Design, Synthesis, and Biological Activity of Novel Triketone-Containing Phenoxy Nicotinyl Inhibitors of HPPD.

4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) is a crucial target enzyme in albino herbicides. The inhibition of HPPD activity interferes with the synthesis of carotenoids, blocking photosynthesis and resulting in bleaching and necrosis. To develop herbicides with excellent activity, a series of 3-hydroxy-2-(6-substituted phenoxynicotinoyl)-2-cyclohexen-1-one derivatives were designed via active substructure combination. The title compounds were characterized via infrared spectroscopy, 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies, and high-resolution mass spectrometry. The structure of compound III-17 was confirmed via single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Preliminary tests demonstrated that some compounds had good herbicidal activity. Crop safety tests revealed that compound III-29 was safer than the commercial herbicide mesotrione in wheat and peanuts. Moreover, the compound exhibited the highest inhibitory activity against Arabidopsis thaliana HPPD (AtHPPD), with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 0.19 µM, demonstrating superior activity compared with mesotrione (0.28 µM) in vitro. A three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship study revealed that the introduction of smaller groups to the 5-position of cyclohexanedione and negative charges to the 3-position of the benzene ring enhanced the herbicidal activity. A molecular structure comparison demonstrated that compound III-29 was beneficial to plant absorption and conduction. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations further verified the stability of the complex formed by compound III-29 and AtHPPD. Thus, this study may provide insights into the development of green and efficient herbicides.

Monomer-Recyclable Polyester from CO2 and 1,3-Butadiene.

Synthesis of monomer-recyclable polyesters solely from CO2 and bulk olefins holds great potential in significantly reducing CO2 emissions and addressing the issue of plastic pollution. Due to the kinetic disadvantage of direct copolymerization of CO2 and bulk olefins compared to homopolymerization of bulk olefins, considerable research attention has been devoted to synthesis of polyester via the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of a six-membered disubstituted lactone intermediate, 1,2-ethylidene-6-vinyl-tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-one (𝜹-L), obtained from telomerization of CO2 and 1,3-butadiene. However, the conjugate olefin on the six-membered ring of 𝜹-L leads to serious Michael addition side reactions. Thus, the selective ROP of 𝜹-L, which can precisely control the repeating unit for the production of polyesters potentially amenable to efficient monomer recycling, remains an unresolved challenge. Herein, the first example of selective ROP of 𝜹-L is reported using a combination of organobase and N,N'-Bis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]urea as the catalytic system. Systematic modifications of the substituent of the urea show that the presence of electron-deficient 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl groups is the key to the extraordinary selectivity of ring opening over Michael addition. Efficient monomer recovery of oligo(𝜹-L) is also achieved under mild catalytic conditions.

Aromatic Alcohol-Based pH-Sensitive Chromophore with a Unique Near-Infrared Dual-Band Solvatochromic Property and Its Application as a Ratiometric Fluorescent Sensor for G-Quadruplexes.

Solvatochromes have gained great attention because of their unique roles in monitoring biomolecular location, interaction, and dynamics. Particularly, solvatochromes presenting both red-shifting excitation and dual-band switchable emission are in great demand yet significantly difficult to come true. In this article, we disclose an aromatic alcohol-based pH-sensitive chromophore NIR-HBT that not only presents red-shifting excitation and solvent-dependent dual-band emission but also shows high photostability and excellent brightness. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first solvatochrome to simultaneously display these optical properties. Especially, in contrast to the reported dual-band solvatochromes whose solvatochromism is achieved by affecting their excited state behaviors, the solvatochromism of NIR-HBT is realized by modulating its ground state proton dissociation, which is a new solvatochromic mechanism that has not been reported. Furthermore, based on the dual-band solvatochromism of NIR-HBT and its intrinsic binding ability to GQs, near-infrared ratiometric detection of GQs is achieved. These results indicate that NIR-HBT is an attractive solvatochrome that can be used to develop near-infrared ratiometric biosensors for biological research. More broadly, the discovered solvatochromic mechanism can also open new horizons for exploring the solvatochrome.

Accelerated biological aging as a potential risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTS: Previous studies have suggested a potential correlation between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and biological aging, but the intricate connections and mechanisms remain elusive. METHODS: In our study, we focused on two specific measures of biological age (PhenoAge and BioAge), which are derived from clinical biomarkers. The residuals of these measures, when compared to chronological age, are defined as biological age accelerations (BAAs). Utilizing the extensive UK Biobank dataset along with various genetic datasets, we conducted a thorough assessment of the relationship between BAAs and RA at both the individual and aggregate levels. RESULTS: Our observational studies revealed positive correlations between the two BAAs and the risk of developing both RA and seropositive RA. Furthermore, the genetic risk score (GRS) for PhenoAgeAccel was associated with an increased risk of RA and seropositive RA. Linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC) analysis further supported these findings, revealing a positive genetic correlation between PhenoAgeAccel and RA. PLACO analysis identified 38 lead pleiotropic single nucleotide polymorphisms linked to 301 genes, providing valuable insights into the potential mechanisms connecting PhenoAgeAccel and RA. CONCLUSION: In summary, our study has successfully revealed a positive correlation between accelerated biological aging, as measured by BAAs, and the susceptibility to RA.

Sijunzi decoction alleviates inflammation and intestinal epithelial barrier damage and modulates the gut microbiota in ulcerative colitis mice.

Ethnopharmacological relevance: As a representative classical prescription, Sijunzi decoction has powerful therapeutic effects on spleen-stomach qi insufficiency. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic, diffuse, and non-specifically inflammatory disorder, the etiology of which still remains unclear. In the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) perspective, splenic asthenia is the primary cause of UC. Based on this, Sijunzi decoction has been extensively used in TCM clinical practice to alleviate UC in recent years. However, the pharmacological mechanism of Sijunzi decoction in modern medicine is still not completely clear, which limits its clinical application. Aim of the study: The purpose of this study was to investigate the Sijunzi decoction's curative effect on acute UC mice and probe into its potential pharmacological mechanism. Materials and methods: The UC mouse model was set up by freely ingesting a 3% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) solution. The relieving role of Sijunzi decoction on UC in mice was analyzed by evaluating the changes in clinical parameters, colon morphology, histopathology, inflammatory factor content, intestinal epithelial barrier protein expression level, and gut microbiota balance state. Finally, multivariate statistical analysis was conducted to elucidate the relationship between inflammatory factors, intestinal epithelial barrier proteins, and gut microbiota. Results: First, the research findings revealed that Sijunzi decoction could visibly ease the clinical manifestation of UC, lower the DAI score, and attenuate colonic damage. Moreover, Sijunzi decoction could also significantly inhibit IL-6, IL-1ß, and TNF-α while increasing occludin and ZO-1 expression levels. Subsequently, further studies showed that Sijunzi decoction could remodel gut microbiota homeostasis. Sijunzi decoction was beneficial in regulating the levels of Alistipes, Akkermansia, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, and other bacteria. Finally, multivariate statistical analysis demonstrated that key gut microbes were closely associated with inflammatory factors and intestinal epithelial barrier proteins. Conclusion: Sijunzi decoction can significantly prevent and treat UC. Its mechanism is strongly associated with the improvement of inflammation and intestinal epithelial barrier damage by regulating the gut microbiota.

What Metals Should Be Used to Mediate Electrosynthesis of Ammonia from Nitrogen and Hydrogen from a Thermodynamic Standpoint?

Recently, metal-mediated electrochemical conversion of nitrogen and hydrogen to ammonia (M-eNRRs) has been attracting intense research attention as a potential route for ammonia synthesis under ambient conditions. However, which metals should be used to mediate M-eNRRs remains unanswered. This work provides an extensive comparison of the energy consumption in the classical Haber Bosch (H-B) process and the M-eNRRs. The results indicate that when employing lithium and calcium, metals popularly used to mediate the M-eNRRs, the energy consumption is more than 10 times greater than that of the H-B process even assuming a 100% Faradaic efficiency and zero overpotentials. Only electrosynthesis with a cell voltage not exceeding 0.38 V might have the potential to rival the H-B process from an energetic perspective. A further analysis of other metals in the periodic table reveals that only some heavy metals, including In, Tl, Co, Ni, Ga, Mo, Sn, Pb, Fe, W, Ge, Re, Bi, Cu, Po, Tc, Ru, Rh, Ag, Hg, Pd, Ir, Pt, and Au, can potentially consume less energy than that of the H-B process purely from a thermodynamic standpoint, but whether they can activate N2 under ambient conditions is yet to be explored. This work shows the importance of performing thermodynamic analysis for the development of an innovative strategy to synthesize ammonia with the ultimate goal of replacing the H-B process on a large scale.

Association of Decreased Bone Density and Hyperlipidemia in a Taiwanese Older Adult Population.

Objective: This study aimed to determine if a combination of 2 abnormal lipid profiles revealed a stronger association with low bone mass than a single blood lipid abnormality alone. Methods: This study enrolled 1373 participants who had received a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scan from January 2016 to December 2016 in a medical center in southern Taiwan. Logistic regression was used to examine association between lipid profiles and osteopenia or osteoporosis after adjusting for covariates. Results: Compared to people with total cholesterol (TC) < 200 mg/dL, those with TC ≥ 240 mg/dL tended to have osteopenia or osteoporosis (OR 2.61; 95% CI, 1.44-4.71). Compared to people with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) < 130 mg/dL, those with LDL-C ≥ 160 mg/dL tended to develop osteopenia or osteoporosis (OR 2.13; 95% CI, 1.21-3.74). The association of increased triglyceride and decreased bone mass was similar, although not statistically significant. Those with the combination of TG ≥ 200 mg/dL and TC ≥ 240 mg/dL had a stronger tendency to have osteopenia or osteoporosis (OR 3.51; 95% CI, 1.11-11.13) than people with only one blood lipid abnormality. Similarly, people with TG ≥ 200 mg/dL and LDL-C ≥ 160 mg/dL had a stronger tendency to have osteopenia or osteoporosis (OR 9.31; 95% CI, 1.15-75.42) than people with only one blood lipid abnormality, after adjustment for the same covariates. Conclusion: Blood levels of TC, LDL-C, and TG were associated with osteopenia or osteoporosis. Results indicate that individuals aged older than 50 years with abnormal lipid profiles should be urged to participate in a bone density survey to exclude osteopenia or osteoporosis.

Sustainable Copolymer Synthesis from Carbon Dioxide and Butadiene.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) has long been recognized as an ideal C1 feedstock comonomer for producing sustainable materials because it is renewable, abundant, and cost-effective. However, activating CO2 presents a significant challenge because it is highly oxidized and stable. A CO2/butadiene-derived δ-valerolactone (EVP), generated via palladium-catalyzed telomerization between CO2 and butadiene, has emerged as an attractive intermediate for producing sustainable copolymers from CO2 and butadiene. Owing to the presence of two active carbon-carbon double bonds and a lactone unit, EVP serves as a versatile intermediate for creating sustainable copolymers with a CO2 content of up to 29 wt % (33 mol %). In this Review, advances in the synthesis of copolymers from CO2 and butadiene with divergent structures through various polymerization protocols have been summarized. Achievements made in homo- and copolymerization of EVP or its derivatives are comprehensively reviewed, while the postmodification of the obtained copolymers to access new polymers are also discussed. Meanwhile, potential applications of the obtained copolymers are also discussed. The literature references were sorted into sections based on polymerization strategies and mechanisms, facilitating readers in gaining a comprehensive view of the present chemistry landscape and inspiring innovative approaches to synthesizing novel CO2-derived copolymers.

Identification of somatic mutation-driven enhancers and their clinical utility in breast cancer.

Somatic mutations contribute to cancer development by altering the activity of enhancers. In the study, a total of 135 mutation-driven enhancers, which displayed significant chromatin accessibility changes, were identified as candidate risk factors for breast cancer (BRCA). Furthermore, we identified four mutation-driven enhancers as independent prognostic factors for BRCA subtypes. In Her2 subtype, enhancer G > C mutation was associated with poorer prognosis through influencing its potential target genes FBXW9, TRIR, and WDR83. We identified aminoglutethimide and quinpirole as candidate drugs targeting the mutated enhancer. In normal subtype, enhancer G > A mutation was associated with poorer prognosis through influencing its target genes ALOX15B, LINC00324, and MPDU1. We identified eight candidate drugs such as erastin, colforsin, and STOCK1N-35874 targeting the mutated enhancer. Our findings suggest that somatic mutations contribute to breast cancer subtype progression by altering enhancer activity, which could be potential candidates for cancer therapy.

Early tirofiban versus heparin for bridging dual antiplatelet therapy in patients undergoing coronary endarterectomy combined with coronary artery bypass grafting: a multicenter randomized controlled trial protocol (the THACE-CABG trial).

BACKGROUND: For complete revascularization, patients with diffuse coronary artery disease should have a coronary endarterectomy and a coronary artery bypass graft (CE-CABG). Sadly, CE can lead to a lack of endothelium, which raises the risk of thrombotic events. Even though daily dual antiplatelet therapies (DAPT) have been shown to reduce thrombotic events, the risk of perioperative thrombotic events is high during the high-risk period after CE-CABG, and there is no consistent protocol to bridge DAPT. This trial aims to compare safety and efficacy between tirofiban and heparin as DAPT bridging strategies after CE-CABG. METHODS: In phase I, 266 patients undergoing CE-CABG will be randomly assigned to tirofiban and heparin treatment groups to compare the two treatments in terms of the primary safety endpoint, chest tube drainage in the first 24 h. If the phase I trial shows tirofiban non-inferiority, phase II will commence, in which an additional 464 patients will be randomly assigned. All 730 patients will be studied to compare major cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) between the groups in the first 30 days after surgery. DISCUSSION: Given the possible benefits of tirofiban administration after CE-CABG, this trial has the potential to advance the field of adult coronary heart surgery. TRIAL REGISTRATION: chictr.org.cn, ChiCTR2200055697. Registered 6 January 2022. https://www.chictr.org.cn/com/25/showproj.aspx?proj=149451 . Current version: 20,220,620.

Extraction, rapid preparation and neuroprotective effect of texasin, a main active constituent from Caragana jubata (Pall.) Poir.

Searching for new anti-ischemic stroke (anti-IS) drugs has always been a hot topic in the pharmaceutical industry. Natural products are an important source of discovering anti-IS drugs. The aim of the present study is to extract, rapidly prepare and explore the neuroprotective effect of texasin, a main active constituent from Caragana jubata (Pall.) Poir., which is a kind of Tibetan medicine with a clear anti-IS effect. The results showed that 95% ethanol was the optimal extraction solvent. A three-step rapid preparation method for texasin was successfully established, with a purity of 99.2%. Texasin at the concentration of 25-100 µM had no effect on the viability of normal cultured PC12 cells; 12.5 and 25 µM texasin could enhance the viability of PC12 cells damaged by oxygen and glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R), and their effects are comparable to the positive drug edaravone at the concentration of 50 µM. Compared with the normal group, the expression of Bcl-2 protein in OGD/R-injured PC12 cells was downregulated (p < 0.01), and that of PERK, eIF2α, ATF4, CHOP, Bax and Cleaved caspase-3 proteins were upregulated (p < 0.01, p < 0.001). Compared with the OGD/R group, 25 µM texasin could upregulate the expression of Bcl-2 protein (p < 0.01), and downregulate that of PERK, eIF2α, ATF4, CHOP, Bax and Cleaved caspase-3 proteins (p < 0.01, p < 0.001). The 7-OH and 1-O of texasin formed H-bonds with residues Cys891 of the hinge ß-strand of PERK, which is crucial for kinase inhibitors. The above results suggest that the method established in the present study achieved rapid preparation of high-purity texasin. Texasin might inhibit neuronal apoptosis via the regulation of endoplasmic reticulum stress PERK/eIF2α/ATF4/CHOP signalling pathway to exert a protective effect on OGD/R-injured PC12 cells. Aiding by molecular docking, texasin was assumed to be a potential PERK inhibitor.

Solvent-Free Ultrafast Construction of Se-Deficient Heterojunctions of Bimetallic Selenides toward Flexible Sodium-Ion Full Batteries.

Flexible quasi-solid-state sodium ion batteries featuring their low-cost, high safety and excellent mechanical strength have attracted widespread interest in the field of wearable electronic devices. However, the development of such batteries faces great challenges including the construction of interfacial compatible flexible electrode materials and addressing the high safety demands of electrolyte. Here selenium-vacancies regulated bimetallic selenide heterojunctions anchored on waste cotton cloth-derived flexible carbon cloth (FCC) with robust interfacial C-Se-Co/Fe chemical bonds as a flexible anode material (CCFSF) is proposed by ultrafast microwave pyrolysis method. Rich selenium vacancies and CoSe2 /FeSe2-x heterostructures are synchronously formed that can significantly improve ionic and electronic diffusion kinetics. Additionally, a uniform carbon layer coating on the surface of Se-deficient heterostructures endows it with outstanding structural stability. The flexible cathode (PB@FCC) is also fabricated by directly growing Prussian blue nanoparticles on the FCC. Furthermore, an advanced flexible quasi-solid-state Na-ion pouch cell is assembled by coupling CCFSF anode, PB@FCC cathode with P(VDF-HFP)-based gel polymer electrolyte. The full cell not only demonstrates excellent energy storage performance but also robust mechanical flexibility and safety. The present work offers an effective avenue to achieve high safety flexible energy storage device, promoting the development of flexible wearable electronic devices.

Multidrug-resistant plasmid RP4 inhibits the nitrogen removal capacity of ammonia-oxidizing archaea, ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, and comammox in activated sludge.

In wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), ammonia oxidation is primarily carried out by three types of ammonia oxidation microorganisms (AOMs): ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA), ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), and comammox (CMX). Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), which pose an important public health concern, have been identified at every stage of wastewater treatment. However, few studies have focused on the impact of ARGs on ammonia removal performance. Therefore, our study sought to investigate the effect of the representative multidrug-resistant plasmid RP4 on the functional microorganisms involved in ammonia oxidation. Using an inhibitor-based method, we first evaluated the contributions of AOA, AOB, and CMX to ammonia oxidation in activated sludge, which were determined to be 13.7%, 41.1%, and 39.1%, respectively. The inhibitory effects of C2H2, C8H14, and 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) were then validated by qPCR. After adding donor strains to the sludge, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) imaging analysis demonstrated the co-localization of RP4 plasmids and all three AOMs, thus confirming the horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of the RP4 plasmid among these microorganisms. Significant inhibitory effects of the RP4 plasmid on the ammonia nitrogen consumption of AOA, AOB, and CMX were also observed, with inhibition rates of 39.7%, 36.2%, and 49.7%, respectively. Moreover, amoA expression in AOB and CMX was variably inhibited by the RP4 plasmid, whereas AOA amoA expression was not inhibited. These results demonstrate the adverse environmental effects of the RP4 plasmid and provide indirect evidence supporting plasmid-mediated conjugation transfer from bacteria to archaea.

Cognitive Deficits and Alzheimer's Disease-Like Pathologies in the Aged Chinese Tree Shrew.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common chronic progressive neurodegenerative disease in the elderly. It has an increasing prevalence and a growing health burden. One of the limitations in studying AD is the lack of animal models that show features of Alzheimer's pathogenesis. The tree shrew has a much closer genetic affinity to primates than to rodents and has great potential to be used for research into aging and AD. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether tree shrews naturally develop cognitive impairment and major AD-like pathologies with increasing age. Pole-board and novel object recognition tests were used to assess the cognitive performance of adult (about 1 year old) and aged (6 years old or older) tree shrews. The main AD-like pathologies were assessed by Western blotting, immunohistochemical staining, immunofluorescence staining, and Nissl staining. Our results showed that the aged tree shrews developed an impaired cognitive performance compared to the adult tree shrews. Moreover, the aged tree shrews exhibited several age-related phenotypes that are associated with AD, including increased levels of amyloid-ß (Aß) accumulation and phosphorylated tau protein, synaptic and neuronal loss, and reactive gliosis in the cortex and the hippocampal tissues. Our study provides further evidence that the tree shrew is a promising model for the study of aging and AD.

Polysaccharide of Alocasia cucullata Exerts Antitumor Effect by Regulating Bcl-2, Caspase-3 and ERK1/2 Expressions during Long-Time Administration / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the in vitro and in vivo antitumor effects of the polysaccharide of Alocasia cucullata (PAC) and the underlying mechanism.@*METHODS@#B16F10 and 4T1 cells were cultured with PAC of 40 µg/mL, and PAC was withdrawn after 40 days of administration. The cell viability was detected by cell counting kit-8. The expression of Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 proteins were detected by Western blot and the expressions of ERK1/2 mRNA were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). A mouse melanoma model was established to study the effect of PAC during long-time administration. Mice were divided into 3 treatment groups: control group treated with saline water, positive control group (LNT group) treated with lentinan at 100 mg/(kg·d), and PAC group treated with PAC at 120 mg/(kg·d). The pathological changes of tumor tissues were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The apoptosis of tumor tissues was detected by TUNEL staining. Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 protein expressions were detected by immunohistochemistry, and the expressions of ERK1/2, JNK1 and p38 mRNA were detected by qRT-PCR.@*RESULTS@#In vitro, no strong inhibitory effects of PAC were found in various tumor cells after 48 or 72 h of administration. Interestingly however, after 40 days of cultivation under PAC, an inhibitory effect on B16F10 cells was found. Correspondingly, the long-time administration of PAC led to downregulation of Bcl-2 protein (P<0.05), up-regulation of Caspase-3 protein (P<0.05) and ERK1 mRNA (P<0.05) in B16F10 cells. The above results were verified by in vivo experiments. In addition, viability of B16F10 cells under long-time administration culture in vitro decreased after drug withdrawal, and similar results were also observed in 4T1 cells.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Long-time administration of PAC can significantly inhibit viability and promote apoptosis of tumor cells, and had obvious antitumor effect in tumor-bearing mice.

Analysis of initial sandplay characteristics among university students with different levels of loneliness.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Loneliness is detrimental to mental health, with university students at higher risk of feeling lonely than other population groups. The mental health of college students is a hot topic at present. Despite numerous studies exploring interventions for loneliness among university students. However, little research has explored early psychological manifestations of university students with different levels of loneliness. Despite numerous studies exploring interventions for loneliness among university students, little research has explored early psychological manifestations of university students with different levels of loneliness. Initial sandplay is a good tool to reveal psychological activity. Therefore, our study aims to explore the characteristics of initial sandplay application among university students with different levels of loneliness. METHODS: We recruited 60 volunteers from a university to perform a sandplay experiment from January to April 2021. The UCLA Loneliness Scale measured the levels of loneliness. These 60 participants were divided into the experimental group (n = 30) and control group (n = 30) according to their levels of loneliness. The experimental group included participants with a scale score of more than 44. Other participants with a scale score of less than 44 belong to the control group. We recorded their sandplay artwork and statistically analyzed it by the Sandplay Process Record Form. Group comparisons were performed using the t-test or Wilcoxon rank-sum test for continuous variables, and the chi-square test or Fisher's exact test for categorical variables. The logistic regression analysis by forward stepwise method was conducted to analyze the sandplay theme features for loneliness. RESULTS: Regarding the sandplay tools, the experimental group used fewer transportation tools (t=-3.608, p < 0.01) and more natural elements (t = 2.176, p < 0.05) than the control group. Moreover, the experimental group created more natural scenes (χ2 = 4.310, p < 0.05) and used less of the lower left (χ2 = 4.593, p < 0.05) and lower right (χ2 = 5.934, p < 0.05) spaces. With regards to sand changes, the experimental group was less likely than the control group to make substantial changes (χ2 = 5.711, p < 0.05) and more likely to make almost no changes (χ2 = 4.022, p < 0.05). In terms of the themes, the experimental group was more likely to exhibit sandplay artwork themes of emptiness (χ2 = 8.864, p < 0.05) and neglect (χ2 = 6.667, p < 0.05), and less likely to show themes of energy (χ2 = 5.079, p < 0.05). In the logistic regression analysis of the sandplay themes, emptiness (OR = 5.714, 95%CI: 1.724-18.944, p = 0.003) and neglect (OR = 7.000, 95%CI: 1.381-35.479, p = 0.010) were demonstrated a nominal association with high levels of loneliness among both groups (F = 16.091, p < 0.01, ΔR2 = 0.193), but failed to pass the Bonferroni testing correction (p threshold < 0.0025). CONCLUSION: University students with higher degree of loneliness do not like to drastic changes and prefer to use natural elements in element selection, while the control group likes to drastic changes and prefers to use transportation tools in element selection. Regression analysis of sandplay theme features revealed emptines and neglect may as significant associated factors for loneliness. We propose sandplay characteristics can help identify university students with different levels of loneliness during psychological evaluations. Therefore, it is important that the school and healthcare systems assist college students in identifying the loneliness through initial sandplay and carrying on the necessary psychological counseling to the lonely student population.

Background-oriented Schlieren tomography using gated recurrent unit.

Current Background-oriented schlieren tomography (BOST) methods rely primarily on iterative algorithms for reconstruction. Before reconstruction, a weight projection matrix was generated by performing 3D ray tracing using the projection relationship between the cameras, depending on the camera calibration parameters and large weight projection matrix which introduce artifacts and greatly reduce computational efficiency in the reconstruction. Considering that CT reconstruction uses spatial projection sequences from multiple directions, this study draws inspiration from the Recurrent Neural network(RNN) and utilizes spatial correlation between adjacent projection data to propose a background-oriented schlieren reconstruction method based on a gated recurrent unit (GRU) neural network. First, the model architecture is designed and implemented. Subsequently, numerical simulations were conducted using a methane combustion model to evaluate the proposed method, which achieved an average mean relative error (MRE) of 0.23%. Finally, reconstruction experiments were performed on the actual flow-field data above a candle flame, with a reprojection correlation coefficient of 89% and an average reconstruction time of only 1.04 s per frame. The results demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms traditional iterative reconstruction methods in terms of reconstruction speed and accuracy. This provides a feasible solution for the real-time reconstruction of three-dimensional instantaneous flow fields.

Stepwise Alloying in Liquid-like Solid Solutions to Achieve Crystallographic Distortion for Regulating Thermoelectric Transport Behavior.

With the surge of energy consumption, environmental-protection Cu2-xSe thermoelectric materials are increasingly attracting attention. In this work, multilayered structures are constructed in Cu2-xSe solid solutions by alloying (SnSe)0.75(AgBiSe2)0.25, which strongly scatters full-wavelength phonons by carefully regulating the crystallographic distortion. By using the stepwise alloying strategies, crystallographic distortion and the resultant strain fields presented in microstructure were strengthened markedly, which enhanced the phonon scattering. Meanwhile, by adjusting the coalloying content of Ag, Bi, and Sn elements, the carrier and phonon transports were well decoupled in p-type Cu2-xSe, and the thermoelectric performance was significantly enhanced. By optimized power factor as well as depressed heat transport originating from the moderate coalloying, the maximum zT of 1.23 at 750 K was achieved in Cu1.9Se - 1 wt % (SnSe)0.75(AgBiSe2)0.25. This study indicated that the stepwise alloying strategy was a suitable method for optimizing zT of Cu2-xSe.

Progress of linking gut microbiota and musculoskeletal health: casualty, mechanisms, and translational values.

The musculoskeletal system is important for balancing metabolic activity and maintaining health. Recent studies have shown that distortions in homeostasis of the intestinal microbiota are correlated with or may even contribute to abnormalities in musculoskeletal system function. Research has also shown that the intestinal flora and its secondary metabolites can impact the musculoskeletal system by regulating various phenomena, such as inflammation and immune and metabolic activities. Most of the existing literature supports that reasonable nutritional intervention helps to improve and maintain the homeostasis of intestinal microbiota, and may have a positive impact on musculoskeletal health. The purpose of organizing, summarizing and discussing the existing literature is to explore whether the intervention methods, including nutritional supplement and moderate exercise, can affect the muscle and bone health by regulating the microecology of the intestinal flora. More in-depth efficacy verification experiments will be helpful for clinical applications.

A Robot-Operation-System-Based Smart Machine Box and Its Application on Predictive Maintenance.

Predictive maintenance is a proactive approach to maintenance in which equipment and machinery are monitored and analyzed to predict when maintenance is needed. Instead of relying on fixed schedules or reacting to breakdowns, predictive maintenance uses data and analytics to determine the appropriate time to perform maintenance activities. In industrial applications, machine boxes can be used to collect and transmit the feature information of manufacturing machines. The collected data are essential to identify the status of working machines. This paper investigates the design and implementation of a machine box based on the ROS framework. Several types of communication interfaces are included that can be adopted to different sensor modules for data sensing. The collected data are used for the application on predictive maintenance. The key concepts of predictive maintenance include data collection, a feature analysis, and predictive models. A correlation analysis is crucial in a feature analysis, where the dominant features can be determined. In this work, linear regression, a neural network, and a decision tree are adopted for model learning. Experimental results illustrate the feasibility of the proposed smart machine box. Also, the remaining useful life can be effectively predicted according to the trained models.