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In this study, a novel customized corneal cross-linking (CXL) treatment is explored that utilizes microneedles (MNs) for targeted riboflavin (RF) administration prior to the CXL procedure. Unlike the conventional "one-size-fits-all" approach, this protocol offers an option for more precise and efficacious treatment. To simulate a customized corneal crosslinking technique, four distinct microneedle (MN) molds designs, including circular, semi-circular, annular and butterfly shaped, are crafted for loading an optimized RF-hyaluronic acid solution and for the subsequent fabrication of MN arrays with varying morphologies. These MNs can gently puncture the corneal epithelium while preserving the integrity of the underlying stromal layer. Following the application of these microneedles, RF solution is replenished to enhance the RF content within the stroma through the punctures created by the MNs, resulting in exceptional customized corneal cross-linking effects that are comparable to the conventional epi-off CXL protocol. Additionally, it flattened the corneal curvature within the treated zone and facilitated rapid postoperative recovery of corneal tissue. These findings suggest that the integration of customized microneedle RF delivery with corneal crosslinking technology represents a potential novel treatment modality, holding promise for the tailored treatment of corneal pathologies, and offering a more precise and efficient alternative to traditional methods.

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Polyester/cotton (T/C) blended fabrics are widely utilized in textile due to the dimensional stability and high elasticity provided by polyester, combined with the comfort and moisture absorption offered by cotton. However, simultaneously enhancing the flame retardancy and maintaining the physical properties of T/C blended fabrics for clothing and furniture applications remains a big challenge. This study introduces a bio-based flame-retardant coating using polyelectrolyte complexes (PEC) composed of ammonium vinyl phosphonate-grafted chitosan (AMVP-g-CS). The protonation degree of the PEC coating is controlled by adjusting the pH to solidify and stabilize the complex structure, preparing bio-based PEC flame retardant T/C blended fabric. Flame retardant analysis reveals that the coated fabrics achieved a limiting oxygen index of 30.5 % and a char length of 11 mm, indicating significantly improved flame retardancy. The combustible volatile substances are significantly reduced for the coated fabrics, achieving a gas-phase flame retardant effect, and forming an expansive char layer with thermal insulation and oxygen blocking properties. Importantly, physical analysis proves that the PEC deposition improved mechanical properties, satisfactory whiteness index and hand feeling of the fabrics. This work opens up a pragmatic and industrially feasible strategy for the development of CSs in the field of flame retardant coating.

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OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the potential causal relationship between neuroticism and 12 neuroticism items with intracranial aneurysms (IAs) and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. METHODS: Study data were obtained from the Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) pooled dataset, and we extracted summary statistics for neuroticism, 12 neuroticism items, and IAs, which were categorized into ruptured and unruptured aneurysms (IA), aSAH, and unruptured IAs (uIA). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were used as instrumental variables (IVs) to explore the causal relationship between exposure and outcome using five Mendelian randomization methods, with Inverse variance weighted (IVW) as the primary study method. Horizontal multiple validity tests, sensitivity analyses, and inverse MR ensured the stability of the results. RESULTS: The two-sample MR showed a genetically predictive association between neuroticism and IA [odds ratio (OR) = 1.16; 95 % confidence interval (95 % CI): 1.04-1.30; p = 0.009], aSAH (OR = 1.17; 95 % CI: 1.03-1.33; p = 0.013) and uIA (OR = 1.30; 95 % CI: 1.07-1.59; p = 0.009) were all genetically predictive of association. Ivw showed a positive association between 5 neuroticism items and IA risk, 5 neuroticism items and aSAH risk as well as no genetically predictive association between neuroticism items and uIA. Sensitivity analysis and inverse MR confirmed the robustness of the results. CONCLUSION: Our Mendelian randomization analysis demonstrated genetic causality between neuroticism and neuroticism items with intracranial aneurysms, aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, and unruptured intracranial aneurysms, and further studies are needed to confirm these results and explore potential mechanisms of action.

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Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) constitutes a significant portion of lung cancers and cytotoxic drugs (e.g. cisplatin) are currently the first-line treatment. However, NSCLC has developed resistance to this drug, which limits the therapeutic effect and thus affects prognosis. NSCLC sc-RNA-seq data were downloaded from the GEO database and Ku Leuven Laboratory for Functional Epigenetics, and bulk RNA-seq data were obtained from the TCGA database. The "Seurat" package was employed for scRNA-seq data processing, and the uniform manifold approximation and projection (UMAP) were applied for downscaling and cluster identification. Use the FindAllMarkers function to find differential genes (DEGs) for tumor stem cells. Then, we performed univariate regression analyses on the DEGs to identify potential prognostic genes. We created a machine learning framework based on potential prognostic genes, which combines 10 machine learning methods and their 101 combinations to get the optimal prognostic risk model. The model was evaluated in the training set and validation set. A nomogram was developed to provide physicians with a quantitative tool for prognosis prediction. Finally, we evaluated the expression and functionality of SLC2A1. We discovered 22 cell clusters containing 218379 cells by examining single-cell RNA sequencing datasets (GSE148071, KU_lom, GSE131907, GSE136246, GSE127465). Tumour cells were isolated for subpopulation analysis and 162 differential genes from SOX2_cancer were obtained. After univariate Cox analysis, we found 23 genes with prognostic potential prognostic value and utilized them to develop 101­combination machine learning computational framework. We eventually picked the best performing 'StepCox[both] + RSF', which includes 8 genes. The model has a relatively high prediction accuracy in both TCGA and GEO datasets. In in vitro investigations, targeted suppression of the SLC2A1 gene resulted in significant reductions in proliferation, invasion and migration in A549 cells. In addition, a significant reduction in cisplatin resistance was seen in A549/DDP cells. The outcomes demonstrated the precision and credibility of the prognostic model for NSCLC, highlighting its potential significance in the treatment and prognosis of individuals affected by this disease. SLC2A1 may become a promising prognostic marker and a potential therapeutic target, offering valuable insights to inform clinical treatment decisions.

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Introduction: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and vitamin D levels in patients with epilepsy (PWE) were systematically evaluated, and the differences between subgroups were analyzed. Method: We identified all articles investigating the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with epilepsy from the database established in March 2024 from PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase. We divided them into anti-seizure medication (ASM) interventions and non-ASM interventions according to whether or not someone used ASM. Results: A total of 68 articles were included. The prevalence of newly diagnosed epilepsy was 50.2% (95% CI: 38.7-61.7%), and the prevalence after ASM intervention was 47.9% (95% CI: 40-55.9%), including 7,070 patients with epilepsy. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses were performed according to the diagnostic criteria, economic development level, region, age, ASM treatment, and other factors. The results showed that the differences were not significant. In addition, the vitamin D content of epilepsy patients (18.719 ng/mL) was lower than that of healthy people (20.295 ng/mL). Conclusion: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with epilepsy is very high. Still, the related factors have little effect on the high prevalence of vitamin D in epilepsy, and ASM intervention can reduce the vitamin D content in patients with epilepsy. Therefore, it is emphasized that monitoring vitamin D levels is part of the routine management of patients with epilepsy. Systematic review registration: The protocol was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO). (registration number CRD42023493896). https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/ # myprospero.

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Wearable ultrasound imaging technology has become an emerging modality for the continuous monitoring of deep-tissue physiology, providing crucial health and disease information. Fast volumetric imaging that can provide a full spatiotemporal view of intrinsic 3D targets is desirable for interpreting internal organ dynamics. However, existing 1D ultrasound transducer arrays provide 2D images, making it challenging to overcome the trade-off between the temporal resolution and volumetric coverage. In addition, the high driving voltage limits their implementation in wearable settings. With the use of microelectromechanical system (MEMS) technology, we report an ultrasonic phased-array transducer, i.e., a 2D piezoelectric micromachined ultrasound transducer (pMUT) array, which is driven by a low voltage and is chip-compatible for fast 3D volumetric imaging. By grouping multiple pMUT cells into one single drive channel/element, we propose an innovative cell-element-array design and operation of a pMUT array that can be used to quantitatively characterize the key coupling effects between each pMUT cell, allowing 3D imaging with 5-V actuation. The pMUT array demonstrates fast volumetric imaging covering a range of 40 mm × 40 mm × 70 mm in wire phantom and vascular phantom experiments, achieving a high temporal frame rate of 11 kHz. The proposed solution offers a full volumetric view of deep-tissue disorders in a fast manner, paving the way for long-term wearable imaging technology for various organs in deep tissues.

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A novel gram-stain-positive, short rod, aerobic, non-motile and non-spore-forming actinobacterial strain, designated GXG1230T was isolated from the rhizosphere soil of a coastal mangrove forest in Beihai city, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, PR China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain GXG1230T was affiliated with the genus Microbacterium. Additionally, it demonstrated a high degree of similarity to Microbacterium paludicola US15T (97.9%) and Microbacterium marinilacus YM11-607T (97.3%). Chemotaxonomic characteristics showed that the whole-cell sugars were glucose, xylose, rhamnose and galactose. Menaquinones MK-11 and MK-12 were detected as respiratory quinones. Lysine was found in the peptidoglycan hydrolysate and the polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, one phospholipid and two unidentified glycolipid. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0, iso-C16:0 and anteiso-C17:0. The strain GXG1230T exhibited a genomic DNA G + C content of 71.7%. Furthermore, the average nucleotide identity values of GXG1230T with the reference strains were 75.4% and 81.9%, respectively, while the digital DNA-DNA hybridization values were 20.1% and 25.0%. Based on physiological, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic information, strain GXG1230T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Microbacterium, for which the name Microbacterium rhizophilus sp.nov is proposed, with GXG1230T (= MCCC 1K09302T = KCTC 59252T) as the type strain.

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This study aimed to assess the alterations in the temporomandibular joint among adult patients undergoing orthodontic treatment involving the extraction of four premolars. A cohort of 44 adults, with a mean age of 24.2 years, underwent orthodontic therapy that included quadruple premolar extractions. Cone-beam computed tomography scans were performed before and after the treatment to evaluate the temporomandibular joints. The three-dimensional assessment focused on the condylar position relative to the cranial base and the articular fossa, the axial condylar rotation, and the joint spaces. Notably, a significant posterior shift of the condyle was detected (P≤0.01), averaging a 0.41mm retraction. The posterior joint space narrowed by 0.32mm post-treatment. Additionally, a medial tilt of 0.62° in the condyle's long axis was observed in the frontal plane. No significant changes were recorded for the other condylar positions, rotations, or joint space dimensions. The findings suggest that orthodontic treatment with four premolar extractions may instigate condylar repositioning and rotation. These insights can inform refinements in treatment protocols.

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Background: Cholelithiasis-induced acute cholangitis (CIAC) is an acute inflammatory disease with poor prognosis. This study aimed to create machine-learning (ML) models to predict the outcomes of patients with CIAC. Methods: In this retrospective cohort and ML study, patients who met the both diagnosis of 'cholangitis' and 'calculus of gallbladder or bile duct' according to the International Classification of Disease (ICD) 9th revision, or met the diagnosis of 'calculus of bile duct with acute cholangitis with or without obstruction' according to the ICD 10th revision during a single hospitalization were included from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care database, which records patient admissions to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, MA, USA, spanning June 1, 2001 to November 16, 2022. Patients who were neither admitted in an emergency department nor underwent biliary drainage within 24 h after admission, had an age of less than 18, or lost over 20% of the information were excluded. Nine ML methods, including the Logistic Regression, eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Light Gradient Boosting Machine, Adaptive Boosting, Decision Tree, Gradient Boosting Decision Tree, Gaussian Naive Bayes, Multi-Layer Perceptron, and Support Vector Machine were applied for prediction of in-hospital mortality, re-admission within 30 days after discharge, and mortality within 180 days after discharge. Patients from Zhongda Hospital affiliated to Southeast University in China between January 1, 2019 and July 30, 2023 were enrolled as an external validation set. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was the main index for model performance assessment. Findings: A total of 1156 patients were included to construct models. We performed stratified analyses on all patients, patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and those who underwent biliary drainage during ICU treatment. 13-16 features were selected from 186 variables for model training. The XGBoost method demonstrated the most optimal predictive efficacy, as evidenced by training set AUROC of 0.996 (95% CI NaN-NaN) for in-hospital mortality, 0.886 (0.862-0.910) for re-admission within 30 days after discharge, and 0.988 (0.982-0.995) for mortality within 180 days after discharge in all patients, 0.998 (NaN-NaN), 0.933 (0.909-0.957), and 0.988 (0.983-0.993) in patients admitted to the ICU, 0.987 (0.970-0.999), 0.908 (0.873-0.942), and 0.982 (0.971-0.993) in patients underwent biliary drainage during ICU treatment, respectively. Meanwhile, in the internal validation set, the AUROC reached 0.967 (0.933-0.998) for in-hospital mortality, 0.589 (0.502-0.677) for re-admission within 30 days after discharge, and 0.857 (0.782-0.933) for mortality within 180 days after discharge in all patients, 0.963 (NaN-NaN), 0.668 (0.486-0.851), and 0.864 (0.757-0.970) in patients admitted to the ICU, 0.961 (0.922-0.997), 0.669 (0.540-0.799), and 0.828 (0.730-0.925) in patients underwent biliary drainage during ICU treatment, respectively. The AUROC values of external validation set consisting of 61 patients were 0.741 (0.725-0.763), 0.812 (0.798-0.824), and 0.848 (0.841-0.859), respectively. Interpretation: The XGBoost models could be promising tools to predict outcomes in patients with CIAC, and had good clinical applicability. Multi-center validation with a larger sample size is warranted. Funding: The Technological Development Program of Nanjing Healthy Commission, and Zhongda Hospital Affiliated to Southeast University, Jiangsu Province High-Level Hospital Construction Funds.

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Cold stress is one of the major abiotic stress factors affecting rice growth and development, leading to significant yield loss in the context of global climate change. Exploring natural variants that confer cold resistance and the underlying molecular mechanism responsible for this is the major strategy to breed cold tolerant rice varieties. Here, we show that the natural variations of a SIMILAR to RCD ONE (SRO) gene, OsSRO1c, confer cold tolerance in rice at both seedling and booting stages. OsSRO1c possesses intrinsic liquid-liquid phase separation ability in vivo and in vitro and recruits an AP2/ERF transcription factor and positive cold stress regulator, OsDREB2B, into its biomolecular condensates in the nucleus, resulting in elevated transcriptional activity of OsDREB2B. The OsSRO1c-OsDREB2B complex directly responds to low temperature through dynamic phase transitions and regulates key cold response genes, including COLD1. Furthermore, introgression of an elite haplotype of OsSRO1c into a cold susceptible indica rice significantly increases its cold resistance. Collectively, our work reveals a novel cold tolerance regulatory module in rice and provides promising genetic targets for molecular breeding of cold-tolerant rice varieties.

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Pineapple is the third most crucial tropical fruit worldwide and available in five varieties. Genomes of different pineapple varieties have been released to date; however, none of them are complete, with all exhibiting substantial gaps and representing only two of the five pineapple varieties. This significantly hinders the advancement of pineapple breeding efforts. In this study, we sequenced the genomes of three varieties: a wild pineapple variety, a fiber pineapple variety, and a globally cultivated edible pineapple variety. We constructed the first gap-free reference genome (Ref) for pineapple. By consolidating multiple sources of evidence and manually revising each gene structure annotation, we identified 26,656 protein-coding genes. The BUSCO evaluation indicated a completeness of 99.2%, demonstrating the high quality of the gene structure annotations in this genome. Utilizing these resources, we identified 7,209 structural variations across the three varieties. Approximately 30.8% of pineapple genes were located within ±5 kb of structural variations, including 30 genes associated with anthocyanin synthesis. Further analysis and functional experiments demonstrated that the high expression of AcMYB528 aligns with the accumulation of anthocyanins in the leaves, both of which may be affected by a 1.9-kb insertion fragment. In addition, we developed the Ananas Genome Database, which offers data browsing, retrieval, analysis, and download functions. The construction of this database addresses the lack of pineapple genome resource databases. In summary, we acquired a seamless pineapple reference genome with high-quality gene structure annotations, providing a solid foundation for pineapple genomics and a valuable reference for pineapple breeding.

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BACKGROUND: Fever is one of the main pathophysiological reactions that occurs during the acute phase of various diseases. Excessive body temperature can lead to various adverse consequences such as brain tissue damage and abnormal immune responses. Phillyrin (Phr) is the main active ingredient in Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl (Lian Qiao) and has antipyretic effects; however, its antipyretic mechanism of action remains unclear. PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore the antipyretic mechanisms of Phr and provide a new treatment plan for fever. METHODS: The antipyretic effects of Phr were evaluated using a mouse model of pneumonia fever. The main metabolites of Phr involved in its antipyretic function were identified using a mitochondrial temperature-sensitive probe. Further synthesis of the main metabolite, phillygenin (Phg), an alkynylated probe, was performed, and chemical proteomics was used to capture and analyze its direct target for antipyretic effects. The mechanism of action of Phg and its antipyretic targets was explored using metabolomics and various molecular biology methods. RESULTS: Phr showed significant antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects in a mouse model of lipopolysaccharide-induced fever. Phg reversibly targeted the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) binding domain of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), malate dehydrogenase 2 (MDH2), and isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2) to inhibit their enzymatic activity. In-depth analysis of cellular metabolomics and mitochondrial stress testing indicated that inhibition of GAPDH, MDH2, and IDH2 enzyme activity by Phg led to a decrease in cellular energy supply and heat production regulated by glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation signaling pathways. Phg specifically targeted macrophages and inhibited LPS-induced macrophage activation by downregulating GAPDH enzyme activity, thereby exerting anti-inflammatory effects. In vivo experiments also confirmed that the antipyretic effect of Phr in LPS-induced fever model mice was related to its main metabolites, Phg and Phg-sulfonate (Phg-S), which directly targeted the NAD+ binding domain of GAPDH, IDH2, and MDH2, inhibiting the activity of these enzymes, thereby reducing energy supply and regulating febrile-related inflammatory factors. CONCLUSION: This study reported for the first time that the antipyretic effect of Phr is produced by targeting GAPDH, IDH2, and MDH2 to regulate energy supply and febrile-related inflammatory factors through its main metabolites Phg and Phg-S. This study not only provides potential drugs for fever treatment but also provides new ideas for improving clinical fever treatment plans.

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Serine protease 50 (PRSS50/TSP50) is highly expressed in spermatocytes. Our study investigated its role in testicular development and spermatogenesis. Initially, PRSS50 knockdown was observed to impair DNA synthesis in spermatocytes. To further explore this, we generated PRSS50 knockout ( Prss50 -/- ) mice ( Mus musculus), which exhibited abnormal spermatid nuclear compression and reduced male fertility. Furthermore, dysplastic seminiferous tubules and decreased sex hormones were observed in 4-week-old Prss50 -/- mice, accompanied by meiotic progression defects and increased apoptosis of spermatogenic cells. Mechanistic analysis indicated that PRSS50 deletion resulted in increased phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) and elevated levels of MAP kinase phosphatase 3 (MKP3), a specific ERK antagonist, potentially accounting for testicular dysplasia in adolescent Prss50 -/- mice. Taken together, these findings suggest that PRSS50 plays an important role in testicular development and spermatogenesis, with the MKP3/ERK signaling pathway playing a significant role in this process.

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Proton exchange membrane water electrolysers promise to usher in a new era of clean energy, but they remain a formidable obstacle in designing active and durable electrocatalysts for the acidic oxygen evolution reaction (OER). In this study, a protonated iridium oxide embedded with single-atom dispersed ruthenium atoms (H3.8Ir1- xRuxO4) that demonstrates exceptional activity and stability in acidic water oxidation is introduced. The single Ru dopants favorably induce localized oxygen vacancies in the Ir─O lattice, synergistically strengthening the adsorption of OOH* intermediates and enhancing the intrinsic OER activity. In addition, the preferential oxidation of Ru and the electronegativity of the oxygen vacancies significantly stabilize the Ir─O active sites, improving the OER stability. Consequently, the H3.8Ir1─ xRuxO4 catalyst shows an overpotential of 255 mV at 10 mA cm-2 and displays exceptional catalytic endurance in acidic electrolytes, surpassing 1100 h, representing a remarkable one-order-of-magnitude increase in stability compared to that of pristine H3.8IrO4. A proton exchange membrane electrolyser utilizing the H3.8Ir1- xRuxO4 catalyst as an anode exhibits stable performance for more than 1280 h under a high current density of 2 A cm-2.

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The Changle goose (CLG), a Chinese indigenous breed, is celebrated for its adaptability, rapid growth, and premium meat quality. Despite its agricultural value, the exploration of its genomic attributes has been scant. Our study entailed whole-genome resequencing of 303 geese across CLG and five other Chinese breeds, revealing distinct genetic diversity metrics. We discovered significant migration events from Xingguo gray goose to CLG and minor gene flow between them. We identified genomic regions through selective sweep analysis, correlating with CLG's unique traits. An elevated inbreeding coefficient in CLG, alongside reduced heterozygosity and rare single nucleotide polymorphisms (RSNPs), suggests a narrowed genetic diversity. Genomic regions related to reproduction, meat quality, and growth were identified, with the GATA3 gene showing strong selection signals for meat quality. A non-synonymous mutation in the Sloc2a1 gene, which is associated with reproductive traits in the CLG, exhibited significant differences in allelic frequency. The roles of CD82, CDH8, and PRKAB1 in growth and development, alongside FABP4, FAF1, ESR1, and AKAP12 in reproduction, were highlighted. Additionally, Cdkal1 and Mfsd14a may influence meat quality. This comprehensive genetic analysis underpins the unique genetic makeup of CLG, providing a basis for its conservation and informed breeding strategies.

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Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have recently emerged as a promising technology for efficient water wave energy harvesting. However, there is a paucity of clear guidance regarding the optimal designs of TENGs and their shells to achieve efficient absorption and conversion of water wave energy in real random waves. Herein, from the perspective of wave-body interaction and energy transfer, this paper proposes a structural quality factor (Qunit) for the quantitative evaluation of both the motion of floating triboelectric nanogenerator (Flo-TENG) shells and their capability to absorb and convert water wave energy efficiently. The factor is further subdivided into the amplitude structural quality factor (Qacc), which characterizes shell motion amplitude, and the frequency structural quality factor (Qf), which describes shell motion frequency. This paper systematically investigates the impact of various shell parameters such as bow shapes, curvatures, inclinations, and immersion ratios on Qacc and Qf. The findings indicate that variations in shell shape result in distinct Qunit values along different axial directions of wave propagation. These variations directly influence energy absorption efficiency in these directions. These results provide fundamental guidance for the design of high-performance Flo-TENG shells and the selection of internal energy harvesting directions to enable more efficient energy conversion.

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This qualitative study assesses the quality, amount of active ingredient, and characteristics associated with counterfeiting of semaglutide purchased from illegal online pharmacies without a prescription.

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Intestinal microbiota community is an important factor affecting the nutritional and health status of poultry, and its balance is crucial for improving the overall health of poultry. The study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with Glycyrrhiza uralensis extract (GUE), Lactobacillus acidophilus (Lac) and their combination (GL) on growth performance and intestinal health in broilers in an 84-day feeding experiment. Supplementary 0.1% GUE and 4.5×107 CFU/g Lac significantly increased average daily gain (ADG), and GL (0.1% GUE and 4.5×107 CFU/g Lac) increased ADG and average daily feed intake (ADFI), and decreased feed conversion rate (FCR) in broilers aged 29 to 84 d and 1 to 84 d. Dietary GUE, Lac and GL increased the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) activity and decreased Malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the jejunum mucosa of broilers, and increased secretory IgA (sIgA) content in broilers at 84 d. Moreover, GUE, Lac and GL increased cecal microbial richness and diversity, and modulated microbial community composition. Both GUE and Lac reduced the harmful bacteria Epsilonbacteraeota, Helicobacter, and H. pullorum at 28 d and Proteobacteria, Escherichia, and E. coli at 84 d, while Lac and GL increased beneficial bacteria Lactobacillus and L. gallinarum at 28 d. Compared with individual supplementation, GL markedly increased the SOD activity and the sIgA content, and reduced Helicobacter and Helicobacter pullorum. In conclusion, GUE and Lactobacillus acidophilus as feed additives benefit growth performance and intestinal health, and their combined use shows an even more positive effect in broilers.

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Cell identity annotation for single-cell transcriptome data is a crucial process for constructing cell atlases, unraveling pathogenesis, and inspiring therapeutic approaches. Currently, the efficacy of existing methodologies is contingent upon specific data sets. Nevertheless, such data are often sourced from various batches, sequencing technologies, tissues, and even species. Notably, the gene regulatory relationship remains unaffected by the aforementioned factors, highlighting the extensive gene interactions within organisms. Therefore, we propose scHGR, an automated annotation tool designed to leverage gene regulatory relationships in constructing gene-mediated cell communication graphs for single-cell transcriptome data. This strategy helps reduce noise from diverse data sources while establishing distant cellular connections, yielding valuable biological insights. Experiments involving 22 scenarios demonstrate that scHGR precisely and consistently annotates cell identities, benchmarked against state-of-the-art methods. Crucially, scHGR uncovers novel subtypes within peripheral blood mononuclear cells, specifically from CD4+ T cells and cytotoxic T cells. Furthermore, by characterizing a cell atlas comprising 56 cell types for COVID-19 patients, scHGR identifies vital factors like IL1 and calcium ions, offering insights for targeted therapeutic interventions.

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