Influence of ground motion parameters on seismic response of a large-longitudinal-slope and small-radius curved girder bridge.

The mechanical performance of curved bridges under the action of an earthquake is complex. To obtain the influence of seismic parameters on the seismic response of curved girder bridges, this paper relies on a large slope small-radius curved steel box girder bridge (LSCGB) and selects seismic wave incidence angle, vertical component of ground motion, and site category as seismic parameters to carry out nonlinear time history analysis. Based on the analysis results of the case bridge, it is shown that the torsional vibration of the first 10 modes of LSCGB is significant, the modes are dispersed, and the contribution of high-order modes of vibration cannot be ignored. The most unfavorable seismic wave incidence angle is in the direction of 45°âˆ¼60° counterclockwise Angle from the central connection line of Pier No. 1 and Pier No. 4 of the bridge. The seismic response of the curved bridge components increases with the vertical seismic intensity, and the influence on displacement responses is more significant. The basic vibration period of curved girder bridges built on soft soil sites is extended by approximately 18.23%, and the seismic response of key components increases with the softening of the site soil. Therefore, when analyzing the seismic response of LSCGBs, the influence of vertical component of ground motion and site category should not be ignored.

Decoding human bone marrow hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells from fetal to birth.

Bone marrow (BM) is the dominant site of hematopoiesis after 20 post-conception weeks (PCWs), but the intricacies of hematopoietic development in fetal BM up to birth and its involvement in malignancies remain unknown. Here, we compared the single-cell transcriptomic profile of BM hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) at the early (12-14 PCW), middle (19-22 PCW) second trimester, and the neonatal stage. The stemness of hematopoietic stem cell and multipotent progenitor (HSC/MPP) is established at the middle second trimester, then maintained until birth. Furthermore, differentiation potentials toward three lineages are enhanced after the middle second trimester for birth, accompanied by the upregulation of aerobic metabolism. Notably, decreased stemness in HSCs/MPPs and higher interferon signals in progenitors at the early second trimester rendered the HSPCs more proximal to leukemogenesis. Collectively, our work elucidated the dynamics of fetal hematopoiesis in preparation for birth, offering valuable insights into the pathological processes underlying leukemia.

Multiple pulp stones emerge across all teeth during mixed dentition: A case report.

BACKGROUND: This paper reports a rare presentation of multiple pulp stones (PSs) emerging in all teeth during mixed dentition. It offers valuable insights into the clinical diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of multiple PSs, shedding light on their occurrence during the mixed dentition period. CASE SUMMARY: A 10-year-old girl presented with repeated pain in the mandibular right posterior teeth. Intraoral examination revealed carious lesions, abnormal tooth shapes, and anomalies in tooth number. Radiographic examinations showed multiple PSs with diverse shapes, sizes, and quantities in all teeth, alongside anomalies in tooth shape and number. Root canal therapy was initiated, but the patient initially lacked timely follow-up. Upon return for treatment completion, an extracted tooth revealed irregular calculus within the pulp cavity. CONCLUSION: This case underscores the importance of considering multiple PSs in mixed dentition, necessitating comprehensive evaluation and management strategies.

Real-space imaging for discovering a rotated node structure in metal-organic framework.

Resolving the detailed structures of metal organic frameworks is of great significance for understanding their structure-property relation. Real-space imaging methods could exhibit superiority in revealing not only the local structure but also the bulk symmetry of these complex porous materials, compared to reciprocal-space diffraction methods, despite the technical challenges. Here we apply a low-dose imaging technique to clearly resolve the atomic structures of building units in a metal-organic framework, MIL-125. An unexpected node structure is discovered by directly imaging the rotation of Ti-O nodes, different from the unrotated structure predicted by previous X-ray diffraction. The imaged structure and symmetry can be confirmed by the structural simulations and energy calculations. Then, the distribution of node rotation from the edge to the center of a MIL-125 particle is revealed by the image analysis of Ti-O rotation. The related defects and surface terminations in MIL-125 are also investigated in the real-space images. These results not only unraveled the node symmetry in MIL-125 with atomic resolution but also inspired further studies on discovering more unpredicted structural changes in other porous materials by real-space imaging methods.

In-Situ Polymerized High-Voltage Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries with Dual-Reinforced Stable Interfaces.

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) represent a pivotal advance toward high-energy solid-state lithium metal batteries. However, inadequate interfacial contact remains a significant bottleneck, impeding scalability and application. Inadequate interfacial contact remains a significant bottleneck, impeding scalability and application. Recent efforts have focused on transforming liquid/solid interfaces into solid/solid ones through in situ polymerization, which shows potential especially in reducing interface impedance. Here, we designed high-voltage SSLMBs with dual-reinforced stable interfaces by combining interface modification with an in situ polymerization technology inspired by targeted effects in medicine. Theoretical calculations and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) analysis demonstrate that tetramethylene sulfone (TMS) and bis(2,2,2-trifluoromethyl) carbonate (TFEC) exhibit selective adsorption at the interface of the LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM) cathode and Li anode, respectively. These compounds further decompose to form a stable cathode-electrolyte interface (CEI) film and a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) film, thereby simultaneously achieving a superior interface between the SPE and both the Li anode and NCM cathode. The developed Li||SPE||Li cell sustained cycling for more than 1000 h at 0.3 mA cm-2, and the NCM||SPE||Li cell also demonstrated an excellent capacity retention of 86.8% after 1000 cycles at 1 °C. This work will provide valuable insights for the rational design of high-voltage SSLMBs with stable interfaces, leveraging in situ polymerization as a cornerstone technology.

The rv2820c K114N mutation is related with capreomycin tolerance.

As one of the factors affecting the treatment outcomes, drug tolerance in mycobacteriosis has not been paid due attention. Genome-wide association studies on 607 Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates with phenotypic drug susceptibility test data revealed that a K114N mutation on the rv2820c gene was highly enriched in capreomycin-resistant isolates (32/213, 15.02%). However, the mutation was also observed in capreomycin-sensitive isolates (10/394, 2.53%). In most cases (31/42, 73.81%), the rv2820c K114N mutation occurred in isolates with the known capreomycin resistance conferring mutation rrs A1401G. In contrast, the general frequency of the rv2820c K114N mutation was low in 7061 genomes downloaded from the National Center for Biotechnology Information database. To determine the impact of this mutation on the antimycobacterial activity of capreomycin, the intact rv2820c gene and the rv2820c K114N mutant were over-expressed in Mycobacterium smegmatis (Ms), and the results of susceptibility tests showed that the rv2820c K114N mutation did not affect the minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) of capreomycin. Subsequently, the data of time-kill assays showed that, it took only 2 h of capreomycin treatment (40 µg/ml, 5 × MIC) to kill 99.9% bacterial cells of Ms MC2155 pMV261::rv2820cH37Rv, while it took 6 h to achieve that for Ms MC2155 pMV261::rv2820cK114N. Taken together, these data suggested that the rv2820c K114N mutation is related with capreomycin tolerance, which merits further investigation.

Evaluation of a novel vaginal cells self-sampling device for human papillomavirus testing in cervical cancer screening: A clinical trial assessing reliability and acceptability.

Cervical cancer is a significant public health concern, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where resources for prevention and treatment are limited. Routine screening, such as the Papanicolaou test (Pap smears) and human papillomavirus (HPV) testing, plays a crucial role in the early detection and prevention of cervical cancer. However, the participation rate in cervical cancer screening programs remains below optimal levels due to various factors. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and acceptability of the HygeiaTouch Self Sampling Kit for Women in collecting vaginal samples for HPV typing, comparing the results with samples collected by physicians. The study included 1210 women aged 21-65 from three medical centers in Taiwan. The findings indicated that the self-sampling kit was as effective as physician-collected specimens in terms of obtaining valid samples and identifying HPV. The agreement between the two methods was 88%, with a κ value of 0.75. Furthermore, the study assessed the mechanical characteristics of the self-sampling applicator through tensile, bending, and torque tests, and determined that it was safe for intravaginal use. Additionally, the study evaluated the safety and satisfaction of self-sampling and found a low rate of adverse events (0.7%) and high levels of satisfaction (over 90%) among participants. Overall, we demonstrated that the HygeiaTouch Self Sampling Kit for Women is a reliable and acceptable device for HPV testing and cervical screening, providing a convenient, safe, and effective alternative for women.

Gut microbiota plays pivotal roles in benign and malignant hematopoiesis.

Accumulated evidence emerges that dynamic changes in human gut microbiota and microbial metabolites can alter the ecological balance of symbiotic hosts. The gut microbiota plays a role in various diseases through different mechanisms. More and more attention has been paid to the effects that human microbiota extends beyond the gut. This review summarized the current understanding of the roles that gut microbiota plays in hematopoietic regulation and the occurrence and development of benign and malignant hematologic diseases. The progress of the application of microbiota in treatment was discussed in order to provide new insights into clinical diagnosis and treatment in the future.

Effective Prevention and Treatment of Acute Leukemias in Mice by Activation of Thermogenic Adipose Tissues.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are common hematological malignancies in adults. Despite considerable research advances, the development of standard therapies, supportive care, and prognosis for the majority of AML and ALL patients remains poor and the development of new effective therapy is urgently needed. Here, it is reported that activation of thermogenic adipose tissues (TATs) by cold exposure or ß3-adrenergic receptor agonists markedly alleviated the development and progression of AML and ALL in mouse leukemia models. TAT activation (TATA) monotherapy substantially reduces leukemic cells in bone marrow and peripheral blood, and suppresses leukemic cell invasion, including hepatomegaly and splenomegaly. Notably, TATA therapy prolongs the survivals of AML- and ALL-bearing mice. Surgical removal of thermogenic brown adipose tissue (BAT) or genetic deletion of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) largely abolishes the TATA-mediated anti-leukemia effects. Metabolomic pathway analysis demonstrates that glycolytic metabolism, which is essential for anabolic leukemic cell growth, is severely impaired in TATA-treated leukemic cells. Moreover, a combination of TATA therapy with chemotherapy produces enhanced anti-leukemic effects and reduces chemotoxicity. These data provide a new TATA-based therapeutic paradigm for the effective treatment of AML, ALL, and likely other types of hematological malignancies.

Acetonitrile-Based Local High-Concentration Electrolytes for Advanced Lithium Metal Batteries.

Acetonitrile (AN) is a compelling electrolyte solvent for high-voltage and fast-charging batteries, but its reductive instability makes it incompatible with lithium metal anodes (LMAs). Herein, 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl-2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl ether (TTE) is used as the diluent to build an AN-based local high-concentration electrolyte (LHCE) to realize dense, dendrite-free, and stable LMAs. Such LHCE exhibits an exceptional electrochemical stability window close to 6 V (vs Li+/Li), excellent wettability, and promising flame retardancy. Compared to a baseline carbonate-based electrolyte, its electrochemical performance is prominent: the overpotential of lithium nucleation is minimal (only 24 mV), the average half-cell coulombic efficiency (CE) reaches 99.5% at 0.5 mA cm-2, and its practicality in full cells with LiFePO4 (LFP) and LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) cathodes is also demonstrated. Compounding factors are identified to decipher the superiority of the AN-based LHCE. From the respect of solvation structures, both the elimination of free AN molecule and the diluent separation would contribute to prevention of anodic AN decomposition. Based on cryogenic electron microscopy (Cryo-EM) characterization and theoretical simulations results, the produced solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer is uniform and compact. Thus, this work demonstrates a successful application of AN-based electrolytes in LMAs-traditionally deemed impractical-via the combined regulation of solvation and SEI structures.

Stable zinc anode solid electrolyte interphase via inner Helmholtz plane engineering.

The inner Helmholtz plane and thus derived solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) are crucial interfacial structure to determine the electrochemical stability of Zn-ion battery (ZIB). In this work, we demonstrate that introducing ß-cyclodextrins (CD) as anion-receptors into Zn(OTf)2 aqueous electrolyte could significantly optimize the Zn anode SEI structure for achieving stable ZIB. Specifically, ß-CD with macrocyclic structure holds appropriate cavity size and charge distribution to encase OTf- anions at the Zn metal surface to form ß-CD@OTf- dominated inner Helmholtz structure. Meanwhile, the electrochemically triggered ß-CD@OTf- decomposition could in situ convert to the organic-inorganic hybrid SEI (ZnF2/ZnCO3/ZnS‒(C-O-C/*CF/*CF3)), which could efficiently hinder the Zn dendrite growth with maintain the proper SEI mechanical strength stability to guarantee the long-term stability. The thus-derived Zn | |Zn pouch cell (21 cm2 size) with ß-CD-containing electrolyte exhibits a cumulative capacity of 6450 mAh-2 cm-2 at conditions of 10 mAh cm-2 high areal capacity. This work gives insights for reaching stable ZIB via electrolyte additive triggered SEI structure regulation.

The T120P or M172V mutation on rv2172c confers high level para-aminosalicylic acid resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Although para-aminosalicylic acid (PAS) has been used to treat tuberculosis for decades, mechanisms of resistance to this drug in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) clinical isolates have not been thoroughly investigated. Previously, we found that decreased methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) activity of Rv2172c led to increased sensitivity to antifolates in M. tuberculosis. In this study, we collected the genome-sequencing data of 173 PAS-resistant and 803 PAS-sensitive clinical isolates and analyzed rv2172c mutations in those 976 isolates. The results showed that two mutations (T120P and M172V) on rv2172c could be identified in a certain proportion (6.36%) of PAS-resistant isolates. The results of AlphaFold2 prediction indicated that the T120P or M172V mutation might affect the enzymatic activity of Rv2172c by influencing nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) binding, and this was verified by subsequent biochemical analysis, demonstrating the role of residues Thr120 and Met172 on NADH binding and enzymatic activity of Rv2172c. In addition, the effect of rv2172c T120P or M172V mutation on methionine production and PAS resistance was determined in M. tuberculosis. The results showed that both T120P and M172V mutations caused increased intracellular methionine concentrations and high level PAS resistance. In summary, we discovered new molecular markers and also a novel mechanism of PAS resistance in M. tuberculosis clinical isolates and broadened the understanding of the NADH-dependent MTHFR catalytic mechanism of Rv2172c in M. tuberculosis, which will facilitate the molecular diagnosis of PAS resistance and also the development of new drugs targeting Rv2172c.

Grain Protein Content Phenotyping in Rice via Hyperspectral Imaging Technology and a Genome-Wide Association Study.

Efficient and accurate acquisition of the rice grain protein content (GPC) is important for selecting high-quality rice varieties, and remote sensing technology is an attractive potential method for this task. However, the majority of multispectral sensors are poor predictors of GPC due to their broad spectral bands. Hyperspectral technology provides a new analytical technology for bridging the gap between phenomics and genomics. However, the small size of typical datasets is a constraint for model construction for estimating GPC, limiting their accuracy and reducing their ability to generalize to a wide range of varieties. In this study, we used hyperspectral data of rice grains from 515 japonica varieties and deep convolution generative adversarial networks (DCGANs) to generate simulated data to improve the model accuracy. Features sensitive to GPC were extracted after applying a continuous wavelet transform (CWT), and the estimated GPC model was constructed by partial least squares regression (PLSR). Finally, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was applied to the measured and generated datasets to detect GPC loci. The results demonstrated that the simulated GPC values generated after 8,000 epochs were closest to the measured values. The wavelet feature (WF1743, 2), obtained from the data with the addition of 200 simulated samples, exhibited the highest GPC estimation accuracy (R 2 = 0.58 and RRMSE = 6.70%). The GWAS analysis showed that the estimated values based on the simulated data detected the same loci as the measured values, including the OsmtSSB1L gene related to grain storage protein. This study provides a new technique for the efficient genetic study of phenotypic traits in rice based on hyperspectral technology.

Differences in Clinical Outcomes between One-Stage and Staged Flexible Ureteroscopy for the Treatment of Upper Urinary Tract Stones.

OBJECTIVE: Upper urinary tract stones (UUTSs) are among the most common types of urinary stones, and their incidence rate has been increasing annually in recent years, seriously affecting the daily lives of patients. This study aimed to compare the treatment efficacy of one-stage and staged flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy (FURL) for UUTSs. METHODS: A total of 142 patients with UUTSs admitted to our hospital between December 2019 and March 2023 were selected for retrospective analysis, including 76 patients who received staged FURL (control group) and 66 patients who received one-stage FURL (observation group). The duration of surgery, length of stay, stone clearance rate, incidence of postoperative complications (from postsurgery to discharge), and total hospitalization cost were analyzed in both groups. The visual analog scale (VAS) score and activities of daily living (ADL) score were assessed before surgery (T0), 3 days after surgery (T1), and 7 days after surgery (T2). Patients were followed up for 1 month after surgery, and their quality of life was assessed using the MOS Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). RESULTS: There was no difference in the stone clearance rate or incidence of postoperative complications between the two groups (p > 0.05). The operation time, hospitalization time and hospitalization cost in the observation group were 75.58 ± 15.91 min, 4.20 ± 1.24 days and 14312.62 ± 1078.89 yuan, respectively, which were lower than those in the control group (p < 0.05). In addition, the VAS score at T3 was decreased to 1.49 ± 0.70, while the ADL and SF-36 scores were higher in the observation group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: One-stage FURL shortens the duration of surgery and length of stay, reduces hospitalization costs, and improves the quality of life of patients with UUTSs.

High-Performance Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Conductive Hydrogels for Stretchable Elastic All-Hydrogel Supercapacitors and Flexible Self-Powered Integrated Systems.

Conductive polymer hydrogels exhibit unique electrical, electrochemical, and mechanical properties, making them highly competitive electrode materials for stretchable high-capacity energy storage devices for cutting-edge wearable electronics. However, it remains extremely challenging to simultaneously achieve large mechanical stretchability, high electrical conductivity, and excellent electrochemical properties in conductive polymer hydrogels because introducing soft insulating networks for improving stretchability inevitably deteriorates the connectivity of rigid conductive domain and decreases the conductivity and electrochemical activity. This work proposes a distinct confinement self-assembly and multiple crosslinking strategy to develop a new type of organic-inorganic hybrid conductive hydrogels with biphase interpenetrating cross-linked networks. The hydrogels simultaneously exhibit high conductivity (2000 S m-1), large stretchability (200%), and high electrochemical activity, outperforming existing conductive hydrogels. The inherent mechanisms for the unparalleled comprehensive performances are thoroughly investigated. Elastic all-hydrogel supercapacitors are prepared based on the hydrogels, showing high specific capacitance (212.5 mF cm-2), excellent energy density (18.89 µWh cm-2), and large deformability. Moreover, flexible self-powered luminescent integrated systems are constructed based on the supercapacitors, which can spontaneously shine anytime and anywhere without extra power. This work provides new insights and feasible avenues for developing high-performance stretchable electrode materials and energy storage devices for wearable electronics.

Research on the Analysis of Residual Stress in Heat Treatment of Bellows Using ABAQUS.

Taking austenitic stainless-steel bellows as the research object, a finite element model for the heat treatment of austenitic stainless-steel bellows was constructed based on ABAQUS CAE 2022. The physical properties of the bellows after the heat treatment were analyzed using experimental and simulated curve processing analysis methods. The changes in residual stress and deformation in relation to the bellows under different cooling times were explored, as well as the distribution of residual stress and deformation at a certain cooling time. The results show that as the cooling time of the heat treatment increases, the residual stress of the bellow decreases significantly, the reduction rate accelerates, and the degree of deformation gradually decreases. When the cooling time of the heat treatment is 900 s, the residual stress of the wave peak in the middle position of the bellow is relatively small, and the residual stress value of the wave valley along the axis direction does not change significantly. The deformation degree of the wave peak and valley axis direction is relatively uniform.

Human yolk sac-derived innate lymphoid-biased multipotent progenitors emerge prior to hematopoietic stem cell formation.

Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC)-independent lymphopoiesis has been elucidated in murine embryos. However, our understanding regarding human embryonic counterparts remains limited. Here, we demonstrated the presence of human yolk sac-derived lymphoid-biased progenitors (YSLPs) expressing CD34, IL7R, LTB, and IRF8 at Carnegie stage 10, much earlier than the first HSC emergence. The number and lymphopoietic potential of these progenitors were both significantly higher in the yolk sac than the embryo proper at this early stage. Importantly, single-cell/bulk culture and CITE-seq have elucidated the tendency of YSLP to differentiate into innate lymphoid cells and dendritic cells. Notably, lymphoid progenitors in fetal liver before and after HSC seeding displayed distinct transcriptional features, with the former closely resembling those of YSLPs. Overall, our data identified the origin, potential, and migratory dynamics of innate lymphoid-biased multipotent progenitors in human yolk sac before HSC emergence, providing insights for understanding the stepwise establishment of innate immune system in humans.