3,4-Dihydroquinolin-2(1H)-ones represent a class of valuable bioactive compounds with six-membered nitrogen-containing heterocyclic structures. The development of simple, mild and efficient synthetic methods has been widely concerned by synthetic chemists. In this review, we have summarized a series of different synthetic strategies for the synthesis of dihydroquinoline-2(1H)-ones via catalytic annulation of α,β-unsaturated N-arylamides in the past decade, including covering electrophilic cyclization, radical initiated cyclization and photochemical cyclization reactions. Besides, the substrate scope and mechanistic details are also discussed. This paper will provide a useful reference for the development of diverse synthesis methodologies of 3,4-dihydroquinolin-2(1H)-ones.

Harsh parenting could be regarded as a harsh form of behavior, feelings and attitude towards children in the process of parenting. According to the theory of intergenerational transmission of violence, harsh parenting is an important factor affecting children's aggressive behavior, but the theory does not clarify the specific action path between the harsh parenting and aggressive behavior. In order to reveal the relationship between harsh parenting and aggressive behavior of juvenile delinquents, 604 male juvenile delinquents (N=604, Mage=16.57 years, SD=0.612 years) were investigated using Harsh Parenting Questionnaire, Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire, Multidimensional Peer-Victimization Scale, and the Word Sentence Association Paradigm for Hostility in Chinese version. Analysis using structural equation modeling procedures showed that (a) all variables were positively associated with each others; (b) the partial indirect effect of harsh parenting on aggressive behaviors was realized through the mediator of peer victimization and hostile attribution bias independently, (c) as well as the partial indirect effect through the mediator of peer victimization and hostile attribution bias sequentially. The results suggested that harsh parenting can explain the high aggressive behavior of male juvenile delinquents. Moreover, harsh parenting may also lead to the formation of hostile attribution bias by increasing the risk of peer victimization, and ultimately lead to the formation of highly aggressive behaviors.

Primulina serrulata is a valuable ornamental herb with rosette leaves and vibrant flowers. Some leaves exhibit a bright and distinct white color along the upper veins, enhancing their ornamental value, while others are less white or entirely green. This variation is observed among adult leaves in natural habitats and among young leaves from seedlings grown in the laboratory. TMT-labeled proteomic technology was employed to study the protein-level biogenesis of white-veined (WV) leaves of P. serrulata. The chlorophyll (Chl) content was significantly lower in the WV group than in the control group. A total of 6,261 proteins were identified, revealing 69 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), with 44 down-regulated and 25 up-regulated in WV plants. Some DEPs associated with chloroplasts and Chl biosynthesis were down-regulated, leading to the absence of green coloration. Concurrently, gene ontology enrichment analysis further underscored an insufficiency of magnesium , the key element in Chl biosynthesis. Many DEPs associated with abiotic or biotic stresses were down-regulated, suggesting an overall weakening of stress resistance with certain compensatory mechanisms in place. Similarly, many DEPs related to biomacromolecule modification were down-regulated, possibly influenced by the decrease in proteins involved in photosynthesis and stress resistance. Some DEPs containing iron were up-regulated, indicating that iron was mainly used to synthesize heme and ferritin instead of Chl. Additionally, several DEPs related to sulfur or sulfate were up-regulated, implying strengthened respiration. Expansin-A4 and pectinesterase displayed up-regulation, coinciding with the emergence of a rough and bright surface in the white area, indicative of the elongation and gelation processes in cell walls. These findings provide new insights that could be utilized by future studies to explore the mechanism of color formation in WV leaves.

8-Hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) was the most widely used oxidative stress biomarker of the free radical-induced oxidative damage product of DNA, which may allow a premature assessment of various diseases. This paper designed a label-free, portable biosensor device to direct detect 8-OHdG by plasma coupled electrochemistry on transparent and conductive indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode. We reported a flexible printed ITO electrode made from particle-free silver and carbon inks. After inkjet printing, the working electrode was sequentially assembled by gold nanotriangles (AuNTAs) and platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs). This nanomaterial-modified portable biosensor showed excellent electrochemical performance for 8-OHdG detection from 10 μg/mL to 100 μg/mL by our self-developed constant voltage source integrated circuit system. This work demonstrated a portable biosensor for simultaneously integrating nanostructure, electroconductivity, and biocompatibility to construct advanced biosensors for oxidative damage biomarkers. The proposed nanomaterial modified ITO-based electrochemical portable device was a potential biosensor to approach 8-OHdG point-of-care testing (POCT) in various biological fluid samples, such as saliva and urine samples.

Trichinellosis is a major worldwide health concern caused by T. spiralis infection without highly efficient and safe therapeutic method so far. To solve the problem of uncomplete drug treatment schemes and the rise of anthelmintic resistance, a potential protective effect of probiotic strains against zoonotic T. spiralis infection was investigated in the framework of a new therapeutic strategy aimed at using probiotics to control parasitic zoonoses. The study was focused on L. reuteri protected against T. spiralis infection in intestinal phase throughout the detection of adult worm number, inflammatory factors mRNA expression, antioxidant enzyme expression and Nrf2 signal pathway protein expression. Mice were divided randomly into 3 groups: 1) Control group: no treatment; 2) Ts group: T. spiralis infection; 3）LAB group: T. spiralis infected after orally administered L. reuteri for 7 days. Probiotics bacteria were administered daily in a dose of 109 CFU/mL, and mice were infected with 400 T. spiralis larvae in the experimental groups. The number of adult worms was also significantly increased after administration of probiotics. Meanwhile, L. reuteri alleviate the inflammatory response caused by T. spiralis infection in intestinal has been confirmed. In addition, the promotion of antioxidant enzyme expression can be inferred that L. reuteri regulate Nrf2 signal pathways against T. spiralis infection. Our study demonstrates that L. reuteri provide protection against T. spiralis infection in intestinal. Therapeutic approaches with probiotic strains admission could help to reduce the risks of trichinellosis or complement classical anti-parasite treatments.

[Objective] To investigate the expression of ALDH2 in hepatocellular carcinoma and its correlation with macrophage infiltration and with the activation of specific subtypes of macrophages. [Methods] Transcriptome and clinical data from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) databases and analyzed and collated using R and Perl software. In the TCGA hepatocellular carcinoma dataset, the Wilcoxon test was used to identify macrophage activation-related gene sets that show differential expression between hepatocellular carcinoma and normal tissues. Single-cell sequencing combined with bulk data was used to analyze macrophage infiltration of hepatocellular carcinoma immune cells and the activation and recruitment of different subtypes of macrophages. Single-factor Cox regression and minimum absolute convergence and selection operator (Lasso) were used to identify survival-related genes and construct prognostic models of HCC. The patients were divided into two groups based on their model scores. The Wilcoxon test was used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the two groups, and gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional enrichment analyses of the DEGs were performed. Single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) was performed to explore the possible mechanism underlying the differences in prognosis. The reliability of the model was verified using the ICGC hepatocellular carcinoma dataset. A Kaplan‒Meier curve was constructed and used to analyze the influence of macrophage activation-related gene expression on survival and prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. The log-rank test and the independent t test were used to analyze survival time data and to compare immune cell infiltration in the two groups. [Results] In a comparison of hepatocellular carcinoma and paracancerous tissues, the expression of six of 137 macrophage activation-related genes (ALDH2, CCNB2, CYP2C9, CYP3A4, F9 and KLKB1) was found to be significantly correlated with overall survival time (OS) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Based on this finding, a prognosis assessment model for hepatocellular carcinoma was constructed. The OS of the patients in the high-scoring group was significantly shorter than the OS of the patients in the low-scoring group (P<0.05), and the model predicted the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma independently of sex, age, tumor grade and stage. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of the model used to predict 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival was greater than 0.7 in both the test set and the validation set. GO enrichment of DEGs between the high- and low-scoring groups of the model suggested that the DEGs are mainly related to immune function. GSEA suggested that the tumor-infiltrating immune cells in the high-scoring group were macrophages, Th2 cells and Treg cells and showed that the number of tumor-infiltrating immune cells, including NK cells, was lower in the high-scoring group than in the low-scoring group. With respect to immune function, the immune checkpoint of the high-scoring group was higher than that of the low-scoring group. Single-cell sequencing data indicated the recruitment of B cells, M0 cells, M1 cells and M2 cells to the hepatocellular carcinoma microenvironment and suggested that ALDH2 regulates related signaling pathways in a way that promotes the differentiation of macrophages into M2-type macrophages. [Conclusion] M2-type macrophages are the dominant type of macrophages associated with immune infiltration in hepatocellular carcinoma. The macrophage-associated activation gene ALDH2 activates the macrophage polarization signaling pathway and negatively regulates the differentiation of macrophages into M2-type macrophages.

Elevated antimony concentrations in aqueous environments from anthropogenic sources is becoming of global concern, here iron oxides are known to strongly adsorb aqueous antimony species with different oxidation states, but the effect of silica on the removal characteristics is not well understood despite being a common component in the environment. In this study, ferrihydrite was synthesized at various Si/Fe molar ratios to investigate its adsorption and co-precipitation behaviors with aqueous antimony anionic species, Sb(III) and Sb(V). The XRD analyses of the precipitates showed two broad diffraction features at approximately 35° and 62° 2θ, which are characteristic of 2-line ferrihydrite, no significant shifts in peak positions in the ferrihydrite regardless of the Si/Fe ratios. The infrared spectra showed a sharp band at ~990 cm⁻¹, corresponding to asymmetric stretching vibrations of Si-O-Fe bonds which increased in intensity with increasing Si/Fe molar ratios. Further, the surface charge on the precipitates became more negative with increasing Si/Fe molar ratios. The adsorption experiments indicated that Sb(V) was preferentially adsorbed at acidic conditions and decreased dramatically with increasing pH while the adsorption rate of Sb(III) ions was independent of pH, however, the presence of silica suppressed the adsorption of both Sb(III) and Sb(V) ions. The results showed that Sb(III) and Sb(V) ions were significantly inhibited by co-precipitation with ferrihydrite even in the presence of silica by isomorphous substitution in the ferrihydrite crystal structure.

Mitochondrial alternative oxidase 1a (AOX1a) plays an extremely important role in critical node of seed viability. However, the regulatory mechanism is still poorly understood. The study aims to identify regulatory mechanisms by comparing between OsAOX1a-RNAi and wild type (WT) rice seed during artificial aging treatment. Gain weight and P50 significantly decreased in OsAOX1a-RNAi rice seed, indicating that there might be impaired in seed development and storability. Compared to WT seeds in the 100%, 90%, 80%, and 70% germination, respectively, NADH and succinate-dependent O2 consumption, the activity mitochondrial malate dehydro-genase and ATP contents were decreased in OsAOX1a-RNAi seeds in the 100%, 90%, 80%, and 70% germination, respectively, indicating that mitochondrial status in the OsAOX1a-RNAi seeds after imbibition was weaken than the WT. In addition to, the reduced abundance of complex I N and P module subunits might showed that the capacity of mitochondrial electron transfer chain was significantly inhibited in the OsAOX1a-RNAi seed at critical node of seed viability. Above results might indicated that the ATP production was impaired in OsAOX1a-RNAi seeds during ageing. Therefore, we conclude that the activities of mitochondrial metabolism and alternative pathways were severely inhibited in OsAOX1a-RNAi seeds at critical node of viability, which was leading to accelerate the collapse of seed viability. The precise regulatory mechanism of the alternative pathway at the critical node of viability still needs to be further analyzed.

Cancer is a common illness with a high mortality. Compared to traditional technologies, biomarkers detection, with low cost and simple operation, has higher sensitivity and faster speed in early screening and prognosis of cancer. Therefore, extensive research has been focused on the development of biosensors and the construction of sensing interfaces. Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is a promising two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterial, whose unique adjustable bandgap shows excellent electronic and optical properties in the construction of biosensor interfaces. It not only has the advantages of high catalytic activity and low manufacturing costs, but also can further expand the application of hybrid structures by different functionalization, and is widely used in various biosensors fields. Herein, the application of electrochemical and optical sensing platforms based on MoS2 in the detection of cancer biomarkers was comprehensively reviewed. Firstly, the structure and preparation method of MoS2 were introduced, and its applicable characteristics in the field of biosensors were explored. Secondly, we comprehensively reviewed the recent construction and application of sensing platform based on MoS2 in the field of cancer biomarkers detection in both electrochemical and optical aspects. The prime characteristics and application performances of MoS2 and its composites were emphasized. Additionally, we also involved some other types of biosensors based on MoS2. Finally, we summarized the challenges and development prospects of MoS2 in the application of cancer biomarkers detection, and provided some insights for the application potential of this kind of emerging nano-materials in a broader field.

Most of existing fuzzy forecasting models partition historical training time series into fuzzy time series and build fuzzy-trend logical relationship groups to generate forecasting rules. The determination process of intervals is complex and uncertainty. In this paper, we present a novel fuzzy forecasting model based on high-order fuzzy-fluctuation trends and the fuzzy-fluctuation logical relationships of the training time series. Firstly, we compare each data with the data of its previous day in historical training time series to generate a new fluctuation trend time series(FTTS). Then, fuzzify the FTTS into fuzzy-fluctuation time series(FFTS) according to the up, equal or down range and orientation of the fluctuations. Since the relationship between historical FFTS and the fluctuation trend of future is nonlinear, Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm is employed to estimate the required parameters. Finally, use the acquired parameters to forecast the future fluctuations. In order to compare the performance of the proposed model with that of the other models, we apply the proposed method to forecast the Taiwan Stock Exchange Capitalization Weighted Stock Index (TAIEX) time series datasets. The experimental results and the comparison results show that the proposed method can be successfully applied in stock market forecasting or such kinds of time series. We also apply the proposed method to forecast Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite Index (SHSECI) to verify its effectiveness and universality.

With the popularization of intelligent sensing and the improvement of modern medical technology, intelligent medical sensing technology has emerged as the times require. This technology combines basic disciplines such as physics, mathematics, and materials with modern technologies such as semiconductors, integrated circuits, and artificial intelligence, and has become one of the most promising focuses in the medical field. The core of intelligent medical sensor technology is to make existing medical sensors intelligent, portable, and wearable with full consideration of ergonomics and sensor power consumption issues, for conforming to the current trends in cloud medicine, personalized medicine, and health monitoring. With the development of automation and intelligence in measurement and control systems, it is required that sensors have high accuracy, reliability, stability, as well as certain data processing capabilities, self-checking, self-calibration, and self-compensation，while traditional medical sensors cannot meet such requirements. In addition, in order to manufacture high-performance sensors, it is also difficult to improve the material process alone, and it is necessary to combine computer technology with sensor technology to make up for its performance shortcomings. Intelligent medical sensing technology combines medical sensors with microprocessors to produce powerful intelligent medical sensors. On the basis of the original sensor functions, intelligent medical sensors also have functions such as self-compensation, self-calibration, self-diagnosis, numerical processing, two-way communication, information storage, and digital output. This review focuses on the application of intelligent medical sensing technology in biomedical sensing detection from three aspects: physical sensor, chemical sensor, and biosensor.

The portal website of a university or a college usually represents the cultural characteristics and teaching advantages and plays a vital role in higher education, showing the style of the university or college to society and improving the admission rate. Mississippi State (MS) is bounded by the Mississippi River in the west and the Gulf of Mexico in the south, with a population of 3.1 million. It has a rich cultural heritage, and many universities, especially historically black colleges and universities (HBCUS), have strong scientific research strength in agriculture, medicine, petrochemicals and papermaking. Therefore, this article will analyze the design of the portal websites of four HBCUs in Mississippi from two aspects: user experience (UE) and functional architecture (FA), determine their advantages, disadvantages, similarities and differences, and propose some optimization suggestions.

As the first pilot ecological civilization zone in China, Fujian Province has an excellent ecological environment quality, and its ecological environment-related indices continue to be among the highest in the country. In order to investigate the causes of the excellent ecological quality in Fujian Province in the past 15 years, this paper selects MODIS images, land use data and provincial and municipal statistical yearbook data of Fujian province from 2005 to 2020 as data sources, evaluates the ecological system health of Fujian Province by remote-sensing ecological index (i.e. RSEI), constructs the land use intensity system of Fujian Province at the same time, and uses a coupled coordination model to analyze the coupling between RSEI and The coupled coordination model was used to analyze the coupling relationship between RSEI and land use intensity, and finally the spatial and temporal evolution of ecological health in Fujian Province from 2005 to 2020 was analyzed. The results show that the coupled coordination between land use intensity and ecosystem health in Fujian province showed a continuous increase between 2005 and 2020, especially in Ningde, where the increase was most significant, from 0.0993 to 0.963, this pattern of spatial distribution is lower in the south-eastern coastal region than in the north-western interior, higher in the south-western region than in the north-western region, and higher in the north-eastern region than in the south-eastern region. In terms of the type of role, the land use intensity of most cities in Fujian Province in 2005 played an obvious role in blocking the degree of ecosystem health, but as time changed, urban land use continued to be optimized and reached moderate or even high quality coordination with the quality of the ecological environment, but Xiamen City developed relatively slowly and its 2020 coupling degree value was 0.315, which was still in mild disorder. This study fills a gap in the research mechanism of the interaction between the degree of ecosystem health and land use intensity, and also provides a new perspective for the construction of ecological civilization and the assessment of the degree of ecosystem health in Fujian Province and the whole country.

Flood inundation causes socioeconomic losses for coastal tourism under climate extremes, progressively attracting global attention. Mapping, evaluating, and predicting the flood inundation risk (FIR) is significant for coastal tourism. The study develops a spatial tourism–aimed framework integrating a weighted k-Nearest Neighbors (WkNN), Geographic Information Systems, and flood-related spatially environmental criteria such as precipitation, elevation, soil, and drainage systems. These model inputs were standardized and weighted using distance, and integrated into WkNN to infer regional probability and distribution of FIR. Zhejiang province, China, was selected as a case study. The resulting map was pictured to denote the likelihood of the criteria at various risk categories, which was validated by historical Maximum Inundation Extent (MIE) extracted from World Environment Situation Room. The result indicates 80.59% of WkNN results reasonably confirm the MIE. Precipitation and elevation make a negative contribution to high-medium risk, and drainage systems positively alleviate the regional stress of FIR. The results can help stakeholders make suitable strategies to protect coastal tourism, and also weigh WkNN is superior to kNN in FIR assessment. The framework provides a productive way to yield a reliable assessment of FIR and can also be extended to other risk-related environmental studies under climate change.

(1) Background: As Patient-reported outcome measures face challenges with low response rate on surveys, different incentive mechanism have been proposed to achieve a higher response rate. However, it seems that monetary incentives are the only mechanism with proven effect. Nevertheless, it is less likely to be used than other mechanisms due to the monetary cost. (2) Methods: In this research work, a cryptographic scheme for rewarding patients with cryptographic tokens is developed and implemented on the Ethereum test network. (3) Results: The model is able to distribute decentralised tokens to patients who complete the PROMs in a fair, private, decentralised approach. The token can be further used by patients to exchange more healthcare services, encouraging more patients to participate in PROMs. At the same time, an IER detection method is built to improve the quality of PROMs, avoiding the healthcare provider paying for meaningless PROMs from patients who barely participate for incentives. (4) Conclusions: This work provides an privacy-preserving incentive model to increase the response rate for PROMs surveys. Our model prevents patients providing invalid responses to gain rewards.

Despite the expectation that social media use in the public sector contributes to enhancing government's transparency, few studies have been investigated whether social media use actually leads to more disclosure during environmental incidents in practice and how social media influence local governments and their officials' information disclosure. In this article, we model information disclosure during environmental incidents as an evolutionary game process between the central government and local government in social media context, and examine the internal mechanism that how social media influence the progress of information disclosure during environmental incidents. The findings indicate that social media plays an active constructive role in central-local government game relations. Specific- ally, social media can provides an efficient information channels for the central government supervise regional officials in environmental incidents, and thus improves its supervision efficiency, and it also provides an important means for internet mobilization and online-offline interaction by encouraging the public exchange information and express their views, and in turn forces local governments and their officials tend to disclosure ahead.

Maternal obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are linked with impaired placental function and early onset of non-communicable cardiometabolic diseases in offspring. Previous studies have highlighted that the dietary non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs), palmitate (PA) and oleate (OA), key dietary metabolites associated with maternal obesity and GDM, are potential modulators of placental lipid processing. Using the BeWo cell line model, the current study integrated transcriptomic (mRNA microarray), metabolomic, and lipidomic readouts to characterize the underlying impacts of exogenous PA and OA on placental villous trophoblast cell metabolism. Targeted gas chromatography and thin layer chromatography highlighted that saturated and monounsaturated NEFAs differentially impact BeWo cell lipid profiles. Furthermore, cellular lipid profiles differed when exposed to single and multiple NEFA species. Additional multi-omic analyses suggested that PA exposure is associated with enrichment in β-oxidation pathways, while OA exposure is associated with enrichment in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant pathways. Overall, this study further demonstrated that dietary PA and OA are important regulators of placental lipid metabolism. Encouraging appropriate dietary advise and implementing dietary interventions that maintain appropriate placental function by limiting excessive exposure to saturated NEFAs such as PA, will continue to be crucial in the clinical management of at-risk obese and GDM pregnancies.

At the nanoscale, metals exhibit special electrochemical and optical properties, which play an important role in nanobiosensing. In particular, the surface plasmon resonance based on precious metal nanoparticles, as a kind of tag free biosensor technology, has brought high sensitivity, high reliability and convenient operation to the sensor detection. By applying an electrochemical excitation signal on the nano plasma device, modulating its surface electron density and realizing electrochemical coupling surface plasmon resonance, it can effectively complete the joint transmission of electrical signals and optical signals, increase the resonance shift of the spectrum, and further improve the sensitivity of the designed biosensor. In addition, smartphone is playing an increasingly important role in portable mobile sensor detection systems. These systems typically connect sensing devices to smartphone to perceive different types of information, from optical signals to electrochemical signals, providing ideas for the portability and low-cost design of these sensing systems. Among them, electrochemiluminescence, as a special electrochemical coupled optical technology, has good application prospects in mobile sensing detection due to its strong anti-interference ability, which is not affected by background light. In this review, the surface plasmon resonance is introduced from nanoparticles, and its response process is analyzed theoretically. Then, the mechanism and sensing application of electrochemistry coupled surface plasmon resonance and electrochemiluminescence are emphatically introduced. Finally, it extends to the related research of electrochemical coupled optical sensing on mobile detection platforms.

We successfully fabricated Ag@Cu2O core-shell decorated on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanocomposites (ACRN) by a simple and convenient in situ substitution method. The properties of these ACRN with heterostructure layers were characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopies and absorption spectroscopy. We used p-nitrophenol (4-NP) as a probe molecule to determine the chemical catalytic activity of the ACRN. Upon introduction of rGO, a high electron transfer efficiency was achieved; thus, the catalytic activity was improved significantly. Therefore, the ACRN exhibited significantly improved catalytic activity for the reduction of 4-NP and showed the high application value in the removal of toxic and harmful substances from water. In addition, the fabricated ACRN was used for the reduction of organic dyes and explosive pollutants to generate nontoxic products. Furthermore, the high charge redistribution and transfer among Ag, Cu2O and rGO in the ACRN induced the high catalytic reduction of organic pollutants, indicating the excellent potential of these materials for applications in water pollution treatment.

Increasing clinical and preclinical evidences implicate gut microbiome (GM) dysbiosis as a key susceptibility factor for neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s diseases (PD). In recent years, neurodegenerative diseases have not been viewed as driven solely by defects in brain, and the role of GM in modulating the central nervous system function via gut-brain axis has attracted considerable interest. Encouraged by GM researches, the next-generation probiotics may lead to tangible impacts on the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. This review summarizes the current understandings of GM composition and characteristics associated with neurodegenerative diseases, and the demonstrations of molecules from GM affecting neurodegeneration. Particularly, applications of next-generation probiotics such as Clostridium butyricum, Akkermansia muciniphila, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, and Bacteroides fragilis for remediation of neurodegenerative diseases are discussed.

The human body is inhabited by unique microbial communities that protect and regulate the host against pathogens and inflammation. To address issues related to disrupted microbial composition, microbial transfer therapy (MTT) has emerged as a potential treatment option. The most popular form of MTT is fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), which has been successful in treating various diseases. Another emerging form of MTT is vaginal microbiota transplantation (VMT), transferring of the vaginal microbiota from a healthy female donor to a diseased patient's vaginal cavity, which aims to restore normal vaginal microbial composition. However, VMT is vastly unexplored due to safety concerns and lack of research. This paper explores the mechanisms involved in VMT's therapeutic effect and discusses future perspectives. Further research is needed to advance VMT's clinical applications and techniques.

By shifting the focus from aggregate-level analysis to individual-level analysis, we believe that the DAD model can contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of driving behavior. Combing DAD with a conflict identification (CIM) model can potentially enhance the effectiveness of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in terms of crash evasion capabilities. This paper is part of our research titled Automatic Safety Diagnosis in Connected Vehicle Environment, which received funding from the Southeastern Transportation Research, Innovation, Development, and Education Center.

Mice are one of the frequently used animal models in science research whose behavioral characteristics can provide much valuable information in biology, neuroscience, and pharmacology. Nowadays, artificial intelligence is widely used in mice behavior analysis. Integrated AI systems such as ChatGPT and VisualGPT are already available, and we discuss the feasibility of MiceGPT to help researchers identify and classify mouse behavior more easily. We review the applications of mice behavior analysis, analyze the tasks of deep learning on these applications based on an AI pyramid, and finally summarize the AI approaches to solve these tasks. Based on these summaries, we propose three MiceGPT architectures to demonstrate the theoretical feasibility of MiceGPT.

Asymmetric lithium salts, such as Lithium (difluoromethanesulfonyl)(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiDFTFSI), have been demonstrated to surpass traditional symmetric lithium salts with improved Li+ conductivity and the capacity to generate stable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) while maintaining compatibility with aluminum (Al0) current collector. However, the intrinsic reductive mechanism through which LiDFTFSI influences battery performance remains unclear and under debate. Herein, the detailed SEI reactions of LiDFTFSI-based electrolytes were investigated by combining density functional theory and molecular dynamics, aiming to clarify the formation process and atomic structure of SEI. Our results show that asymmetric DFTFSI– weakens the interaction between carbonate solvents and Li+, and substantially alter the solvation structure, exhibiting a well-balanced coordination capacity to bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (TFSI–). Nanoseconds hybrid molecular dynamics simulation further reveals that the preferential decomposition of LiDFTFSI produces sufficient LiF and Li2O to facilitate a robust SEI. Moreover, the abundant F– generated from LiDFTFSI decomposition accumulates on the Al surface and subsequently combines with Al3+ from the current collector to form AlF3, potentially inhibiting corrosion of the current collector. Overall, these findings elucidate how LiDFTFSI regulates the solvation sheath and SEI structure, advancing the development of high-performance electrolytes compatible with current collector.

In the pursuit of China’s dual carbon goals, identifying spatio-temporal changes in industrial carbon emission efficiency and their influencing factors in cities at different stages of development is the key to effective formulation of countermeasures to promote the low-carbon transformation of Chinese national industry and achieve high-quality economic development. In this study, we used balanced panel data of 270 Chinese cities from 2005 to 2020 as a research object: (1) to show spatio-temporal evolution patterns in urban industrial carbon emission efficiency; (2) to analyze the aggregation characteristics of industrial carbon emission efficiency in Chinese cities using Global Moran's I statistics; and (3) to use the hierarchical regression model for panel data to assess the non-linear impact of the digital economy on the industrial carbon emission efficiency of cities. The results show the following: (1) the industrial carbon emission efficiency of Chinese cities exhibited an upward trend from 2005 to 2020, with a spatial distribution pattern of high in the south and low in the north; (2) China's urban industrial carbon emission efficiency is characterized by significant spatial autocorrelation, with increasing and stabilizing correlation, and a relatively fixed pattern of spatial agglomeration; (3) there is a significant inverted-U-shaped relationship between the digital economy and the industrial carbon emission efficiency of cities. The digital economy increases carbon emissions and inhibits industrial carbon-emission efficiency in the early stages of development, but inhibits carbon emissions and promotes industrial carbon emission efficiency in mature developmental stages. Therefore, cities at all levels should reduce pollution and carbon emissions from high-energy-consuming and high-polluting enterprises, gradually reduce carbon-intensive industries, and accelerate the digital transformation and upgrading of enterprises. Western, central and eastern regions especially should seek to promote the sharing of innovation resources, strengthen exchanges and interactions relating to scientific and technological innovation, and jointly explore coordinated development routes for the digital economy.

Based on the high-precision quantitative measurement ability, the S-band subsystem of China's high- resolution aviation system carried out the agricultural application test for the first time in Jilin elm, China. The experiment is mainly carried out in combination with vegetation growth, soil moisture content inversion, wheat straw returning and ground feature classification. Through the design of quantitative measurement scheme, the results of different straw coverage and observation at different times are compared, which shows the prospect of S-band full polarization synthetic aperture radar system in the field of agricultural application.

Xanthogranulomatous orchitis is a chronic, non-neoplastic inflammation that is quite rare. In this paper, we discuss the case of a 79-year-old male patient who presented with bilateral scrotum swelling and dysuria that persisted for two weeks. Despite two weeks of anti-infection treatment, the patient's symptoms persisted, leading to a decision to perform transurethral prostate resection and bilateral orchiectomy after careful consideration. After the surgery, the postoperative pathology indicated that the patient had xanthogranulomatous orchitis on the left side and acute positive orchitis with hemorrhage on the right side. Fortunately, three months after the procedure, the patient experienced no negative events and was pleased with the postoperative results.

Allergic diseases are becoming a major healthcare issue in many developed nations, where living environment and lifestyle are most predominantly distinct. Such differences include urbanized, industrialized living environments, overused hygiene products, antibiotics, stationary lifestyle, and fast-food based diets tend to reduce microbial diversity and lead to impared immune protection, which further increase the development of allergic diseases. In the same time, studies also showed that modulating microbiomes can ameliorate allergic symptoms. Therefore, in this paper, we aimed to review recent findings on the potential role of the human microbiome in the gastrointestinal tract, surface of skin and respiratory tract for the development of allergic diseases. Furthermore, we addressed a potential therapeutic or even preventive strategy for such allergic diseases by modulating the human microbial composition.

Abstract—Hydraulic switching actuators are high efficiency, fast response, and low cost solutions for hydraulic control systems. One of the challenging problems is throttling losses during valve transitions. Previously the authors proposed a zero-flowrate switching method to reduce throttling energy loss of the switching valve, where a hydraulic resonator is applied to make the flowrates through the lines approaching zero before the valves are switched off. The major challenge of this approach is fast switching valves whose transition times are less than 2 ms. In this paper, an improved zero-flowrate switching method is presented. It utilizes the capacity with independent inlet/outlet ports to regulate flowrates through the lines. Models of capacity applied in a simple line with different pressure signals are developed to explore characteristics of the capacity, based on which a complete actuation system is developed. In the complete model, resistance and inductance are optimized to achieve desired flowrate response. The improved zero-flowrate switching method reduces throttling energy losses by 99.945% compared to a hard switching system. The simulation results demonstrated that the improved zero-flowrate switching method performs as expected in the design condition. A capacity with proper volume is able to regulate flowrates through all the lines to zero, with the help of appropriate resistance and inductance. Compared to previous zero-flowrate switching method, the novel strategy allows slower switching valves applied in hydraulic actuation systems and achieves better efficiency performance. This research paves a new avenue for reducing throttling energy losses and improves system efficiency in hydraulic switching actuators, as well as most of the hydraulic switch-mode circuits.

Li-rich manganese-based cathode materials (LRMs) are considered one of the most promising cathode materials for the next generation lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) because of their high energy density. However, there are problems such as capacity decay, poor rate performance, and continuous voltage drop, which seriously limit their large-scale commercial applications. In this work, Li1.2Mn0.54Co0.13Ni0.13O2 coated with Li2MoO4 with unique spinel structure was prepared by wet chemistry method and the subsequent calcination process. The Li2MoO4 coating layer with spinel structure can provide a 3D Li+ transport channel, which is beneficial for improving rate performance, while protecting LRMs from electrolyte corrosion, suppressing interface side reactions, and improving cycling stability. The capacity retention rate of LRMs coated with 3wt% Li2MoO4 increased from 69.25% to 81.85% after 100 cycles at 1C, and the voltage attenuation decreased from 7.06 to 4.98 mV per cycle. The lower Rct also exhibits improved magnification performance. The results indicate that the Li2MoO4 coating effectively improves the cyclic stability and electrochemical performance of LRMs.

The exponential growth of digital media content has introduced new challenges in managing and classifying internet traffic. Digital media traffic is composed of various applications such as video, audio, social media, and search, and its data structure is complex, incorporating a vast array of features. The classification of traffic data is a crucial aspect of internet traffic management and network security, and it forms the basis for several scenarios, including content distribution, advertising recommendations, and data analysis. Traditional classification methods rely mainly on deep packet inspection and port-based techniques, which have become increasingly ineffective due to the rapid evolution of network traffic. To address this issue, this study proposes a machine learning-based traffic classification method aimed at enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of digital media traffic classification to meet the current needs of traffic management and network security. The paper also analyzes and evaluates the classification effect and prediction capability of various algorithms under different training set sizes to validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method. The result demonstrates that the neural network algorithm has superior classification and prediction capabilities compared to the decision tree and support vector machine algorithms. Furthermore, our proposed method achieves the highest accuracy of 96.88% with a large training sample of 40,000 data streams, proving its superiority in handling high-dimensional data and complex datasets. The research results are significant for the development of digital media traffic classification and prediction methods and are expected to be applied in practical scenarios.

The saphenous vein is the conduit of choice for bypass grafting. Unfortunately, the hemodynamic stress associated with the arterial environment of the bypass vein graft leads to the development of intimal hyperplasia (IH), an excessive cellular growth and collagen deposition that results in restenosis and secondary graft occlusion. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a ubiquitous redox-modifying gasotransmitter that inhibits IH. H2S is produced via the reverse trans-sulfuration pathway by 3 enzymes: cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE), cystathionine β-synthase (CBS), and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3-MST). However, the expression and regulation of these enzymes in the human vasculature remains unclear. Here, we investigated the expression of CSE, CBS and 3-MST in segments of native human saphenous vein and large arteries. Furthermore, we evaluated the regulation of these enzymes in vein segments cultured under static, venous (7 mmHg pressure) or arterial (100 mmHg pressure) pressure. CSE was expressed in the media, neointima and intima of the vessels and was negatively regulated by arterial shear stress. Adenoviral-mediated CSE overexpression or RNA interference-mediated CSE knock-down revealed that CSE inhibited primary human VSMC migration but not proliferation. We propose that high shear stress in arteriovenous bypass grafts inhibits CSE expression in both the media and endothelium, which may contribute to increased VSMC migration in the context of IH.

The ANFC/ABPE-10 composite film was prepared by ABPE-10 impregnating into ANFC films under negative pressure. And the composite film had meted high performance FOLED substrate requirement even when ANFC dosage was high for approximately 70%, which was consistent with for low cost efficiency, recyclability, and environmentally friendly. The enhanced properties of ANFC films were mainly because of the nature of ABPE-10 itself and the IPN structure formed between ABPE-10 and ANFC film. The transparency of composite films with different ANFC dosage was significantly increased from 67% to 88% by UV-Vis analysis. The composite film inherited the properties of AFNC, obtaining low CTE characteristics and ductile compact structure. The contact angles of ANFC films increased by 102% from 49.2° to 102.9°after dipping ABPE-10. Additionally, the composite films had outstanding mechanical properties such as tensile strength 173.72 MPa, Young’s modulus 4.06 GPa, and elongation at break 5.81%.

We analyze a time-delayed SIQR model that considers the transportation-related infections and entry-exit screening. This model aims to determine the measures for preventing and controlling major emergent infectious diseases and the associated costs. We calculate the basic reproduction number (R0), apply the linearization method, and construct an appropriate Lyapunov function to determine the stability of the disease-free equilibrium in the local and global. We collect COVID-19 infection data from two regions in the United States in 2020 for data fitting, obtain a set of optimal parameter values, and show that the model is suitable for simulating the outbreak and spread of emerging infectious diseases. We find that transportation-related infections increase the basic reproduction number, enhancing the impact on disease spread. Entry-exit screening effectively suppress the spread of disease by reducing the basic reproduction number. Furthermore, we investigate the influence of the incubation period on disease and find that a shorter incubation period results in a shorter duration but a larger scale of infection, and the peaks are reduced. We conduct a sensitivity analysis of the R0 and propose three measures to prevent the spread of new infectious diseases based on the most sensitive parameters: wearing masks, implementing urban closures, and administering medication to sick but not yet hospitalized patients promptly. In the case of COVID-19, we use Pontryagin’s minimum principle to get time-varying control measures to control the spread of the outbreak. Optimal control effectively controls the development and deterioration of the disease. Finally, several control measures are compared through cost-effectiveness analysis, and the results show that wearing masks is the most cost-effective measure. Our study provides some practical guidance for controlling the spread of major emerging infectious diseases.

Cathode materials play a key role in the development and application of lithium-ion batteries, but the unfavorable factors such as structural phase transformation and low conductivity in the cycling process restrict the further improvement of battery performance, so the development and modification of high-performance cathode materials is a current research hotspot. LiNixCoyMn1-x-yO2(x≥0.6), a high-nickel cathode material, has the advantages of high platform potential, high energy density and low cost, and is an ideal material to achieve the goal of 300 Wh kg-1 and above for batteries. However, its poor thermal stability, poor interface stability, safety and life cannot meet the requirements of current power batteries. In this paper, the research status of high-nickel cathode materials is introduced, including bulk doping and surface coating, and the modification method of doping and coating integration is also introduced. Finally, we put forward the prospect of the future development trend of high-nickel cathode materials.

This paper proposes a heuristic approach for managing complex construction projects. The tool incorporates with Primavera P6 EPPM and Synchro 4D, enabling proactively clash detection and resolution of spatial conflicts during concurrent tasks. Additionally, it performs resource verification for sufficient allocation before task initiation. This integrated approach facilitates the generation of conflict-free and feasible construction schedules. By adhering to project constraints and seamlessly integrating with existing industry tools, the proposed solution offers a comprehensive and robust approach for construction project management. This constitutes to our knowledge the first dynamic digital twin for the delivery of a complex project.

Communication infrastructures may be partially or completely destroyed due to the natural disasters, especially the disruption of a few critical network devices, leading to the collapse of communication services.To address this issue, we constructed a layered, multi-domain data transmission architecture based on a UAV-assisted resilient network. Initially, the UAV controllers perceived the network status and learning the temporal- spatial characteristics of air-to-ground networks links. Subsequently, we developed a multi-domain routing algorithm based on federated reinforcement distillation, called FedRDR, enhancing the generalization capabilities of routing decision model through the augmentation of training data samples.We conducted simulation experiments, and the results indicate that the FedRDR algorithm has an average communication data volume of approximately 45.3KB between each domain controller and server. Compared to parameter transmission through the federated reinforcement learning algorithm, FedRDR can reduce the amount of transmitted parameters by approximately 29\%. Therefore, the FedRDR routing algorithm promotes knowledge transfer, accelerates the training process of intra-domain intelligent agents, and decreases the communication data volume between domain controllers and servers.

An experiment was conducted to investigate the role of single nucleotide polymorphisms of the gene RNF34 3′UTR-588 G>A and RNF128 I1-2380C>T with carcass and meat quality traits of Chinese Simmental-cross steers. METHOD: We performed sequencing and restriction enzyme digestion to detect genotypes of RNF34 3′UTR-588 G>A and RNF128 I1-2380C>T. Then, we analyzed the association of novel single nucleotide polymorphisms in intron regions of the RNF128 gene and in the 3′UTR region of RNF34 and meat quality traits of Chinese Simmental-cross steers. RESULTS: Statistical analyses revealed that SNP of RNF128 (I1-2380C>T) was significantly associated with dressed weight, forepaw weight, carcass depth, carcass brisket depth, hind legs length (P<0.05), etc. And RNF34 (3′UTR-588 G>A) were significantly associated with testis weight, kidney weight, tare weight (P<0.05), etc. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that polymorphisms in RNF34 and RNF128 might be important genetic factors that influence carcass and meat quality in beef cattle. Thus, they might be useful markers for meat quality traits in future marker-assisted selection programs in beef cattle breeding and production.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs, which function as regulators of gene expression and contribute in numerous physiological processes. However, little is known referring to miRNAs function in insect chemosensation. In the current study, nine small RNA libraries were constructed and sequenced from the antennae of nymphs, adult males and females of Apolygus lucorum. In total, 399 miRNAs were identified including 275 known and 124 novel miRNAs. Known miRNAs were classified into 71 families, amongst which, 23 families were insect-specific. Expression profile analysis showed that miR-7-5p_1 was the most abundant miRNAs in the antennae of A. lucorum. Altogether, 69708 target genes related to biogenesis, membrane and binding activities were predicted for 399 miRNAs. Particularly, 15 miRNAs were found to target 16 olfactory genes. These miRNAs could be involved in regulation of olfactory-associated genes ex-pression. Comparing the antennae of nymphs, adult males and females, 94 miRNAs were found to be differentially expressed. The expression levels of some differentially expressed miRNAs measured by qPCR were consistent with sequencing results. This study provides a global miRNAs transcriptome in the antennae of A. lucorum and valuable information for further investigation on miRNA-mRNA interactions, especially the functions of miRNAs in regulating chemosensation.

Karst peaks and depressions are scattered in karst zones with strong spatial heterogeneity and fragile ecological environments and are crucial for determining the degree of karst geomorphologic development. However, realizing automatic depiction and extracting depressions with high accuracy is difficult because of their complex morphology. Herein, based on 12.5-m resolution DEM data, six typical karst peaks from depressions in southwest China were selected as the study areas and a revised terrain openness index method based on slope mutation points (ROBSMPs) was used to determine the degree of karst geomorphologic development and the boundary of karst depressions. The extent of depressions extracted by ROBSMPs and the terrain openness index method with the extent of depressions hand-drawn based on remote sensing images was compared and analyzed. The results show that compared with the topographic openness index method, the overall accuracy of karst depression extracted by ROBSMPs was improved and the perimeter, area, and raster displacement error indexes were reduced. ROBSMPs realized high-precision extraction of depressions, thereby strengthening the applicability of the topographic openness index method to karst peak zones. This study offers a new perspective and path toward the expansion of digital terrain analysis technology in karst mountainous areas and is expected to play a vital role in the extraction of similar geomorphic units in karst zones.

Percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) is a highly successful treatment option for Kümmell's disease (KD). Due to the obstruction of the fibrocartilaginous membrane at the periphery of the intervertebral vacuum cleft (IVC) and inadequate osteointegration of conventional bone cement, there is insufficient locking strength between trabecular bone and bone cement in Kümmell's disease (KD), leading to postoperative displacement of the bone cement and sub-sequent early surgical failure. However, there is no standard strategy managing this complica-tion at present. We reported a rare case of premature bone cement displacement resulting in adjacent vertebra fracture. An 80-year-old male with Kümmell's disease at T10 received per-cutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) with bone cement leaking into the upper disc. Only 3 days after the surgery, the patient complained of severe back pain again. X-ray and MRI showed bone cement displacement at T10, adjacent vertebra fracture at T9. In consideration of poor toler-ance of open surgery for the old patient, we successfully revised by using percutaneous ky-phoplasty with multi-point anchoring technique (A-PKP). During a 10-month postoperative follow-up, the patient reported pain relief. X-ray and three-dimensional CT scan revealed no obvious progress of bone cement displacement. Although the exact mechanism underlying this rare complication remains unclear, we observed that the premature bone cement dis-placement can result in adjacent vertebra fracture especially when the pattern of bone cement is blocky. Percutaneous kyphoplasty with multi-point anchoring technique (A-PKP) appears effective in managing this complication.

Air pollution is an important factor affecting human health and daily life. Chinese government is making vigorous efforts to control air pollution. The upgrading of industrial structure is a problem-solving tool in environment and economic growth cases. This paper aims to explore the relationships among environmental regulation, the upgrading of industrial structure and air pollution. The PVAR (Panel Vector Auto Regression) model and moderation effect model has been used to conduct empirical analysis based on panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2004 to 2020. The results of analysis indicate (1) the environmental regulation can significantly reduce the air pollution, but the deterioration of air quality could not effectively influence environmental regulations. (2) The upgrading of industrial structure can weaken the air pollution and air pollution hinders the upgrading of industrial structure. (3) With the improvement of environmental regulation, the industrial structure is constantly upgraded, but the upgrading of the industrial structure has a negative effect on the improvement of environmental regulation. (4) The upgrading of industrial structure can positively moderate the influence of environmental regulation on air pollution.

The survey findings reveal that rivers worldwide carry an annual sediment load of 15 billion tons into the sea, and the Yellow River basin alone contributes 1.6 billion tons of sand. Therefore, understanding the science of wind and sand in the Yellow River is crucial to ensuring the safe development of similar basins across China and the world. This study examines the midstream wind and sand area of the Xiliugou tributary, a part of the upper Yellow River. The researchers used a stepped sand collector combined with an anemometer to measure the sand transport flux at 0-50 cm height on various underlying surfaces of the basin. Then, they estimated the amount of wind and sand entering the Yellow River using a function model based on the measured factors. Furthermore, the team analyzed the particle size composition of wind-eroded sand to better understand the principles of wind and sand erosion and accumulation in the basin. The results of the study show that the sand transport flux per unit area varies significantly across different underlying surfaces. Moreover, the contribution of moving sandy land, semi-fixed sand, and fixed sand to wind and sand deposition in the Yellow River basin was 77.08%, 15.30%, and 7.62%, respectively. The vertical change of sand transport rate on the basin's surface demonstrates that the total sand transport rate is an exponential function of wind speed. Based on this relationship, the researchers estimated that the total annual average wind and sand entering the Yellow River basin via the Xiliugou tributary is approximately 8.09×105t. Due to the basin's unique geography and sand source, the particle size composition of wind-eroded sand differs between the east and west sides of the river channel. On the west side, desert sand, mainly fine sand, and very fine sand constitutes the sand source. Conversely, on the east side, sand collected in the riverbed by secondary wind erosion is the primary sand source. Furthermore, human activities have disturbed the grain composition, mainly comprising powder and clay particles. This phenomenon, known as "wind-blown mud and water-washed sand," is evident in this geographical unit. In conclusion, the Yellow River basin still faces significant ecological security hazards. Understanding the coupling relationship between desert-basin-sand and wind is the foundation for effectively controlling wind and sand flow into the Yellow River basin.

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have attracted extensive attention in tumor immunotherapy in recent years. The strategy of targeting immune cells in cancer therapy has become a research area of great interest. mRNA vaccines are a potential choice for tumor immunotherapy due to their ability to directly encode antigen proteins and stimulate a strong immune response. However, the mode of delivery and lack of stability of mRNA are key issues limiting its application. LNPs are an excellent mRNA delivery vector, and their structural stability and biocompatibility make them an effective means to deliver mRNA to specific targets. This study summarizes the research progress in LNP delivery vector-assisted targeted controlled release mRNA vaccines in tumor immunity. The role of LNPs in improving mRNA stability, immunogenicity and targeting is discussed. In addition, combined with the cutting-edge research results, the potential mechanisms and application prospects of LNP-mRNA vaccines in tumor immunotherapy were further analyzed. This review aims to systematically summarize the latest research progress in LNP delivery carrier-assisted targeted controlled-release mRNA vaccines in tumor immunity to provide new ideas and strategies for tumor immunotherapy and provide more effective treatment plans for patients.

In this paper, a sensitivity sensor of dual-core photonic crystal fiber (DC-PCF) filled with magnetic liquid is introduced and investigated by the finite element method (FEM). To regulate the energy coupling involving the two cores, the magnetic fluid is filled into the pore between the two cores. To adjust the coupling between the supermodes in the DC-PCF, the refractive index of the magnetic fluid-filled air hole may change due to the external magnetic field. This specifically created a magnetic fluid-filled DC-PCF, the magnetic fluid-filled hole is not used as the core for energy transmission, thus avoiding transmission loss. The dip wavelength and the magnetic field displayed an excellent linear connection between 80 and 260 Oe, depending on the numerical data. The detection sensitivity of the magnetic field reached 515.75 pm/Oe at a short fiber length of 482 m. The designed magnetic fluid-filled DC-PCF has high sensitivity and small volume and has great application prospects in medical and industrial field magnetic field detection.

A series of novel sulfonylurea benzothiazoline were designed by splicing active groups and bioisosterism. A solvent-free synthetic route was developed for the sulfonylurea benzothiazoline derivatives via the cyclization and carbamylation. All the compounds were characterized by IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, HRMS. The biological activity tests indicated the compounds could protect maize against the injury caused by chlorsulfuron to some extent. The molecular docking result showed that the new compound competed with chlorosulfuron to bind with the herbicide target enzyme active site to attain detoxification.

A series of Ni/KIT6 catalystprecusors with 25wt.%Ni loading amount were reduced in H₂ at 400, 450, 500, and 550ºC, respectively. The studied catalysts were investigated by XRD, Quasiin-situ XPS, BET, TEM, and H₂-TPDanalysis methods.It was found that reduction temperature is an important factor affecting the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) performance of the studied catalysts. The reduction temperature influences mainly the content of active components, crystal size, and the abilityfor adsorbing and activatingH2. The developed pore structure and large specific surface area of the KIT-6 support favored the Ni dispersion.The RT450 catalyst, which was prepared in H₂ atmosphere at 450 ºC, has the best HDO performance. Ethyl acetate can be completely transformed, and maintain 96.8% ethane selectivity and 3.2% methane selectivity at 300 ºC. The calculated apparent activation energies of the prepared catalysts increased in the following order: RT550 > RT400 > RT500 > RT450.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disease and is clinically characterized by cognitive impairment, memory loss, and personality disorder. Oligomers of amyloid beta-peptides (Aβ) and enhanced oxidative stress in senile plaques are prevalent pathologic hallmarks of AD. In this study, we detected the behavioral performance of Lycium ruthenicum Murray anthocyanin (LRA) -treated rats using the Morris water maze test and then investigated the effect of LRA on oxidative damage, neuronal apoptosis, and inflammatory response induced by Aβ1–42. Our results showed that LRA treatment markedly ameliorated the behavioral performance of Aβ1–42-induced rats and reduced the level of malondialdehyde, formation of protein carbonyl, and 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxygua-nosine. Furthermore, LRA also inhibited activated astrocytes and neuroinflammation via suppression of glial fibrillary acidic protein and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the hippocampus of Aβ1–42-treated rat brain. These data suggest that LRA could be a potential anti-oxidant and anti-neuroinflammatory agent for the treatment of AD.

Keywords: mHealth; peritoneal dialysis; functionality; usability

This study was undertaken to investigate and analyze noise pollution in a large Chinese governmental hospital’s medical intensive care unit and compare to the WHO guidelines.This cross-sectional study was conducted in a MICU at a public governmental teaching hospital in Fujian province between July and August of 2017. A WENSN® WS1361 Integrated Sound Level Meter (China) was used for continuous every five seconds one week noise levels recording. After this measurement, the decibel meter was used for recording different location of isolation rooms and open bays, including occupied and unoccupied patient, and recording sound events occurs in the ICU to identify sources of noise. Peak and average noise levels were obtained from the meter, and data were downloaded from the WS1361 into a laptop computer. The measured mean equivalent sound pressure levels (L) and standard Aeq deviation over one week period were 66.64±7.57 dB(A), with acute spikes reaching 119.7 dB(A), the average sound level for a 24 hour period in a work day was 68.03±5.07 dB(A). These are higher than the current daytime environmental noise limit of 40-45 decibels in China and WHO. Mean work day noise was significantly louder than weekend time, there was a significant difference in work days and weekend (t=16.85;P=0.000).There was a statistical difference between the day time and night time shifts (t=34.67;P=0.000). The isolation rooms were significantly quieter than the open-bay rooms(t=46.15; p=0.00), sound levels in the occupied and unoccupied rooms also had significant difference(t=17.26; P=0.000).Two types of noise resources, including twenty kinds sources were identified and measured, mean noise levels ranged from of 61.33 to 79.21 dB(A). This study shows noise levels in intensive care units were exceeded the recommended. The study of the influence of noise on patient and staff is needed, and noise reduction strategies must be conduct in ICU.

A switchable and tunable terahertz (THz) metamaterial based on photosensitive silicon and Vanadium dioxide (VO2) was proposed. By using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method, the transmission and reflective properties of the metamaterial were investigated theoretically. The results imply that, the metamaterial can realize a dual electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) or two narrow-band absorption depending on the temperature of the VO2. Additionally, the magnitude of the EIT and two narrow-band absorption can be tuned by varying the conductivity of photosensitive silicon (PSi) via pumping light. Correspondingly, the slow light effect accompanying the EIT can also be adjusted.

In forests, the microbial populations living in the soil can directly affect the carbon decomposed by the surface plants, and promote carbon storage and stability. In this study, 3 plots of 25.82 m×25.82 m were set up in 5 stand types, respectively. Soil samples were collected from 0~20 cm, 20~40 cm and 40~60 cm layers. Soil microbial composition, organic carbon component, pH, water content, bulk density, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other physicochemical indexes and correlations were determined, and the correlations between soil carbon components and soil microbial functional modules in different mixed modes were analyzed. The results showed that: (1) The SOC of the same soil layer varied significantly, which also showed significant differences on the composition of soil bacteria and fungal microbial communities. Moreover, the bacterial community was more sensitive to the vegetation change environment, and the fungal community structure was more resistant to the influence of soil environment changes. (2) Fun_mod 1,6 and Bac_mod 7 were the microbial functional modules that played a decisive role in the process of soil carbon pool change, and the diversity and composition of bacterial community had more positive effects on soil organic carbon than that of fungal community. (3) Linear fitting and RDA results showed that POC in soil had the strongest correlation with SOC content, indicating that soil microorganisms affected the storage and stability of soil carbon mainly by regulating the conversion of surface plants (carbon sources) into POC. The soil environment of different mixed modes has different effects on soil carbon accumulation. Soil microorganisms affect soil carbon storage and stability mainly by regulating the conversion of surface plants (carbon sources) into POC forms.

With the rapid development of tumor immunotherapy, nanoparticle vaccines have attracted much attention as a potential therapeutic strategy. The potential role of the mannose-modified lipid calcium phosphate nanoparticle vaccine in enhancing the anti-tumor immune response was investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of mannose modification on the immune response of nanoparticles in regulating the tumor microenvironment through systematic review and analysis and to explore its potential clinical application in tumor therapy. Currently, despite the potential advantages of nanoparticle vaccines in immunotherapy, achieving an effective immune response in the tumor microenvironment remains a challenge. Tumor immune escape and overexpression of immunosuppressive factors limit its clinical application. Therefore, this study will explore how to intervene in the immunosuppressive mechanism in the tumor microenvironment through mannose-modified lipid calcium phosphate nanoparticle vaccines so as to improve the immunotherapy effect of tumor patients and provide new ideas and strategies for the field of tumor therapy.

Hetero-nanomaterials constructed by plasmonic metals and functional semiconductors show enormous potential in photocatalytic applications, such as water splitting, hydrogen production, CO₂ reduction, pollutants treatment. Their photocatalytic performances can be better regulated through adjusting structure, ingredient, and components arrangement. Therefore, the reasonable design and synthesis of metal/semiconductor hetero-nanostructures is of vital significance. In this article, we briefly review the recent progress in efficiently establishing metal/semiconductor nanomaterials for improved photocatalysis. The defined photocatalysts mainly include traditional binary hybrids, ternary multi-metals/semiconductor and metal/multi-semiconductors heterojunctions. The underlying physical mechanism for the improved photocatalytic activity of the established photocatalysts are highlighted. At the end of this article, a brief summary and possible future perspectives for further development in this field are demonstrated.

Influenced by historical background, regional economic development, and the frequent occurrence of armed conflict, the human–earth relationship in the Central and Southern Peninsula, which is located in a "fragmented zone", is characteristic of the region. The Indochina Peninsula has now become an area of interest for the study of spatial changes in production–living–ecological spaces (PLES). Taking the Indochina Peninsula as the study area, this paper explores the evolution of the spatio-temporal patterns of PLES and its driving mechanism in the Central and Southern Peninsula, from 2010 to 2020, based on the grid scale. Methods such as the land-use transition matrix, land-use dynamics index, and Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression (GTWR) were used in our model. Our results show that, from 2010 to 2020, ecological space dominated the PLES pattern on the Indochina Peninsula but its area gradually decreased, accompanied by a sharp increase in the areas of productive and living spaces. The area of PLES interconversion on the Indochina Peninsula in 2010–2020 was 212818.70 km2, and it is characterized by the conversion of ecological space into productive space, as well as the interconversion of woodland ecological and grassland ecological spaces. In addition, the intertransfer of production and ecological spaces was distributed in a network-like manner throughout the Indochina Peninsula, while the transfer of living space was distributed in a point-like manner. The migration path of the center of gravity of PLES on the In-dochina Peninsula demonstrates a significant directional difference. The PLES’s pattern evolution was affected by the degree of multiple factors, with a significant spatial and temporal heterogeneity. The positive and negative feedback effects of the factors were distributed in different areas and in different transfer directions.

A novel drive current model covering the effects of source/drain voltage (VDS) and gate voltage (VGS) and incorporating drift and diffusion current on the surface channel at the nano-node level, especially beyond 28nm node is presented. The effect of the diffusion current added is more satisfactory to describe the behavior of the drive current in nano-node MOSFETs, fabricated with the atomic-layer-deposition (ALD) technology. This breakthrough in model establishment can expose the long and short channel devices together. Introducing the variables of VDS and VGS, the mixed current model more effectively and meaningfully demonstrates the drive current of MOSFETs under the operation of horizontal, vertical, or mixed electrical field. In comparison between the simulation and experimental consequences, the electrical performance is impressive. The error between both is less than 1%, better than the empirical adjustment to issue a set of drive current models.

The transferability of structure-property relationships for laser-pretreated metal adhesive joints to laser-pretreated metal – carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) bonds is investigated. Single-lap shear tests were performed on hybrid AW 6082-T6 – CFRP specimens pretreated with the same pulsed laser surface parameter sets on the metal surface as previously tested AW 6082-T6 – E320 metal adhesive joints. The fracture surfaces were characterized to determine the type of failure and elucidate differences and commonalities in the link between surface structures and single-lap shear strengths. Digital image analyses of the hybrid specimens fractured surfaces were used to quantify remaining CFRP fragments on the metallic joint side. The results indicate that high surface enlargements and the presence of undercut structures leads to single-lap shear strengths exceeding 40 MPa and 35 MPa for unaged and aged hybrid specimens respectively. While for the metal-polymer joints the trend from high strength to weakly bonded specimens was largely continuous with the degree of surface structuring, hybrid metal – CFRP joints exhibit a drastic drop in joint performance after aging if the laser-generated surface structures are less pronounced with low surface enlargements and crater depths. Surface features and hydrothermal aging determine whether the specimens fail cohesively or adhesively.

Alpinia oxyphylla is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant, with a medicinal history of more than 1,700 years. Ring leaf blight (RLB) disease, caused by pestalotioid species, is an important disease of A. oxyphylla, seriously affecting the yield and quality of fruits. The causal agent of RLB disease has not been systematically identified and characterized so far. In this study, thirty-six pestalotioid strains were isolated from the leaves and stems of A. oxyphylla collected from 6 cities of Hainan province, China. Based on multi-locus phylogeny (ITS, tef-1α and tub2) and morphological characteristics analyses, seventeen species belonging to three genera (Neopestalotiopsis, Pestalotiopsis and Pseudopestalotiopsis) were identified and six new species (N. baotingensis, N. oblatespora, N. olivaceous, N. oxyphylla, N. wuzhishanensis and N. yongxunensis) were described. Pathogenicity tests revealed that strains of Neopestalotiopsis species caused more severe ring leaf blight on A. oxyphylla than strains of Pestalotiopsis and Pseudopestalotiopsis under wounded inoculation conditions.

Temperature is a crucial environmental factor that affects embryonic development, particularly for marine organisms with long embryonic development periods. However, the sensitive period of embryonic development and the role of autophagy/apoptosis in temperature regulation in cephalopods, enigmatic creatures, remain unclear. In this study, we cultured embryos of Sepiella japonica, a typical species in the local area of the East China Sea, at different incubation temperatures (18 ℃, 23 ℃, and 28 ℃) to investigate various developmental aspects, including morphological and histological characteristics, mortality rates, the duration of embryonic development, and expression patterns of autophagy-related genes (LC3, BECN1, Inx4) and apoptosis marker genes (Cas3, p53) at 25 developmental stages. Our findings indicate that embryos in the high-temperature (28 ℃) group had significantly higher mortality and embryonic malformation rates than those in the low-temperature (18 ℃) group. Furthermore, high temperature (28 ℃) shortened the duration of embryonic development by 7 days compared to the optimal temperature (23 ℃), while low temperature (18 ℃) caused a delay of 9 days. Therefore, embryos of S. japonica were more intolerant to high temperatures (28 ℃), emphasizing the critical importance of maintaining an appropriate incubation temperature (approximately 23 ℃). Additionally, our study observed, for the first time, that the Early blastula, Blastopore closure, and Optic vesicle to Caudal end stages were the most sensitive stages. During these periods, abnormalities in the expression of autophagy-related and apoptosis-related genes were associated with higher rates of mortality and malformations, highlighting the strong correlation and potential interaction between autophagy and apoptosis in embryonic development under varying temperature conditions.

Different bone bruise patterns observed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture and lateral patellar dislocation may indicate different injury mechanism of knee. In order to investigate the typical bone bruising patterns after ACL rupture and patellar dislocation. In this study, 77 ACL rupture and 77 patellar dislocation patients’ knee MR images with bone bruises between August 2020 and March 2022at our institution were selected and analyzed, respectively. Sagittal and transverse planes images were used to determine the bone bruise location in the lateral-medial and superior-inferior directions of the MR images. The presence, location, and intensity of the bone bruises within specific compartments of the femur and tibial after ACL rupture and patellar dislocation were recorded. Relative bone bruise patterns of the ACL rupture and patellar dislocation were classified and analyzed. Results showed that there were 4 kinds of bone bruise (1-,2-,3-,4- bone bruises) patterns after ACL rupture. The most common two patterns after ACL rupture were 3- bone bruises (including lateral side of femur and both lateral and medial side of tibia, LF+BT; both lateral and medial side of femur and lateral side of tibia, BF+LT, medial side of femur and both lateral and medial side of tibia, MF+BT) followed by 4- bone bruises (both lateral and medial side of femur and tibia, BF+BT), 2- bone bruises (LF+LT, lateral side of femur and tibia; MF+LT, medial side of femur and lateral side of tibia; LF+MT, lateral side of femur and medial side of tibia; MF+MT, medial side of femur and tibia; 0+BT, both lateral and medial side of tibia;), and 1- bone bruise (0+LT, only lateral side of tibia). There was only 1 pattern bone bruise (latera femur and medial patella bone bruise) of patellar dislocation, the most common pattern of patellar dislocation was in the inferior medial patella and lateral anterior inferior femur. The results suggest that the pattern of bone bruise after ACL rupture and patellar dislocation is completely different. There were 4 kinds of bone bruise patterns after non-contact ACL rupture while there was only 1 kind of bone bruise pattern after patellar dislocation bone bruise patients which was in the inferior medial patella and lateral anterior inferior femur.

For Lentinula edodes, its characteristic flavor is the key determinant for consumer pref-erences. However, the tissue-specific volatile flavor variations of the fruiting body have been overlooked. Here, we comprehensively investigated volatile flavor profiles of different tissues including the pileus skin, context, gill and stipe of the fruiting body of two widely cultivated L. edodes strains (T2 and 0912). We show that the eight-carbon and sulfur com-pounds, which represented 43.2-78.0% and 1.4-42.9% to the total volatile emissions for strain 0912 and T2, dominated their volatiles profiles. The sulfur compounds could rep-resent 32.2% and 42.9% to the total volatile emissions for the context of the strain 0912 and T2, respectively, whereas only represented 1.4% for the stipes of the strain 0912 and 9.0% for the skin of strain T2. Proportions of the predominant C8 compounds (1-Octen-3-one, 1-Octen-3-ol and 3-Octanone) and sulfur compounds (Lenthionine, 1,2,4-Trithiolane, Di-methyl disulfide and Dimethyl trisurfide) changed depending on tissues and strains. We further reveal that the overall volatile flavor profiles varied greatly in different tissues and strains. With machine learning algorithm, we show that volatile profiles could 100% pre-dict strains 0912 and T2. The prediction accuracy for different tissues could also reach 100%. Our results highlight the tissue-specific volatile flavor variations of the L. edodes fruiting body.

Objectives: The purposes of this study were to 1) analyze the disruption of intracardiac flow by flow components and kinetic energy (KE) parameters in single ventricle physiology patients and compare with controls; 2) investigate left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in terms of 4D flow parameters in repaired Fontan (rFontan) group; 3) compare intracardiac flow parameters in morphologic LV and RV rFontan patient groups. Methods: Twenty-five rFontan patients (age: 10±3, M/F: 15/10) and fourteen controls (age: 10±2, M/F: 8/6) were prospectively recruited. All underwent cine and 4D flow cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) on 3.0T scanner. Cardiac function and inter-ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony were analyzed using cine images. From 4D flow CMR, ventricular flow components were assessed: direct flow, retained inflow, delayed ejection flow and residual volume. Global and regional blood flow KE parameters, normalized to end-diastolic volume (EDV) were analyzed for functional single ventricle (FSV). Left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction was assessed on echocardiography guidelines. Results: In comparison of rFontan vs. controls, median FSV residual volume (28% vs. 23%, P= 0.034) were higher in rFontan; median FSV direct flow (32% vs. 40%, P=0.005) and delayed ejection flow (17% vs. 24%, P=0.024) were lower in rFontan. FSV KEiEDV parameters were all lower in rFontan (all P<0.05). No significant differences were observed for flow components and KE parameters between patients with and without inter-ventricular dyssynchrony. FSV direct flow (AUC=0.76, Sensitivity=86%, Specificity=70%) was an independent predictor of LV diastolic dysfunction. Residual volume and E-wave KEiEDV were significantly different between morphologic RV and morphologic LV patient group. Conclusions: The changed flow pattern and decreased KE may be hemodynamic disturbances and impaired ventricular filling in rFontan patients. Reduced direct flow is associated with LV diastolic dysfunction. Morphologic right ventricular subgroup is worse than morphologic left ventricular group in terms of the intracardiac hemodynamics.

Barrier coverage is a fundamental application in wireless sensor networks, which is widely used to protect a region through intruder detection for smart city. In this paper, we study a new branch of barrier coverage, named warning barrier coverage (WBC). Different from the classic barrier coverage, WBC has the inverse protect direction, which protects unexpected visitors by warning them away from the region enclosed by sensor barriers. The WBC holds a promising prospect in many danger keep out applications for smart city. For example, a WBC can enclose the debris area in the sea and alarm any approaching ships in order to avoid their damaging propellers. One special feature of WBC is that the target region is usually dangerous and its boundary is previously unknown. Hence, the scattered mobile nodes need to detect the boundary and form the barrier coverage themselves. It is challenging to form these distributed sensor nodes into a barrier because a node can sense only the local information and there is no global information of the unknown region or other nodes. To this end, we propose a novel solution AutoBar for mobile sensor nodes to automatically form a WBC for smart city. To pursue the high coverage quality, we theoretically derive the optimal distribution pattern of sensor nodes using convex theory. Based on the analysis, we design a fully distributed algorithm that enables nodes to collaboratively move towards the optimal distribution pattern. In addition, AutoBar is able to reorganize the barrier even any node is broken. To validate the feasibility of AutoBar, we develop the prototype of the specialized mobile node, which consists of two kinds of sensors: one for boundary detection and another for visitor detection. Based on the prototype, we conduct extensive real trace driven simulations in various smart city scenarios. Performance results demonstrate that AutoBar outperforms the existing barrier coverage strategies in terms of coverage quality, formation duration, and communication overhead.

This work demonstrates that a plasmid can function as an efficient biocatalyst in mediating the nitroaldol (Henry) reaction at high temperatures in ultrapure water. Compared with ssDNA, the plasmid displayed a remarkable catalytic efficiency (97% yield within 20 min). Aromatic aldehydes which bear strong or moderate electron-withdrawing groups reacted satisfactorily with nitromethane, which afforded the corresponding β-nitroalcohols in good yields within 2 h (up to 98%). By contrast, aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes with electron-donating groups did not react. Moreover, the yield significantly dropped when the size of the carbanion increased, and the yield was only 10% when nitropropane was used as the donor.

Photovoltaic(PV) power generation is highly nonlinear and stochastic. Accurate prediction of PV power generation plays a crucial role in grid connection as well as the operation and scheduling of power plants. To predict the PV power combination model, this paper suggests a method based on Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD), Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition (EEMD), Complete Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition with Adaptive Noise (CEEMDAN), Nonlinear Auto-Regressive Neural Networks with Exogenous Input (NARXNN), Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) Neural Network, and Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) algorithms. To attempt to reduce the non-smoothness of PV power, the weather variable features with the greatest effect on PV power are first identified by correlation analysis. Following this, the PV power modal decomposition is split and reorganized into a new feature matrix. Finally， a NARX is used to obtain preliminary PV power components and residual vector features， and the PV power is predicted by combining three models of LightGBM， LSTM, and NARX and then the final prediction results are obtained by combining the PV power prediction results using error inverse method weighted optimization. The prediction results demonstrate that the model put forth in this paper outperforms those of other models and validate the model's validity by utilizing real measurement data from Andre Agassi College in the United States.

Magnesium and its alloys are not normally used as bio-resorbable temporary implants due to their high and uncontrolled degradation rate in physiological liquid environment. The improvement of corrosion resistance to simulated body fluids (SBF) of a Magnesium alloy (AZ31) coated with poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) was investigated. Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, and contact angle measurements were used to characterize surface morphology, material composition and wettability, respectively. pH modification of the SBF corroding medium, mass of Mg2+ ions released, and weight loss of the samples exposed to the SBF solution, and electrochemical experiment were used to describe the corrosion process and its kinetics. Materials biocompatibility was described by evaluating the effect of corrosion by products collected in the SBF equilibrating solution on hemolysis ratio, cytotoxicity, Nitric Oxide (NO), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC). The results showed that the PHB coating can diffusively control the degradation rate of Magnesium alloy improving its biocompatibility: hemolysis rate of materials was lower than 5%, while in vitro Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells（HUVECs) compatibility experiments showed that PHB coated Mg alloy promoted cell proliferation and had no effect on the NO content, the T-AOC was enhanced compared with the normal group and bare AZ31 alloy. PHB coated AZ31 Magnesium alloy extraction fluids have a less toxic behavior due to the lower concentration of corrosion by-products deriving from the diffusion control exerted by the PHB coating films both from metal surface to the solution and vice versa. These findings provide more reference value for the selection of such system as tunable bioresorbable prosthetic materials

Background: This study aimed to identify the association between occupational stress and depression-well-being by proposing a comprehensive and flexible job burden-capital model with its corresponding hypotheses. Methods: For this research, 1618 valid samples were gathered from the electronic manufacturing service industry in Hunan Province, China; self-rated questionnaires were administered to participants for data collection after obtaining their written consent. The proposed model was fitted and tested through structural equation model analysis. Results: Single-factor correlation analysis results indicated that coefficients between all items and dimensions had statistical significance. The final model demonstrated satisfactory global goodness of fit (CMIN/DF=5.37, AGFI=0.915, NNFI=0.945, IFI=0.952, RMSEA=0.052). Both the measurement and structural models showed acceptable path loadings. Job burden and capital were directly associated with depression and well-being or indirectly related to them through personality. Multi-group structural equation model analyses indicated general applicability of the proposed model to basic features of such a population. Gender, marriage and education led to differences in the relation between occupational stress and health outcomes. Conclusions: The job burden-capital model of occupational stress-depression and well-being was found to be more systematic and comprehensive than previous models.

Chronic pain is a significant health problem worldwide. Recent evidence has suggested that dysfunctional states of the ventral hippocampus, including decreased neuronal excitability and connectivity with other brain regions, parallel pain chronicity and persistent nociceptive hypersensitivity in humans and rodents, respectively. But the molecular mechanisms underlying hippocampal modulation of pain remain poorly elucidated. In this study, we used ex vivo whole-cell patch-clamp recording, immunofluorescence staining and behavioral tests to examine whether hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channels 2 (HCN2) in the ventral hippocampal CA1 (vCA1) were involved in regulating nociceptive perception and CFA-induced inflammatory pain in mice. Reduced sag potential and firing rate of action potentials were observed in vCA1 pyramidal neurons from CFA-injected mice. Moreover, the expression of HCN2, but not HCN1, in vCA1 decreased in mice injected with CFA. HCN2 knockdown in vCA1 pyramidal neurons induced thermal hypersensitivity, whereas over-expression of HCN2 alleviated thermal hyperalgesia induced by intraplantar injection of CFA in mice. Our findings suggests that HCN2 in the vCA1 plays an active role in pain modulation and could be a promising target for the treatment of chronic pain.

Expansion tube is ideal energy absorber which dissipates kinetic energy through plastic deformation and friction. There is an urgent need to understand the influence of key parameter, e.g. semi angle, tube material, and friction coefficient, on the mechanical response and energy absorption characteristics of expansion tube. In the present work, the material properties of the tubes were tested under quasi-static loading condition, and the numerical simulations were carried out by using commercial software ABAQUS. Based on the validated finite element simulation, all the semi angle, tube material, and friction have significant effects on the energy absorption capacity of expansion tube. The expansion tube with high tensile stress of parent material have high energy absorption capacity, while the specific energy absorption is linear with the tensile stress/density of tube material. This work would give a guidance to the structural design and parent materials selection for expansion tubes.

Agricultural activities are the second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, and carbon emissions from agricultural land use (CEALU) have become a hot issue across the world. However, few scholars explored the impact of agricultural land policies on carbon emissions, such as the High-standard farmland construction(HSFC) in China.Thus，by relying on provincial panel data for China for the period 2005-2017, the effect of the high-standard basic farmland construction policy on carbon emissions from agricultural land use per unit area and its regional differences were quantitatively analyzed using the difference-in-difference (DID) model. The results showed that: 1) China's CEALU per unit area presented a fluctuating upward trend during the period 2005-2017, from 392.58 kg/ha to 457.72 kg/ha, with an average annual growth rate of 1.31%. 2) The high-standard farmland construction(HSFC) policy produced a significant carbon emission reduction effect in agricultural land use, and reduced the CEALU per unit area by 10.80% on average. With the promotion of this policy, its carbon emission reduction effect in agricultural land use presented an overall increasing trend. 3) The carbon emission reduction effect of the high-standard farmland construction policy in agricultural land use was significant in central China, but non-significant in eastern China and western China.

Consumption of refined foods and beverages high in sugar make the teeth susceptible to the formation of biofilm, and lead to dental caries and diseases of the oral cavity such as periodontitis and periodontal disease. The aim of the present study was to determine the ability of selected probiotics to inhibit growth and biofilm formation by the cariogenic bacterium Streptococcus mutans in vitro. We screened strains of latic acid bacteria (LAB) (n=120) from the Bioresources Collection and Research Center (BCRC), saliva of healthy adults and infant stool. The antimicrobial activity of LAB in vitro was evaluated by agar spot culture and co-culture of the S. mutans strains. We determined the effect of heating and dilution factors (2- and 4-fold) on the antagonistic activity of LAB. Antagonistic substances in the spent culture suspensions (SCS) of LAB were precipitated by extraction with ammonium sulphate and chloroform to characterise the protein and lipophilic fractions. Results of co-culturing show that the SCS of the three LAB strains (Lactobacillus pentosus 13-1, 13-4 and Lactobacillus crispatus BCRC 14618) subjected to heat treatment showed significantly high antimicrobial activity. We found that substances produced by L. pentosus 13-4 which have the potential to exhibit antimicrobial properties might be lipophilic proteins. Additionally, we infer that the mechanism of reducing biofilm formation by Lactobacillus strains is associated with sucrose-dependent cell–cell adhesion and the gtfC level of glucosyltransferases (Gtfs) in the biofilm. Native LAB strains screened in our study may be used in chewing gums and other processed foods for preventing tooth decay.

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) is characterized by significant heterogeneity in its molecular, genomic, and immunologic characteristics. Methods: Whole transcriptome RNAseq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas of prostate adenocarcinomas (n=496) was utilized. The immune microenvironment was characterized using the CIBERSORTX tool to identify immune cell type composition. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering was performed based on immune cell type content. Analyses of progression-free survival (PFS), distant metastases, and overall survival (OS) were performed using Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox-regression multivariable analyses. Results: Four immune clusters were identified, largely defined by plasma cell, CD4+ Memory Resting T Cells (CD4 MR), M0 and M2 macrophage content (CD4 MRHighPlasma CellHighM0LowM2Low, CD4 MRLowPlasma CellHighM0LowM2Low, CD4 MRHighPlasma CellLowM0HighM2Low, and CD4 MRHighPlasma CellLowM0LowM2High). The two macrophage-enriched/plasma cell non-enriched clusters (3&4) demonstrated worse PFS (HR 2.24, 95% CI 1.46–3.45, p=0.0002) than the clusters 1&2. No metastatic events occurred in the non-macrophage-enriched clusters. Comparing clusters 3 vs 4, in patients treated by surgery alone, cluster 3 had zero progression events (p<0.0001). However, cluster 3 patients had worse outcomes after post-operative radiotherapy (p=0.018). Conclusion: Distinct tumor immune clusters with a macrophage-enriched phenotype and reduced plasma cell enrichment independently characterize an aggressive phenotype in localized prostate cancer that may differentially respond to treatment.

The AREB/ABF (ABA response element binding) proteins in plants are vital for plant stress responses, but the understanding of AREB/ABFs in orchid species, an important traditional medicinal and ornamental plants, is limited. Here, twelve AREB/ABF genes were identified within three orchids’ complete genome and classified into three groups (groups I, II, and III) via a phylogenetic analysis, which was further supported by the analysis of their conserved motifs and gene structures. The cis-elements analysis showed that hormone response elements followed by light and stress responses were widely rich in AREB/ABFs. A prediction analysis of orchid ABRE/ABF-mediated regulatory network was further constructed through cis-regulatory elements (CREs) analysis of their promoter regions and revealed that several transcriptional factor (TF) gene family were abundant as the potential regulators for orchid AREB/ABFs. Expression profile analysis based on public transcriptomic data showed that most AREB/ABF genes have distinct tissue-specific expression patterns in orchid plants. Additionally, DcaABI5 as the homolog of ABA INSENSITIVE 5 (ABI5) from Arabidopsis was selected for further analysis. The results showed that Arabidopsis transgenic overexpressing DcaABI5 could rescue the ABA insensitive phenotype in the mutant abi5. Collectively, these findings will provide valuable information on AREB/ABF genes in orchids.

Forest ecosystems make a greater contribution to carbon (C) stocks than any other terrestrial ecosystem. To understand the role of regional forest ecosystems in global climate change and carbon exchange, forest C stock and its spatial distribution within the small (2,300 km2) Liuxihe River basin were analyzed to determine the different contributors to the C stock. Forest C stocks were quantified by measuring the biomass of trees, understory vegetation, litter and roots, as well as soil organic C, using data from field samples and laboratory experiments. The results showed that forests stored 38.04 Tg C in the entire basin, with secondary and planted forests accounting for 89.82% and 10.18%, respectively, of the stored C. Five types of forests, a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest, a subtropical coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest, a subtropical coniferous forest, a timber forest, and a non-wood forest, stored 257.55 ± 15.01, 218.92 ± 9.59, 195.24 ± 18.29, 177.42 ± 17.55, and 117.86 ± 6.04 Mg C ha−1, respectively. In the forest ecosystem C stocks of the basin, soils averagely contribute about 73.78%, not including root underground biomass. It provides a comprehensive method for forest ecosystem carbon investigation and forest management in small basin scale.

Panax notoginseng is a traditional Chinese medicine, and saponins are its main active ingredients. The content of saponins in flower of P. notoginseng is the highest in the whole plant. Minor ginsenosides have stronger pharmacological activity than main ginsenosides, but its content in nature is very low. We can use extracted total saponins from P. notoginseng flower as the substrate to produce minor ginsenosides by biotransformation method. In this study, we used the fungus Talaromyces flavus and its crude enzymes to transform the extracted total saponins of P. notoginseng flower. Through the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the transformation substrates and products, it was found that minor ginsenosides Gyp-XVII, ginsenosides C-Mc1, C-Mx1, F2, Rg3, 20(R)-Rg3, Rk1 and Rg5 were found in the products and the conversion rate of the major saponins in P. notoginseng flower ranged from 44.16 to 55.22%, the yields of the minor ginsenosides ranged from 0.05 to 3.24%. This study provided a good experimental idea, greatly increased the utilization rate of total saponins in P. notoginseng flower, and laid a foundation for promoting the wide application of minor saponins.

This paper proposes an approach for image data extraction and driving behavior analysis using geographic information and driving data. Information derived from geographic and global positioning systems was used for image data extraction. In addition, we used an onboard diagnostic II and a controller area network bus logger to record driving data for driving behavior analysis. Driving behavior was analyzed using sparse automatic encoders and data exploration to detect abnormal and aggressive behavior. A regression analysis was used to derive the relationship between aggressive driving behavior and road facilities. Several traffic improvements were proposed for specific intersections and roads. The results indicate that lane ratios without lane markings and with straight lane markings are important features that affect aggressive driving behaviors.

Despite the partial disclosure of driving scenario knowledge graphs, they still fail to meet the comprehensive needs of intelligent connected vehicles for driving knowledge. Current issues include the high complexity of pattern layer construction, insufficient accuracy of information extraction and fusion, and limited performance of knowledge reasoning models. To address these challenges, a hybrid knowledge graph method was adopted in the construction of the Driving Scenario Knowledge Graph (DSKG). Firstly, core concepts in the field were systematically sorted and classified, laying the foundation for the construction of a multi-level classified knowledge graph top-level ontology. Subsequently, by deeply exploring and analyzing the Traffic Genome data, 34 entities and 51 relations were extracted and integrated with the ontology layer, achieving the expansion and updating of the knowledge graph. Then, in terms of knowledge reasoning models, an analysis of the training results of the TransE, Complex, Distmult, and Rotate models in the entity linking prediction task of DSKG revealed that the Distmult model performed the best in metrics such as hit rate, making it more suitable for inference in DSKG. Finally, a standardized and widely applicable Driving Scenario Knowledge Graph was proposed. The DSKG and related materials have been publicly released for use by industry and academia.

A typhoon-induced storm surge is considered one of the most severe coastal disasters in Taiwan. However, the combination of the storm surge and the astronomical tide called the storm tide can actually cause extreme flooding in coastal areas. This study implemented a two-dimensional hydrodynamic model to account for the interaction between tides and storm surges on the coast of Taiwan. The model was validated with observed water levels at Sauo Fish Port, Hualien Port, and Chenggong Fish Port under different historical typhoon events. The model results are in reasonable agreement with the measured data. The validated model was then used to evaluate the effects of the typhoon's intensity, bathymetric change, and the combination of the typhoon’s intensity and bathymetric change on the maximum storm tide and its distribution along the east coast of Taiwan. The results indicated that the maximum storm tide rises to 1.92 m under a typhoon with an intensity of a 100-year return period. The maximum storm tide increased from a baseline of 1.26 m to 2.63 m for a 90% bathymetric rise at Sauo Fish Port under the conditions of Typhoon Jangmi (2008). The combination of the intensity of a typhoon with a 100-year return period and a 90% bathymetric rise will result in a maximum storm tide exceeding 4 m, 2 m, and 3 m at Sauo Fish Port, Hualien Port, and Chenggong Fish Port, respectively. We also found that the distribution of the maximum storm tide on the east coast of Taiwan can expand significantly subject to the bathymetric rise.

Rose (Rosa spp.), especially R. hybrida, is one of the most popular ornamental plants in the world and the third largest cut flower crop in Taiwan. Rose mosaic disease (RMD), showing mosaic, line patterns and ringspots on leaves, is a common rose disease caused by complex infection of various viruses. Due to pests and diseases, the rose planting area in Taiwan has been decreasing since 2008; however, no rose virus disease has been reported in the past five decades. In the spring of 2020, rose samples showing RMD-like symptoms were observed at an organic farm in Chiayi, central Taiwan. The virome in the farm was analyzed by RNA-seq. Rose genomic sequences were filtered from the obtained reads. The remaining reads were de novo assembled to generate 294 contigs, 50 of which were annotated as viral sequences corresponding to 10 viruses. Through reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction validation, a total of seven viruses were detected, including six known rose viruses, namely apple mosaic virus, prunus necrotic ringspot virus, rose partitivirus, apple stem grooving virus, rose spring dwarf-associated virus and rose cryptic virus 1, and a novel ilarvirus. After completing the whole genome sequencing and sequence analysis, the unknown ilarvirus was demonstrated as a new species, tentatively named rose ilarvirus 2. This is the first report of the rose viruses in Taiwan.

In this paper, a class of semi-linear elliptic equations involving Hardy-Sobolev critical exponents has been investigated. This problem comes from the consideration of standing waves in the anisotropic Schr\"{o}dinger equation, also it is very important in the field of hydrodynamics, glaciology, quantum field theory and statistical mechanics. By a detailed estimation for the extremum function and using Mountain Pass Lemma with $\left( PS\right) _{c}$ conditions, the existence of positive solutions has been obtained. On the other hand, by establishing Pohozaev-type identity and using the properties of Bessel function, the nonexistence of positive solution also has been obtained. These results are extensions of E. Jannelli's research (\cite[Theorem 1.A-1.C]{EJ}).

In thermodynamic theory, free energy (i.e., available energy) is the concept facilitating the combined applications of the theory’s two fundamental laws, the first and the second laws of thermodynamics. The critical step was taken by Kelvin, then by Helmholtz and Gibbs— that in natural processes, free energy dissipates spontaneously. With the formulation of the second law of entropy growth, this may be referred to as the dissymmetry proposition manifested in the spontaneous increase of system/environment-entropy towards equilibrium. Because of Kelvin’s pre-entropy-law formulation of free energy, our concept of free energy is still defined, energy-centrally, as body’s internal energy or enthalpy, subtracted by energy that is not available within a framework on the premise of primacy of energy, in which free energy dissipates spontaneously and universally. This primacy of energy is called into question because the driving force to cause a system’s change is the purview of the second law. This paper makes a case for an engineering thermodynamics framework, instead, to be based on the premise of the primacy of dissymmetry over free energy. With Gibbsian thermodynamics undergirded with dissymmetry proposition and engineering thermodynamics with the dissymmetry premise, the two branches of thermodynamics are unified to become classical thermodynamics.

Ti and its alloys are the most commonly used materials for biomedical applications. However, bacterial infection after implant placement is still one of the significant rising complications. Therefore, the application of the antimicrobial agents into implant surfaces to prevent implant-associated infection has attracted lots of attention. Scientific papers have shown that inorganic antibacterial metal element (e.g. Ag, Cu, Zn) can be introduced to implant surfaces with the addition of metal nanoparticles or metallic compounds into electrolyte via micro-arc oxidation (MAO) technology. In this review, the effects of the composition and concentration of electrolyte and process parameters (e.g. voltage, current density, oxidation time) on morphological characteristics (e.g. surface morphology, bonding strength), antibacterial ability and biocompatibility of MAO antimicrobial coating were discussed in detail. Anti-infection and osseo-integration can be simultaneously accomplished with the selection of the proper antibacterial elements and operating parameters. Besides, MAO assisted by magnetron sputtering (MS) to endow Ti-based implant materials with superior antibacterial ability and biocompatibility was also discussed. Finally, the development trend of MAO technology in the future was forecasted.

COVID-19 is a highly infectious respiratory illness caused by SARS-CoV-2, and acute lung injury (ALI) is the major cause of COVID-19. The challenge in studying SARS-CoV-2 pathogenicity is the limited availability of animal models. Therefore, it is necessary to establish animal models that can reproduce multiple characteristics of ALI to study therapeutic applications. The present study established a mouse model that has features of ALI that are similar to COVID-19 syndrome to investigate the role of ACE2 and the administration of the Chinese herbal prescription NRICM101 in ALI. Mice with genetic modifications, including overexpression of human ACE2 (K18-hACE2 TG) and absence of ACE2 (mACE2 KO), were intratracheally instillated with hydrochloric acid. The acid intratracheal instillation induced severe immune cell infiltration, cytokine storms, and pulmonary disease in mice. Compared with K18-hACE2 TG mice, mACE2 KO mice exhibited dramatically increased levels of multiple inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, and TGF-β1) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, histological evidence of lung injury, and dysregulation of MAPK and MMP activation. In mACE2 KO mice, NRICM101 could ameliorate the disease progression of acid-induced ALI. In conclusion, the established mouse model provided an effective platform for researchers to investigate pathological mechanisms and develop therapeutic strategies for ALI, including COVID-19-related ALI.

In this paper we present the exploration of indoor positioning technologies for UAVs, and navigation techniques for path planning and obstacle avoidance. The objective is to perform warehouse inventory tasks using a drone to search for barcodes or markers to identify the objects. For the indoor positioning techniques, we employ Visual-Inertial Odometry (VIO), Ultra-Wideband (UWB), AprilTag fiducial markers, and Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM). These algorithms encompass global positioning, local positioning, and pre-mapping positioning, comparing the merits and drawbacks of various techniques and trajectories. In UAV navigation, we combine SLAM-based RTAB-Map indoor mapping and navigation path planning of the ROS for indoor environments. This system enables precise drone positioning indoors and utilizes global and local path planners to generate flight paths that avoid dynamic, static, unknown, and known obstacles, demonstrating high practicality and feasibility. To achieve the warehouse inventory inspection, a reinforcement learning approach is proposed to recognize the markers by adjusting the UAV's viewpoint. We address several main problems in inventory management, including efficiently planning paths while ensuring a certain level of detection rate. Two reinforcement learning techniques, AC (Actor-Critic) and PPO (Proximal Policy Optimization), are implemented based on AprilTag identification. Testing is performed in both simulated and real-world environments, and the effectiveness of the proposed method is validated.Code is available at https://github.com/kellen080/Navigation and https://github.com/kellen080/Indoor\_Positioning.

Achieving the dual development of rural revitalization and urbanization is an important strategic goal of China’s current modernization. Rural population and settlements are the main components of the countryside in traditional agricultural areas, and play an important role in the development of the countryside itself in terms of urban and rural land use and in the formation of urban and rural development patterns. This study analyzes the spatial and temporal changes in rural populations and settlements at the township level, as well as the degree and type of coupled development. A framework for urban–rural development relationships based on different types of coupled development is proposed, and a model of urban–rural forces is constructed to derive the spatial pattern of urban–rural development at the township level that may be formed in the future. Our study shows that the rural population and settlements in the study area are characterized by significant spatial and temporal dynamics, indicating that traditional rural areas are in a process of rapid development and change. The results of the township-level coupling measurements present four types of development in terms of the spatial pattern of urban–rural development: A-type is most likely to produce new cities or satellite towns in the Jixi–Harbin–Qiqihar area in the future; B-type is the fastest dying area in the future, located in the Harbin and Qitaihe clusters, with a tendency to merge into Harbin; C-type is the area to be focused on in the future to attract population and strictly control the growth of the rural settlement area to avoid it turning into B-type; D-type may develop regional township centers in the future in the combined area of Jiamusi City, Suihua City and Mudanjiang City. The results of the study provide experience in realizing rural revitalization according to local conditions. The new spatial pattern of urban–rural development provides an important reference for formulating land use policies, optimizing urban–rural land allocation and realizing integrated urban–rural development strategies.

The International Roughness Index (IRI) is the standard scale for evaluating road roughness in many countries in the world. The Taipei City government actively promotes a Road Smoothing Project and plans to complete the rehabilitation of the main and minor roads within its jurisdiction. This study aims to detect the road surface roughness in Taipei City and recommend appropriate IRI thresholds for road rehabilitation. A total of 171 asphalt concrete pavement sections in Taipei City with a total length of 803.49 km were analyzed and compared by IRI. The longitudinal profile of the detected road sections was measured using an inertial profiler. The statistical analysis showed that the IRI value prior to road leveling was mainly distributed between 5 and 8 m/km, while the IRI value after road leveling was mainly distributed between 3 and 4.5 m/km. This confirms that the implementation of the Road Smoothing Project has a significant effect on improving road smoothness. Moreover, based on the analysis results, it is recommended that the IRI threshold value for road rehabilitation in Taipei City be set at 4.50 m/km.

Soil organic matter (SOM) is important for the global carbon cycle, and hyperspectral remote sensing has proven a promising method for fast SOM content estimation. However, soil physical properties significantly affect the sensitivity of satellite hyperspectral imaging to SOM, leading to poor generalization ability of the estimation model. This study aims to improve the spatiotemporal transferability of the SOM prediction model by alleviating the coupling effect of soil physical properties on the spectra. Based on satellite hyperspectral images and soil physical variables, including soil moisture (SM), soil surface roughness (root mean squared height, RMSH), and soil bulk weight (SBW), a soil spectral correction strategy was established based on the information unmixing method. Two important grain-producing areas in Northeast China were selected as study areas to verify the performance and transferability of the spectral correction model and SOM content prediction model. The results showed that soil spectral corrections based on fourth-order polynomials and the XG-Boost algorithm had excellent accuracy and generalization ability, with residual predictive deviations (RPD) exceeding 1.4 in almost all bands. In addition, when the soil spectral correction strategy was adopted, the accuracy of the SOM prediction model and the generalization ability after model migration were significantly improved. The SOM prediction accuracy based on the XG-Boost corrected spectrum was the highest, with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.76, root mean square error (RMSE) of 5.74 g/kg, and RPD of 1.68. The prediction accuracy, R2, RMSE, and RPD of the model after migration were 0.72, 6.71 g/kg, and 1.53, respectively. Compared with the direct migration prediction of the model, adopting the soil spectral correction strategy based on fourth-order polynomials and XG-Boost reduced the RMSE of the SOM prediction results by 57.90% and 60.27%, respectively. The performance comparison highlighted the advantages of considering soil physical properties in regional-scale SOM prediction.

Pulsed-field gradient (PFG) diffusion experiments can be used to measure anomalous diffusion in many polymer or biological systems. However, it is still complicated to analyze PFG anomalous diffusion, particularly the finite gradient pulse width (FGPW) effect. In practical applications, the FGPW effect may not be neglected such as in clinical diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Here, two significantly different methods are proposed to analyze PFG anomalous diffusion: the effective phase shift diffusion equation (EPSDE) method and an observing the signal intensity at the origin method. The EPSDE method describes the phase evolution in virtual phase space, while the method to observe the signal intensity at the origin describes the magnetization evolution in real space. However, these two approaches give the same general PFG signal attenuation including FGPW effect, which can be numerically evaluated by a direct integration method. The direct integration method is fast and without overflow. It is a convenient numerical evaluation method for Mittag-Leffler function type PFG signal attenuation. The methods here provide a clear view of spin evolution under field gradient, and their results will help the analysis of PFG anomalous diffusion.

We explored the trends and the diversity of the mortality and risk factors of age-standardized cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and cerebrovascular disease (CBD) from 2000 to 2020 in five advanced Asian countries, including China, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan. Data were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) report. Overall, the CVD mortality rates decreased gradually in all five Asian countries. Singapore had the highest rates before 2011, but Taiwan replaced Singapore as the nation of the highest mortality rates after 2012. Additionally, South Korea had the highest CBD mortality rates before 2016, while Taiwan experienced a peak in 2011 and remained high thereafter. The absolute difference (AD) and relative difference (RD) for CVD mortality rates showed clear declining trends in all five countries, with South Korea and China displaying the highest reductions, respectively. It is noteworthy that overweight and obesity exhibited an increasing trend in all these five Asian countries, with China demonstrating the highest AD and RD. Except for Taiwan, where a negative association of r=-0.732 was observed, CVD mortality was positively associated with CBD, hypertension, and DM mortality in all other four countries, therefore, further investigation into these relationships are needed.

Aims:To update analytic formulas for the overall efficacy of corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) including both type-I and oxygen-mediated type-II mechanisms, the role of oxygen and the initiator regeneration. Study Design:modeling the kinetics of CXL in UV light and using riboflavin as the photosensitizer.Place and Duration of Study:New Taipei City, Taiwan, between June, 2021 and July, 2021.Methodology:Coupled kinetic equations are derived under the quasi-steady state condition for the 2-pathway mechanisms of CXL. For type-I CXL, the riboflavin (RF) triplet state [T] may interact directly with the stroma collagen substrate [A] to form radical (R) and regenerate initiator. For type-II process, [T] interacts with oxygen to form a singlet oxygen [¹O₂]. Both reactive radical (R) and [¹O₂], can relax to their ground state, or interact with the substrate [A]) for crosslinking. Based on a safety dose, the minimum corneal thickness formula is derived. Results:Our updated theory/modeling showed that oxygen plays a limited and transient role in the process, in consistent with that of Kamave [2]. In contrary, Kling et al [3] believed that type-II is the predominant mechanism, which however conflicting with the epi-on CXL results. For both type-I and type-II, a transient state conversion (crosslink) efficacy in an increasing function of light intensity (or dose), whereas, its steady state efficacy is a deceasing function of light intensity. RF depletion in type-I is compensated by the RF regeneration term (RGE) which is a decreasing function of oxygen. For the case of perfect regeneration case (or when oxygen=0), RF is a constant due to the catalytic cycle. Unlike the conventional Dresden rule of 400 um thickness, thin cornea CXL is still safe as far as the dose is under a threshold dose (E*), based on our minimum thickness formula (Z*). Our formula for thin cornea is also clinically shown by Hafez et al forultra thin (214 nm) CXL. Conclusion: For both type-I and type-II, a transient state conversion (crosslink) efficacy in an increasing function of light intensity (or dose), whereas, its steady state efficacy is a deceasing function of light intensity. Ultra thin cornea is still safe as far as it is under a threshold dose (E*), based on our minimum thickness formula.

A simple design of an ultrathin six-band polarization-insensitive terahertz perfect metamaterial absorber (PMMA) composed of a metal cross-cave-patch resonator (CCPR) placed over a ground plane was proposed and investigated numerically. The numerical simulation results demonstrate that the average absorption peaks are up to 95% at six resonance frequencies with high quality-factors (>65). In addition, the absorption properties can be kept stability for both normal incident transverse magnetic (TM) and transverse electric (TE) waves. The physical mechanism behind the observed high level absorption is illustrated by the electric and power loss density distributions. The different absorption mainly originates from the higher order multipolar and multipolar plasmon resonance of the structure, which are sharp different to the most previous studies of the PMMAs. Furthermore, the resonance absorption of the PMMA can be tunable by varying the geometric parameters of the unit cell.

A simple design of an ultrathin six-band polarization-insensitive terahertz perfect metamaterial absorber (PMMA) composed of a metal cross-cave-patch resonator (CCPR) placed over a ground plane was proposed and investigated numerically. The numerical simulation results demonstrate that the average absorption peaks are up to 95% at six resonance frequencies with high quality-factors (>65). In addition, the absorption properties can be kept stability for both normal incident transverse magnetic (TM) and transverse electric (TE) waves. The physical mechanism behind the observed high level absorption is illustrated by the electric and power loss density distributions. The different absorption mainly originates from the higher order multipolar and multipolar plasmon resonance of the structure, which are sharp different to the most previous studies of the PMMAs. Furthermore, the resonance absorption of the PMMA can be tunable by varying the geometric parameters of the unit cell.

In this paper, the distributed formation tracking control problem of quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is considered. Adaptive backstepping technology is used to design flight control schemes for quadrotor UAVs. For the position subsystem, a distributed robust formation tracking control scheme is developed to achieve formation flight of quadrotor UAVs and track the desired flight trajectory. For the attitude subsystem, an adaptive disturbance rejection control scheme is proposed to achieve attitude stabilization during UAV flight under uncertain disturbances. Compared with the existing results, the novelty of this paper is that the proposed formation control scheme does not require the use of the quadrotor model parameters. Finally, a quadrotor UAV swarm system is used to verify the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.

The synergistic features of a three-component, photoinitiating system (A/B/C) based on the measured data and proposed mechanism of Liu et al. are analyzed. The co-initiators/additives B and C have dual-functions of : (i) regeneration of photoinitiator A, and (ii) generation of extra radicals for enhanced conversion efficacy (CE). The synergistic effects led to higher CE for both free radical polymerization (FRP) and cationic polymerization (CP). The CE of FRP has 3 terms due to the direct (tyep-I) coupling of the triplet state of A with the monomer (M) and the coupling of the two radicals, R and R', with M. The CE of CP has a transient state proportional to the effective absorption constant (b), the light intensity (I) and initiator concentration (A0), but a steady state is independent of the light intensity (I). For the CE of FRP, the contribution from radical R had two cases: (i) linear dependence on T=bIA0, or (ii) nonlinear square root dependence T0.5. The synergistic effects led to higher conversion of FRP and CP, consistent with the measured results. The theoretically predicted new features include: (i) co-initiator [C] which always enhances both FRP and CP conversions, and (ii) co-initiator [B] which leads to more efficient FRP, but it also reduces CP.

Blocking the interaction of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein with the human angiotensin-converting enzyme II (hACE2) protein serves as a therapeutic strategy for treating COVID-19. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatments containing bioactive products could alleviate the symptoms of severe COVID-19. However, the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants has complicated the process of developing broad-spectrum drugs. As such, the aim in this study was to explore the efficacy of TCM treatments for SARS-CoV-2 variants through targeting the interaction of the viral spike protein with the hACE2 receptor. The antiviral activity was systematically evaluated using a pseudovirus system. Scutellaria baicalensis was found to be effective against SARS-CoV-2 infection through affecting the interaction of viral spike protein with the hACE2 protein. The active molecules of S. baicalensis were identified and analyzed. Baicalein and baicalin, a flavone and a flavone glycoside, respectively, found in S. baicalensis, exhibited strong inhibitory activities, targeting the viral spike protein or hACE2 protein, respectively. Under optimized conditions, virus infection was inhibited by 98% via baicalein-treated pseudovirus and baicalin-treated hACE2. In summary, we identified the potential SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors of the interaction of the Omicron spike protein and hACE2 receptor from S. baicalensis. Future studies on the therapeutic application of baicalein and baicalin against SARS-CoV-2 variants are needed.

This article presents, for the first time, comprehensive model based on the proposed mechanism of Rahal et al [17], Bonardi {20], Tar et al [20], and Mau et al [24], for 3-component systems of G1/Iod/EDB, G1/Iod/amine (in gold chloride), and Iod/Benzoic/Borate (for reduced oxygen inhibition) for the hybri free radical (FRP) and cationic (CP) photopolymerization of interpenetrated polymer network (IPN) systems. Analytic formulas are developed to explore the new features including: (i) conversion efficacy(CE) of FRP is an increasing function of the light intensity (I), the effective absorption coefficient (b), for transient state, whereas, CE at steady-state is independent to the light intensity; (ii) initiator regeneration (RGE)
provides a catalytic cycle for improved CE for FRP and CP; (iii) in the IPN system, the synergic effects due to the co-exist of FRP and CP include: (i) CP can increase the medium viscosity limiting the diffusional oxygen replenishment, such that OIH is reduced; (ii) the cationic monomer also acts as a diluting agent for the radical polymer network, and (iii) the exothermic property of the CP polymerization. We have proposed ascaling law for the transient and steady-state dependence of CE on the key parameter P=bIC₀, given by a an m-order power law of P^m, with m = 0.5 to 1.5, depending on various conditions. The CE also has an optimal value for maximum CE. The presented comprehensive model (with minimum mathematics) focusing on the enhancement mechanisms/pathways, provides analytic formulas which can be used to analyze reported data, and, more importantly, serves as guidance for exploring new functional materials or new kinetic schemes for improved conversion or procedures for both industrial and medical applications such as additive manufacturing (AM), 3D and 4D bioprinting. Finally, we have proposed new directions/experiments based on our theoretical predictions.

Purpose: To derive and provide analytic formulas for accommodative gain of presbyopia eyes. via sclera ablation and/or thermal shrinkage such that lens is reshaped an/or its positon is shifted. New mechanisms are also proposed. Study Design: To increased accommodation of presbyopia. Place and Duration of Study: New Taipei City, Taiwan, between June, 2021 and July, 2021. Methodology: Accommodation gain is calculated by a 4-component theory, in which the rate functions are derived by an effective eye model for the change of anterior curvature of the lens and its anterior shift. The measured data of accommodative response of the lens versus the lens curvature change and anterior shift are analyzed. The measured net change of the posterior vitreal zonules (PVZ) length and the space between the ciliary body and lens (CLS) during the accommodation are also analyzed. Results: The accommodative gain (AG) is mainly due the change of lens anterior curvature and its anterior shift. The AG per diopter change of the reshaped lens is 0.62 to 0.68 by our formulas, comparing to the measured average value M'=0.69. The efficacy of LASA (or AG) is proportional to the amount of scleral tissue removed (or shrinkaged), such that more space is produced for the change of PVZ and CLS from a UCS to AS for accommodation. Conclusion: The AG is proportional to the amount of scleral tissue removed (or shrinkaged), such that more space is produced for the change of PVZ and CLS from a UCS to AS for accommodation.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is characterized by inflammation of the lung tissue and oxidative injury caused by excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species. Studies have suggested that anti-inflammatory or antioxidant agents could be used for the treatment of ALI with a good outcome. Therefore, our study aimed to test whether the mycelium extract of Sanghuangporus sanghuang (SS-1), believed to exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, could be used against the excessive inflammatory response associated with LPS-induced ALI in mice and to investigate its possible mechanism of action. The experimental results showed that the administration of SS-1 could inhibit LPS-induced inflammation. SS-1 could reduce the number of inflammatory cells, inhibit MPO activity, regulate the TLR4/PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and the signal transduction of NF-κB and MAPK pathways in the lung tissue, and inhibit HNGB1 activity in BALF. In addition, SS-1 could affect the synthesis of antioxidant enzymes HO-1 and Trx-1 in the lung tissue and regulate signal transduction in the KAP1/Nrf2/Keap1 pathway. Histological results showed that administration of SS-1 prior to induction could inhibit the large-scale LPS-induced neutrophil infiltration of the lung tissue. Therefore, based on all experimental results, we propose that SS-1 exhibits a protective effect against LPS-induced (ALI) in mice. The mycelium of S. sanghuang can potentially be used for the treatment or prevention of inflammation-related diseases

Two secondary waste materials, municipal incinerator bottom ash (MIBA) and sewage sludge ash (SSA), were mixed with clay for ceramic manufacturing in this study. Specimens with 5 different MIBA replacement amount of 0%, 5%,10%, 15%, and 20%(wt) and 3 different SSA replacement amount of 0%, 10%, and 20%(wt) were prepared and then a series of tests and analysis were conducted to investigate how the two materials affect the quality of the final product and to what extent. It concludes that a mix with up to 20% of SSA and 5% of MIBA could result in quality tiles complying with specifications for interior or exterior flooring applications at certain kiln temperatures.

In this paper, an adaptive proportional and integral (PI) controller for speed control of electric drives is developed. The adaptive PI controller is designed based on model reference adaptive identification and the Lyapunov function so that the system stability can be proved. To identify the inertia, the viscous friction torque coefficient, and the load torque simultaneously and smoothly, sinusoidal speed reference is usually employed. A modified motion equation considering the low-pass filter for feedback speed and the Coulomb friction torque is introduced and the relationship between the identified parameters and their actual values are clarified. A high-precision digital simulation model is built based on MATLAB/Simulink. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by simulations under various conditions.