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With the rapidly increasing rate of microlensing planet detections, microlensing modeling software faces significant challenges in computation efficiency. Here, we develop the Twinkle code, an efficient and robust binary-lens modeling software suite optimized for heterogeneous computing devices, especially GPUs. Existing microlensing codes have the issue of catastrophic cancellation that undermines the numerical stability and precision, and Twinkle resolves them by refining the coefficients of the binary-lens equation. We also devise an improved method for robustly identifying ghost images, thereby enhancing computational reliability. We have advanced the state of the art by optimizing Twinkle specifically for heterogeneous computing devices by taking into account the unique task and cache memory dispatching patterns of GPUs, while the compatibility with the traditional computing architectures of CPUs is still maintained. Twinkle has demonstrated an acceleration of approximately 2 orders of magnitude (≳102×) on contemporary GPUs. The enhancement in computational speed of Twinkle will translate to the delivery of accurate and highly efficient data analysis for ongoing and upcoming microlensing projects. Both GPU and CPU versions of Twinkle are open-source and publicly available.

Background Oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) is widely used to treat lumbar degenerative disc disease. This study aimed to evaluate the biomechanical stability of OLIF, OLIF including posterior pedicle screw and rod (PSR), and OLIF including cortical screw and rod (CSR) instrumentation through finite element analysis. Methods A complete L2-L5 finite element model of the lumbar spine was constructed. Surgical models of OLIF, such as stand-alone, OLIF combined with PSR, and OLIF combined with CSR were created in the L3-L4 surgical segments. Range of motion (ROM), end plate stress, and internal fixation peak stress were compared between different models under the same loading conditions. Results Compared to the intact model, ROM was reduced in the OLIF model under all loading conditions. The surgical models in order of increasing ROM were PSR, CSR, and stand-alone; however, the difference in ROM between BPS and CSR was less than 0.4° and was not significant under any loading conditions. The stand-alone model had the highest stress on the superior L4 vertebral body endplate under all loading conditions, whereas the end plate stress was relatively low in the BPS and CSR models. The CSR model had the highest internal fixation stress, concentrated primarily at the end of the screw. Conclusions OLIF alone significantly reduces ROM but does not provide sufficient stability. Addition of posterior PSR or CSR internal fixation instrumentation to OLIF surgery can significantly improve biomechanical stability of the segment undergoing surgery.

Observational studies suggest a correlation between mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-CN) and renal function; however, the causality remains uncertain. This study employed a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to investigate the genetic causal relationship between mtDNA-CN and renal function. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) data for mtDNA-CN were obtained from the UK Biobank (  = 395,718), with renal function data primarily sourced from the CKDGen consortium and FinnGen studies. Four MR methods were employed, using inverse variance weighting as the primary approach, complemented by weighted median, MR Egger, and MR-PRESSO for sensitivity analyses. Multivariable MR (MVMR) assessed result robustness. Reverse MR treated renal function as the exposure. Validation was performed using additional mtDNA-CN GWAS data from the CHARGE UK Biobank (  = 465,809). Forward MR analysis demonstrated a positive association between genetically predicted mtDNA-CN and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) [odds ratio (OR) = 1.007, 95% CI 1.003-1.012,  = 0.003]. MVMR suggested weaker evidence after adjusting for neutrophil count. Reverse MR revealed causal associations of urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (OR = 0.958, 0.923-0.994,  = 0.023) and microalbuminuria (OR = 0.981, 0.965-0.997,  = 0.021) with mtDNA-CN, though these effects were non-significant after multiple testing correction. Sensitivity and validation analyses confirmed robust. The findings from validation analyses were consistent. Our study suggests a potential causal association between mtDNA-CN and eGFR. However, the impact of confounding factors and the absence of consistent associations with other renal function markers underscore the necessity for further research to clarify the role of mtDNA-CN in renal function.

Novel graphene-like boron nitride (BN)/Bi 3 O 4 Br photocatalysts have been controllably synthesized through a facile solvothermal method for the first time. Layer contact stacking between graphene-like BN and ultrathin Bi 3 O 4 Br was achieved with strong interaction. Dehalogenation is designed to harvest more visible light, and the ultrathin structure of Bi 3 O 4 Br is designed to accelerate charge transfer from inside to the surface. After graphene-like BN was engineered, photocatalytic performance greatly improved under visible light irradiation. Graphene-like BN can act as a surface electron-withdrawing center and adsorption center, facilitating molecular oxygen activation. O 2 •− was determined to be the main active species during the degradation process through analyses of electron spin resonance and XPS valence band spectra.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the main cause of end-stage renal disease worldwide and a major public issue affecting the health of people. Therefore, it is essential to explore effective drugs for the treatment of DN. In this study, the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, Zhijun Tangshen Decoction (ZJTSD), a prescription modified from the classical formula Didang Decoction, has been used in the clinical treatment of DN. However, the chemical basis underlying the therapeutic effects of ZJTSD in treating DN remains unknown. In this study, compounds of ZJTSD and serum after oral administration in rats were identified and analyzed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q/TOF-MS). Meanwhile, a semi-quantitative approach was used to analyze the dynamic changes in the compounds of ZJTSD in vivo . UPLC-Q/TOF-MS analysis identified 190 compounds from ZJTSD, including flavonoids, anthraquinones, terpenoids, phenylpropanoids, alkaloids, and other categories. A total of 156 xenobiotics and metabolites, i.e., 51 prototype compounds and 105 metabolites, were identified from the compounds absorbed into the blood of rats treated with ZJTSD. The results further showed that 23 substances with high relative content, long retention time, and favorable pharmacokinetic characteristics in vivo deserved further investigations and validations of bioactivities. In conclusion, this study revealed the chemical basis underlying the complexity of ZJTSD and investigated the metabolite profiling and pharmacokinetics of ZJTSD-related xenobiotics in rats, thus providing a foundation for further investigation into the pharmacodynamic substance basis and metabolic regulations of ZJTSD.

In this paper, a high-fineness fiber-optic Fabry–Perot high-temperature pressure sensor, based on MEMS technology, is proposed and experimentally verified. The Faber–Perot cavity of the pressure sensor is formed by the anodic bonding of a sensitive silicon diaphragm and a Pyrex glass; a high-fineness interference signal is obtained by coating the interface surface with a high-reflection film, so as to simplify the signal demodulation system. The experimental results show that the pressure sensitivity of this sensor is 55.468 nm/MPa, and the temperature coefficient is 0.01859 nm/°C at 25~300 °C. The fiber-optic pressure sensor has the following advantages: high fineness, high temperature tolerance, high consistency and simple demodulation, resulting in a wide application prospect in the field of high-temperature pressure testing.

Plants belonging to the Oxytropis genus, family Leguminosae, are found throughout the world, with about 80 species mainly distributed in northwest and northeast China. The plants have medicinal properties and many plants have been used as folk medicine for the treatment of colds, inflammation of carbuncle swelling, pain, and different types of bleeding. In recent years, due to the reduced availability of wild resources and increased clinical demand, additional Oxytropis species have been used in Mongolian medicine. This study explored the medicinal potential of four Oxytropis species, investigating their phylogeny, chemical components, and pharmacological activities. Oxytropis myriophylla (Pall) DC., Oxytropis hirta Bunge, and Oxytropis bicolor Bge. were found to be closely related at the taxonomic level. While previous investigations on the bioactive constituents of Oxytropis have been limited and have concentrated largely on flavonoids and saponins, the present study established a novel UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS based on metabolite profiling to comprehensively analyze the chemical composition of the four Oxytropis species and to identify marker compounds. A total of 75 compounds were identified from the four species, with 23 identified as characteristic marker components. Twenty-six marker compounds were identified in O. myriophylla from different geographical regions. Analysis of pharmacological activity showed that extracts of O. myriophylla and O. hirta had stronger anti-inflammatory activity than the extracts from the other species. The relationships between the chemical components, traditional curative uses, and pharmacological activities were analyzed to provide a preliminary documentation of the pharmacophylogenetic characteristics of the Oxytropis family as a whole. Several marker compounds, including licoricesaponin G2, licoricesaponin J2, and glycyrrhizic acid found in O. hirta were found to have effective anti-inflammatory activity, consistent with the traditional application of reducing swelling and healing wounds. This preliminary investigation into the pharmacophylogeny of the genus Oxytropis will contribute to the conservation and exploitation of the medicinal resources of this genus.

Heat stress is a significant health concern that can lead to illness, injury, and mortality. The wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) index is one method for monitoring environmental heat risk. Generally, WBGT is estimated using a heat stress monitor that includes sensors capable of measuring ambient, wet bulb, and black globe temperature, and these measurements are combined to calculate WBGT. However, this method can be expensive, time consuming, and requires careful attention to ensure accurate and repeatable data. Therefore, researchers have attempted to use standard meteorological measurements, using single data sources as an input (e.g., weather stations) to calculate WBGT. Building on these efforts, we apply data from a variety of sources to calculate WBGT, understand the accuracy of our estimated equation, and compare the performance of different sources of input data. To do this, WBGT measurements were collected from Kestrel 5400 Heat Stress Trackers installed in three locations in Alabama. Data were also drawn from local weather stations, North American Land Data Assimilation System (NLDAS), and low cost iButton hygrometers. We applied previously published equations for estimating natural wet bulb temperature, globe temperature, and WBGT to these diverse data sources. Correlation results showed that WBGT estimates derived from all proxy data sources—weather station, weather station/iButton, NLDAS, NLDAS/iButton—were statistically indistinguishable from each other, or from the Kestrel measurements, at two of the three sites. However, at the same two sites, the addition of iButtons significantly reduced root mean square error and bias compared to other methods. Plain Language Summary Heat stress is a buildup of body heat that can lead to illness, injury, or death. One method for estimating heat stress is an index called wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT). The index is usually measured with a monitor that records three types of temperature measurements and combines them. However, this method can be expensive, time consuming, and requires careful attention. Therefore, researchers have tried to use standard measurements such as wind speed, temperature, humidity, etc., to calculate WBGT. Building on these efforts, we wanted to determine if it was possible to accurately calculate WBGT with a variety of inexpensive data sources in central Alabama. We used previously published equations to estimate WBGT. Results showed that all proxy methods accurately estimated WBGT in two Alabama locations, but that using local measurements did change estimates of the number of potentially dangerous heat episodes relative to estimates that rely on remote sources of weather data. The ability to use easily accessible measurements could be a powerful tool for studies and interventions related to heat stress. Key Points A variety of proxy methods offered reasonable estimates of wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) in downtown and suburban Birmingham, AL Estimating WBGT from easily accessible measurements could be a powerful tool for studies and interventions related to heat stress

Background Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death driven by lipid peroxidation, has emerged as a critical pathological mechanism in acute kidney injury (AKI). While pharmacologic targeting of ferroptosis holds therapeutic potential, clinically applicable inhibitors remain elusive, with even the classical inhibitor ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1) demonstrating limitations. Ginsenoside Rb1 (Rb1), a major active component of Panax ginseng, has recently been shown to inhibit ferroptosis in non-renal tissues. This study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of Rb1 in treating AKI. Methods The protective and anti-ferroptotic effects of Rb1 on AKI were evaluated by assessing renal function, tissue damage, inflammation, ferrous iron, glutathione, malondialdehyde, and ferroptosis markers in C57BL/6 mice, as well as cell viability and ferroptosis-related indicators in HK-2 cells. Network pharmacology and molecular docking were employed to identify Rb1's target proteins. Transcriptome sequencing predicted further mechanisms underlying its anti-ferroptotic effects, which were subsequently validated through in vivo and in vitro experiments. Results The experimental results demonstrated that Rb1 administration significantly ameliorated renal dysfunction, attenuated tubular necrosis and inflammatory responses, while markedly suppressing ferroptosis-related indicators. Strikingly, Rb1 exhibited superior efficacy to Fer-1 in preventing ferroptosis in proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTECs) in vitro. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) was verified as a direct target for Rb1's ferroptosis-inhibitory effect. Mechanistic studies revealed that Rb1 selectively inhibits lipid peroxidation—the biochemical hallmark of ferroptosis—by activating the NRF2-PPARγ-ACSL4 axis.  Conclusion Given its established safety profile in human use, Rb1 represents a potential therapeutic agent for preventing and treating AKI, providing scientific evidence for its application in anti-ferroptosis therapy.

Human ovarian cancer stem cells (OCSCs) are one of the main factors affecting ovarian cancer cell metastasis, recurrence, prognosis and tolerance to chemotherapy drugs. However, the mechanisms of OCSC proliferation and invasion are not clear. Recent studies suggest that anisomycin can inhibit the proliferative and invasive ability of various tumor cells by increasing the production of the toxic amyloid β (Aβ1-42) peptides from the amyloid precursor protein (APP). We explored whether anisomycin could also suppress human OCSC proliferation and invasion. The CD44+/CD117+ OCSCs were enriched from human clinical ovarian tumor tissues. OCSCs treated with anisomycin showed reduced proliferation compared to controls. Moreover, anisomycin significantly suppressed the invasive capacity of OCSCs in vitro, as indicated by cell migration assays. The mRNA expression levels of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) β-site APP cleaving enzyme 1 antisense strand (BACE1-AS) were significantly increased in anisomycin-treated OCSCs compared to controls. In addition, mRNA and protein levels of BACE1 and Aβ1-42 were increased in anisomycin-treated OCSCs compared to controls. We confirmed that anisomycin suppressed the growth of xenograft tumors formed by OCSCs in vivo. Finally, when expression of lncRNA BACE1-AS was silenced using siRNA, BACE1 expression was downregulated and the antiproliferative and anti-invasive effects of anisomycin were reduced. Overall, we identified lncRNA BACE1-AS as a novel target for anisomycin. Elevation of lncRNA BACE1-AS expression is a potential mechanism for suppressing human OCSC proliferation and invasion.