Rapid detection of colored and colorless macro- and micro-plastics in complex environment via near-infrared spectroscopy and machine learning.

To better understand the migration behavior of plastic fragments in the environment, development of rapid non-destructive methods for in-situ identification and characterization of plastic fragments is necessary. However, most of the studies had focused only on colored plastic fragments, ignoring colorless plastic fragments and the effects of different environmental media (backgrounds), thus underestimating their abundance. To address this issue, the present study used near-infrared spectroscopy to compare the identification of colored and colorless plastic fragments based on partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), extreme gradient boost, support vector machine and random forest classifier. The effects of polymer color, type, thickness, and background on the plastic fragments classification were evaluated. PLS-DA presented the best and most stable outcome, with higher robustness and lower misclassification rate. All models frequently misinterpreted colorless plastic fragments and its background when the fragment thickness was less than 0.1mm. A two-stage modeling method, which first distinguishes the plastic types and then identifies colorless plastic fragments that had been misclassified as background, was proposed. The method presented an accuracy higher than 99% in different backgrounds. In summary, this study developed a novel method for rapid and synchronous identification of colored and colorless plastic fragments under complex environmental backgrounds.

Synergistic Integration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medical Intervention in the Treatment of Brain Abscess: A Case Report.

Brain abscess is life-threatening and carries a high risk of mortality. Despite advances in sensitive imaging techniques, effective antimicrobial therapies, and sophisticated surgical procedures, diagnosing and treating brain abscesses remains challenging. Although empirical antimicrobial therapy and neurosurgery are considered primary treatments for brain abscesses, their efficacy is limited by potential side effects including neutropenia development, the need for repeat surgeries, and the risk of new-onset epilepsy. Here, we present a case of a 52-year-old male patient who experienced paroxysmal convulsions accompanied by left-sided limb weakness and numbness for over 2 months. Despite a brain MRI revealing a multilocular cystic lesion in the right frontal lobe, with about 28 mm × 19 mm × 21 mm in size, the patient declined neurosurgical interventions. After completing a 6-week course of antimicrobial therapy, the patient sought traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment. As a result, the patient remained free of paroxysmal convulsions for about 60 days after a 4-month TCM treatment. A follow-up MRI imaging at 8 months showed a reduction in the size of the lesion in the right frontal lobe to 8 mm × 4 mm. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first well-documented case of a brain abscess that was successfully managed with a combination of antimicrobial therapy and TCM. This case report suggests that TCM may provide significant supplementary benefits in managing infections like brain abscesses. However, further evidence from prospective studies is necessary to substantiate the efficacy of Chinese herbal medicine for the treatment of brain abscesses.

The blue shift of fluorescence emission reveals the dsRNA-loading capacity of cationic nanocarriers.

The loading capacity of dsRNA by nanocarriers is a key parameter in the process of RNAi commercialisation. In this research, a sustainable, simple, and cheap method was developed to determine the dsRNA loading capacity by popular cationic nanocarriers. In this method, the fluorescence emission of the cationic nanocarrier + (dsRNA-DAPI) shows blue shift in comparison to that of dsRNA-DAPI. When dsRNA-DAPI is completely loaded by cationic nanocarriers, the fluorescence peak coincides with the emission wavelength of DNA-DAPI. The samples of nanocarrier + (dsRNA-DAPI) are simply tested in a fluorometer with no damage to the samples. The reported method is simpler, cheaper, and more sustainable than gel electrophoresis and HPLC, and will fulfill the industry need for reliable and quick quality administration/control in the production process.

Dual Active Sites with Charge-asymmetry in Organic Semiconductors Promoting C-C Coupling for Highly Efficient CO2 Photoreduction to Ethanol.

Selective CO2 photoreduction into high-energy-density and high-value-added C2 products is an ideal strategy to achieve carbon neutrality and energy shortage, but it is still highly challenging due to the large energy barrier of the C-C coupling step and severe exciton annihilation in photocatalysts. Herein, strong and localized charge polarization is successfully induced on the surface of melon-based organic semiconductors by creating dual active sites with a large charge asymmetry. Confirmed by multiscale characterization and theoretical simulations, such asymmetric charge distribution, originated from the oxygen dopants and nitrogen vacancies over melon-based organic semiconductors, reduces exciton binding energy and boosts exciton dissociation. The as-formed charge polarization sites not only donate electrons to CO2 molecules but also accelerate the coupling of asymmetric *CO*CO intermediates for CO2 photoreduction into ethanol by lowering the energy barrier of this process. Consequently, an exceptionally high selectivity of up to 97% for C2H5OH and C2H5OH yield of 0.80 mmol g-1 h-1 have been achieved on this dual active sites organic semiconductor. This work, with its potential applicability to a variety of non-metal multi-site catalysts, represents a versatile strategy for the development of advanced catalysts tailored for CO2 photoreduction reactions.

Data encryption/decryption and medical image reconstruction based on a sustainable biomemristor designed logic gate circuit.

Memristors are considered one of the most promising new-generation memory technologies due to their high integration density, fast read/write speeds, and ultra-low power consumption. Natural biomaterials have attracted interest in integrated circuits and electronics because of their environmental friendliness, sustainability, low cost, and excellent biocompatibility. In this study, a sustainable biomemristor with Ag/mugwort:PVDF/ITO structure was prepared using spin-coating and magnetron sputtering methods, which exhibited excellent durability, significant resistance switching (RS) behavior and unidirectional conduction properties when three metals were used as top electrode. By studying the conductivity mechanism of the device, a charge conduction model was established by the combination of F-N tunneling, redox, and complexation reaction. Finally, the novel logic gate circuits were constructed using the as-prepared memristor, and further memristor based encryption circuit using 3-8 decoder was innovatively designed, which can realize uniform rule encryption and decryption of medical information for data and medical images. Therefore, this work realizes the integration of memristor with traditional electronic technology and expands the applications of sustainable biomemristors in digital circuits, data encryption, and medical image security.

Leveraging Chatbots to Combat Health Misinformation for Older Adults: Participatory Design Study.

BACKGROUND: Older adults, a population particularly susceptible to misinformation, may experience attempts at health-related scams or defrauding, and they may unknowingly spread misinformation. Previous research has investigated managing misinformation through media literacy education or supporting users by fact-checking information and cautioning for potential misinformation content, yet studies focusing on older adults are limited. Chatbots have the potential to educate and support older adults in misinformation management. However, many studies focusing on designing technology for older adults use the needs-based approach and consider aging as a deficit, leading to issues in technology adoption. Instead, we adopted the asset-based approach, inviting older adults to be active collaborators in envisioning how intelligent technologies can enhance their misinformation management practices. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to understand how older adults may use chatbots' capabilities for misinformation management. METHODS: We conducted 5 participatory design workshops with a total of 17 older adult participants to ideate ways in which chatbots can help them manage misinformation. The workshops included 3 stages: developing scenarios reflecting older adults' encounters with misinformation in their lives, understanding existing chatbot platforms, and envisioning how chatbots can help intervene in the scenarios from stage 1. RESULTS: We found that issues with older adults' misinformation management arose more from interpersonal relationships than individuals' ability to detect misinformation in pieces of information. This finding underscored the importance of chatbots to act as mediators that facilitate communication and help resolve conflict. In addition, participants emphasized the importance of autonomy. They desired chatbots to teach them to navigate the information landscape and come to conclusions about misinformation on their own. Finally, we found that older adults' distrust in IT companies and governments' ability to regulate the IT industry affected their trust in chatbots. Thus, chatbot designers should consider using well-trusted sources and practicing transparency to increase older adults' trust in the chatbot-based tools. Overall, our results highlight the need for chatbot-based misinformation tools to go beyond fact checking. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides insights for how chatbots can be designed as part of technological systems for misinformation management among older adults. Our study underscores the importance of inviting older adults to be active co-designers of chatbot-based interventions.

Eliminating ontology contradictions based on the Myerson value.

Ontologies play a pivotal role in knowledge representation across various artificial intelligence domains, serving as foundational frameworks for organizing data and concepts. However, the construction and evolution of ontologies frequently lead to logical contradictions that undermine their utility and accuracy. Typically, these contradictions are addressed using an Integer Linear Programming (ILP) model, which traditionally treats all formulas with equal importance, thereby neglecting the distinct impacts of individual formulas within minimal conflict sets. To advance this method, we integrate cooperative game theory to compute the Shapley value for each formula, reflecting its marginal contribution towards resolving logical contradictions. We further construct a graph-based representation of the ontology, enabling the extension of Shapley values to Myerson values. Subsequently, we introduce a Myerson-weighted ILP model that employs a lexicographic approach to eliminate logical contradictions in ontologies. The model ensures the minimum number of formula deletions, subsequently applying Myerson values to guide the prioritization of deletions. Our comparative analysis across 18 ontologies confirms that our approach not only preserves more graph edges than traditional ILP models but also quantifies formula contributions and establishes deletion priorities, presenting a novel approach to ILP-based contradiction resolution.

Multiband and bidirectional multiplexing asymmetric optical transmission empowered by nanograting-coupled defective multilayer photonic crystal.

Asymmetric optical transmission (AOT) has been an enduring hot topic of interest in various fields, including optical communication, information processing, and so on. Particularly, the development of reciprocal micro-nanostructures achieving AOT further facilitates and accelerates the miniaturization and integration of traditional optical components. However, most of these optical components merely consider a single AOT band and transmission in a specified direction, limiting the development of their versatile functions. In this paper, we theoretically propose an all-dielectric metamaterial consisting of a nanograting and a defective multilayer photonic crystal, exhibiting multi-band and bidirectional multiplexing AOT. More specifically, the proposed metamaterial demonstrates both narrowband and wideband AOT for incidence from the nanograting to the photonic crystal, and a completely different narrowband AOT for the opposite incidence, namely, from the photonic crystal to the nanograting. These distinctive AOT spectral features are achieved by matching the diffraction effect of the nanograting with the special energy band of the defective multilayer photonic crystal. Remarkably, the device exhibits a transmittance difference of up to 0.974 and a contrast ratio of up to 0.997 (transmittance ratio of up to 673), with a transmission bandwidth of 62.7 nm for incident light with a wavelength of 624 nm illuminating from the nanograting to the defective multilayer photonic crystal. Furthermore, the bandwidth and number of transmission bands can be flexibly tuned by changing the polarization angle of the incident light, showcasing its excellent polarization multiplexing characteristics. The designed metamaterial provides an effective strategy for the realization of versatile AOT devices and is conducive to expanding the application scenarios of AOT devices.

The expression of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) involves in the clinicopathologic characteristics and prognostic implications of testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT): a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) is a type of tumor with relatively lower incidence but being more prevalent in young men. The expression of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) serves as a potential biomarker for predicting the survival outcomes of other tumors. Some studies discovered higher prevalence of PD-L1 in TGCT patients who achieved favorable treatment outcomes, while other studies showed lower or absent expression of PD-L1 in TGCT with the better prognosis as well. Therefore, in order to address this controversy and clarify the association between the expression of PD-L1 and pathological features and prognosis of TGCT, this meta-analysis was conducted. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed using following search terms: "testis", "testicle", "testicular", "cancer", "carcinoma", "tumor", "neoplasm", "programmed cell death ligand 1", "programmed death ligand 1", "PD-L1", "PDL1", "B7 homolog 1", "B7-H1", "B7H1" and "CD274". Relevant studies were retrieved according to the inclusion criteria from reputable databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). These studies investigated the expression of PD-L1 in both tumor cells and tumor infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) in TGCT. The overall proportion of PD-L1 positivity was assessed using R programming. Pooled hazard ratio (HR) and odds ratio (OR) with corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using Revman software to evaluate the involvement of PD-L1 expression in TGCT. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to evaluate the quality assessment of included studies. Sensitivity analysis and publication bias evaluation were subsequently performed. Results: A total of eight eligible studies compromising 1,589 patients diagnosed with TGCT were finally included in this study. PD-L1 positivity was detected in 31% and 41% of TGCT patients' tumor cells and TIICs, respectively. The pooled data demonstrated a significant association between elevated PD-L1 expression levels in TIICs and a favorable prognosis characterized by the reduced disease progression and relapse events (HR =0.21, 95% CI: 0.13-0.33). Furthermore, PD-L1+ TIICs exhibited higher prevalence rates in seminoma (OR =2.11, 95% CI: 1.57-2.84) and embryonal carcinoma (OR =6.23, 95% CI: 2.42-16.02) patients. Notably, PD-L1 expression in TIICs displayed a tendency to increase in TGCT patients with lower stages or without lymph node metastasis. Conclusions: PD-L1 expression was observed in choriocarcinoma tumor cells, while yolk sac tumor and teratoma tumor cells exhibited lower or absent expression of PD-L1. Conversely, PD-L1 expression in TIICs was associated with seminoma and embryonal carcinoma, which was more commonly observed in TGCT patients with lower stages and better prognosis, thereby providing a theoretical foundation for the application of immunotherapy in relapsed/refractory TGCT patients.

YTHDF2 in peritumoral hepatocytes mediates chemotherapy-induced antitumor immune responses through CX3CL1-mediated CD8+ T cell recruitment.

Peritumoral hepatocytes are critical components of the liver cancer microenvironment, However, the role of peritumoral hepatocytes in the local tumor immune interface and the underlying molecular mechanisms have not been elucidated. YTHDF2, an RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) reader, is critical for liver tumor progression. The function and regulatory roles of YTHDF2 in peritumoral hepatocytes are unknown. This study demonstrated that oxaliplatin (OXA) upregulated m6A modification and YTHDF2 expression in hepatocytes. Studies using tumor-bearing liver-specific Ythdf2 knockout mice revealed that hepatocyte YTHDF2 suppresses liver tumor growth through CD8+ T cell recruitment and activation. Additionally, YTHDF2 mediated the response to immunotherapy. Mechanistically, OXA upregulated YTHDF2 expression by activating the cGAS-STING signaling pathway and consequently enhanced the therapeutic outcomes of immunotherapeutic interventions. Ythdf2 stabilized Cx3cl1 transcripts in an m6A-dependent manner, regulating the interplay between CD8+ T cells and the progression of liver malignancies. Thus, this study elucidated the novel role of hepatocyte YTHDF2, which promotes therapy-induced antitumor immune responses in the liver. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the mechanism underlying the therapeutic benefits of targeting YTHDF2.

Multicenter radio-multiomic analysis for predicting breast cancer outcome and unravelling imaging-biological connection.

Radiomics offers a noninvasive avenue for predicting clinicopathological factors. However, thorough investigations into a robust breast cancer outcome-predicting model and its biological significance remain limited. This study develops a robust radiomic model for prognosis prediction, and further excavates its biological foundation and transferring prediction performance. We retrospectively collected preoperative dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI data from three distinct breast cancer patient cohorts. In FUSCC cohort (n = 466), Lasso was used to select features correlated with patient prognosis and multivariate Cox regression was utilized to integrate these features and build the radiomic risk model, while multiomic analysis was conducted to investigate the model's biological implications. DUKE cohort (n = 619) and I-SPY1 cohort (n = 128) were used to test the performance of the radiomic signature in outcome prediction. A thirteen-feature radiomic signature was identified in the FUSCC cohort training set and validated in the FUSCC cohort testing set, DUKE cohort and I-SPY1 cohort for predicting relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) (RFS: p = 0.013, p = 0.024 and p = 0.035; OS: p = 0.036, p = 0.005 and p = 0.027 in the three cohorts). Multiomic analysis uncovered metabolic dysregulation underlying the radiomic signature (ATP metabolic process: NES = 1.84, p-adjust = 0.02; cholesterol biosynthesis: NES = 1.79, p-adjust = 0.01). Regarding the therapeutic implications, the radiomic signature exhibited value when combining clinical factors for predicting the pathological complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (DUKE cohort, AUC = 0.72; I-SPY1 cohort, AUC = 0.73). In conclusion, our study identified a breast cancer outcome-predicting radiomic signature in a multicenter radio-multiomic study, along with its correlations with multiomic features in prognostic risk assessment, laying the groundwork for future prospective clinical trials in personalized risk stratification and precision therapy.

A cross-sectional study of the association between physical activity and depressive symptoms among adolescents in southwest China stratified by parental absence: the mediating role of insomnia and the moderating role of resilience.

OBJECTIVES: This study explored the mechanisms by which physical activity was associated with depressive symptoms in multi-ethnic (Han, Yi and Tibetan) adolescents in southwest China. The mediating role of insomnia in the association of physical activity with depressive symptoms, the moderating role of resilience in this mediation model and the moderating role of parental absence in the moderated mediation model were also examined. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey. SETTING: In southwest China (Sichuan Province and Tibet Autonomous Region). PARTICIPANTS: 3195 adolescents from a school-based survey conducted between April and October 2020. METHODS: There were 3143 valid samples in this study (47.2% males with mean age=12.88±1.68 years). Structural equation models were developed to estimate the direct and mediating effect, and the moderating effect. Multigroup comparison was performed to examine the differences and similarities of the moderated mediation model across three parental absence subgroups: (1) both parents present, (2) one parent absent and (3) both parents absent. RESULTS: As hypothesised, physical activity was significantly and positively associated with the reduction of depressive symptoms in adolescents. Insomnia partially mediated the effect of physical activity on depressive symptoms. In addition, resilience moderated the direct and indirect effects of physical activity (through insomnia) on depressive symptoms. Finally, the multigroup comparison indicated the moderating effect of parental absence on the moderated mediation model. CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity was associated with alleviating insomnia symptoms among adolescents, thus correlating with the improvement of their depressive symptoms. Resilience was associated with enhancing the beneficial effects of physical activity, further improving depressive symptoms among adolescents, especially those with both absent parents. It is evident that physical activity interventions should be further incorporated into public health programmes to foster the physical and mental health of left-behind adolescents in southwest China.

Effective removal of Cr(VI) from water by ball milling sulfur-modified micron zero-valent iron：Influencing factors and removal mechanism.

To address the issues of ZVI's susceptibility to oxidation and aggregation, ball milling and Na2S·9H2O modification were employed on ZVI to enhance its efficiency in removing Cr(VI) from effluent. The characterization results expressed that S-mZVIbm had mesoporous and macroporous structures, enabling successful capture of Cr(VI). Moreover, S-mZVIbm had the highest adsorption capacity for Cr(VI) (350.04 mg/g) at pH = 2.00 and reached kinetic equilibrium within 420 min. Furthermore, the adsorption of Cr(VI) by S-mZVIbm conformed to the Avrami-fractional-order model, demonstrated that the adsorption process indicated a complex multi-adsorption process. Meanwhile, the adsorption also fit to Langmuir and Sips models, suggesting monolayer-level adsorption with heterogeneous sites located on S-mZVIbm. The S-mZVIbm could enhance Cr(VI) adsorption through various synergistic mechanisms, such as electrostatic interaction, chemical precipitation, surface complexation, and reduction. Overall, this research presented an innovative perspective for the modification of ZVI, and S-mZVIbm could be widely applied in the practical remediation of wastewater containing Cr(VI).

[Pollution Assessment and Source Apportionment of Heavy Metals in the Surrounding Soil of Typical Mining Areas in Tongling, Anhui Province].

To study the level of heavy metal pollution and ecological risks in the soil around typical mining areas in Tongling, a total of 150 soil samples were collected from the study area. The content characteristics of 10 elements, namely, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Fe, and Zn, in the soils were analyzed. Methods including enrichment factor, the geo-accumulation index, single-factor pollution index, Nemero comprehensive pollution index, and potential ecological risk index were used to evaluate the pollution status of heavy metals in the soil of the study area. The pollution sources of heavy metals in the soil were also analyzed using correlation analysis, cluster analysis, and principal component analysis. The results showed that except for Cr and Fe, the average contents of the other eight heavy metal elements were higher than the soil background values in the study area. Pb, Zn, As, Cu, and Cd had a high degree of variation and were significantly affected by external interference. The spatial distribution showed that both Cr and Ni showed a decreasing trend from the edge to the central region, whereas the other eight heavy metals showed a decreasing trend from the central region to the surrounding areas. The pollution level of Cd and Cu in the soil of the research area was relatively severe. The overall ecological risk was at a medium to low level. Cd and Hg were the main contributing factors. As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn mainly came from agricultural, industrial, and transportation sources, whereas Cr and Ni were mainly from natural sources. However, the sources of Hg were relatively complex. The research results can provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of soil heavy metal pollution in metal mining areas, as well as the remediation of mine pollution.

Safety assessment of Tafamidis: a real-world pharmacovigilance study of FDA adverse event reporting system (FAERS) events.

OBJECTIVE: Tafamidis-associated adverse events (AEs) were investigated retrospectively by data mining the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) to inform clinical safety. METHODS: Data were gathered from the FAERS database, which spans the second quarter of 2019 to the fourth quarter of 2023. A total number of 8532 reports of Tafamidis-related adverse events were detected after evaluating 8,432,351 data. Disproportionality analyses were used to quantify the signal and assess the significance of Tafamidis-associated AEs using four algorithms, including the reporting odds ratio (ROR), the proportional reporting ratio (PRR), the multi-item gamma Poisson shrinker (MGPS) and the Bayesian confidence propagation neural network (BCPNN). RESULTS: Among the 8532 reports of AEs with Tafamidis as the primary suspected drug, Tafamidis-induced AEs were identified as occurring in 27 system organ classes (SOC). A total of 207 Tafamidis-induced AEs were detected which simultaneously complied with the four algorithms. Our analysis also identified new adverse reactions including Hypoacusis, Deafness, and Essential hypertension. The median onset of adverse reactions associated with Tafamidis was 180 days (interquartile range [IQR] 51-419 days). CONCLUSION: Tafamidis is a drug that has shown favorable safety and tolerability results in clinical trials. However, a number of adverse reactions associated with Tafamidis have been identified through analysis of the FAERS database. In clinical applications, it is recommended to closely monitor patients' hearing while using Tafamidis. In addition, it is hoped that further experimental and clinical studies will be conducted in the future to understand the mechanism of occurrence between Tafamidis and adverse reactions such as primary hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and height reduction.

Accelerating decarbonized economic growth through net-zero entrepreneurship: Low-carbon economic development perspective.

Net-zero entrepreneurship is a novel concept introduced in the context of carbon neutrality, and exploring whether it can catalyze decarbonized economic growth is a worthy pursuit. This study constructs a comprehensive, low-carbon endogenous economic growth model to scrutinize the intricate nexus between net-zero entrepreneurship and decarbonized economic growth. Empirical validation employs a series of multiple regression models to rigorously test the hypotheses derived from the theoretical framework using an extensive dataset spanning Chinese provinces. The results reveal a nuanced landscape. (i) Net-zero entrepreneurship plays a remarkable role in promoting decarbonization growth, with considerable regional heterogeneity. (ii) Green technology progress exhibits a notable mediating effect. (iii) Environmental regulation and industrial structure optimization have positive moderating effects. (iv) The results passed alternative dependent variable and one-phase lag regression robustness tests. In a distinct contribution to entrepreneurship literature, this study augments the discourse on strategies to steer low-carbon transitions. The research findings indicate that net-zero entrepreneurship can accelerate the global decarbonization process, and green technology progress is a significant driving mechanism in this process. Additionally, it is essential to strengthen environmental agencies' regulatory oversight and optimize industrial structures to pave the way for transformative sustainable growth. In the future, more entrepreneurs should be encouraged to engage in green technology and business model innovation to contribute to global decarbonization efforts.

CXCR4 regulates macrophage M1 polarization by altering glycolysis to promote prostate fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: C-X-C receptor 4(CXCR4) is widely considered to be a highly conserved G protein-coupled receptor, widely involved in the pathophysiological processes in the human body, including fibrosis. However, its role in regulating macrophage-related inflammation in the fibrotic process of prostatitis has not been confirmed. Here, we aim to describe the role of CXCR4 in modulating macrophage M1 polarization through glycolysis in the development of prostatitis fibrosis. METHODS: Use inducible experimental chronic prostatitis as a model of prostatic fibrosis. Reduce CXCR4 expression in immortalized bone marrow-derived macrophages using lentivirus. In the fibrotic mouse model, use adenovirus carrying CXCR4 agonists to detect the silencing of CXCR4 and assess the in vivo effects. RESULTS: In this study, we demonstrated that reducing CXCR4 expression during LPS treatment of macrophages can alleviate M1 polarization. Silencing CXCR4 can inhibit glycolytic metabolism, enhance mitochondrial function, and promote macrophage transition from M1 to M2. Additionally, in vivo functional experiments using AAV carrying CXCR4 showed that blocking CXCR4 in experimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP) can alleviate inflammation and experimental prostate fibrosis development. Mechanistically, CXCR4, a chemokine receptor, when silenced, weakens the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway as its downstream signal, reducing c-MYC expression. PFKFB3, a key enzyme involved in glucose metabolism, is a target gene of c-MYC, thus impacting macrophage polarization and glycolytic metabolism processes.

Evaluation method of ore grade estimation effectiveness.

This study proposes a new method to evaluate the effectiveness of orebody grade estimations, drawing upon the analysis of existing evaluation methods for grade estimation. This new approach addresses factors such as uneven sampling and asymmetric estimation range, which are challenging to overcome with existing evaluation techniques. The core principle of this method involves documenting how frequently individual samples are used during grade estimation and calculating the total distance weights for each sample. Subsequently, the usage frequency and total weight of the samples are standardized, and these standardized values are weighted based on the sample grades. A comparison is made between the weighted sample grades and the estimated grades, with the closeness between the two serving as a metric for assessing the effectiveness of the estimation. This study compares the new evaluation method to the direct comparison and cross-validation methods, examining the effectiveness of grade estimation using the inverse distance weighting (IDW) method. The findings revealed that: (1) The new evaluation method theoretically accounts for the systematic deviation between the statistical measures of estimated and sample grades resulting from uneven sample distribution, offering a fresh approach for enhancing the effectiveness of orebody grade estimation. (2) In the grade estimation of experimental Fe samples, the frequency of usage and the sum of distance weights were unequal. This inequality significantly contributes to the systematic deviation between the estimated and sample grades. (3) Comparing the new evaluation method to others confirms the stability and reliability of the new approach for evaluating the effectiveness of orebody grade estimation. This novel method demonstrates theoretical advantages and practical utility. (4) The deviation between the estimated grades and the statistical results of sample grades is influenced by the distribution pattern of sample grades, the spatial relationship between samples and estimation blocks, and the inherent systematic error associated with the IDW method. This systematic error cannot be overlooked.

Efficient Permeable Monolithic Hybrid Tribo-Piezo-Electromagnetic Nanogenerator Based on Topological-Insulator-Composite.

Escalating energy demands of self-independent on-skin/wearable electronics impose challenges on corresponding power sources to offer greater power density, permeability, and stretchability. Here, a high-efficient breathable and stretchable monolithic hybrid triboelectric-piezoelectric-electromagnetic nanogenerator-based electronic skin (TPEG-skin) is reported via sandwiching a liquid metal mesh with two-layer topological insulator-piezoelectric polymer composite nanofibers. TPEG-skin concurrently extracts biomechanical energy (from body motions) and electromagnetic radiations (from adjacent appliances), operating as epidermal power sources and whole-body self-powered sensors. Topological insulators with conductive surface states supply notably enhanced triboelectric and piezoelectric effects, endowing TPEG-skin with a 288 V output voltage (10 N, 4 Hz), ∼3 times that of state-of-the-art devices. Liquid metal meshes serve as breathable electrodes and extract ambient electromagnetic pollution (±60 V, ±1.6 µA cm-2). TPEG-skin implements self-powered physiological and body motion monitoring and system-level human-machine interactions. This study provides compatible energy strategies for on-skin/wearable electronics with high power density, monolithic device integration, and multifunctionality.