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X-band dual-polarization phased-array weather radars (X-PARs) have been used in South China extensively. Eliminating the attenuation and system bias of X-band radar data is the key to utilizing the advantage of X-PAR networks. In this paper, the disdrometer raindrop-size distribution (DSD) measurements are used to calculate the radar polarimetric variables and analyze the characteristics of precipitation attenuation. Furthermore, based on the network of S-band dual-polarization Doppler weather radar (S-POL) and X-PARs, an attenuation-correction method for X-PAR reflectivity is proposed with S-POL constraints in view of the radar-mosaic requirements of a multi-radar network. Linear programming is used to calculate the attenuation-correction parameters of different rainfall areas, which realizes the attenuation correction for X-PAR. The results show that the attenuation-correction parameters simulated based on the disdrometer DSD vary with different precipitation classification; the attenuation-corrected reflectivity of X-PARs is consistent with S-POL and can realize a more precise observation of the evolution of the convective system. Compared with previous attenuation-correction methods with constant correction parameters, the improved method can reduce the deviation between X-PAR reflectivity and that of S-POL in heavy rainfall areas and areas of strong attenuation. The method proposed in this paper is stable and effective. After effective quality control, it is found that the X-PAR network deployed in South China observes data accurately and is consistent with S-POL; thus, it is expected to achieve high temporal–spatial resolution within a radar mosaic.

Recent studies have reported that COVID-19 patients with lung cancer have a higher risk of severe events than patients without cancer. In this study, we investigated the gene expression of angiotensin I-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) with prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). Lung cancer patients in each age stage, subtype, and pathological stage are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, except for the primitive subtype of LUSC. LUAD patients are more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection than LUSC patients. The findings are unanimous on tissue expression in gene and protein levels.

The differential propagation phase (ΦDP) of X-band dual-polarization weather radar (including X-band dual-polarization phased-array weather radar, X-PAR) is important for estimating precipitation and classifying hydrometeors. However, the measured differential propagation phase contains the backscatter differential phase (δ), which poses difficulties for the application of the differential propagation phase from X-band radars. This paper presents the following: (1) the simulation and characteristics analysis of the backscatter differential phase based on disdrometer DSD (raindrop size distribution) measurement data; (2) an improved method of the specific differential propagation phase (KDP) estimation based on linear programming and backscatter differential phase elimination; (3) the effect of backscatter differential phase elimination on the specific differential propagation phase estimation of X-PAR. The results show the following: (1) For X-band weather radar, the raindrop equivalent diameters D > 2 mm may cause a backscatter differential phase between 0 and 20°; in particular, the backscatter differential phase varies sharply with raindrop size between 3.2 and 4.5 mm. (2) Using linear programming or smoothing filters to process the differential propagation phase could suppress the backscatter differential phase, but it is hard to completely eliminate the effect of the backscatter differential phase. (3) Backscatter differential phase correction may improve the calculation accuracy of the specific differential propagation phase, and the optimization was verified by the improved self-consistency of polarimetric variables, correlation between specific differential propagation phase estimations from S- and X-band radar and the accuracy of quantitative precipitation estimation. The X-PAR deployed in Shenzhen showed good observation performance and the potential to be used in radar mosaics with S-band weather radar.

Objective Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) has been closely associated with ferroptosis in nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs), the underlying regulatory mechanisms and therapeutic strategies remain poorly defined. This study aims to delineate how ginsenoside Rg3 mitigates IVDD progression through ferroptosis suppression, providing a basis for clinical translation. Method An erastin‐induced nucleus pulposus cell ferroptosis model was established. Suitable Erastin concentrations (0–20 μM) were screened via CCK‐8, qRT‐PCR, and Western blotting based on viability, extracellular matrix (COL2A1/ACAN/ADAMTS5/MMP3) and ferroptosis markers (GPX4/FTH‐1/ACSL4), followed by determination of optimal Rg3 concentrations (0–150 μM) using identical methods. Key targets of Rg3 were predicted through network pharmacology and verified by qRT‐PCR and Western blotting. After establishing a rat tail puncture‐induced IVDD model, local injection of Rg3 was administered. Therapeutic efficacy was evaluated by MRI assessment of nucleus pulposus status and disc height, alongside histological and immunohistochemical analyses of Rg3's role in delaying disc degeneration. Result 5 μM Erastin effectively induced ferroptosis in nucleus pulposus cells, reducing cell viability, suppressing expression of extracellular matrix anabolic proteins (COL2A1, ACAN), while promoting catabolic factors (MMP3, ADAMTS5) and downregulating ferroptosis inhibitors (GPX4, FTH‐1). These alterations were significantly reversed by 100 μM Rg3. Integrated network pharmacology and molecular biological validation identified PRKAA2 as the key target mediating Rg3's anti‐degenerative effects. In vivo rat experiments demonstrated that Rg3 treatment preserved disc height and attenuated disc degeneration, with histological and immunohistochemical analyses further confirming its therapeutic efficacy and PRKAA2‐targeted regulation. Conclusion This study elucidates the therapeutic mechanism of Rg3 in delaying IVDD progression via PRKAA2‐mediated ferroptosis inhibition, providing substantial experimental evidence for its clinical translation as a potential disease‐modifying agent. Ginsenosides Rg3 were used to repair the degenerative nucleus pulposus; Furthermore, Rg3 was identified as the bioactive molecule that inhibits the occurrence of ferroptosis through inhibiting PRKAA2 expression in degenerated discs.

Diabetes is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, and myocardial damage caused by hyperglycemia is the main cause of heart failure. However, there is still a lack of systematic understanding of myocardial damage caused by diabetes. At present, we believe that the cellular inflammatory damage caused by hyperglycemia is one of the causes of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Pyroptosis, as a proinflammatory form of cell death, is closely related to the occurrence and development of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Therefore, this paper focuses on the important role of inflammation in the occurrence and development of diabetic cardiomyopathy. From the perspective of pyroptosis, we summarize the pyroptosis of different types of cells in diabetic cardiomyopathy and its related signaling pathways. It also summarizes the treatment of diabetic cardiomyopathy, hoping to provide methods for the prevention and treatment of diabetic cardiomyopathy by inhibiting pyroptosis. •Inflammation promotes the development of Diabetic Cardiomyopathy.•Pyroptosis may exacerbate the inflammatory response in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy.•The multiple types of cells that undergo pyroptosis are one of the main reasons for Diabetic Cardiomyopathy.

The mesoscopic-scale discrete element method (DEM) modeling approach demonstrated high compatibility with macroporous recycled concrete (MRC). However, existing DEM models failed to adequately balance modeling accuracy and computational efficiency for recycled aggregate (RA), replicate the three distinct interfacial transition zone (ITZ) types and pore structure of MRC, or establish a systematic calibration methodology. In this study, PFC 3D was employed to establish a randomly polyhedral RA composite model and an MRC model. A systematic methodology for parameter testing and calibration was proposed, and compressive test simulations were conducted on the MRC model. The model incorporated all components of MRC, including three types of ITZs, achieving an aggregate volume fraction of 57.7%. Errors in simulating compressive strength and elastic modulus were 3.8% and 18.2%, respectively. Compared to conventional concrete, MRC exhibits larger strain and a steeper post-peak descending portion in stress–strain curves. At peak stress, stress is concentrated in the central region and the surrounding arc-shaped zones. After peak stress, significant localized residual stress persists within specimens; both toughness and toughness retention capacity increase with rising porosity and declining compressive strength. Failure of MRC is dominated by tension rather than shear, with critical bonds determining strength accounting for only 1.4% of the total. The influence ranking of components on compressive strength is as follows: ITZ (new paste–old paste) > ITZ (new paste–natural aggregates) > new paste > old paste > ITZ (old paste–natural aggregates). The Poisson’s ratio of MRC (0.12–0.17) demonstrates a negative correlation with porosity. Predictive formulas for peak strain and elastic modulus of MRC were established, with errors of 2.6% and 3.9%, respectively.

Background Career calling, professional identity and the need for achievement are believed to affect the students’ learning engagement and effect. However, their regulatory relationship with medical students remains unclear. Methods Our study surveyed 1250 medical students through a questionnaire, and the correlation of the study variables was analysed. Harman’s Single-Factor test was performed on the data to rule out significant common method biases. The mediation effect was determined using the percentile Bootstrap method with deviation correction. Results Career calling was positively correlated with professional identity ( r  = 0.51, p  < 0.001) and positively correlated with the need for achievement ( r  = 0.49, p  < 0.001). Learning engagement was positively correlated with professional identity ( r  = 0.56, p  < 0.001) and positively correlated with the need for achievement ( r  = 0.55, p  < 0.001). Professional identity was positively correlated with the need for achievement ( r  = 0.51, p  < 0.001). In addition, professional identity plays a mediating role in the relationship between career calling and learning engagement (β = 0.36, p  < 0.001). Additionally, the need for achievement influences how career calling affects learning engagement through professional identity (β = -0.06, p  < 0.001). Conclusions Career calling, professional identity and the need for achievement were positively associated with learning engagement in medical students. Professional identity and the need for achievement act as intermediaries between career calling and learning engagement. This study found that strengthening the professional guidance of medical students and enhancing their sense of professional mission could promote their acceptance and identification of their major, enhance their professional identity, create a positive professional atmosphere, and improve learning engagement.

Quercetin exerts anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and other protective effects. Previous studies have shown that senescent cells, such as fibroblasts and type II airway epithelial cells, are strongly implicated in the development of pulmonary fibrosis pathology. However, the role of senescent macrophages during silicosis remains unclear. We investigated the effects of quercetin on macrophage senescence and pulmonary fibrosis, and explored underlying mechanisms. Mice were randomized to six model groups. Vitro model was also established by culturing RAW264.7 macrophages with silica (SiO 2 ). We examined the effects of quercetin on fibrosis, senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal) activity, and senescence-specific genes (p16, p21, and p53). We showed that quercetin reduced pulmonary fibrosis and inhibited extracellular matrix (ECM) formation. Quercetin also attenuated macrophage senescence induced by SiO 2 both in vitro and in vivo . In addition, quercetin significantly decreased the expressions of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), including proinflammatory factors (interleukin-1α (Il-1α), Il-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP2, MMP9, and MMP12). In conclusion, quercetin mediated its anti-fibrotic effects by inhibiting macrophage senescence, possibly via SASP.

On the morning of July 21, 2017, a localized rainstorm event occurred in the Shijiazhuang area of Hebei Province, with the heavy rain mainly concentrating in the Shijiazhuang urban area and its eastern and northern parts. But this rainstorm process was omitted by both numerical and subjective forecasts. In this paper, the triggering mechanisms of the mesoscale convective systems that have caused this localized rainstorm are analyzed by using the intensified surface observation data, Doppler radar data, the four-dimensional variational Doppler radar analysis system (VDRAS), the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis data and the ERA5 reanalysis. The observation analysis shows that when the heavy rain was occurring, the Shijiazhuang area was controlled by the western Pacific subtropical high, and the high temperature and high humidity environment has provided favorable vapor, thermal and energy conditions for the rainfall. Three key factors are responsible for the triggering of this severe convective weather. First, the strong thunderstorm high pressure and cold pool formed in Qinhuangdao and Tangshan areas in the northeastern Hebei. The surface wind field was affected by the pressure-gradient force generated by the thunderstorm high pressure, and consequently the northeasterly wind gradually strengthened, which guided the tongue-shaped cold pool to gradually move southwestward to the northern Shijiazhuang. Thus, a long lasting cold-warm boundary (the leading edge of the cold tongue) was formed in the key precipitation area, which provided low-level convergence and the ascending motion for the occurrence and development of this severe convective weather. Second, the northeasterly wind in the east side of Taihang Mountain was forced to ascend by the topography of Taihang Mountain, which strengthened the upward motion. Third, as the direction of the Taihang Mountains shifts from a northeast–southwest direction to a northwest–southeast direction in the west side of Shijiazhuang, the surface northeasterly airflow is changed to a northwesterly airflow here, forming a convergence in the key area of precipitation in front of the mountain. Thus, an unstable vertical structure that features low-level convergence and middle-level divergence is formed. The above three factors work together in the region where the severe convections occurred, and triggered the release of the conditional instability energy, finally resulting in this short-time heavy rain. The results indicate that in the forecast of severe convections in midsummer, we should pay extra attention to the complex terrain and the effects of the cold pool.

Background The purpose of this study was to investigate the photoprotection effect of peroxiredoxin 1 (PRDX1) protein in ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation-induced damage of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and its possible molecular mechanism. Methods ARPE-19 cell viability and apoptosis were assessed by MTT assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the PRDX1 expression. The corresponding kits were employed to measure the levels or activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD). Western blotting was applied to examine PRDX1 expression and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway-related proteins. Results After exposure to 20 mJ/cm 2 intensity of UVB irradiation for 24 h, ARPE-19 cells viability was decreased, the leakage degree of LDH and 8-OHdG were increased, and cell apoptosis was elevated. The expression of PRDX1 was significantly down-regulated in UVB-induced ARPE-19 cells. The low expression of PRDX1 was involved in high irradiation intensity. Overexpression of PRDX1 increased cell activity, decreased cell apoptosis, and LDH as well as 8-OHdG leakage in UVB-induced ARPE-19 cells. In addition to alleviating UVB-induced cell damage, PRDX1 overexpression also inhibited UVB-induced oxidative stress (down-regulation of ROS and MDA levels, up-regulation of GSH-Px and SOD activities) and the activation of MAPK signaling pathway in ARPE-19 cells. Conclusion PRDX1 exerts a photoprotection effect on RPE by attenuating UVB-induced cell damage and inhibiting oxidative stress, which can be attributed to the inhibition of MAPK signaling pathway activation.