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The recent development of accurate and efficient semilocal density functionals on the third rung of Jacob's ladder of density functional theory, such as the revised regularized strongly constrained and appropriately normed (r2SCAN) density functional, could enable rapid and highly reliable prediction of the elasticity and temperature dependence of thermophysical parameters of refractory elements and their intermetallic compounds using the quasi-harmonic approximation (QHA). Here, we present a comparative evaluation of equilibrium cell volumes, cohesive energy, mechanical moduli, and thermophysical properties (Debye temperature and thermal expansion coefficient) for 22 transition metals using semilocal density functionals, including the local density approximation (LDA), Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof (PBE) and PBEsol generalized gradient approximations (GGAs), and the r2SCAN meta-GGA. PBEsol and r2SCAN deliver the same level of accuracies for structural, mechanical, and thermophysical properties. PBE and r2SCAN perform better than LDA and PBEsol for calculating cohesive energies of transition metals. Among the tested density functionals, r2SCAN provides an overall well-balanced performance for reliably computing cell volumes, cohesive energies, mechanical properties, and thermophysical properties of various 3d, 4d, and 5d transition metals using QHA. Therefore, we recommend that r2SCAN could be employed as a workhorse method to evaluate thermophysical properties of transition metal compounds and alloys in high throughput workflows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two polyoxometalate-based hybrids, [M(btap)3(H2O)3(HPW12O40)]·xH2O (M-PW, M = Co/Mn, btap = 3,5-bis(1′,2′,4′-triazol-1′-yl)pyridine) were synthesized. Co-PW exhibited higher activity and selectivity towards olefin epoxidation than Mn-PW due to the synergistic effect between CoII and PW, in which the Co centers activate O2 to ˙O2− and further binding of free H+ from PW affords the active peroxyacid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the integration of X‐ray‐induced photochromism and photoluminescence in a single material, offering innovative multi‐mode applications in optical memory, anti‐counterfeiting, and X‐ray detection and imaging. The photochromic phosphor LiAlSi2O6:Sm3+ is synthesized, which undergoes a color change from white to dark green under bright field conditions and displays orange photoluminescence in dark field conditions after X‐ray exposure due to defect formation. The phosphor shows accelerated bleaching and recovery under 473 nm laser stimulation. The distinct X‐ray‐induced color contrast and luminescence intensity modification in LiAlSi2O6:Sm3+ highlight its potential in advanced luminescent material design. Moreover, a LiAlSi2O6:Sm3+‐based flexible film demonstrates “dual‐mode” 3D X‐ray imaging and detection capabilities, paving the way for future X‐ray detecting and imaging device research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, studies have reported a correlation that individuals with diabetes show an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). Mulberry leaves, serving as both a traditional medicinal herb and a food source, exhibit significant hypoglycemic and antioxidative properties. The flavonoid compounds in mulberry leaf offer therapeutic effects for relieving diabetic symptoms and providing neuroprotection. However, the mechanisms of this effect have not been fully elucidated. This investigation aimed to investigate the combined effects of specific mulberry leaf flavonoids (kaempferol, quercetin, rhamnocitrin, tetramethoxyluteolin, and norartocarpetin) on both type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and AD. Additionally, the role of the gut microbiota in these two diseases' treatment was studied. Using network pharmacology, we investigated the potential mechanisms of flavonoids in mulberry leaves, combined with gut microbiota, in combating AD and T2DM. In addition, we identified protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) as a key target for kaempferol in these two diseases. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations showed that kaempferol has the potential to inhibit PTP1B for indirect treatment of AD, which was proven by measuring the IC50 of kaempferol (279.23 μM). The cell experiment also confirmed the dose-dependent effect of kaempferol on the phosphorylation of total cellular protein in HepG2 cells. This research supports the concept of food–medicine homology and broadens the range of medical treatments for diabetes and AD, highlighting the prospect of integrating traditional herbal remedies with modern medical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pineal region tumor is a rare intracranial tumor, and its specific location leads to its own characteristics. This study aimed to provide some insight for medical practice in the care of pineal region tumors. We investigated the key epidemiological characteristics and survival prognosis of pineal tumors based on the epidemiological data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Data of pineal region tumor patients from 1975 to 2019 were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. The data were divided into 3 pathologic groups: germ cell tumors, pineal parenchymal tumors, and other. The patients' overall survival (OS) was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. The prognostic effects of the patient characteristics on OS were explored using the Cox proportional hazard model. The analysis results are presented as tabular data, Kaplan-Meier plots, forest plots, and nomograms. A calibration curve was used to verify the nomograms. All analyses were performed for all patients overall and stratified by pathological group using SPSS and R language. Based on the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 628 patients were included in this study, of whom 440 (70.1%) were male and 188 (29.9%) were female. Most patients were aged 0–19 years. The pathological type was germinoma for 225 patients (35.8%). Age, surgery, behavioral code, and pathology were significant factors for OS. A calibration curve was used to verify that the nomograms had a good prediction effect. An intuitive nomogram was developed and verified and can predict the prognosis of patients with pineal tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIM: To investigate the effect of conditioned medium from hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-treated rat cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) on gap junction between cardiomyocytes and determine whether its mechanism is related to matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) activity. METHODS: (1) H9c2 cells were randomly divided into five groups: control group, normal group, ARP-100 group, H/R group, and H/R+ARP-100 group. Scrape loading/dye transfer assay was used to assess the gap junction function. Western blot was used to detect the expression and phosphorylation levels of Cx43. Gelatin zymography assay was performed to measure MMP2 activity. (2) SD rats were randomly divided into control group, ARP-100 group, ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) group, and I/R+ARP-100 group, with 8 rats in each group. Micro-electrode array technology was used to record the type and duration of arrhythmia. Immunohistochemistry experiment was performed to assess expression levels and distribution of Cx43 in myocardial tissues. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the H/R group showed decreased protein expression of Cx43 (P<0. 01), narrowed distance of lucifer yellow diffusion (P<0. 01), and increased MMP2 activity (P<0. 01). ARP-100 attenuated H/R-induced gap junction dysfunction (P<0. 05). The arrhythmia score was also reduced after perfusion with ARP-100 (P<0. 01). CONCLUSION: H/R-treated rat CFs can inhibit gap junction between cardiomyocytes, and its mechanism may involve increased MMP2 activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the of Qufeng Tongqiao Prescription in the treatment of cerebral ischemia–reperfusion (CIR) and associated molecular network mechanism. Venny diagram, gene ontology (GO) and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) analysis, protein–protein interaction (PPI), hub genes mining, molecular docking, combined with animal experiments and Nissl stain were performed to determine the molecular network mechanism of Qufeng Tongqiao Prescription for CIR treatment. Fifty three intersecting genes between Qufeng Tongqiao Prescription and cerebral ischemia reperfusion were acquired from Venny analysis. GO analysis showed that the main biological process (BP) was response to lipopolysaccharide, and the main cell localization (CC) process was membrane raft, while the most important molecular function (MF) process is Cytokine receptor binding. Moreover, AGE‐RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications is the most important signaling pathway in KEGG pathway. Through molecular docking, it was found that Astragalus membranaceus was docked with MAPK14, IL4, FOS, IL6, and JUN; pueraria membranaceus was directly docked with JUN and IL4; Acorus acorus was linked to JUN and MAPK14; Ganoderma ganoderma and human were involved in JUN docking, and Ligusticum chuanqi and pueraria could not be docked with MAPK14, respectively. The results of animal experiments showed that Qufeng Tongqiao Prescription significantly improved behavioral performance and reduced the number of neuronal deaths in rats subjected to CIR, and molecular mechanisms are associated with FOS, IL‐6, IL4, JUN, and MAPK14, of there, IL‐6, as a vital candidator, which has been confirmed by immunostaining detection. Together, Qufeng Tongqiao Prescription has positive therapeutic effect on CIR, and the underlying mechanism is involved MAPK14, FOS, IL4, and JUN network, while IL‐6 may be as a vital target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are essential for the development of excellent bifunctional electrocatalysts, which are key functions in clean energy production. The emphasis of this study lies in the rapid design and investigation of 153 MN 4 –graphene (Gra)/ MXene (M 2 NO) electrocatalysts for ORR/OER catalytic activity using machine learning (ML) and density functional theory (DFT). The DFT results indicated that CoN 4 –Gra/Ti 2 NO had both good ORR (0.37 V) and OER (0.30 V) overpotentials, while TiN 4 –Gra/M 2 NO and MN 4 –Gra/Cr 2 NO had high overpotentials. Our research further indicated orbital spin polarization and d-band centers far from the Fermi energy level, affecting the adsorption energy of oxygen-containing intermediates and thus reducing the catalytic activity. The ML results showed that the gradient boosting regression (GBR) model successfully predicted the overpotentials of the monofunctional catalysts RhN 4 –Gra/Ti 2 NO (ORR, 0.39 V) and RuN 4 –Gra/W 2 NO (OER, 0.45 V) as well as the overpotentials of the bifunctional catalyst RuN 4 –Gra/W 2 NO (ORR, 0.39 V; OER, 0.45 V). The symbolic regression (SR) algorithm was used to construct the overpotential descriptors without environmental variable features to accelerate the catalyst screening and shorten the trial-and-error costs from the source, providing a reliable theoretical basis for the experimental synthesis of MXene heterostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium Tsukamurella tyrosinosolvens P9 can improve peanut growth. In this study, a co-culture system of strain P9 and peanut was established to analyze the transcriptome of peanut roots interacting with P9 for 24 and 72 h. During the early stage of co-culturing, genes related to mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Ca2+ signal transduction, ethylene synthesis, and cell wall pectin degradation were induced, and the up-regulation of phenylpropanoid derivative, flavonoid, and isoflavone synthesis enhanced the defense response of peanut. The enhanced expression of genes associated with photosynthesis and carbon fixation, circadian rhythm regulation, indoleacetic acid (IAA) synthesis, and cytokinin decomposition promoted root growth and development. At the late stage of co-culturing, ethylene synthesis was reduced, whereas Ca2+ signal transduction, isoquinoline alkaloid synthesis, and ascorbate and aldarate metabolism were up-regulated, thereby maintaining root ROS homeostasis. Sugar decomposition and oxidative phosphorylation and nitrogen and fatty acid metabolism were induced, and peanut growth was significantly promoted. Finally, the gene expression of seedlings inoculated with strain P9 exhibited temporal differences. The results of our study, which explored transcriptional alterations of peanut root during interacting with P9, provide a basis for elucidating the growth-promoting mechanism of this bacterial strain in peanut. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Immune checkpoint inhibition is a targeted therapeutic approach in some advanced or metastatic gastric cancer (GC) patients. This review provides elaborated information on various immune therapeutic inhibitors in gastric cancer undergoing clinical trials. Gastric carcinoma, being one of the most prevalent types of solid tumors, has emerged as the third leading cause of death worldwide. The symptoms of gastric cancer (GC) are typically complex, which makes early detection challenging. Immune checkpoint inhibition has become the new standard targeted therapy for advanced or metastatic GC. It is currently being explored in various combinations, both with and without chemotherapy, across multiple therapies in clinical trials. Immunotherapy can stimulate immune responses in GC patients, leading to the destruction of cancer cells. Compared with traditional therapies, immunotherapy has shown strong effectiveness with tolerable toxicity levels. Hence, this innovative approach to the treatment of advanced GC has gained popularity. In this review, we have outlined the recent advancements in immunotherapy for advanced GC, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, cancer vaccines, vascular endothelial growth factor-A inhibitors, and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy. Our current emphasis is on examining the immunotherapies presently employed in clinical settings, addressing the existing challenges associated with these therapeutic approaches, and exploring promising strategies to overcome their limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A macrocyclic confinement‐activated green phosphorescence and two‐photon near‐infrared (NIR) fluorescence supramolecular cascade assembly is constructed by multivalent interaction based on the alkyl‐bridged triphenylamine‐vinyl pyridine salts (BTPA), cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]), β‐cyclodextrin‐grafted hyaluronic acid (HACD), and 4‐bromophenyl pyridine salt and CB[8] complex (PY/CB[8]). Taking advantage of CB[8]‐induced macrocyclic confinement and molecular folding, the fluorescence of BTPA is effectively redshifted by 30 nm from 720 to 750 nm. Subsequently, HACD, a cancer cell targeting agent, is co‐assembled with a BTPA/CB[8] supramolecular folder to form a nanoparticle, further enhancing NIR fluorescence from 750 nm up to 810 nm through cascade confinement. Upon introduction of the 2:1 complex PY/CB[8], multicomponent nanoparticles are fabricated, not only showing efficient NIR fluorescence with an increase in quantum yield from 7.21% to 22.92% but also endowing green phosphorescence emission, which is successfully applied for two‐photon cancer cell‐targeted imaging to shield background interference from fluorescent and phosphorescent resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepcidin is the master regulator of iron homeostasis. Hepcidin downregulation has been demonstrated in the brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. However, the mechanism underlying the role of hepcidin downregulation in cognitive impairment has not been elucidated. Methods: In the present study, we generated GFAP-Cre-mediated hepcidin conditional knockout mice (HampGFAP cKO) to explore the effect of hepcidin deficiency on hippocampal structure and neurocognition. Results: We found that the HampGFAP cKO mice developed AD-like brain atrophy and memory deficits. In particular, the weight of the hippocampus and the number of granule neurons in the dentate gyrus were significantly reduced. Further investigation demonstrated that the morphological change in the hippocampus of HampGFAP cKO mice was attributed to impaired neurogenesis caused by decreased proliferation of neural stem cells. Regarding the molecular mechanism, increased iron content after depletion of hepcidin followed by an elevated level of the inflammatory factor tumor necrosis factor-α accounted for the impairment of hippocampal neurogenesis in HampGFAP cKO mice. These observations were further verified in GFAP promoter-driven hepcidin knockdown mice and in Nestin-Cre-mediated hepcidin conditional knockout mice. Conclusions: The present findings demonstrated a critical role for hepcidin in hippocampal neurogenesis and validated the importance of iron and associated inflammatory cytokines as key modulators of neurodevelopment, providing insights into the potential pathogenesis of cognitive dysfunction and related treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research examines the anti‐aging potential of the flavonoid derivative of isoquercitrin known as enzymatically modified isoquercitrin (EMIQ). Initial HPLC analyses showed that EMIQ used in the study contained 1–12 glucosides and 10.7% pentahydroxyflavonoids, promising potent antioxidant properties. In subsequent in‐vitro studies with UVA‐exposed human dermal fibroblasts (HDFa), EMIQ demonstrated protective properties by reducing collagen damage. It modulated both the TGFβ/Smad pathway and the MMP1 pathway, contributing to collagen preservation. This protective effect was further confirmed using the T‐Skin™ model, a reconstructed full‐thickness human skin model, which illustrated that EMIQ could defend the physiological structures of both the epidermis and dermis against UV radiation. A 28‐day clinical trial with 30 volunteers aged 31–55 years highlighted EMIQ's effectiveness. Participants using EMIQ‐containing Essence displayed reduced facial trans‐epidermal water loss and skin roughness, alongside improved skin elasticity. This study emphasizes EMIQ's potential as an anti‐photoaging ingredient in cosmetics, warranting further research. The findings pave the way for developing innovative skincare products addressing photoaging effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Double perovskite (DP) phosphors attract extensive attention due to their potential applications in the field of optoelectronics. Photochromism‐induced luminescence modulation can extend their application fields. However, designing and preparing DP phosphors with expected photochromic and luminescent properties is still challenging. Herein, the photochromic Ba2YTaO6: Yb3+, Er3+, Co2+ DP with upconversion luminescence properties is developed. The color of the sample turns from white to pink upon 254 nm UV light irradiation, which is fast fading upon 473 nm laser illumination. The mechanism of photochromism is related to the formation of color centers, and the doping of Co2+ ions is crucial for the improvement of photochromism, which is from the increasing of traps depth, the oxygen vacancies, and the carrier concentration of the matrix caused by Co2+ doping. The upconversion luminescence of Er3+ ions can be reversibly modulated by the photochromic effect, exhibiting excellent reproducibility and high stability. The potential application of photochromic Ba2YTaO6: Yb3+, Er3+, Co2+ phosphor is demonstrated in the field of anticounterfeiting and three‐dimensional (3D) artwork. This work not only offers insight into the photochromic mechanism of DP but also presents guidance for developing other photochromic DP phosphors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficient separation of Zr(IV) ions from strong acidic and radioactive solutions is a significant challenge, especially in the context of the aqueous reprocessing of nuclear fuels. The complexity of such solutions, which are often characterized by high acidity and the presence of radioactive elements, poses formidable challenges for separation processes. Herein, several mesoporous silicas (HMS, MCM-41, KIT-6, and SiO2-70 Å) with excellent acid and radiation resistance properties were employed as sorbents to remove Zr(IV) ions from simulated high-level liquid waste. The batch experiments were designed to investigate the influence of adsorption time, HNO3 concentration, initial Zr(IV) concentration, adsorbent dosage, and temperature on the adsorption behavior of Zr(IV). The results indicate that the adsorption equilibrium time of mesoporous silica materials was approximately 8 h, and all the adsorption processes followed the pseudo-second-order kinetics equation. The isotherms of Zr(IV) adsorption by KIT-6 exhibited good agreement with the Langmuir model, while the Freundlich model could be utilized to fit the adsorption on HMS, MCM-41, and SiO2-70 Å. The adsorption capacity of MCM-41 for Zr(IV) in 3 mol/L HNO3 was 54.91 mg/g, which is three times the adsorption capacity reported for commercial silica gel (17.91 mg/g). The thermodynamic parameters indicate that the adsorption processes for zirconium are endothermic reactions. Furthermore, the mesoporous silicas exhibited a pronounced selectivity in the adsorption of Zr(IV) within a simulated high-level liquid waste containing 10 co-existing cations (3 mol/L HNO3). This suggests that mesoporous silicas have great potential for Zr(IV) removal in actual radioactive liquids with high acidity during spent fuel reprocessing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obesity significantly increases Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia risk. Understanding the link between a high body mass index (BMI) and these conditions is crucial for effective management and prevention. Objective: We aimed to estimate the burden of AD and other dementias attributed to high BMI from 1990 to 2019 based on sex, age, and socio-demographic indicators (SDI) at global, regional, and national levels. Methods: We collected data on deaths, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR), and age-standardized DALY rates (ASDR) from the 2019 Global Burden of Disease study for AD and dementia attributed to high BMI. We explored the correlation between SDI levels and ASDR. Results: In 2019, there were 198,476.2 deaths (95% UI: 32,695.4–593,366.4) and 3,159,912.4 DALYs (848,330.5–8,042,531) attributed to high BMI. Numbers of deaths, DALYs, ASMR, and ASDR increased since 1990. Females had higher deaths, ASMR, and ASDR than males. Mortality and DALYs rates increased with age. ASMR and ASDR increased across five SDI levels, with the highest rise in Low-middle SDI. High-income North America had the most deaths [30,993.9 (5,101.7–89,912.9)], while North Africa and the Middle East had the highest ASMR [4.61 (0.79–13.64)] and ASDR [72.56 (20.98–181.16)] in 2019. Conclusions: The burden of AD and other dementias attributed to high BMI increased since 1990 globally and is still heaviest in developed regions. Females accounted predominantly for the burden than males. Timely measures are needed to against high BMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stability of the internal kink (IK) mode is numerically investigated with inclusion of the anisotropic thermal transport effect and the toroidal plasma flow. It is found that anisotropic thermal transport, in combination with plasma flow, stabilizes the IK in two ways. One is direct stabilization of the mode synergistically with plasma flow. The other, indirect stabilization involves generation of a finite mode frequency in static plasmas by thermal transport, which in turn invokes wave-wave resonance damping of the mode via interaction with stable shear Alfvén waves. This second IK stabilization mechanism is further corroborated by examining the eigenmode structure, which peaks at the radial locations where the mode frequency matches that of the shear Alfvén wave. Finally, two branches of unstable IK are identified, with mode conversion occurring at certain plasma flow speed and thermal transport level. These findings provide new physics insights in the IK stability in tokamak fusion plasmas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractAs one of main culprit of seafood-associated human illness, Vibrio parahaemolyticus can readily accumulate on biotic or abiotic surfaces to form biofilms in the seafood processing environment. Biofilm formation on various surfaces can provide a protective barrier for viable bacterial cells that are resistant to most traditional bacteriostatic measures. This underscores the necessity and urgency of developing effective alternative strategies to control V. parahaemolyticus biofilms. Plants have always provided an extensive and infinite source of biologically active compounds for “green” antibiofilm agents. This review summarizes recent developments in promising multitargeted phytogenic compounds against V. parahaemolyticus biofilms. This review provides valuable insights into potential research targets that can be pursued further to identify potent natural antibiofilm agents in the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiative turbulent mixing layers (TMLs) are expected to form pervasively at the phase boundaries in multiphase astrophysical systems. This inherently small-scale structure is dynamically crucial because it directly regulates the mass, momentum, and energy exchanges between adjacent phases. Previous studies on hydrodynamic TMLs have revealed the interactions between cold and hot phases in the context of the circumgalactic medium, offering important insight into the fate of cold clouds traveling through hot galactic winds. However, the role of magnetic field has only been sparsely investigated. We perform a series of 3D magnetohydrodynamics simulations of such mixing layers in the presence of weak to modest background magnetic field. We find that due to field amplification, even relatively weak background magnetic fields can significantly reduce the surface brightness and inflow velocity of the hot gas in the mixing layer. This reduction is attributed to a combination of magnetic pressure support and direct suppression of turbulent mixing, both of which alter the phase structures. Our results are largely independent of thermal conduction and converged with resolution, offering insights on the survival of cold gas in multiphase systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The gut microbiota plays a vital role in the growth and development of chickens, while environmental and host factors can influence its composition. This study sheds light on the variations in gut microbial diversity and structural composition among native chickens from different geographical environments, as well as different breeds of broiler and laying hens, revealing the presence of distinct microbial communities. Additionally, our investigation into chicken-derived probiotics, specifically Lactobacillus agilis MH1 and Lactobacillus salivarius ZJ1, uncovered their probiotic properties, favorable genomic profiles, and their ability to alleviate enteritis in mice. These findings provide a critical theoretical foundation for the study of native chickens and offer valuable guidance for the subsequent development and formulation of chicken-derived probiotics. The gut microbiota plays a critical role in the growth, development, nutritional digestion, and overall health of chickens. Furthermore, certain probiotics isolated from poultry intestines have demonstrated the potential to enhance immune function and production performance in chickens. To investigate the differences in gut microbiota among chickens from various geographical environments and different breeds of broiler and laying hens, we conducted 16S rRNA sequencing on the fecal microbiota of 140 Chinese native chickens and ten Roman layers. In addition, we isolated and screened the potential probiotics to examine their biological characteristics, genome profiles, and functionality in animals. Our findings revealed the significant variations in gut microbiota composition and structure between Tibetan chickens (ZJ), which reside in high-altitude regions, and Meihua chickens (MH) and Xuhai chickens (XH), which inhabit low-altitude regions. Specifically, Cupriavidus and Candidatus_Bacilloplasma were identified as unique microbial communities in high and low altitudes, respectively. Notably, among regions with similar altitudes, Luning chickens (LN) exhibited the lowest α diversity, accompanied by a remarkably high relative abundance of Firmicutes and Lactobacillus. Conversely, Wugu chickens (WGs) and Yaoshan chickens (YSs) displayed similar gut microbiota profiles. Furthermore, distinctive gut microbiota patterns were observed between the different breeds of broilers and laying hens. Commercial Roman layers (LMs) exhibited significantly lower alpha diversity compared to native chickens, and broilers and laying hens predominantly harbored Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, and Proteobacteria. Of particular interest, the probiotics Lactobacillus agilis MH1 and Lactobacillus salivarius ZJ1, derived from chicken feces, exhibited favorable genomic profiles, and demonstrated anti-colitis effects and immunomodulatory functions. These findings provide a crucial theoretical foundation for native chicken research and offer insights for the future development and formulation of chicken-derived probiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reversible and repeatable control of rare earth ions doped down-shift luminescence materials induced by the external field stimulation can be applied more widely. However, there is still a challenge on reversible luminescence regulation of photochromism-induced rare earth ions doped down-shift luminescence materials by light fields stimulation. The MoO 3 : Eu3+ phosphors changed color from light green to blue due to the formation of color centers caused by the trapping of electrons by oxygen vacancy defects under near infrared irradiation at 808 nm, and recovered from blue to initial light green after heating at 500 °C, showing a reversible change in color. The down-shift luminescence intensity of MoO 3 : Eu3+ phosphors reaches the maximum quenching degree, about 87%, after 20 s irradiation by 808 nm laser, which has the characteristics of fast response and great regulation rate. Moreover, the down-shift luminescence intensity can recover to the initial intensity after heating at 500 °C for 90 s, indicating reversible regulation of photochromism-induced down-shift luminescence. The application of MoO 3 : Eu3+ phosphors as the anti-counterfeiting labels and information storage of binary encoding was designed, these results suggest that it have certain potential applications in anti-counterfeiting and optical storage field. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quantum coherence of a two‐qubit system in which each qubit is coupled to its own hierarchical environment is studied. The effect of the hierarchical environment is explored in order to improve the coherence effectively. It is discovered that the dynamics of coherence can be manipulated by the number N of the second‐layer cavities (mn$m_{n}$), the coupling strengths Ω0, Ω, κ, respectively for the qubit‐cavity (m0), nearest‐neighbor, and m0‐mn$m_{n}$ cavities. It depends also on the decay rate Γ of second‐layer cavities. Furthermore, an effective scheme for enhancing coherence is proposed by using weak measurement and weak measurement reversal. The explicit conditions of the optimal measurement strengths to improve the coherence comparatively are derived. It is seen that the final stable value of the coherence is independent of the number N of second‐layer cavities but is related to the weak measurement strength m when the coupling strength between two nearest‐neighbor cavities is taken into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) exert various effects on strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duchesne) yields. In this study, we employed an orthogonal experimental design (T1-T9) with three fertilization treatments (N, P, and K) at three levels to identify an optimal fertilization scheme for strawberry cultivation. The effects of fertilizer combinations the rhizosphere soil microbial community were also explored by using bacterial full-length 16S rRNA and fungal ITS (internal transcribed spacer) sequencing (30 samples for each analysis). The results showed that the average plant height and leaf area of the fertilized groups were 24.6% and 41.6% higher than those of the non-fertilized group (T0). After 60 d of planting, the sucrase activity in the T6 group increased by 76.67% compared to the T0 group, with phosphate fertilizer exerting a more significant impact on sucrase activity. The T6 treatment group had the highest alpha diversity index among bacterial and fungal microorganisms, and had a different microbial community structure compared with the control group. The most abundant bacterial taxa in the strawberry rhizosphere soil were Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, and Acidobacteriota, and the most abundant fungal phyla were Monoblepharomycota, Glomeromycota, and Mucoromycota. Application of the optimal combined fertilizer treatment (T6) significantly increased the abundance of Proteobacteria and altered the abundance of Gemmatimonas compared to other treatment groups. Notably, Gemmatimonas abundance positively correlated with strawberry plant height and soil N, P, and K levels. These findings indicated that the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria could be enhanced by the application of an optimal fertilizer ratio, ultimately improving strawberry agronomic traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent numerical simulations have revealed that dust clumping and planetesimal formation likely proceed in ring-like disc substructures, where dust gets trapped in weakly turbulent pressure maxima. The streaming instability has difficulty operating in such rings with external turbulence and no pressure gradient. To explore potential paths to planetesimal formation in this context, we analyse the stability of turbulent dust-trapping ring under the shearing sheet framework. We self-consistently establish the pressure maximum and the dust ring in equilibrium, the former via a balance of external forcing versus viscosity and the latter via dust drift versus turbulent diffusion. We find two types of ≳ H -scale instabilities (H being the pressure scale height), which we term the dusty Rossby wave instability (DRWI). Type I is generalized from the standard Rossby wave instability (RWI, which is stationary at the pressure maximum and dominates in relatively sharp pressure bumps. Type II is a newly identified travelling mode that requires the presence of dust. It can operate in relatively mild bumps, including many that are stable to the standard RWI, and its growth rate is largely determined by the equilibrium gas and dust density gradients. We further conduct two-fluid simulations that verify the two types of the DRWI. While Type I leads strong to dust concentration into a large gas vortex similar to the standard RWI, the dust ring is preserved in Type II, and meanwhile exhibiting additional clumping within the ring. The DRWI suggests a promising path towards formation of planetesimals/planetary embryos and azimuthally asymmetric dust structure from turbulent dust-trapping rings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the background of "carbon peaking and carbon neutrality" policy, the green and efficient wastewater treatment process has become a hotspot and has great significance for achieving carbon emission reduction. Carbonaceous functional materials stand out from all kinds of water treatment materials due to their excellent chemical stability, economic applicability, easy modification and environmental friendliness, which is expected to become a new generation of green environmental protection materials in water treatment. This review focuses on the modification principle, characteristics and application progress of carbon functional materials in the water treatment. Meanwhile, the current challenges and future development of carbonaceous functional materials was prospected, with a view to providing references for further development and application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is one of the most common work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The present study sought to identify putative causal proteins for CTS. We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to evaluate the causal association between 2859 plasma proteins (N = 35,559) and CTS (N = 1,239,680) based on the published GWAS summary statistics. Then we replicated the significant associations using an independent plasma proteome GWAS (N = 10,708). Sensitivity analyses were conducted to validate the robustness of MR results. Multivariate MR and mediation analyses were conducted to evaluate the mediation effects of body mass index (BMI), type 2 diabetes (T2D), and arm tissue composition on the association between putative causal proteins and CTS. Colocalization analysis was used to examine whether the identified proteins and CTS shared causal variant(s). Finally, we evaluated druggability of the identified proteins. Ten plasma proteins were identified as putative causal markers for CTS, including sCD14, PVR, LTOR3, CTSS, SIGIRR, IFNL3, ASPN, TM11D, ASIP, and ITIH1. Sensitivity analyses and reverse MR analysis validated the robustness of their causal effects. Arm tissue composition, BMI, and T2D may play a fully/partial mediating role in the causal relationships of ASIP, TM11D, IFNL3, PVR, and LTOR3 with CTS. The association of ASPN and sCD14 with CTS were supported by colocalization analysis. Druggability assessment demonstrated that sCD14, CTSS, TM11D, and IFNL3 were potential drug therapeutic targets. The present study identified several potential plasma proteins that were causally associated with CTS risk, providing new insights into the pathogenesis of protein-mediated CTS and offering potential targets for new therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • NaOH and KOH pre-treatment enhanced solubilisation of paunch solid waste. • Cattle and sheep paunch was compared at lignocellulosic composition level. • Paunch digestion hydrolysis rate was significantly enhanced by up to 4.4 times. • Paunch digestion methane yield was improved by 60% using alkaline pre-treatment. • First-time addressing alkaline pre-treatment using [OH−] molar concentration. Paunch is comprised of the partially digested feed contained in cattle or sheep and contributes 20–50% of organic waste produced at red meat processing facilities. Anaerobic digestion has been identified as a promising technology for paunch treatment, however treatment times can be long and when combined with the moderate degradability of paunch this results in high treatment costs that need to be improved. Pre-treatment was investigated as a strategy to improve AD of paunch, alkaline treatment (NaOH or KOH) was selected due to the high lignin content. A range of alkaline loadings (1–20 g 100gTS−1) were tested with an equivalent hydroxide molar concentration of 9–250 mM [OH−]. Alkaline pre-treatment improved both the hydrolysis rate and the overall degradability of paunch solid by up to 4.4 times and 60%, respectively. The enhanced hydrolysis rate and methane yield was correlated to changes in material composition during pre-treatment. While alkaline concentration was an important factor, there were no significant improvements at alkaline concentrations above 12 g 100gTS−1 (150 mM [OH−]). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: The effect of noncontrast CT (NCCT) on the eligibility for endovascular therapy (EVT) in an extended time window remains to be elucidated. We sought to assess the efficacy and safety of NCCT in comparison with CT perfusion (CTP) in selecting patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) for EVT 6‐24 hours after onset. Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane libraries were searched from inception to August 31, 2022, to identify all studies reporting 90‐day outcomes of EVT in patients with AIS in an extended time window. A meta‐analysis was performed for the pooled risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) using a random‐effects model. The primary outcome used to assess efficacy was good functional independence, defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of 0‐2 at 90 days. Secondary outcomes included successful reperfusion, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), and mortality at 90 days. Results: We included four nonrandomized studies with a total of 2685 patients. The outcomes of good functional independence at 90 days (RR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.88‐1.07; I2 = 0%; p =.62), successful reperfusion (RR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.93‐1.03; I2 = 50.5%; p =.11), sICH (RR = 1.11; 95% CI: 0.55‐2.21; I2 = 49.4%; p =.12), or mortality at 90 days (RR = 1.18; 95% CI: 0.99‐1.40; I2 = 0%; p =.42) did not differ significantly between the two groups. Conclusions: These findings suggest that NCCT is as effective as CTP in selecting patients for EVT in an extended time window. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Outbreaks of major infectious diseases represent a tremendous threat to people's health, safety and property, yet little is known about the competence of front‐line caregivers in such situations. Aim: To construct a model for evaluating the competency of front‐line nursing staff during major infectious disease outbreaks and to test the model's reliability and validity. Study Design: This was a cross‐sectional study that took place between November and December 2021, in Chinese hospitals. The model was constructed through literature reviews, descriptive qualitative research, the Delphi method and the analytic hierarchy process. To evaluate the model's validity and reliability, 550 front‐line nurses were selected to complete a questionnaire survey, and six experts were invited to conduct a content validity evaluation. Cronbach's α coefficient was used to test the model's reliability, while an exploratory factor analysis was used to measure the structural validity of the model. Results: The model included 57 items. The Cronbach's α coefficient of the model was 0.983, and the content validity index was 0.958. Six common factors were produced by exploratory factor analysis. The cumulative variance contribution rate was 66.718%. After discussion, the original four dimensions were maintained. Conclusion: The model for evaluating the competency of front‐line nursing staff during an outbreak of major infectious diseases has strong reliability and validity and can be used as a tool to assess the competency level of front‐line nursing staff. Relevance to clinical practice: This model can provide a useful reference for care managers to accurately evaluate, train and select caregivers during an epidemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tunnelling in urban areas should be aware of deviations from the design tunnel axis, referred to also as 'misalignment'. Significant misalignment can cause unfavourable soil deformations, threatening adjacent properties, and sustainable development of underground space. In this study, the potential of applying machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) algorithms to EPB shield posture prediction and anomaly detection was explored. A framework, including data pre-processing, development of prediction models, performance evaluation, and anomaly detection, was proposed to tackle the said issue. The principal component analysis (PCA) was introduced not only to eliminate outliers but also to isolate salient data features using the Pearson's correlation coefficient (PCC). Also, the partial dependence analysis aimed to marginalize other features and established the relationship between an individual tunnelling parameter and EPB shield position. Then the feature-based subseries were normalized for training and examining the DL-based Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and ML-based ensemble EPB shield position predictors. On the other hand, three anomaly detectors founded on three ML algorithms were developed to prevent snakelike advance. Results showed that the DL-based LSTM predictor outperformed the ML-based ensemble predictor owing to its relative insensitivity to lags of unknown duration between important events. The thrust force dominated EPB shield position. The LSTM model prevented the accuracy of EPB shield position prediction from disturbing by gravels surrounding the design tunnel axis or artificial intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uncontrolled Zn dendrites and undesirable side reactions such as Zn self‐corrosion and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) remain major challenges for the further development of aqueous Zn batteries (AZBs). In this study, macrolide antibiotics are proposed to be added to aqueous electrolyte, serving as Zn ionophores to modulate Zn2+ solvation structure, regulate Zn electrodeposition, and suppress undesirable parasitic reactions. Azithromycin (Azi), a representative macrolide antibiotic, is demonstrated to undergo bidentate coordination with Zn ions and remodel the solvation structure into [ZnAzi(H2O)4]2+. Meanwhile, the self‐corrosion and HER at the Zn anode side are significantly suppressed, evidenced quantitatively by the on‐line hydrogen production monitoring. Furthermore, the promotion of dense and uniform Zn electrodeposition by the ionophores is also confirmed. The repeated Zn plating/stripping test with 0.1 m Azi in electrolyte reaches a high cumulative capacity of 10 Ah cm−2 at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 and an area capacity of 10 mAh cm−2. Moreover, the corresponding Zn‐V2O5 pouch cell achieves stable operation for 100 cycles without bulging caused by gas evolution. Thus, the electrolyte engineering approach presents a practically viable strategy for the development of AZBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposed and evaluated an infusion active aging education (IAAE) model to help university students develop an age-friendly mind-set and the ability to empower older individuals through intergenerational learning. The IAAE model encompasses the (1) Identification of academic champions from various faculties, (2) Active infusion of cocreated intergenerational activities into discipline-specific curricula; (3) Activity implementation, and (4) Evaluation. In total, 511 students and 129 older adults participated in this study between 2018 and 2020. A mixed-method evaluation was conducted to compare the pretests and posttests results of the students in the intervention (n = 287) and comparison (n = 63) groups and to thematically analyze the data of qualitative in-depth interviews with 29 older adult participants. The results revealed that the intervention group students achieved significant improvements in aging-related knowledge, attitudes, skills, and professional interests, whereas the comparison group students achieved significant improvement only in aging-related knowledge. The older adult participants reported improvements in their understanding of young people, sense of self-worth, and generativity. The IAAE model can contribute to the growth of age-friendly practices by enriching university curricula with intergenerational interactions through a participatory and nonprescriptive approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the methodologies to design the transfer trajectories from Earth nearby to heliocentric orbits. For multiple spacecraft with the same initial condition but aiming to different phases in the heliocentric orbit, several lunar gravity assists are used to divert them into different interplanetary orbits. Firstly, based on the patched-conic approximation, a complete design process for deep-space transfer orbits was proposed for multiple spacecraft performing lunar gravity assist maneuvers. In this design process, it was assumed that each spacecraft had the same initial conditions. The periodic matching method was introduced to design the interplanetary transfer orbit, satisfying the initial and terminal constraints. An iterative method was proposed to search lunar gravity assist parameters that satisfied the hyperbolic excess velocity condition for the escape trajectories. Furthermore, a semi-analytical correction method was proposed to further approximate the precise transfer trajectory. This correction method was found to have a reduced time cost and a better error convergence compared with conventional correction methods. • Design of deep-space transfer trajectories for multiple spacecraft with identical initial conditions. • Periodic matching analysis of heliocentric orbit design. • Iterative method for searching lunar gravity assist parameters for spacecraft. • High performance recorded for the proposed semi-analytical correction method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the primary chronic liver disease worldwide, mainly manifested by hepatic steatosis. Hepatic lipids may be derived from dietary intake, plasma free fatty acid (FFA) uptake, or hepatic de novo lipogenesis (DNL). Currently, cellular and animal models of hepatocellular steatosis are widely used to study the pathogenesis of NAFLD and to investigate therapeutic agents. However, whether there are differences between the in vivo and in vitro models of the mechanisms that cause lipid accumulation has not been reported. We used OA/PA-induced NCTC 1469 cells and high-fat-diet-fed C57BL/6J mice to simulate a hepatocyte steatosis model of NAFLD and to detect indicators related to FFA uptake and DNL. In addition, when serological indicators were analysed in the mouse model, it was found that serum FASN levels decreased. The results revealed that, in the cellular model, indicators related to DNL were decreased, FASN enzyme activity was unchanged, and indicators related to FFA uptake were increased, including the high expression of CD36; while, in the animal model, indicators related to both FFA uptake and de novo synthesis were increased, including the high expression of CD36 and the increased protein levels of FASN with enhanced enzyme activity. In addition, after an analysis of the serological indicators in the mouse model, it was found that the serum levels of FASN were reduced. In conclusion, the OA/PA-induced cellular model can be used to study the mechanism of FFA uptake, whereas the high-fat-diet-induced mouse model can be used to study the mechanism of FFA uptake and DNL. Combined treatment with CD36 and FASN may be more effective against NAFLD. FASN in the serum can be used as one of the indicators for the clinical diagnosis of NAFLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most sheet facial masks for skincare are made of nonwovens and loaded with liquid active ingredients, which are usually opaque and require additives for long‐term preservation. Herein, a Transparent Additive‐Free Fibrous (TAFF) facial mask is reported for skin moisturizing. The TAFF facial mask consists of a bilayer fibrous membrane. The inner layer is fabricated by electrospinning functional components of gelatin (GE) and hyaluronic acid (HA) into a solid fibrous membrane to get rid of additives, the outer layer is an ultrathin PA6 fibrous membrane that is highly transparent, especially after absorbing water. The results indicate that the GE‐HA membrane can quickly absorb water and become a transparent hydrogel film. By employing the hydrophobic PA6 membrane as the outer layer, directional water transport is achieved, which enables TAFF facial mask with excellent skin moisturizing effect. The skin moisture content is up to 84% ± 7% after placing the TAFF facial mask on the skin for 10 min. In addition, the relative transparency of the TAFF facial mask on the skin reaches 97.0% ± 1.9% when ultrathin PA6 membrane is used as the outer layer. The design of the transparent additive‐free facial mask may serve as a guideline for developing new functional facial masks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a new magnetohydrodynamic-particle-in-cell (MHD-PIC) code integrated into the athena++ framework. It treats energetic particles as in conventional PIC codes, while the rest of thermal plasmas are treated as background fluid described by MHD, thus primarily targeting at multiscale astrophysical problems involving the kinetic physics of the cosmic rays (CRs). The code is optimized towards efficient vectorization in interpolation and particle deposits, with excellent parallel scaling. The code is also compatible with static/adaptive mesh refinement, with dynamic load balancing to further enhance multiscale simulations. In addition, we have implemented a compressing/expanding box framework that allows adiabatic driving of CR pressure anisotropy, as well as the δ f method that can dramatically reduce Poisson noise in problems where distribution function f is only expected to slightly deviate from the background. The code performance is demonstrated over a series of benchmark test problems, including particle acceleration in non-relativistic parallel shocks. In particular, we reproduce the linear growth of the CR gyro-resonant (streaming and pressure anisotropy) instabilities, under both the periodic and expanding/compressing box settings. We anticipate the code to open up the avenue for a wide range of astrophysical and plasma physics applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the application of mind mapping in the nursing care of neurology patients during the COVID-19 epidemic. Mind mapping was used to streamline and systematize all the links involved in the care process, from admission to discharge, giving nurses increased clarity in accurately implementing quality and safety measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalysis is an important technique for synthetic transformations. However, little attention has been paid to light‐driven synergistic redox reactions for directed synthesis. Herein, the authors report tunable oxidation of benzyl to phenylcarbinol with the modest yield (47%) in 5 h via singlet oxygen (1O2) and proton‐coupled electron transfer (PCET) over the photocatalyst Zn0.5Cd0.5S (ZCS)/graphene oxide (GO) under exceptionally mild conditions. Theoretical calculations indicate that the presence of S vacancies on the surface of ZCS/GO photocatalyst is crucial for the adsorption and activation of O2, successively generating the superoxide radical (•O2−) and 1O2, attributing to the regulation of local electron density on the surface of ZCS/GO and photogenerated holes (h+). Meanwhile, accelerated transfer of photogenerated electrons (e−) to GO caused by the π–π stacking effect is conducive to the subsequent aldehyde hydrogenation to benzyl alcohol rather than non‐selective oxidation of aldehyde to carboxylic acid. Anisotropic charge transport driven by the built‐in electric field can further promote the separation of e− and h+ for multistep reactions. Promisingly, one‐pot photocatalytic conversion of p‐xylene to 4‐methylbenzyl alcohol is beneficial for reducing the harmful effects of aromatics on human health. Furthermore, this study provides novel insights into the design of photocatalysts for cascade reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although lithium-ion battery (LIB) technology has prevailed for years, the growing pressure and increased cost of lithium sources urge the rapid development of other promising energy storage devices. As a low-cost alternative, sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) with similar properties of electrochemical reaction have caught researchers' attention. Nevertheless, great challenges of inferior reversible capacity and poor lifespan induced by the bigger ionic radius of sodium ions still exist. To solve these problems, improvements to anode materials prove to be an effective way. Herein, the latest research on promising anodes in SIBs is summarized, and the further prospects are also illustrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New Findings: What is the central question of this study?Is there a risk of developing diabetes associated with statin treatment? What is the underlying mechanism of the increased incidence rate of new‐onset diabetes in patients treated with rosuvastatin?What is the main finding and its importance?Rosuvastatin therapy reduced intraperitoneal glucose tolerance and changed the catabolism of branched‐chain amino acid (BCAAs) in white adipose tissue and skeletal muscle. Protein phosphatase 2Cm knockdown completely abolished the effects of insulin and rosuvastatin on glucose absorption. This study provides mechanistic support for recent clinical data on rosuvastatin‐related new‐onset diabetes and underscores the logic for intervening in BCAA catabolism to prevent the harmful effects of rosuvastatin. Accumulating evidence indicates that patients treated with rosuvastatin have an increased risk of developing new‐onset diabetes. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we administered rosuvastatin (10 mg/kg body weight) to male C57BL/6J mice for 12 weeks and found that oral rosuvastatin dramatically reduced intraperitoneal glucose tolerance. Rosuvastatin‐treated mice showed considerably higher serum levels of branched‐chain amino acids (BCAAs) than control mice. They also showed dramatically altered expression of BCAA catabolism‐related enzymes in white adipose tissue and skeletal muscle, including downregulated mRNA expression of BCAT2 and protein phosphatase 2Cm (PP2Cm) and upregulated mRNA expression of branched‐chain ketoacid dehydrogenase kinase (BCKDK). The levels of BCKD in the skeletal muscle were reduced in rosuvastatin‐treated mice, which was associated with lower PP2Cm protein levels and increased BCKDK levels. We also investigated the effects of rosuvastatin and insulin administration on glucose metabolism and BCAA catabolism in C2C12 myoblasts. We observed that incubation with insulin enhanced glucose uptake and facilitated BCAA catabolism in C2C12 cells, which was accompanied by elevated Akt and glycogen synthase kinase 3 β (GSK3β) phosphorylation. These effects of insulin were prevented by co‐incubation of the cells with 25 μM rosuvastatin. Moreover, the effects of insulin and rosuvastatin administration on glucose uptake and Akt and GSK3β signaling in C2C12 cells were abolished when PP2Cm was knocked down. Although the relevance of these data, obtained with high doses of rosuvastatin in mice, to therapeutic doses in humans remains to be elucidated, this study highlights a potential mechanism for the diabetogenic effects of rosuvastatin, and suggests that BCAA catabolism could be a pharmacological target for preventing the adverse effects of rosuvastatin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral hygiene has been suspected to contribute to the aetiology of head and neck cancer (HNC). Based on the meta-analysis, we evaluated the impact of oral hygiene on head and neck cancer (HNC) and its survival. Relevant case-control and cohort studies reporting survival data, oral hygiene data were searched via PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases. The odds ratios (ORs), hazard ratios (HRs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used. Subgroup analysis was performed. Oral hygiene was associated with HNC. Tooth brushing ≥2 a day, dental floss use, denture wearing, caries ≥3, and dental visit ≥1 reduced the risk of oral cavity cancer while mouth wash use, missing teeth >5, gum bleeding, and periodontal disease increased the risk of oral cavity cancer. For oropharynx cancer, tooth brushing ≥2 and caries ≥3 were associated with reduced risk of it. Tooth brushing ≥2 and dental visits ≥1 decreased the risk of pharynx cancer risk and larynx cancer risk, however, missing teeth >5 increased both of them. Oral hygiene was associated with HNC and its sub sites. Oral hygiene should be strengthened, a dental floss use and dentist's visits can be recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online Judge (OJ) is an important aid for programming learning that can help students evaluate learning effects in real-time, while teachers can adjust practice tasks in time according to the records of the tool. With these advantages, OJ shows great value for promoting teaching and learning in programming. The existing OJ system usually only provides information such as problem status list and recent rank list. However, it is unable to provide teachers with more fine-grained analysis information, such as the distribution of students' incorrect responses and level of knowledge mastery. And it also cannot provide students with effective comparative information on their learning status. This research developed a visual learning analytics dashboard named VisOJ for the OJ system, which includes two types of user interfaces: teacher and student. The teacher interface presents students' learning status and ranking trends, which help teachers monitor and give feedback on their learning activities. The student interface provides views such as error type analysis and evaluation, which promote students' self-reflection and self-regulation. Preliminary case studies and expert interviews prove the usability of the dashboard. In the end, we summarize our main work and suggest future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a notorious food-borne pathogen, Staphylococcus aureus can readily cause diseases in humans via contaminated food. Biofilm formation on various surfaces can increase the capacity of viable S. aureus cells for self-protection due to the stubborn structure of the biofilm matrix. Increased disease risk and economic losses caused by biofilm contamination in the food industry necessitate the urgent development of effective strategies for the inhibition and removal of S. aureus biofilms. Natural products have been extensively used as important sources of "eco-friendly" antibiofilm agents to avoid the side effects of conventional strategies on human health and the environment. This review discusses biofilm formation of S. aureus in food industries and focuses on providing an overview of potential promising target-oriented natural products and their mechanisms of S. aureus biofilm inhibition or removal. Hoping to provide valuable information of attractive research targets or potential undeveloped targets to screen potent natural anti-biofilm agents in food industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fish-borne zoonotic clonorchiasis, caused by Clonorchis sinensis, is an emerging public health problem in several countries with more than 15 million people infected globally. However, a lack of accurate point-of-care (POC) diagnostic tests in resource-limited areas is still a critical barrier to effective treatment and control of clonorchiasis. The development of the recombinase polymerase amplification(RPA) assay, a POC diagnostic test based on the amplification of pathogen DNA, has provided a new, simple and inexpensive tool for disease detection with high sensitivity and specificity. Methods: A novel RPA method was developed based on specific primers and probes, and combined with the dipstick, to allow for the rapid and intuitive detection of C. sinensis through the amplification of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COX1) gene. The lower limit of detection for the combined RPA/lateral flow dipstick (RPA-LFD) assay was evaluated using dilutions of the target DNA sequence. Cross-reactivity was evaluated using genomic DNA from 10 additional control parasites. Forty human clinical stool samples were tested to verify its performance. Results: The evaluated primers designed from the C. sinensisCOX1 region can be used to detect adult worms, metacercariae, and eggs at 39 °C within 20 min, and the results can be visually observed using the LFD. The detection limit of pathogen genomic DNA was as low as 10 fg, and the number of metacercaria(e) in fish and egg(s) in faeces were both as low as one. This improved the sensitivity of low-infection detection tremendously. The test is species-specific, and no other related control parasites were detected. In human stool samples with eggs per gram (EPG) > 50, the RPA-LFD assay was performed consistent with conventional Kato-Katz (KK) and PCR methods. Conclusion: The established RPA-LFD assay provides a powerful tool for the diagnosis and epidemiological survey of C. sinensis from human and animal samples, and has important implications for the effective control of clonorchiasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetlands are the most biologically diverse ecosystems on Earth. The isolation of Streptomyces strains from wetlands is helpful to study their diversity and functions in such habitats. In this study, six strains of Streptomyces were isolated from the rhizosphere soil of three plant species in the Huaxi Wetland at Guiyang and were identified as Streptomyces galilaeus, S. avidinii, S. albogriseolus, S. albidoflavus, S. spororaveus, and S. cellulosae, respectively. The six strains all solubilized phosphate, fixed nitrogen, and produced ACC deaminase and siderophores, and four strains also secreted indole-3-acetic acid. The six strains had the ability to resist to certain degrees of salinity, drought, and acidic/alkaline pH stress. In addition, the S. avidinii WL3 and S. cellulosae WL9 strains significantly promoted seed germination of mung bean, pepper, and cucumber, especially the WL3 strain. A pot experiment further showed that WL3 significantly promoted the growth of cucumber seedlings. Thus, strains of six species of Streptomyces with multiple plant growth-promoting characteristics were isolated from the wetland. These results lay a foundation for their potential use as microbial agents for seed-coating treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small‐leaved Kuding tea (SLKDT) obtained from Ligustrum robustum is a traditional tea substitute in southern China and has a range of physiological effects. However, the changes in its phytochemical composition after various heat treatments are not reported yet. Thus, the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activities of fresh leaves of SLKDT (LrF1) and SLKDT after high‐temperature wet‐heat treatment (LrF2) and wet‐ and dry‐heat treatments (LrF3) were assessed using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, and 2,2′‐azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonate (ABTS) and 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities and lipid peroxidation inhibition activity of LrF1 and LrF3 were investigated. The results indicated that the phytochemical composition of LrF1, LrF2, and LrF3 was significantly different. Overall, 258 and 83 differential constituents, respectively, were obtained in LrF1 versus LrF2 and LrF2 versus LrF3. The differential constituents mainly included amino acids and their derivatives, nucleosides, flavonoids, terpenoids, simple phenylpropanoids, and coumarins. After heat treatment, SLKDT exhibited obvious changes in sensory characteristics and physiological properties, which may be related to the changes in the levels of amino acids, linalool, beta‐geraniol, myricetin, naringin, fraxetin, and isoacteoside. Moreover, the antioxidant activities significantly changed after heat treatment of SLKDT. Overall, our study demonstrated that heat treatment can alter the phytochemical composition of SLKDT, thus affecting its sensory properties and physiological properties. Practical Application: This study preliminarily assessed the changes in the composition of small‐leaved Kuding tea (SLKDT) after various heat treatments and revealed that the composition of SLKDT tea can be adjusted by various heat and temperature treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial photosynthesis is promising to convert solar energy and CO2 into valuable chemicals, and to alleviate the problems of the greenhouse effect and the climate change crisis. Here, we fabricated a novel photocatalyst by directly growing Bi2MoO6 nanosheets on three-dimensional (3D) N,O-doped carbon (NO-C). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) show that the designed photocatalyst ensured the close contact between Bi2MoO6 and NO-C, and reduced the stacking of the NO-C layers to provide abundant channels for the diffusion of CO2, while NO-C can allow for fast electron transfer. The charge transfer in this composite was determined to follow a step-scheme mechanism, which not only facilitates the separation of charge carriers but also retains a strong redox capability. Benefiting from this unique 3D structure and the synergistic effect, BMO/NO-C showed excellent performance in photocatalytic CO2 reductions. The yields of the best BMO/NO-C catalysts for CH4 and CO were 9.14 and 14.49 μmol g−1 h−1, respectively. This work provides new insights into constructing step-scheme photocatalytic systems with the 3D nanostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the small hydrated ionic radius and light molar mass of ammonium ions, aqueous ammonium ion batteries attract much attention, providing high security, environmental friendliness and low cost. However, the lack of suitable electrode materials with high specific capacity is a big challenge for practical application. Therefore, in view of this problem, we fabricated an anode applying a MoS2 material with a ball-flower morphology anchored to MXene nanoflakes, and it shows excellent rate capability in a novel aqueous ammonium ion battery. The corresponding charge capacities of composite electrodes are 279.2, 204.4, 173.2, 118.7, and 80.5 mA h g−1 at 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 mA g−1, respectively. Meanwhile, polyvanadate was selected as a cathode material for a full aqueous ammonium ion battery, and interestingly it was discovered that the size of this material decreases with increasing synthesis temperature. The discharge capacities of NH4V4O10 electrodes fabricated at 140 °C, 160 °C, and 180 °C at 50 mA g−1 are 88.6, 125.1 and 155.5 mA h g−1, respectively. Furthermore, we also explore the corresponding electrochemical mechanism using XRD and XPS. A full aqueous ammonium ion battery based on both electrodes shows superior ammonium ion storage properties and provides new ideas for the development of this strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional lightning detection and location networks use the time of arrival (TOA) technique to locate lightning events with a single time stamp. This contribution introduces a simulation study to lay the foundation for new lightning location concepts. Here, a novel interferometric method is studied which expands the data use and maps lightning events into an area by using coherency. The amplitude waveform bank, which consists of averaged waveforms classified by their propagation distances, is first used to test interferometric methods. Subsequently, the study is extended to individual lightning event waveforms. Both amplitude and phase coherency of the analytic signal are used here to further develop the interferometric method. To determine a single location for the lightning event and avoid interference between the ground wave and the first skywave, two solutions are proposed: (1) use a small receiver network and (2) apply an impulse response function to the recorded waveforms, which uses an impulse to represent the lightning occurrence. Both methods effectively remove the first skywave interference. This study potentially helps to identify the lightning ground wave without interference from skywaves with a long-range low frequency (LF) network. It is planned to expand the simulation work with data reflecting a variety of ionospheric and geographic scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remediation of mercury (Hg)-contaminated soil by mycorrhizal technology has drawn increasing attention because of its environmental friendliness. However, the lack of systematic investigations on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) community composition in Hg-polluted soil is an obstacle for AMF biotechnological applications. In this study, the AMF communities within rhizosphere soils from seven sites from three typical Hg mining areas were sequenced using an Illumina MiSeq platform. A total of 297 AMF operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were detected in the Hg mining area, of which Glomeraceae was the dominant family (66.96%, 175 OTUs). AMF diversity was significantly associated with soil total Hg content and water content in the Hg mining area. Soil total Hg showed a negative correlation with AMF richness and diversity. In addition, the soil properties including total nitrogen, available nitrogen, total potassium, total phosphorus, available phosphorus, and pH also affected AMF diversity. Paraglomeraceae was found to be negatively correlated to Hg stress. The wide distribution of Glomeraceae in Hg-contaminated soil makes it a potential candidate for mycorrhizal remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]