Science Progress最新文献

With the continuous improvement in the efficiency of the heavy-haul railway freight transportation, the pressure on on-site maintenance is increasing. In-depth research on fault characteristics carries significant importance for fault scientific judgment and fault prevention. This study proposes an efficient association rule mining (ARM) algorithm, HM-RDHP, for analyzing fault data from heavy-haul railway freight trains. The algorithm introduces distributed parallel computing technology, integrating the MapReduce framework and HBase on the Hadoop platform to process large volumes of complex fault data efficiently. Experimental results show that the HM-RDHP algorithm can efficiently uncover hidden patterns and associations within the fault data of heavy-haul railway freight trains. The mined association rules provide a valuable reference model to aid in predictive maintenance and fault prevention strategies for freight train maintenance departments.

As sessile photoautotrophs, plants constantly encounter diverse environmental stresses. Recent research has focused on elucidating sugar and energy signaling mediated by hexokinase (HXK), sucrose non-fermenting 1-related protein kinase 1 (SnRK1), and the target of rapamycin (TOR) and assessing its intricate interplay with hormones and secondary metabolism. HXK serves as a pivotal regulator of glucose sensing and metabolism. It affects plant growth and development in response to nutrient availability. SnRK1 acts as a vital energy sensor that regulates metabolic adjustments during stress to bolster plant resilience. Moreover, TOR integrates nutrient signals to finely modulate growth and development, balancing cellular metabolism and resource allocation. Understanding the functions of HXK, SnRK1, and TOR can provide profound insights into plant adaptation mechanisms and open promising avenues for leveraging biotechnological strategies to enhance the stress tolerance and nutritional value of crops. This narrative review focuses on recent advancements in the molecular mechanisms of HXK, SnRK1, and TOR and explores their potential applications in agricultural biotechnology.

The corrosion of metals, particularly rust on iron and its alloys, poses significant challenges across industries, with notable economic and environmental consequences. Traditional rust prevention methods, reliant on chemical inhibitors and coatings, often raise concerns regarding their environmental and health impacts. In response, advancements in corrosion science have emphasized the potential of o-phenylenediamine (OPD) derivatives and vaseline-based mixtures as innovative, eco-friendly solutions. This article reviews the efficacy of OPD derivatives in mitigating anodic and cathodic reactions, thereby preventing rust formation by creating robust protective layers on metal surfaces. These derivatives act as physical barriers, impeding corrosive agents and offering versatile applications, including integration into protective coatings for new and existing metal structures. The synergistic combination of OPD with other inhibitors enhances protection, supporting sustainable practices by reducing resource consumption and environmental impact. Vaseline-based layers, while providing satisfactory initial hydrophobicity and ease of application, face challenges such as achieving uniform coverage on polar metal surfaces and preventing pore formation. Integrating Fe(III)(BTA)₃ into vaseline coatings represents a paradigm shift in sustainable corrosion prevention, with a 30% concentration identified as optimal for maximum protection. This development marks a pivotal advancement in materials science, offering robust corrosion protection aligned with sustainability principles. The use of OPD derivatives introduces a novel, environmentally benign approach, leveraging their ability to adsorb onto metal surfaces and create protective layers against moisture and oxygen. This innovation aligns with global initiatives to reduce industrial environmental footprints, promoting sustainable, effective corrosion prevention strategies.

In modern cryptography, Substitution Boxes (S-boxes) are critical in introducing confusion into ciphertext, significantly enhancing encryption security. With the rising sophistication of hacking techniques, there is a growing need to develop stronger and more dynamic S-boxes. This paper proposes a novel method for constructing cryptographically secure S-boxes using graph theory, specifically based on the Minimum Spanning Tree (MST) of cycle graphs. The process begins by converting plaintext into vertices, forming a cycle graph. Special characters are incorporated, and ASCII-based values are assigned to vertices. The distance between vertices is calculated using their intersections, leading to the creation of an MST graph. The final step involves obtaining the adjacency matrix, which is further processed to generate the S-box. The S-box's unpredictability is enhanced by employing the S₂₅₆ permutation from the symmetric group. Various cryptographic tests are conducted to evaluate the proposed S-box's performance, with results demonstrating its robustness when compared to existing S-box designs. Furthermore, this S-box is applied to an image encryption scheme, and its efficacy is thoroughly assessed. The findings highlight the potential of the proposed method to contribute significantly to cryptographic security.

Aims: Patients with epistaxis typically visit the emergency department for initial treatment. According to recent studies, tranexamic acid (TXA) is effective in the treatment of epistaxis. This study compared the therapeutic superiority of saline to that of 500 and 1000 mg doses of topical TXA for the treatment of anterior epistaxis. Materials and methods: This phase 4 clinical trial was a randomized, controlled, and double-blind trial. A total of 152 patients were divided into three groups. Group 1 was treated with 1000 mg TXA, Group 2 with 500 mg TXA, and Group 3 with saline. Results: Based on multinomial logistic regression analysis, the bleeding frequency at the 5th minute was 2.9 times and rebleeding status was 4.3 times less in Group 1 (1000 mg TXA) than in Group 3 (saline). There were no differences between the three groups in terms of side effects or salvage therapy. Conclusion: In addition to its superiority in treatment, 1000 mg of TXA is recommended because of the decreased rate of recurrent bleeding and low incidence of side effects.

Objective: Polyvascular disease (polyVD) often coexists with coronary artery disease (CAD). We aim to investigate the prevalence of polyVD using the method of ultrasound and find its association with adverse outcomes in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients. Methods: This retrospective and cross-sectional study included 1344 patients with a mean age of 61.4 years. Presence of peripheral artery atherosclerotic plaque and stenosis was assessed using the method of ultrasound. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to investigate the association of polyVD with in-hospital all-cause death. Results: 52.1% of the patients had polyVD and among which 31.9% had one additional arterial bed involvement and 20.2% had two or three additional arterial beds involvement. Patients with two or three involved arterial beds had worse baseline characteristics. In-hospital all-cause death rate increased with the number of involved arterial beds (1.1% in patients with only CAD vs 3.7% in patients with two or three involved arterial beds), and this trend was more prominent in elderly patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed that polyVD patients with two or three involved arterial beds had about three times the risk for all-cause death. Conclusions: Prevalence of polyVD assessed by ultrasound was high in CABG patients and it was significantly associated with in-hospital all-cause death. Our study may provide additive information for preoperative risk stratification in CABG patients.

Objectives: Marine biodiversity and ecosystem services in the high seas are threatened by numerous stress factors caused by human activities, including global shipping, high-sea fishing, marine plastic pollution, and anthropogenic climate change. Socioeconomic factors are one of the criteria for the establishment of area-based management tools in the high seas for marine biodiversity conservation beyond national jurisdiction. The aim of the work is to propose a spatiotemporal approach to identify risks from marine human activities and recommendations for high seas governance. Methods: Data related to human activities from 2014 to 2022 were used to calculate the distribution and changes of human-related stressors, and the risk to marine biodiversity in the high seas caused by human activities. Results: The North Atlantic, Philippine Sea, Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and East Central Atlantic show high and increasing intensities of human-related stressors, and are therefore particularly at need for the protection and conservation of marine biodiversity. Risks from human activities vary within the marine areas that are prioritized for biodiversity protection. The study recommends that the designation of high seas protected areas should take into account the types of risks to which the different marine areas are exposed, and that the high seas protected areas should be established gradually. At the same time, appropriate management measures should be formulated according to the intensity of human activities in the different marine areas. Conclusions: Quantifying and classifying the risk from human-related stressors could help identify solution for the protection and conservation and facilitate the marine spatial planning, establishment area based management tools, including marine protected areas in the high seas.

Introduction: Antitussive and expectorant drugs such as aminophylline (APL), doxofylline (DXL), bromhexine hydrochloride (BXH), and ambroxol hydrochloride (AXH), either individually or in combination, are widely used in the prevention and treatment of respiratory diseases. The study aimed to establish a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the simultaneous determination of these four drugs and to investigate their stability in 0.9% sodium chloride injection or 5% glucose injection over 48 hours. Methods: An InertSustain C₁₈ column (150 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) was used. The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and 50 mmol·L^-1 potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution (pH 4.0) with gradient elution. The flow rate was 0.8 mL·min^-1, and the column temperature was maintained at 30°C. The stability of APL, DXL, BXH, and AXH in 0.9% sodium chloride and 5% glucose injections over 48 h was determined using HPLC. Results: APL, DXL, BXH, and AXH showed good linearity within the ranges of 0.01 to 0.20, 0.003-0.06, 0.015-0.30, and 0.016-0.16 mg·mL^-1, respectively (r > 0.999). The intraday and interday relative standard deviations were <2%, with recovery rates between 98.4% and 102.2%. The four drugs remained colorless and clear in infusion mixtures. The pH value fluctuated within ±0.3 over 48 hours, and the relative percentage content of the drugs ranged from 95.0% to 105.0%. Conclusion: The established HPLC method is simple, reliable, and stable, allowing for the simultaneous determination of the four antitussive and expectorant drugs. APL, DXL, BXH, and AXH were stable within 48 hours when mixed with 0.9% sodium chloride and 5% glucose injections.

Objective: This study aimed to repurpose pimozide (PMZ) by incorporating it into nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) using a modified melting emulsion ultrasonication method.

Methods: We employed stearic and oleic acids in a 1:1 ratio as lipids, with Tween 80 and PEG 4000 as surfactants. The formulation was analyzed for particle size, zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to confirm the spherical shape of the particles. The release profile of PMZ-NLC was evaluated under different pH conditions, and anticancer activity was tested on A549 cell lines.

Results: The PMZ-NLC exhibited an average particle size of 136 ± 2.9 nm, a zeta potential of -25.1 ± 0.9 mV, and an encapsulation efficiency of 86% ± 11. TEM confirmed the spherical shape of the NLCs. PMZ release from PMZ-NLC was pH-sensitive, enhancing tumor targeting. IC₅₀ values were 16.5 μM for free PMZ and 12.9 μM for PMZ-NLC after 72 h.

Discussion: PMZ-NLC demonstrated improved anticancer activity compared to free PMZ, suggesting that encapsulation enhances the drug's effectiveness. The pH-sensitive release profile supports its potential for targeted therapy in lung cancer.

Conclusions: PMZ-NLC showed potential as a safe and effective strategy for lung cancer treatment. Further investigation is warranted to evaluate its in vivo efficacy, long-term safety, and clinical application.

Purpose: At present, albumin-bound paclitaxel combined with platinum is the standard first-line treatment option for advanced esophageal cancer (EC). However, following a hospitalization surge, clinicians may prefer to use albumin-bound paclitaxel as a single dose. The present study aimed to investigate the survival of patients with advanced EC when treated with single or fractionated doses of albumin-bound paclitaxel.

Methods: We collected survival data of patients with advanced first-line EC who had used albumin-bound paclitaxel with or without other treatment regimens from January 2018 to September 2023 at the Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital and the Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital. The patients were divided into two groups according to the frequency and dose of albumin-bound paclitaxel administration, namely the abraxane fractional administration group (A group, 27 patients) and the abraxane single administration group (B group, 182 patients).

Results: The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 9.0 months in both groups (p = 0.35), and the median overall survival (OS) was 21.0 months in A group and 18.0 months in B group (p = 0.61). The objective response rate was 37% in A group and 25% in B group (p = 0.314), and the disease control rate was 89% in A group and 83% in B group (p = 0.580). The incidence of grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse events was 15% in both groups.

Conclusion: Albumin-bound paclitaxel treatments showed no statistically significant differences in the PFS or OS. They were considered safe, whether administered as a single dose or in fractionated doses.