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In response to the limitations of traditional image processing algorithms, such as high noise sensitivity and threshold dependency in bridge crack detection, and the extensive labeled data requirements of deep learning methods, this study proposes a novel crack segmentation algorithm based on fuzzy C-means (FCM) clustering and multi-feature fusion. A three-dimensional feature space is constructed using B-channel pixels and fuzzy clustering with c = 3, justified by the distinct distribution patterns of these three regions in the image, enabling effective preliminary segmentation. To enhance accuracy, connected domain labeling combined with a circularity threshold is introduced to differentiate linear cracks from granular noise. Furthermore, a 5 × 5 neighborhood search strategy, based on crack pixel amplitude, is designed to restore the continuity of fragmented cracks. Experimental results on the Concrete Crack and SDNET2018 datasets demonstrate that the proposed algorithm achieves an accuracy of 0.885 and a recall rate of 0.891, outperforming DeepLabv3+ by 4.2%. Notably, with a processing time of only 0.8 s per image, the algorithm balances high accuracy with real-time efficiency, effectively addressing challenges, such as missed fine cracks and misjudged broken cracks in noisy environments by integrating geometric features and pixel distribution characteristics. This study provides an efficient unsupervised solution for bridge damage detection.

Background and aims Water and nutrient availability in soil can affect leaf resource-use efficiency. Within a given location and given common soil conditions, variations in root anatomical traits across co-existing species determine nutrient and water supply to leaves. Therefore, leaf resource-use efficiency may be closely related to their root anatomical traits. However, few studies have specifically investigated whether and how root anatomical traits affect leaf resource-use efficiency. Methods Here, we sampled the first two order roots and leaves of 61 herbaceous species in alpine meadows of the Tibetan Plateau. A series of root anatomical traits, leaf photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency (PNUE), photosynthetic phosphorus use-efficiency (PPUE) and instantaneous water-use efficiency (iWUE) were examined. Results We observed that root anatomical traits, PNUE and PPUE differed distinctively among plant functional groups, while no significant differences in iWUE were detected. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed a two-dimensional trait space: i.e., stele-related dimension and cortex-related dimension. PNUE and PPUE were tightly correlated with cortical traits, and iWUE was closely correlated with stelar traits. Unexpectedly, we found an independent change between PNUE/PPUE and iWUE. Conclusion These results indicate close relations between leaf nutrient-use efficiency and root cortical traits, as well as between leaf water-use efficiency and stelar traits. Therefore, these findings provide important information to link leaf resource-use efficiency to root anatomical traits.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant intracranial tumor in adults, characterized by extensive infiltrative growth, high vascularization, and resistance to multiple therapeutic approaches. Among the many factors affecting the therapeutic effect, the immunosuppressive GBM microenvironment that is created by cells and associated molecules via complex mechanisms plays a particularly important role in facilitating evasion of the tumor from the immune response. Accumulating evidence is also revealing a close association of the gut microbiota with the challenges in the treatment of GBM. The gut microbiota establishes a connection with the central nervous system through bidirectional signals of the gut–brain axis, thus affecting the occurrence and development of GBM. In this review, we discuss the key immunosuppressive components in the tumor microenvironment, along with the regulatory mechanism of the gut microbiota involved in immunity and metabolism in the GBM microenvironment. Lastly, we concentrate on the immunotherapeutic strategies currently under investigation, which hold promise to overcome the hurdles of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and improve the therapeutic outcome for patients with GBM.

Adaptive anti-tumor immunity is currently dependent on the natural immune system of the body. The emergence of tumor immunotherapy has improved prognosis and prolonged the survival cycle of patients. Current mainstream immunotherapies, including immune checkpoint blockade, chimeric antigen receptor T-cell immunotherapy, and monoclonal antibody therapy, are linked to natural immunity. The cGAS-STING pathway is an important natural immunity signaling pathway that plays an important role in fighting against the invasion of foreign pathogens and maintaining the homeostasis of the organism. Increasing evidence suggests that the cGAS-STING pathway plays a key role in tumor immunity, and the combination of STING-related agonists can significantly enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy and reduce the emergence of immunotherapeutic resistance. However, the cGAS-STING pathway is a double-edged sword, and its activation can enhance anti-tumor immunity and immunosuppression. Immunosuppressive cells, including M2 macrophages, MDSC, and regulatory T cells, in the tumor microenvironment play a crucial role in tumor escape, thereby affecting the immunotherapy effect. The cGAS-STING signaling pathway can bi-directionally regulate this group of immunosuppressive cells, and targeting this pathway can affect the function of immunosuppressive cells, providing new ideas for immunotherapy. In this study, we summarize the activation pathway of the cGAS-STING pathway and its immunological function and elaborate on the key role of this pathway in immune escape mediated by the tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment. Finally, we summarize the mainstream immunotherapeutic approaches related to this pathway and explore ways to improve them, thereby providing guidelines for further clinical services.

IntroductionThe macula is a pigmented area located at the centre of the retina, responsible for central, high-resolution colour vision. Previous research has demonstrated that oral carotenoid supplementation can enhance contrast sensitivity (CS) in European populations. This study aims to investigate whether carotenoid supplementation can also improve visual function in the Chinese population.Methods and analysisThe Contrast Sensitivity Vision (CSV) trial is a double-blind, randomised controlled trial conducted at the Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center in Guangzhou, China. 220 eligible Chinese adults will be randomised in a 1:1 ratio to receive either oral supplementation of 10 mg lutein, 10 mg meso-zeaxanthin and 2 mg zeaxanthin in a formula-based oil suspension (administered as one soft gel capsule) or a placebo oil soft gel capsule daily for 1 year. Participants in both groups will undergo ophthalmological study procedures including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), contrast sensitivity, optical coherence tomography, fundus photography and skin carotenoid examinations at baseline and at 3-month, 6-month and 12-month follow-up visits. Blood tests and a Dietary Carotenoid Screening Questionnaire will be administered at baseline and at the 12-month follow-up. Subjective visual function questionnaire interviews will be administered at baseline and at the 3-month, 6-month and 12-month follow-ups. The primary outcome will assess change in CS at 6 cycles per degree (cpd) over the 1-year study intervention. Secondary outcomes will examine CS at 6 cpd at the 3-month and 6-month follow-up, CS at other cpd, BCVA, subjective visual function and skin carotenoid levels as measured at baseline, 3-month, 6-month and 12-month follow-ups.Ethics and disseminationThe CSV trial was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Guangzhou, China (No. KYPJ141-4). Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions about the trial, and written informed consent will be obtained from all participants prior to their involvement in the study. Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication and conference presentations.Trial registration numberNCT06098677.

PBL (Perfobond Leiste) shear connectors are commonly employed in steel-concrete composite beams. In this study, the incorporation of steel fibers into concrete enhanced its mechanical properties, allowing PBL shear connectors to fully exert their shear performance. Through experiment and finite element simulation analyses on specimens, the influences of various parameters such as steel fiber content, steel fiber diameter, steel fiber length, diameter and length of the through reinforcement in the PBL shear connectors, plate thickness, diameter of openings, and the number of openings on the mechanical properties and failure modes of the specimens were investigated. The results indicate that the incorporation of steel fibers significantly improves the shear performance of concrete slabs and effectively restricts crushing and splitting. Compared with increasing the fiber diameter, increasing the fiber length can enhance the ultimate bearing capacity more effectively, and longer fibers have a more remarkable effect on restricting cracks. The diameter, length of the through reinforcement and the number of openings in the PBL shear connector have a relatively minor impact on the ultimate bearing capacity. Excessive openings will weaken the bearing capacity of the PBL shear connectors. Increasing the thickness of the PBL slab and the steel fiber reinforced concrete tenons have a better synergistic effect, which can significantly improve the shear performance of the specimens.

Background The nucleotide oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) contributes to pain hypersensitivity in multiple neuropathic pain models, but the function of the NLRP3 in diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) and the regulation mechanism are still largely unknown. Epigenetic regulation plays a vital role in the controlling of gene expression. Ten-eleven translocation methylcytosine dioxygenase 2 (TET2) is a DNA demethylase that contributes to transcriptional activation. TET2 is also involved in high glucose (HG)-induced pathology. Methods DNP was induced in mice via the intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) for five consecutive days and the mechanical threshold was evaluated in STZ-diabetic mice by using von Frey hairs. The expression level of the NLRP3 pathway and TET2 in DRG were determined through molecular biology experiments. The regulation of the NLRP3 pathway by TET2 was examined in in vitro and in vivo conditions. Results In the present research, we first established the DNP model and found that NLRP3 pathway was activated in DRG. The treatment of NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950 alleviated the mechanical allodynia of DNP mice. Then we revealed that in STZ-diabetic mice DRG, the genomic DNA was demethylated, and the expression of DNA demethylase TET2 was increased evidently. Using RNA-sequencing analysis, we found that the expression of Txnip , a gene that encodes a thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) which mediates NLRP3 activation, was elevated in the DRG after STZ treatment. In addition, knocking down of TET2 expression in DRG using TET2 -siRNA suppressed the mRNA expression of Txnip and subsequently inhibited the expression/activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in vitro and in vivo as well as relieved the pain sensitivity of DNP animals. Conclusion The results suggested that the upregulation of the TXNIP/NLRP3 pathway by TET2 in DRG was involved in the pain hypersensitivity of the DNP model.

To investigate the effect of steaming time (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 min) on the protein degradation and non-volatile flavor substances of swimming crab (Portunus trituberculatus), the moisture content, total nitrogen (TN), non-protein nitrogen (NPN), free amino acids (FAAs), flavor nucleotides, electronic tongue analysis, and sensory evaluation were determined. The results showed that the contents of NPN and total FAAs were the highest after crabs steamed for 10 min. Meanwhile, the AMP (adenosine monophosphate) content reached the maximum value (332.83 mg/100 g) and the taste active value (TAV) reached 6.67, which indicated that AMP contributes the most to the taste of steamed crab at 10 min. The electronic tongue distinguished the taste difference well, and the sensory score was the highest at 15 min. Combined with equivalent umami concentration (EUC) and TAV value, swimming crab (weight = 200 ± 20 g) steamed for 10–15 min tasted best.

Copy number variations (CNVs) play a vital role in regulating genes expression and tumorigenesis. We explored the copy number alterations in early-stage lung adenocarcinoma using high-throughput sequencing and nucleic acid flight mass spectrometry technology, and found that 8q22.1-22.2 is frequently amplified in lung adenocarcinoma tissues. COX6C localizes on the region and its expression is notably enhanced that driven by amplification in lung adenocarcinoma. Knockdown of COX6C significantly inhibits the cell proliferation, and induces S-G2/M cell cycle arrest, mitosis deficiency and apoptosis. Moreover, COX6C depletion causes a deficiency in mitochondrial fusion, and impairment of oxidative phosphorylation. Mechanistically, COX6C-induced mitochondrial deficiency stimulates ROS accumulation and activates AMPK pathway, then leading to abnormality in spindle formation and chromosome segregation, activating spindle assemble checkpoint, causing mitotic arrest, and ultimately inducing cell apoptosis. Collectively, we suggested that copy amplification-mediated COX6C upregulation might serves as a prospective biomarker for prognosis and targeting therapy in patients with lung adenocarcinoma.

Background The role of Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori ) infection in the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains controversial. The exact relationship requires further investigation. This study aimed to determine the association between them in China. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 71,633 participants who underwent physical examinations. 13 C urea breath test ( 13 C-UBT) was conducted to detect H. pylori infection, and ultrasonography was used to detect NAFLD. Results Body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), and triglyceride (TG) levels were higher in participants with H. pylori infection than in those without H. pylori infection. While the levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) for participants with H. pylori infection was lower than without H. pylori infection ( P  < 0.001). After adjusting for confounding factors (age, sex, BMI, BP, Scr, BUN, LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides, FBG and HbA1c), multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that there was no independent relationship between them ( P  = 0.574). Subgroup analysis (stratified by sex, age, BMI, hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia) showed that H. pylori infection was not included as an independent risk factor for NAFLD. Moreover, the different grades of NAFLD were not related to H. pylori infection. Conclusions These results indicate that H. pylori infection is not an independent risk factor for NAFLD in China.