mouse model was established to assess the relationship in vivo. Our results confirmed the differential expression of STAT3/p-STAT3 not only in normal and malignant ovarian tissues but also under different matrix stiffnesses. Furthermore, we verified that STAT3 was a mechanically responsive gene both in vitro and in vivo, and the mechanical response was carried out by altering the migration-related molecules (TNFAIP1) and adhesion-related molecules (LPXN, CNN3). The novel findings suggest that STAT3, a potential therapeutic target for clinical diagnosis and treatment, is a mechanically responsive gene that responds to matrix stiffness, particularly regulation in migration and adhesion in the progression of ovarian cancer.

Trends in the Notification Rates and Treatment Outcome of Tuberculosis in Shandong Province, China, 2005-2021

Purpose

To analyze the time trends in the notification rates of registered tuberculosis (TB) and bacteriologically confirmed TB in Shandong Province. And analyze the changes in TB treatment outcomes during 2005-2021.

Patients and Methods

The information of TB patients registered in the Shandong Information Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was collected during 2005-2021. We calculated the notification rates of registered TB and bacteriologically confirmed TB. Moreover, we calculated the year-to-year change rate of TB in treatment outcomes before and after COVID-19. The time trends were analyzed using the joinpoint regression method and illustrated as the annual percentage change (APC) of notification rates.

Results

A total of 236,898 cases of TB were diagnosed during 2005-2021, of which 51.11% were bacteriologically confirmed cases. Since 2008, the notification rates of registered TB have declined. The notification rates of bacteriologically confirmed TB had been declining during 2005-2016, then remained stable after 2016. In subgroup, the notification rates of both registered TB and bacteriologically confirmed TB were higher among men, rural residents, and people aged ≥ 60 years. Compared with clinically confirmed TB, bacteriologically confirmed TB has shown higher rates of poor outcomes since 2008 and higher case fatality rate since 2005. The rate of poor outcomes remained stable during 2008-2019. However, after the COVID-19 outbreak, the rate of poor outcomes and case fatality rate of TB has risen significantly.

Conclusion

After unremitting efforts to fight against TB, the notification rates of registered TB and bacteriologically confirmed TB declined in Shandong Province. The rate of poor outcomes remained stable during 2008-2019, then rise significantly after the COVID-19 outbreak. In the context of the long-term existence of COVID-19, further efforts should be made in TB diagnosis and treatment among high-risk population, especially with regard to males, rural residents and older adults.

Prognostic effect of TCF1+ CD8+ T cell and TOX+ CD8+ T cell infiltration in lung adenocarcinoma

Recent studies have highlighted the pivotal roles of T cell transcription factors TCF-1 and TOX in modulating the immune response in cancer, with TCF-1 maintaining CD8+ T cell stemness and TOX promoting T cell exhaustion. The prognostic significance of these factors in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains a critical area of investigation. The retrospective study included 191 patients with LUAD who underwent surgery, of whom 83% were in stages II and III. These patients were divided into exploratory (n = 135) and validation (n = 56) groups based on the time of diagnosis. Multiplex fluorescence immunohistochemistry was used to examine the infiltration levels of CD8+ T cells, TCF1+ CD8+ T cells, and TOX+ CD8+ T cells. The percentage of CD8+ T cells in tumor was markedly lower than that in stroma (p < 0.05). In tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLNs) invaded by tumor, the proportion of stem-like TCF1+ CD8+ T cells was significantly decreased (p < 0.01). Importantly, higher infiltration levels of CD8+ T cells and TCF1+ CD8+ T cells were associated with improved disease-free survival (DFS) (p = 0.009 and p = 0.006, respectively) and overall survival (OS) (p = 0.018 and p = 0.010, respectively). This study underscores the potential of TCF1+ CD8+ T cells as prognostic biomarkers in LUAD, providing insights into the tumor immune microenvironment and guiding future therapeutic strategies.

Cu(II)-Loaded Polydopamine-Coated Urchin-like Titanate Microspheres as a High-Performance IMAC Adsorbent for Hemoglobin Separation

Immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography (IMAC) adsorbents generally have excellent affinity for histidine-rich proteins. However, the leaching of metal ions from the adsorbent usually affects its adsorption performance, which greatly affects the reusable performance of the adsorbent, resulting in many limitations in practical applications. Herein, a novel IMAC adsorbent, i.e., Cu(II)-loaded polydopamine-coated urchin-like titanate microspheres (Cu-PDA-UTMS), was prepared via metal coordination to make Cu ions uniformly decorate polydopamine-coated titanate microspheres. The as-synthesized microspheres exhibit an urchin-like structure, providing more binding sites for hemoglobin. Cu-PDA-UTMS exhibit favorable selectivity for hemoglobin adsorption and have a desirable adsorption capacity towards hemoglobin up to 2704.6 mg g-1. Using 0.1% CTAB as eluent, the adsorbed hemoglobin was easily eluted with a recovery rate of 86.8%. In addition, Cu-PDA-UTMS shows good reusability up to six cycles. In the end, the adsorption properties by Cu-PDA-UTMS towards hemoglobin from human blood samples were analyzed by SDS-PAGE. The results showed that Cu-PDA-UTMS are a high-performance IMAC adsorbent for hemoglobin separation, which provides a new method for the effective separation and purification of hemoglobin from complex biological samples.

Single-cell transcriptome sequencing analysis reveals intra-tumor heterogeneity in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a prevalent malignant tumor of the digestive system that poses a significant threat to human life and health. It is crucial to thoroughly investigate the mechanisms of esophageal carcinogenesis and identify potential key molecular events in its carcinogenesis. Single-cell transcriptome sequencing is an emerging technology that has gained prominence in recent years for studying molecular mechanisms, which may help to further explore the underlying mechanisms of the ESCC tumor microenvironment in depth. The single-cell dataset was obtained from GSE160269 in the Gene Expression Omnibus database, including 60 tumor samples and four paracancer samples. The single-cell data underwent dimensional reduction clustering analysis to identify clusters and annotate expression profiles. Subcluster analysis was conducted for each cellular taxon. Copy number variation analysis of tumor cell subpopulations was performed to primarily identify malignant cells within them. A proposed chronological analysis was performed to obtain the process of cell differentiation. In addition, cell communication, transcription factor analysis, and tumor pathway analysis were also performed. Relevant risk models and key genes were established by univariate COX regression and LASSO analysis. The key genes obtained from the screen were subjected to appropriate silencing and cellular assays, including CCK-8, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine, colony formation, and western blot. Single-cell analysis revealed that normal samples contained a large number of fibroblasts, T cells, and B cells, with fewer other cell types, whereas tumor samples exhibited a relatively balanced distribution of cell types. Subclassification analysis of immune cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and epithelial cells revealed their specific spatial characteristics. The prognostic risk model, we constructed successfully, achieved accurate prognostic stratification for ESCC patients. The screened key gene, UPF3A, was found to be significantly associated with the development of ESCC by cellular assays. This process might be linked to the phosphorylation of ERK and P38. Single-cell transcriptome analysis successfully revealed the distribution of cell types and major expressed factors in ESCC patients, which could facilitate future in-depth studies on the therapeutic mechanisms of ESCC.

Visible-Light-Driven Z-Type Pg-C3N4/Nitrogen Doped Biochar/BiVO4 Photo-Catalysts for the Degradation of Norfloxacin

Antibiotics cannot be effectively removed by traditional wastewater treatment processes, and have become widespread pollutants in various environments. In this study, a Z-type heterojunction photo-catalyst Pg-C3N4 (PCN)/Nitrogen doped biochar (N-Biochar)/BiVO4 (NCBN) for the degradation of norfloxacin (NOR) was prepared by the hydrothermal method. The specific surface area of the NCBN (42.88 m2/g) was further improved compared to BiVO4 (4.528 m2/g). The photo-catalytic performance of the catalyst was investigated, and the N-Biochar acted as a charge transfer channel to promote carrier separation and form Z-type heterojunctions. Moreover, the NCBN exhibited excellent performance (92.5%) in removing NOR, which maintained 70% degradation after four cycles. The main active substance of the NCBN was •O2-, and the possible degradation pathways are provided. This work will provide a theoretical basis for the construction of heterojunction photo-catalysts.

Calculation method and evaluation of surrounding rock pressure of vertical shaft

The surrounding rock pressure of vertical shafts is one of the basic parameters of shaft lining design. Investigating its calculation methods and applicable scopes has great engineering significance. The paper classifies and compares the calculation methods, discusses the application scopes of various calculation methods, and proposes that the axisymmetric layered method is highly consistent with the field monitoring data for the calculation of surrounding rock pressure of vertical shafts in bedrock sections on the basis of practical engineering examples. On the basis of Terzaghi theory, the calculation formula of surrounding rock pressure of vertical shaft in inclined rock strata with single group joints is derived. The formula can reflect the influence of rock strata dip angle and joints.

Oral Administration of Antimicrobial Peptide NZ2114 Through the Microalgal Bait Tetraselmis subcordiformis (Wille) Butcher for Improving the Immunity and Gut Health in Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.)

Antibiotics are widely used in aquaculture to treat the bacterial diseases. However, the improper use of antibiotics could lead to environmental pollution and development of resistance. As a safe and eco-friendly alternative, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are commonly explored as therapeutic agents. In this study, a mutant strain of Tetraselmis subcordiformis containing AMP NZ2114 was developed and used as an oral drug delivery system to reduce the use of antibiotics in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) aquaculture. The gut, kidney, and liver immune-related genes and their effects on gut digestion and bacterial communities in turbot fed with NZ2114 were evaluated in an 11-day feeding experiment. The results showed that compared with the group fed with wild-type T. subcordiformis, the group fed with T. subcordiformis transformants containing NZ2114 was revealed with decreased levels of both pro-inflammatory factors (TNF-α and IL-1β), inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Vibrio splendidus demonstrated by the in vitro simulation experiments, and increased richness and diversity of the gut microbiota of turbot. In conclusion, our study provided a novel, beneficial, and low-cost method for controlling bacteria in turbot culture through the oral drug delivery systems.

Early and Accurate Detection of Radiation-induced Heart Damage by Cardiodynamicsgram

Cardiodynamicsgram (CDG) has emerged recently as a noninvasive spatiotemporal electrocardiographic method for subtle cardiac dynamics information analysis within electrocardiogram (ECG). This study explored the feasibility of CDG for detecting radiation-induced heart damage (RIHD) in a rat model. A single radiation dose of 40 Gy was delivered to the cardiac apex of female Wistar rats. First, CDG was generated through dynamic modeling of ECG signals using the deterministic learning algorithm. Furthermore, CDG indexes were calculated using the wavelet transform and entropy. In this model, CDG entropy indexes decreased significantly after radiotherapy. The shape of CDG changed significantly after radiotherapy (irregular shape) compared with controls (regular shape). Macrophage and fibrosis in myocardium of rats increased significantly after radiotherapy. CDG changes after radiotherapy were significantly correlated with histopathological changes and occurred significantly earlier than histopathological changes. This study provides an experimental basis for the clinical application of CDG for the early detection of RIHD.

Three-way junction structure-mediated reverse transcription-free exponential amplification reaction for pathogen RNA detection

Since RNA is an important biomarker of many infectious pathogens, RNA detection of pathogenic organisms is crucial for disease diagnosis and environmental and food safety. By simulating the base mismatch during DNA replication, this study presents a novel three-way junction structure-mediated reverse transcription-free exponential amplification reaction (3WJ-RTF-EXPAR) for the rapid and sensitive detection of pathogen RNA. The target RNA served as a switch to initiate the reaction by forming a three-way junction (3WJ) structure with the ex-trigger strand and the ex-primer strand. The generated trigger strand could be significantly amplified through EXPAR to open the stem-loop structure of the molecular beacon to emit fluorescence signal. The proofreading activity of Vent DNA polymerase, in combination with the unique structure of 2+1 bases at the 3'-end of the ex-primer strand, could enhance the role of target RNA as a reaction switch to reduce non-specific amplification and ensure excellent specificity to differentiate target pathogen from those causing similar symptoms. Furthermore, detection of target RNA showed a detection limit of 1.0×104 copies/mL, while the time consumption was only 20 min, outperforming qRT-LAMP and qRT-PCR, the most commonly used RNA detection methods in clinical practice. All those indicates the great application prospects of this method in clinical diagnostic.

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Profiling of the ABF Transcription Factor Family in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Members of the abscisic acid (ABA)-responsive element (ABRE) binding factor (ABF) and ABA-responsive element binding protein (AREB) families play essential roles in the regulation of ABA signaling pathway activity and shape the ability of plants to adapt to a range of stressful environmental conditions. To date, however, systematic genome-wide analyses focused on the ABF/AREB gene family in wheat are lacking. Here, we identified 35 ABF/AREB genes in the wheat genome, designated TaABF1-TaABF35 according to their chromosomal distribution. These genes were further classified, based on their phylogenetic relationships, into three groups (A-C), with the TaABF genes in a given group exhibiting similar motifs and similar numbers of introns/exons. Cis-element analyses of the promoter regions upstream of these TaABFs revealed large numbers of ABREs, with the other predominant elements that were identified differing across these three groups. Patterns of TaABF gene expansion were primarily characterized by allopolyploidization and fragment duplication, with purifying selection having played a significant role in the evolution of this gene family. Further expression profiling indicated that the majority of the TaABF genes from groups A and B were highly expressed in various tissues and upregulated following abiotic stress exposure such as drought, low temperature, low nitrogen, etc., while some of the TaABF genes in group C were specifically expressed in grain tissues. Regulatory network analyses revealed that four of the group A TaABFs (TaABF2, TaABF7, TaABF13, and TaABF19) were centrally located in protein-protein interaction networks, with 13 of these TaABF genes being regulated by 11 known miRNAs, which play important roles in abiotic stress resistance such as drought and salt stress. The two primary upstream transcription factor types found to regulate TaABF gene expression were BBR/BPC and ERF, which have previously been reported to be important in the context of plant abiotic stress responses. Together, these results offer insight into the role that the ABF/AREB genes play in the responses of wheat to abiotic stressors, providing a robust foundation for future functional studies of these genes.

Transferable G/Au Film for Constructing a Variety of SERS Substrates

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), as one of the most powerful analytical methods, undertakes important inspection tasks in various fields. Generally, the performance of an SERS-active substrate relies heavily on its structure, which makes it difficult to integrate multiple-functional detectability on the same substrate. To address this problem, here we designed and constructed a film of graphene/Au nanoparticles (G/Au film) through a simple method, which can be conveniently transferred to different substrates to form various composite SERS substrates subsequently. By means of the combination of the electromagnetic enhancement mechanism (EM) and the chemical enhancement mechanism (CM) of this structure, the film realized good SERS performance experimentally, with the enhancement factor (EF) approaching ca. 1.40 × 105. In addition, the G/Au film had high mechanical strength and had large specific surface area and good biocompatibility that is beneficial for Raman detection. By further transferring the film to an Ag/Si composite substrate and PDMS flexible film, it showed enhanced sensitivity and in situ detectability, respectively, indicating high compatibility and promising prospect in Raman detection.

Hypermethylation of the glutathione peroxidase 4 gene promoter is associated with the occurrence of immune tolerance phase in chronic hepatitis B

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a public health problem that seriously threatens human health. This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4) in the occurrence and development of chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

METHODS

A total of 169 participants including 137 patients with CHB and 32 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. We detected the expression of GPX4 and stimulator of interferon genes (STING) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The methylation level of GPX4 gene promoter in PBMCs was detected by TaqMan probe-based quantitative methylation-specific PCR (MethyLight). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to detect the serum levels of GPX4, IFN-β, oxidative stress (OS) related molecules, and pro-inflammatory cytokines.

RESULTS

The expression levels of GPX4 in PBMCs and serum of CHB patients were lower than those of HCs, but the methylation levels of GPX4 promoter were higher than those of HCs, especially in patients at the immune tolerance phase. STING mRNA expression levels in PBMCs and serum IFN-β levels of patients at the immune activation phase and reactivation phase of CHB were higher than those at other clinical phases of CHB and HCs. GPX4 mRNA expression level and methylation level in PBMCs from patients with CHB had a certain correlation with STING and IFN-β expression levels. In addition, the methylation level of the GPX4 promoter in PBMCs from patients with CHB was correlated with molecules associated with OS and inflammation.

CONCLUSIONS

GPX4 may play an important role in the pathogenesis and immune tolerance of CHB, which may provide new ideas for the functional cure of CHB.

Research on multi-model imaging machine learning for distinguishing early hepatocellular carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the value of differential diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and non-hepatocellular carcinoma (non-HCC) based on CT and MR multiphase radiomics combined with different machine learning models and compare the diagnostic efficacy between different radiomics models.

BACKGROUND

Primary liver cancer is one of the most common clinical malignancies, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common subtype of primary liver cancer, accounting for approximately 90% of cases. A clear diagnosis of HCC is important for the individualized treatment of patients with HCC. However, more sophisticated diagnostic modalities need to be explored.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 211 patients with liver lesions: 97 HCC and 124 non-hepatocellular carcinoma (non-HCC) who underwent CT and MRI. Imaging data were used to obtain imaging features of lesions and radiomics regions of interest (ROI). The extracted imaging features were combined to construct different radiomics models. The clinical data and imaging features were then combined with radiomics features to construct the combined models. Support Vector Machine (SVM), K-nearest Neighbor (KNN), RandomForest (RF), eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM), Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) six machine learning models were used for training. Five-fold cross-validation was used to train the models, and ROC curves were used to analyze the diagnostic efficacy of each model and calculate the accuracy rate. Model training and efficacy test were performed as before.

RESULTS

Statistical analysis showed that some clinical data (gender and concomitant cirrhosis) and imaging features (presence of envelope, marked enhancement in the arterial phase, rapid contouring in the portal phase, uniform density/signal and concomitant steatosis) were statistical differences (P < 0.001). The results of machine learning models showed that KNN had the best diagnostic efficacy. The results of the combined model showed that SVM had the best diagnostic efficacy, indicating that the combined model (accuracy 0.824) had better diagnostic efficacy than the radiomics-only model.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrate that the radiomic features of CT and MRI combined with machine learning models enable differential diagnosis of HCC and non-HCC (malignant, benign). The diagnostic model with dual radiomic had better diagnostic efficacy. The combined model was superior to the radiomic model alone.

The Function and Mechanism of Anti-Inflammatory Factor Metrnl Prevents the Progression of Inflammatory-Mediated Pathological Bone Osteolytic Diseases

Metrnl, recently identified as an adipokine, is a secreted protein notably expressed in white adipose tissue, barrier tissues, and activated macrophages. This adipokine plays a pivotal role in counteracting obesity-induced insulin resistance. It enhances adipose tissue functionality by promoting adipocyte differentiation, activating metabolic pathways, and exerting anti-inflammatory effects. Extensive research has identified Metrnl as a key player in modulating inflammatory responses and as an integral regulator of muscle regeneration. These findings position Metrnl as a promising biomarker and potential therapeutic target in treating inflammation-associated pathologies. Despite this, the specific anti-inflammatory mechanisms of Metrnl in immune-mediated osteolysis and arthritis remain elusive, warranting further investigation. In this review, we will briefly elaborate on the role of Metrnl in anti-inflammation function in inflammation-related osteolysis, arthritis, and pathological bone resorption, which could facilitate Metrnl's clinical application as a novel therapeutic strategy to prevent bone loss. While the pathogenesis of elbow stiffness remains elusive, current literature suggests that Metrnl likely exerts a pivotal role in its development.

Pancancer analysis of the prognostic and immunological role of FANCD2: a potential target for carcinogenesis and survival

Recent evidence has shed light on the significant role of FANCD2 in cancer initiation, development, and progression. However, a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis of FANCD2 has been lacking. In this study, we have conducted a thorough investigation into the expression profiles and prognostic significance of FANCD2, as well as its correlation with clinicopathological parameters and immune cell infiltration, using advanced bioinformatic techniques. The results demonstrate that FANCD2 is significantly upregulated in various common cancers and is associated with prognosis. Notably, higher expression levels of FANCD2 are linked to poor overall survival, as indicated by Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier analyses. Additionally, we have observed a decrease in the methylation of FANCD2 DNA in some cancers, and this decrease is inversely correlated with FANCD2 expression. Genetic alterations in FANCD2 predominantly manifest as mutations, which are associated with overall survival, disease-specific survival, disease-free survival, and progression-free survival in certain tumor types. Moreover, FANCD2 exhibits a strong correlation with infiltrating cell levels, immune checkpoint genes, tumor mutation burden (TMB), and microsatellite instability (MSI). Enrichment analysis further highlights the potential impact of FANCD2 on Fanconi anemia (FA) pathway and cell cycle regulation. Through this comprehensive pan-cancer analysis, we have gained a deeper understanding of the functions of FANCD2 in oncogenesis and metastasis across different types of cancer.

A novel multi-scale CNN and Bi-LSTM arbitration dense network model for low-rate DDoS attack detection

Low-rate distributed denial of service attacks, as known as LDDoS attacks, pose the notorious security risks in cloud computing network. They overload the cloud servers and degrade network service quality with the stealthy strategy. Furthermore, this kind of small ratio and pulse-like abnormal traffic leads to a serious data scale problem. As a result, the existing models for detecting minority and adversary LDDoS attacks are insufficient in both detection accuracy and time consumption. This paper proposes a novel multi-scale Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and bidirectional Long-short Term Memory (bi-LSTM) arbitration dense network model (called MSCBL-ADN) for learning and detecting LDDoS attack behaviors under the condition of limited dataset and time consumption. The MSCBL-ADN incorporates CNN for preliminary spatial feature extraction and embedding-based bi-LSTM for time relationship extraction. And then, it employs arbitration network to re-weigh feature importance for higher accuracy. At last, it uses 2-block dense connection network to perform final classification. The experimental results conducted on popular ISCX-2016-SlowDos dataset have demonstrated that the proposed MSCBL-ADN model has a significant improvement with high detection accuracy and superior time performance over the state-of-the-art models.

Visible-light Excited and Highly Photostable Organic Fluorophore with dual-state Emission

Organic fluorophores with dual-state emission (DSE) are rare or difficult to observe because most of them display either aggregation-induced emission (AIE) or aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ). Amazing works have been accomplished, yet most of the DSE compounds were excited by UV light which limits their wide application in bioimaging. In this work, we achieved a visible-light excited DSE fluorophore and realized its imaging in SKOV-3 cells and zebrafish. The naphtho[2',3':4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (NIP) core ensures its emission in dilute solution. Meanwhile, the twisted phenyl ring blocks fluorescence quenching induced by the π-π stacking and leads to the emission of the solid. The fluorescence intensity is steady even after 6 h of continuous intense sunlight. More importantly, photostability of NIP in cells is much better than commercial dye (mitochondrial green).

Dynamics of Chromatin Opening across Larval Development in the Urochordate Ascidian Ciona savignyi

Ascidian larvae undergo tail elongation and notochord lumenogenesis, making them an ideal model for investigating tissue morphogenesis in embryogenesis. The cellular and mechanical mechanisms of these processes have been studied; however, the underlying molecular regulatory mechanism remains to be elucidated. In this study, assays for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing (ATAC-seq) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) were applied to investigate potential regulators of the development of ascidian Ciona savignyi larvae. Our results revealed 351 and 138 differentially accessible region genes through comparisons of ATAC-seq data between stages 21 and 24 and between stages 24 and 25, respectively. A joint analysis of RNA-seq and ATAC-seq data revealed a correlation between chromatin accessibility and gene transcription. We further verified the tissue expression patterns of 12 different genes. Among them, Cs-matrix metalloproteinase 24 (MMP24) and Cs-krüppel-like factor 5 (KLF5) were highly expressed in notochord cells. Functional assay results demonstrated that both genes are necessary for notochord lumen formation and expansion. Finally, we performed motif enrichment analysis of the differentially accessible regions in different tailbud stages and summarized the potential roles of these motif-bearing transcription factors in larval development. Overall, our study found a correlation between gene expression and chromatin accessibility and provided a vital resource for understanding the mechanisms of the development of ascidian embryos.

A nomogram for predicting adverse pathologic features in low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Identifying risk factors for adverse pathologic features in low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) can provide valuable insights into the necessity of surgical or non-surgical treatment. This study aims to develop a nomogram for predicting the probability of adverse pathologic features in low-risk PTMC patients.

METHODS

A total of 662 patients with low-risk PTMC who underwent thyroid surgery were retrospectively analyzed in Qilu Hospital of Shandong University from May 2019 to December 2021. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors for adverse pathologic features, and a nomogram was constructed based on these factors.

RESULTS

Most PTMC patients with these adverse pathologic features had tumor diameters greater than 0.6 cm (p < 0.05). Other factors (age, gender, family history of thyroid cancer, history of autoimmune thyroiditis, and BRAFV600E mutation) had no significant correlation with adverse pathologic features (p > 0.05 each). The nomogram was drawn to provide a quantitative and convenient tool for predicting the risk of adverse pathologic features based on age, gender, family history of thyroid cancer, autoimmune thyroiditis, tumor size, and BRAFV600E mutation in low-risk PTMC patients. The areas under curves (AUC) were 0.645 (95% CI 0.580-0.702). Additionally, decision curve analysis (DCA) and calibration curves were used to evaluate the clinical benefits of this nomogram, presenting a high net benefit.

CONCLUSION

Tumor size > 0.60 cm was identified as an independent risk factor for adverse pathologic features in low-risk PTMC patients. The nomogram had a high predictive value and consistency based on these factors.

Can environmental protection tax force enterprises to improve green technology innovation?

The introduction of an environmental protection tax enables a smooth shift from the sewerage charge system to the environmental protection tax scheme. This, in turn, promotes a more sustainable development of enterprise growth, emphasizing eco-friendliness. This is of immense importance in advancing environmentally aware practices and sustainability. Based on data collected from A-share listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen from 2014 to 2021, this paper investigates the influence of environmental protection taxes on the advancement of green technology and the underlying mechanisms. Taking the execution of the Environmental Protection Tax Law in 2018 as a quasi-natural experiment, a double-difference model is employed to examine the causal relationship between environmental protection taxes and the adoption of green technology by companies. The findings indicate that the introduction of an environmental tax could markedly enhance the extent of green technological innovation within corporations. The evidence arising from the testing mechanism implies that such a tax can encourage firms to boost their investments in research and development, upgrade their innovative human capital, and mitigate financing limitations. The study found that there is heterogeneity in the promotion effect of the environmental protection tax on the green technological innovation of businesses in different regions and provinces with varying tax burdens and types of equity capital. Further research shows that the environmental protection tax has a greater impact on the promotion of utility model patent applications for green technology innovation. This paper presents empirical evidence to support further enhancement of the environmental protection tax system. It recommends designing the environmental protection tax policy with consideration for enterprises and local conditions and bolstering the system's capacity for guiding and stimulating enterprises' green development.

Transcription factor CEBPB mediates intracranial aneurysm rupture by inflammatory and immune response

INTRODUCTION

Genetic factors play a major part in mediating intracranial aneurysm (IA) rupture. However, research on the role of transcription factors (TFs) in IA rupture is rare.

AIMS

Bioinformatics analysis was performed to explore the TFs and related functional pathways involved in IA rupture.

RESULTS

A total of 63 differentially expressed transcription factors (DETFs) were obtained. Significantly enriched biological processes of these DETFs were related to regulation of myeloid leukocyte differentiation. The top 10 DETFs were screened based on the MCC algorithm from the protein-protein interaction network. After screening and validation, it was finally determined that CEBPB may be the hub gene for aneurysm rupture. The GSEA results of CEBPB were mainly associated with the inflammatory response, which was also verified by the experimental model of cellular inflammation in vitro.

CONCLUSION

The inflammatory and immune response may be closely associated with aneurysm rupture. CEBPB may be the hub gene for aneurysm rupture and may have diagnostic value. Therefore, CEBPB may serve as the diagnostic signature for RIAs and a potential target for intervention.

Serum CXCL16: A new predictor of liver inflammation in patients with chronic hepatitis B

The prompt initiation of antiviral therapy is essential in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), especially when severe liver inflammation is detected. However, transcutaneous liver puncture, the gold standard for assessing liver inflammation, is invasive and its widespread application is limited. Therefore, there is an urgent need for more non-invasive markers to predict liver inflammation. In our retrospective cross-sectional study, which included 120 CHB patients and 31 healthy subjects, we observed a significant increase in serum chemokine C-X-C-motif ligand 16 (CXCL16) in CHB patients compared to healthy controls (p < .001). Notably, patients with severe inflammation (Scheuer's grade G ≥ 3, n = 26) exhibited a substantial increase in serum CXCL16 compared to those with non-severe inflammation (Scheuer's grade G < 3, n = 96) [(median, IQR), 0.42 (0.24-0.71) ng/mL vs. 1.01 (0.25-2.09) ng/mL, p < .001]. Furthermore, we developed a predictive model that combined CXCL16 with platelet count (PLT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and albumin (ALB) to accurately predict liver inflammation in CHB patients. This model was more effective than ALT alone in predicting liver inflammation (AUC, 0.92 vs. 0.81, p = .015). Additionally, using an HBV-transduced mouse model, we demonstrated that blocking CXCL16 led to a reduction in liver inflammation and impaired infiltration and function of natural killer T (NKT) and natural killer (NK) cells. These findings suggest that CXCL16 is a promising non-invasive biomarker of liver inflammation in CHB patients and may play a role in inducing liver inflammation via a NKT and NK cell pathway.

Antibody and transcription landscape in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of elderly adults over 70 years of age with third dose of COVID-19 BBIBP-CorV and ZF2001 booster vaccine

BACKGROUND

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and extensive vaccination, it is important to explore the immune response of elderly adults to homologous and heterologous booster vaccines of COVID-19. At this point, we detected serum IgG antibodies and PBMC sample transcriptome profiles in 46 participants under 70 years old and 25 participants over 70 years old who received the third dose of the BBIBP-CorV and ZF2001 vaccines.

RESULTS

On day 7, the antibody levels of people over 70 years old after the third dose of booster vaccine were lower than those of young people, and the transcriptional responses of innate and adaptive immunity were also weak. The age of the participants showed a significant negative correlation with functions related to T-cell differentiation and costimulation. Nevertheless, 28 days after the third dose, the IgG antibodies of elderly adults reached equivalence to those of younger adults, and immune-related transcriptional regulation was significantly improved. The age showed a significant positive correlation with functions related to "chemokine receptor binding", "chemokine activity", and "chemokine-mediated signaling pathway".

CONCLUSIONS

Our results document that the response of elderly adults to the third dose of the vaccine was delayed, but still able to achieve comparable immune effects compared to younger adults, in regard to antibody responses as well as at the transcript level.

Evaluation of the Improvement Effect of Whey Protein Poly-Peptides on Quality Characteristics of Repeated Freeze-Thawed Spanish Mackerel Surimi Balls

This investigation aimed to assess the effects of whey protein hydrolysate (WPH) on the oxidative stability of protein and the ability of Scomberomorus niphoniu surimi balls to retain water after repeated freeze-thaw (F-T) cycles. Ten percent natural whey peptides (NWP), 5% WPH, 10% WPH, 15% WPH, 0.02% butyl hydroxyl anisole (BHA), and a control group that did not receive any treatment were the six groups that were employed in the experiment. The cooking loss, water retention, total sulfhydryl content, and carbonyl content of each group were all measured. Notably, it was found that the surimi balls' capacity to hold onto water and fend off oxidation was enhanced in a dose-dependent manner by the addition of WPH. Furthermore, the results showed that the 15% WPH added to the surimi balls effectively decreased protein oxidation in the F-T cycles and ameliorated the texture deterioration of surimi balls induced by repeated F-T, laying a theoretical foundation for the industrial application of WPH in surimi products.

Transcriptome analysis of axillary buds in low phosphorus stress and functional analysis of TaWRKY74s in wheat

BACKGROUND

Wheat is one of the main grain crops in the world, and the tiller number is a key factor affecting the yield of wheat. Phosphorus is an essential element for tiller development in wheat. However, due to decreasing phosphorus content in soil, there has been increasing use of phosphorus fertilizer, while imposing risk of soil and water pollution. Hence, it is important to identify low phosphorus tolerance genes and utilize them for stress resistance breeding in wheat.

RESULTS

We subjected the wheat variety Kenong 199 (KN199) to low phosphorus stress and observed a reduced tiller number. Using transcriptome analysis, we identified 1651 upregulated genes and 827 downregulated of genes after low phosphorus stress. The differentially expressed genes were found to be enriched in the enzyme activity regulation related to phosphorus, hormone signal transduction, and ion transmembrane transport. Furthermore, the transcription factor analysis revealed that TaWRKY74s were important for low phosphorus tolerance. TaWRKY74s have three alleles: TaWRKY74-A, TaWRKY74-B, and TaWRKY74-D, and they all belong to the WRKY family with conserved WRKYGQK motifs. These proteins were found to be located in the nucleus, and they were expressed in axillary meristem, shoot apical meristem(SAM), young leaves, leaf primordium, and spikelet primordium. The evolutionary tree showed that TaWRKY74s were closely related to OsWRKY74s in rice. Moreover, TaWRKY74s-RNAi transgenic plants displayed significantly fewer tillers compared to wild-type plants under normal conditions. Additionally, the tiller numebr of the RNAi transgenic plants was also significantly lower than that of the wild-type plants under low-phosphorus stress, and increased the decrease amplitude. This suggestd that TaWRKY74s are related to phosphorus response and can affect the tiller number of wheat.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this research showed that TaWRKY74s were key genes in wheat response to low phosphorus stress, which might regulate wheat tiller number through abscisic acid (ABA) and auxin signal transduction pathways. This research lays the foundation for further investigating the mechanism of TaWRKY74s in the low phosphorus environments and is significant for wheat stress resistance breeding.

Functional Study of cAMP-Dependent Protein Kinase A in Penicillium oxalicum

Signaling pathways play a crucial role in regulating cellulase production. The pathway mediated by signaling proteins plays a crucial role in understanding how cellulase expression is regulated. In this study, using affinity purification of ClrB, we have identified sixteen proteins that potentially interact with ClrB. One of the proteins, the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PoPKA-C), is an important component of the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway. Knocking out PoPKA-C resulted in significant decreases in the growth, glucose utilization, and cellulose hydrolysis ability of the mutant strain. Furthermore, the cellulase activity and gene transcription levels were significantly reduced in the ΔPoPKA-C mutant, while the expression activity of CreA, a transcriptional regulator of carbon metabolism repression, was notably increased. Additionally, deletion of PoPKA-C also led to earlier timing of conidia production. The expression levels of key transcription factor genes stuA and brlA, which are involved in the production of the conidia, showed significant enhancement in the ΔPoPKA-C mutant. These findings highlight the involvement of PoPKA-C in mycelial development, conidiation, and the regulation of cellulase expression. The functional analysis of PoPKA-C provides insights into the mechanism of the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway in cellulase expression in filamentous fungi and has significant implications for the development of high-yielding cellulase strains.

Practical NTRU Signcryption in the Standard Model

Based on the NTRU trapdoor used in NIST's Falcon, a signcryption scheme following the sign-then-encrypt paradigm is constructed. The existing partitioning technique based on Waters hash over the lattice can not complete the security reduction in the standard model for the signature part due to the "partiality" of the pre-image generated with the NTRU trapdoor. To address this, a variant of Waters hash over small integers is proposed and, the probability of the successful reduction is analyzed. The resulting signcryption achieves existential unforgeability under the adaptive chosen-message attacks. By utilizing the uniqueness of the secret and the noise in an NTRU instance, the tag used in encryption is eliminated. Furthermore, a method to construct tamper-sensitive lattice public key encryption is proposed. This approach implants the ciphertext-sensitive information into the lattice public key encryption and binds it to the encrypted information. The malleability to the public key ciphertext triggers the change of the message-signature pair so that the IND-CCA2 security of the entire ciphertext can be guaranteed by the signature for the message. Thanks to the rational design and the efficiency of the NTRU trapdoor, the computational overhead of the proposed scheme is reduced significantly compared to the existing lattice-based signcryption scheme, reaching orders of magnitude improvement in efficiency. The experiment shows that the proposed scheme is efficient.

Therapeutic Effects of Mechanical Stress-Induced C2C12-Derived Exosomes on Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis Through miR-92a-3p/PTEN/AKT Signaling Pathway

Introduction

Osteoporosis is a common bone disease in which the bone loses density and strength and is prone to fracture. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are important in bone-related diseases. Exosomes, as mediators of cell communication, have potential in cell processes. Previous studies have focused on muscle factors' regulation of bone remodeling, but research on exosomes is lacking.

Methods

 In order to confirm the therapeutic effect of mechanically stimulated myocytes (C2C12) derived exosomes (Exosome-MS) on the Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis(GIOP) compared with unmechanically stimulated myocytes (C2C12) derived exosomes (Exosomes), we established a dexamethasone-induced osteoporosis model in vivo and in vitro. Cell viability and proliferation were assessed using CCK8 and EDU assays. Osteogenic potential was evaluated through Western blotting, real-time PCR, alkaline phosphatase activity assay, and alizarin red staining. Differential expression of miRNAs was determined by high-throughput sequencing. The regulatory mechanism of miR-92a-3p on cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation via the PTEN/AKT pathway was investigated using real-time PCR, luciferase reporter gene assay, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence. The therapeutic effects of exosomes were evaluated in vivo using microCT, HE staining, Masson staining, and immunohistochemistry.

Results

 In this study, we found that exosomes derived from mechanical stress had a positive impact on the proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Importantly, we demonstrated that miR-92a-3p mimics could reverse dexamethasone-induced osteoporosis in vitro and in vivo, indicating that mechanical stress-induced mouse myoblast-derived exosomes could promote osteogenesis and prevent the occurrence and progression of osteoporosis in mice through miR-92a-3p/PTEN/AKT signaling pathway.

Conclusion

 Exosomes derived from mechanical stress-induced myoblasts can promote the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells through miR-92a-3p/PTEN/AKT signaling pathway, and can have a therapeutic effect on glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in mice in vivo.

Exploring the Connectivity of Neurodegenerative Diseases: Microglia as the Center

Degenerative diseases affect people's life and health and cause a severe social burden. Relevant mechanisms of microglia have been studied, aiming to control and reduce degenerative disease occurrence effectively. This review discussed the specific mechanisms underlying microglia in neurodegenerative diseases, age-related hearing loss, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and peripheral nervous system (PNS) degenerative diseases. It also reviewed the studies of microglia inhibitors (PLX3397/PLX5622) and activators (lipopolysaccharide), and suggested that reducing microglia can effectively curb the genesis and progression of degenerative diseases. Finally, microglial cells' anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory dual role was considered the critical communication point in central and peripheral degenerative diseases. Although it is difficult to describe the complex morphological structure of microglia in a unified manner, this does not prevent them from being a target for future treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

K-means-based heterogeneous tunneling data analysis method for evaluating rock mass parameters along a TBM tunnel

Rapid and accurate judgment of the rock mass condition is the key to guaranteeing the safety and efficiency of tunnel boring machine (TBM) tunneling. This paper proposes a method for evaluating rock mass parameters based on K-means clustering, grouping tunneling areas according to the values of TBM tunneling parameters. A dataset including rock mass and TBM tunneling data is treated by logistic normalization and principal component analysis (PCA), and large volumes of tunneling data with different features are transformed into appropriate volumes of dimensionless data. K-means clustering is used, samples are grouped according to the values of tunneling data, and the specific ranges as defined by clustering are regarded as the unified evaluated results of each group. Based on the C1 part of the Pearl Delta water resources allocation project, 100 training samples and 30 testing samples were field-collected, and the proposed method was realized by the training samples and verified by the testing samples. The evaluation accuracies of uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), and joint frequency (Jf) were 90%, and 86.7% respectively, demonstrating that the evaluation had acceptable values, and the proposed method was greatly helpful for judging rock conditions.

Reconstructive endovascular treatment for basilar artery trunk aneurysms: complications and clinical and angiography outcomes

BACKGROUND

Basilar artery trunk aneurysms (BTAs) are rare intracranial aneurysms. We aim to investigate the procedural complications and clinical and angiographic outcomes of BTAs treated with reconstructive endovascular treatment (EVT).

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the data of 111 patients with BTAs who underwent reconstructive EVT during 2013-2022. The factors associated with procedural complications and clinical and angiographic outcomes were analyzed.

RESULTS

The study included 81 men and 30 women (median age 60 years). Overall, 26 (23.4%) cases presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage and 85 (76.6%) presented with unruptured aneurysms. Periprocedural ischemic and hemorrhagic complications occurred in 29 (26.1%) and 4 (3.6%) cases, respectively. The rate of favorable clinical outcomes was 83.8% (92/111) and the mortality rate was 14.4% (16/111). Angiographic follow-up data were available for 77/95 (81.1%) survivors; 57 (74.0%) and 20 (26%) aneurysms exhibited complete and incomplete obliteration, respectively. Old age, high Hunt and Hess grades (IV-V), hemorrhagic complications, and increased aneurysm size were independent risk factors for unfavorable clinical outcomes (p<0.05). Increased aneurysm size and incomplete aneurysm occlusion on immediate angiography were independent risk factors for incomplete occlusion during follow-up (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Reconstructive EVTs are a feasible and effective treatment for BTAs but are associated with a high risk of ischemic and hemorrhagic complications and a high mortality rate. Larger aneurysms may predict unfavorable clinical outcomes and aneurysm recurrence during follow-up. Hemorrhagic complications may predict unfavorable clinical outcomes, whereas immediate complete aneurysm occlusion may predict total occlusion during follow-up.

Contamination Status, Environmental Factor and Risk Assessment of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Hexachlorobutadiene in Greenhouse and Open-Field Agricultural Soils across China

With the popularization and high-intensity utilization of greenhouse cultivation for crops growth, the pollution of greenhouse soils has been of concern. Therefore, a national-scale survey was conducted to investigate the contamination status, sources, influence factors and the risks of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD) in greenhouse and nearby open-field soils. Contents of PCBs ranged from 10-6). This study provided a full insight on the contamination status and risks of PCBs and HCBD when guiding greenhouse agriculture activities.

SLAMF7 Promotes Foam Cell Formation of Macrophage by Suppressing NR4A1 Expression During Carotid Atherosclerosis

Macrophage-derived lipid-laden foam cells from the subendothelium play a crucial role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. However, the molecule mechanism that regulates the formation of foam cells is not completely understood. Here, we found that SLAMF7 was upregulated in mice bone marrow-derived macrophages and RAW264.7 cells stimulated with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL). SLAMF7 promoted ox-LDL-mediated macrophage lipid accumulation and M1-type polarization. SLAMF7 deficiency reduced serum lipid levels and improved the lesions area of carotid plaque and aortic arch in high-fat diet-fed ApoE-/- mice. In response to ox-LDL, SLAMF7 downregulated NR4A1 and upregulated RUNX3 through transcriptome sequencing analysis. Overexpression NR4A1 reversed SLAMF7-induced lipid uptake and M1 polarization via inhibiting RUNX3 expression. Furthermore, RUNX3 enhanced foam cell formation and M1-type polarization. Taken together, the study suggested that SLAMF7 play contributing roles in the pro-atherogenic effects by regulating NR4A1-RUNX3.

Metabolome and Transcriptome Profiling Reveals the Function of MdSYP121 in the Apple Response to Botryosphaeria dothidea

The vesicular transport system is important for substance transport in plants. In recent years, the regulatory relationship between the vesicular transport system and plant disease resistance has received widespread attention; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. MdSYP121 is a key protein in the vesicular transport system. The overexpression of MdSYP121 decreased the B. dothidea resistance of apple, while silencing MdSYP121 resulted in the opposite phenotype. A metabolome and transcriptome dataset analysis showed that MdSYP121 regulated apple disease resistance by significantly affecting sugar metabolism. HPLC results showed that the levels of many soluble sugars were significantly higher in the MdSYP121-OE calli. Furthermore, the expression levels of genes related to sugar transport were significantly higher in the MdSYP121-OE calli after B. dothidea inoculation. In addition, the relationships between the MdSYP121 expression level, the soluble sugar content, and apple resistance to B. dothidea were verified in an F1 population derived from a cross between 'Golden Delicious' and 'Fuji Nagafu No. 2'. In conclusion, these results suggested that MdSYP121 negatively regulated apple resistance to B. dothidea by influencing the soluble sugar content. These technologies and methods allow us to investigate the molecular mechanism of the vesicular transport system regulating apple resistance to B. dothidea.

Bimetal-Organic Framework-Loaded PVA/Chitosan Composite Hydrogel with Interfacial Antibacterial and Adhesive Hemostatic Features for Wound Dressings

Silver-containing wound dressings have shown attractive advantages in the treatment of wound infection due to their excellent antibacterial activity. However, the introduction of silver ions or AgNPs directly into the wound can cause deposition in the body as particles. Here, with the aim of designing low-silver wound dressings, a bimetallic-MOF antibacterial material called AgCu@MOF was developed using 3, 5-pyridine dicarboxylic acid as the ligand and Ag+ and Cu2+ as metal ion sites. PCbM (PVA/chitosan/AgCu@MOF) hydrogel was successfully constructed in PVA/chitosan wound dressing loaded with AgCu@MOF. The active sites on the surface of AgCu@MOF increased the lipophilicity to bacteria and caused the bacterial membrane to undergo lipid peroxidation, which resulted in the strong bactericidal properties of AgCu@MOF, and the antimicrobial activity of the dressing PCbM was as high as 99.9%. The chelation of silver ions in AgCu@MOF with chitosan occupied the surface functional groups of chitosan and reduced the crosslinking density of chitosan. PCbM changes the hydrogel crosslinking network, thus improving the water retention and water permeability of PCbM hydrogel so that the hydrogel has the function of binding wet tissue. As a wound adhesive, PCbM hydrogel reduces the amount of wound bleeding and has good biocompatibility. PCbM hydrogel-treated mice achieved 96% wound recovery on day 14. The strong antibacterial, tissue adhesion, and hemostatic ability of PCbM make it a potential wound dressing.

Experimental and Numerical Investigation on the Aerosol Micro-Jet 3D Printing of Flexible Electronic Devices

In this study, the optimal forming parameters for printing flexible circuits using aerosol jet printing technology are explored through numerical simulation and experiments. The printhead during the deposition process is numerically simulated. By employing the controlled variable method, the process parameters such as gas flow rate, working distance, nozzle diameter, and printing speed are selected to investigate their effects on the morphology of the printed lines. Accordingly, single-factor experiments are designed to validate the printing of flexible circuits on both planar and curved substrates. Laser micro-sintering is utilized to improve the conductivity of the printed lines and ultimately fabricate flexible strain sensors. Under the sheath gas flow rate of 400 sccm, carrier gas flow rate of 100 sccm, working distance of 3 mm, nozzle diameter of 500 μm, and printing speed of 10 mm/s, the optimal morphology of the printed lines is achieved with low linewidth characteristics. The variations in the focal ratio, working distance, nozzle diameter, and printing speed significantly affect the minimum feature line width and morphology of the printed lines.

Transcriptomics Analysis Revealed Key Genes Associated with Macrophage Autophagolysosome in Male ApoE-/- Mice Aortic Atherosclerosis

Purpose

Atherosclerosis (AS) is the most common cause of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. However, the mechanisms underlying atherosclerotic plaque progression remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the genes associated with the development of atherosclerosis in the aorta of ApoE-/- male mice, which could serve as novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets in interventions to halt plaque progression.

Methods

Eight-week-old ApoE-/- mice were fed a normal purified laboratory diet or a Western Diet (WD) for 6 or 22 weeks. High-throughput sequencing technology was used to analyze the transcriptomes of the aortas of four groups of mice that were exposed to different dietary conditions. We retrieved and downloaded the human Arteriosclerosis Disease Chip dataset GSE100927 from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and selected 29 cases of carotid atherosclerotic lesions and 12 cases of normal carotid tissues as the experimental and control groups, respectively, to further verify our dataset. In addition, we used quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (QT-PCR) to verify the expression levels of the core genes in an atherosclerosis mouse model.

Results

There were 265 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the ApoE-/- Male mice AS22W group and Sham22W group. In addition to the well-known activation of inflammation and immune response, t the autophagy-lysosome system is also an important factor that affects the development of atherosclerosis. We identified five core genes (Atp6ap2, Atp6v0b, Atp6v0d2, Atp6v1a, and Atp6v1d) in the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network that were closely related to autophagosomes. Hub genes were highly expressed in the carotid atherosclerosis group in the GSE100927 dataset (P < 0.001). QT-PCR showed that the RNA level of Atp6v0d2 increased significantly during the development of atherosclerotic plaque in ApoE-/- male mice.

Conclusion

Five core genes which affect the development of aortic atherosclerosis through the autophagy-lysosome system, especially Atp6v0d2, were screened and identified using bioinformatic techniques.

A Comparison of Adjustable Positioning and Free Positioning After Pars Plana Vitrectomy for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study

Purpose

To compare the effectiveness and safety of adjustable and free postoperative positioning after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).

Design

Prospective, randomized controlled study.

Methods

A total of 94 eyes with RRD were enrolled from April 2020 to April 2023 and monitored postoperatively for at least 3 months. All patients underwent PPV combined with silicone oil injection or gas tamponade and were randomly divided postoperatively into two groups: an adjustable positioning group and a free positioning group. The success of the outcome was based on the retinal reattachment rate, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), postoperative complications, and ocular biometric parameters such as anterior chamber depth (ACD) and lens thickness (LT).

Results

The initial retinal reattachment rate was 97.9% in the adjustable positioning group and 95.7% in the free positioning group, manifesting no statistical difference between the two groups. Similarly, no statistical difference was observed between the two groups in the final BCVA, which was significantly improved compared to the preoperative BCVA. The comparison of the 1-month postoperative ACD and LT with the preoperative values showed no statistically significant differences in the two groups. The rates of complications were not statistically different in the two groups.

Conclusion

After treating RRD using PPV, neither the adjustable nor the free postoperative positioning affected the retinal reattachment rate or the incidence of complications. Therefore, our study showed that it is safe and effective to adopt free positioning postoperatively, which may provide more options for patients with RRD undergoing PPV.

Complex roles of Hippo-YAP/TAZ signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The Hippo signaling pathway is an evolutionarily conserved signaling module that controls organ size in different species, and the disorder of the Hippo pathway can induce liver cancer in organisms, especially hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The exact mechanism that causes cancer is still unknown. Recent studies have shown that it is a classical kinase cascade that phosphorylates the Mst1/2-sav1 complex and activates the phosphorylation of the Lats1/2-mob1A/B complex for inactivating Yap and Taz. These kinases and scaffolds are regarded as primary regulators of the Hippo pathway, and help in activating a variety of carcinogenic processes. Among them, Yap/Taz is seen to be the main effector molecule, which is downstream of the Hippo pathway, and its abnormal activation is related to a variety of human cancers including liver cancer. Currently, since Yap/Taz plays a variety of roles in cancer promotion and tumor regeneration, the Hippo pathway has emerged as an attractive target in recent drug development research.

METHODS

We collect and review relevant literature in web of Science and Pubmed.

CONCLUSION

This review highlights the important roles of Yap/Taz in activating Hippo pathway in liver cancer. The recent findings on the crosstalks between the Hippo and other cancer associated pathways and moleculars are also discussed. In this review, we summarized and discussed recent breakthroughs in our understanding of how key components of the Hippo-YAP/TAZ pathway influence the hepatocellular carcinoma, including their effects on tumor occurrence and development, their roles in regulating metastasis, and their function in chemotherapy resistance. Further, the molecular mechanism and roles in regulating cross talk between Hippo-YAP/TAZ pathway and other cancer-associated pathways or oncogenes/cancer suppressor genes were summarized and discussed. More, many other inducers and inhibitors of this signaling cascade and available experimental therapies against the YAP/TAZ/TEAD axis were discussed. Targeting this pathway for cancer therapy may have great significance in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Graphical summary of the complex role of Hippo-YAP/TAZ signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Research on dynamic response characteristics of normal fault footwall working face and rock burst prevention technology under the influence of the gob area

To study the effect of mining dynamic response characteristics on the footwall working face of the normal fault under the influence of the gob area, theoretical research, indoor experiment, and numerical simulation are adopted to analyze the stress manifestation characteristics, overburden movement, and energy evolution characteristics during the process of mining. The results show that: (1) In the process of mining toward the fault, the working face shows the change characteristics of "stable-activation mutation-final stability". At 20 m from the fault, the arch structure of the working face was damaged, fissures appeared near the high fault fracture zone, and the displacement of the overburden rock increased significantly; (2) the maximum value was reached at 4-8 m from the coal wall, and the superposition of tectonic stress and mining stress led to the concentration of the stress and energy accumulating on the top plate near the fault, and the data close to the gob area were even larger; (3) If the plastic damage zone of the high-level rock layer on the hanging wall and footwall of the fault appears to have a wide range of penetration, and the area formed between the shear displacement curve of the fault plane and the X-axis appears to have a significant enhancement, it is considered that the fault has been activated; (4) The size of the coal pillar of the fault is determined to be 40 m, and combined with the pressure unloading technique of the variable-diameter drilling hole, the validation is carried out through the micro-vibration monitoring, and the results of which can be used as a reference for the safety of the working face under similar conditions.

Association between the location of social medical insurance and social integration among China's elderly rural migrants: a nationwide cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Universal social medical insurance coverage is viewed as a major factor in promoting social integration, but insufficient evidence exists on the integration of elderly rural migrants (ERM), generally aged 60 years and above, in low- and middle-income countries. To address this problem, we explore the relationship between the location of social medical insurance (SMI), such as a host city, and social integration in the context of Chinese ERM.

METHODS

This study is based on data from the 2017 National Internal Migrant Dynamic Monitoring Survey in China. The study participants were Chinese ERM. An integration index was constructed to measure the degree of social integration in a multi-dimensional manner using a factor analysis method. This study used descriptive statistics and one-way analysis of variance to explore the differences in social integration between ERM with SMI from host cities and hometowns. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was used to test the correlation between SMI location and social integration level in the overall sample. Finally, the results were verified by propensity score matching.

RESULTS

It was found that 606 (18.2%) of the insured ERM chose host city SMI, while 2727 (81.8%) chose hometown SMI. The level of social integration was lower among ERM with hometown SMI (-1.438 ± 32.795, F = 28.311, p ≤ 0.01) than those with host city SMI (6.649 ± 34.383). Among the dimensions of social integration, social participation contributed more than other factors, with a contribution rate of 45.42%. Host city SMI increased the probability of the social integration index by 647% among ERM (k-nearest neighbor caliper matched (n = 4, caliper = 0.02), with a full sample ATT value of 6.47 (T = 5.32, SE = 1.48, p < 0.05)).

CONCLUSIONS

ERM with host city SMI have a higher social integration level than those with hometowns SMI. That is, host city SMI positively affects social integration. Policymakers should focus on the access of host city SMI for ERM. Removing the threshold of host city SMI coverage for ERM can promote social integration.

A Comparative Study on Microstructure, Segregation, and Mechanical Properties of Al-Si-Mg Alloy Parts Processed by GISS-HPDC and SEED-HPDC

There are multiple routes to prepare semi-solid slurries with a globular microstructure for semi-solid forming. The variations in the microstructure of semi-solid slurries prepared using different routes may lead to significant differences in the flow behavior and mechanical properties of rheo-diecasting parts. Therefore, it is crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of the microstructure evolution associated with different slurry preparation routes and their resulting effects. In this study, the gas-induced semi-solid process (GISS) and the swirl enthalpy equilibrium device (SEED) routes were employed to prepare semi-solid Al-Si-Mg slurries for their simplicity and productivity in potential industrial applications. The prepared slurries were then injected into the shoot sleeves of a high-pressure die casting (HPDC) machine to produce tensile test bars. Subsequently, the bars underwent T6 treatment to enhance their mechanical properties. The microstructure, segregation, and mechanical properties of the samples were investigated and compared with those of conventional HPDC. The results indicated that the GISS and SEED can produce semi-solid slurries containing a spherical α-Al primary phase, as opposed to the dendritic structure commonly found in conventional castings. The liquid fraction had a significant effect on the flow behavior, resulting in variations in liquid segregation and mechanical properties. It was observed that a higher solid fraction (>75%) had a suppressing effect on surface liquid segregation. In addition, the tendency for liquid segregation gradually increased along the filling direction due to the special flow behavior of the semi-solid slurry with a low solid fraction. Furthermore, under the same die-casting process parameters, the conventional HPDC samples exhibit higher yield stress (139 ± 3 MPa) compared to SEED-HPDC and GISS-HPDC samples, which may be attributed to the small grain size and the distribution of eutectic phases. After undergoing the T6 treatment, both SEED-HPDC and GISS-HPDC samples showed a significant improvement in yield and tensile strength. These improvements are a result of solution and precipitation strengthening effects as well as the spheroidization of the eutectic Si phase. Moreover, the heat-treated SEED-HPDC samples demonstrate higher ultimate strength (336 ± 5 MPa) and elongation (13.7 ± 0.3%) in comparison to the GISS-HPDC samples (307 ± 4 MPa, 8.8 ± 0.2%) after heat treatment, mainly due to their low porosity density. These findings suggest that both GISS-HPDC and SEED-HPDC processes can be utilized to produce parts with favorable mechanical properties by implementing appropriate heat treatments. However, further investigation is required to control the porosities of GISS-HPDC samples during heat treatment.

Heterointerface Engineered Core-Shell Fe2O3@TiO2 for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Storage

The rational design of the heterogeneous interfaces enables precise adjustment of the electronic structure and optimization of the kinetics for electron/ion migration in energy storage materials. In this work, the built-in electric field is introduced to the iron-based anode material (Fe2O3@TiO2) through the well-designed heterostructure. This model serves as an ideal platform for comprehending the atomic-level optimization of electron transfer in advanced lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). As a result, the core-shell Fe2O3@TiO2 delivers a remarkable discharge capacity of 1342 mAh g-1 and an extraordinary capacity retention of 82.7% at 0.1 A g-1 after 300 cycles. Fe2O3@TiO2 shows an excellent rate performance from 0.1 A g-1 to 4.0 A g-1. Further, the discharge capacity of Fe2O3@TiO2 reached 736 mAh g-1 at 1.0 A g-1 after 2000 cycles, and the corresponding capacity retention is 83.62%. The heterostructure forms a conventional p-n junction, successfully constructing the built-in electric field and lithium-ion reservoir. The kinetic analysis demonstrates that Fe2O3@TiO2 displays high pseudocapacitance behavior (77.8%) and fast lithium-ion reaction kinetics. The capability of heterointerface engineering to optimize electrochemical reaction kinetics offers novel insights for constructing high-performance iron-based anodes for LIBs.