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Massive irrigation across eastern China (EC) could reduce extreme heat by altering energy and water budgets. However, the irrigation effect on increasing humidity has often been missed, especially in humid regions, leaving its effect and mechanism on extreme humid heat (EHH) poorly characterized. We analyzed assemblies of observations and performed regional simulations with more detailed irrigation scheme to explore the irrigation impacts and potential mechanisms on EHH. We find that irrigation in EC, despite having a cooling effect of about 0.2–0.6° ${}^{\circ}$C, leads to an increase of about 0.4–0.8° ${}^{\circ}$C in EHH, with a more intense impact on the Middle‐Lower Yangtze Plain (MLYP) by 0.9° ${}^{\circ}$C. Cooling effect induced by increased latent heat fluxes through irrigation contributes to air deposition, which lowers boundary layer height, raises near‐surface moist enthalpy, and ultimately exacerbates the EHH. Results mechanistically emphasized irrigation impacts on EHH and highlighted the necessity of improving irrigation modeling reality. Plain Language Summary: Eastern China (EC) distributes the North China Plain (NCP, semi‐arid climate) and MLYP (humid climate), the first and third largest irrigated areas of China. Large‐scale irrigation mitigates extreme dry heat (EDH) while moistening surface air, which is more dangerous to humans with EDH and high humidity combined. Recently, the advantages of irrigation on summer EDH have been widely explored, whereas the influence of irrigation on compound extreme humid heat (EHH) remains unclear. Hence, we studied the impacts of irrigation on EDH and EHH in EC and its potential driving mechanisms based on in situ observations and simulations of WRF‐Noah model coupled with a subgrid demand‐driven irrigation scheme. The comprehensive analysis supports that although irrigation reduces temperature, it raises the integrated measure of temperature and humidity, exacerbating deadly heat stress. The decline in the height of planetary boundary layer induced by the irrigation cooling effect could have played an important role. We argue that heat wave mitigation measures in MLYP and other regions with dominantly moist climates that ignore the moistening power of irrigation, overestimate irrigation's advantages for EDH but underestimate the risks of tens of millions of outdoor workers in the region experiencing compound EHH. Key Points: Effects of irrigation on summer extreme dry and humid heat stress in eastern China are investigated through observations and simulationsIrrigation decreases summer dry‐bulb temperatures but increases heat index and wet‐bulb temperatures, especially in the Middle‐Lower Yangtze Plain.Reduction in planetary boundary layer height induced by cooling effects of irrigation could contribute to deteriorating humid heat extremes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although breakthroughs have been achieved in gastric cancer (GC) therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting programmed death-1 (PD-1) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), the acquisition of high response rate remains a huge challenge for clinicians. It is imperative to identify novel biomarkers for predicting response to immunotherapy and explore alternative therapeutic strategy for GC. Methods: The transcriptomic profiles and clinical information of GC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) database was used to screen differentially expressed lncRNAs between the tumor specimens and the paracancerous tissues. The TargetScan, miRDB and miRcode database were then utilized to construct competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks and identify pivotal lncRNAs. An independent dataset from GEO (GSE70880) and 23 pairs of GC specimens of our cohort were subsequently performed for external validity. The relationship between clinical variables and gene expression were evaluated by Kruskal–wallis test and Wilcoxon signed-rank. The prognostic value of the candidate genes was assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression models. CIBERSORT and Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were used to determine immune cell infiltration. Gastric adenocarcinoma AGS cells and human embryonic kidney 293T (HEK293T) cells with knockdown of LINC01094 were generated by siRNA transfection, followed by detecting the alteration of the target miRNA and PD-L1/PD-L2 by RT-qPCR. Besides, the interaction between lncRNA and the miRNA–PD-L1/PD-L2 axis were verified by dual luciferase reporter assay. Results: Twenty-two intersecting lncRNAs were identified to be PD-L1/PD-L2-related lncRNAs and LINC01094–miR-17-5p–PD-L1/PD-L2 was constructed as a potential ceRNA network. LINC01094 was increased in tumor specimens than adjacent normal samples and was positively associated with advanced tumor stages and EBV and MSI status. Furthermore, LINC01094 expression was an independent risk factor for poor overall survival (OS) in GC patients. CD8+ T cell exhaustion-related genes were enriched in high-LINC01094 tissues and high-PD-L2 group. A strong positive association of LINC01094 expression was established with M2 macrophages, IL-10+ TAM, as well as PD-L1 and PD-L2 levels, therefore a LINC01094–miR-17-5p–IL-10 network was proposed in macrophages. Using the exoRBase database, LINC01094 was assumed in blood exosomes of GC patients The results of knockdown experiments and luciferase reporter assays revealed that LINC01094 interacted with miR-17-5p and served as a miRNA sponge to regulate the expression of PD-L1 and PD-L2. Conclusion: LINC01094 dually regulates the expression of PD-L1 and PD-L2 and shapes the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment via sponging miR-17-5p. LINC01094 may serve as a potential prognostic predictor and therapeutic target in GC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anxiety and depressive disorders, characterized by high incidence and functional impairments, are emotional disorders with shared etiological and maintenance mechanisms. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a promising approach for the transdiagnostic treatment of emotional disorders. Developing a brief DBT intervention can facilitate the adoption of evidence-based therapy. Methods: This protocol is for a 3-year single-blinded, two-arm randomized controlled trial. Individuals with depressive or anxiety disorder will be randomly allocated to a modified DBT–informed transdiagnostic psychotherapy group or a treatment-as-usual group. The intervention group will receive DBT individual therapy for 15 weeks. Power analyses revealed that the cohort should include a minimum of 250 participants. Preintervention, postintervention, and follow-up (after 3 months) assessments will be conducted. Primary outcomes will be severities of depression and anxiety rated by blind assessors. Intent-to-treat and per-protocol analyses will be conducted using the hierarchical linear model. Effect sizes will be estimated using Cohen's d. Result: To the best of our knowledge, the proposed study will be the first randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of a modified DBT intervention in managing transdiagnostic emotional disorders in Chinese individuals. Conclusion: This intervention is expected to improve clinical outcomes, daily functioning, and quality of life. The trial will enrich the empirical evidence for transdiagnostic interventions, facilitating the implementation of evidence-based therapy and reducing the high prevalence and challenges (e.g., disability) of emotional disorders in the Chinese population. Trial registration number: NCT05989451 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Clinically, the therapeutic strategy of PD could only alleviate the symptoms. Nursing plays a crucial role in providing patient education, symptom management, and psychosocial support. This study aims to analyze the current state and prospects of research in the field of Parkinson's disease (PD) and its associated nursing care through bibliometric methods to explore the trends that May guide its future development. Methods: Literature related to Parkinson's disease and nursing care was systematically searched by the Web of Science database from 1991 to 2023. Quantitative analysis of cooperative networks was conducted using bibliometric tools VOSviewer and CiteSpace. Results: The analysis covered 2,649 publications in the field of PD and nursing care, authored by 12,576 researchers from 3,869 institutions across 94 countries. The number of articles has steadily increased over the past 20 years. In this research field, the United States and the United Kingdom emerged as leading countries, and Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen was positioned as an international hub. Movement Disorders was identified as the journal with the highest output and with the most co-citation. Prof. Bastiaan R. Bloem published the most papers in the area, and Prof. Per Odin had the highest average citation. The major fields of these publications are clinical neurology, geriatrics & gerontology, multidisciplinary sciences, and health care sciences & services. Hot topics in the field predominantly revolve around Parkinson's disease, quality of life, and dementia. Conclusion: Research in Parkinson's disease and nursing care is experiencing a period of rapid growth, with continuous expansion in research scope and depth of investigation. One of the trends identified is the increasing focus on quality of life and the management of dementia in PD patients, reflecting the importance of these areas in research. The study further suggests that future advancements in the field May rely significantly on strengthening international collaborations and addressing global disparities in resource distribution, particularly by promoting research inclusivity and cooperation among low-resource countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. This study aimed to explore the mental health status, coping strategies, and social support of international students in Canada. Participants. Undergraduate and graduate international students studying at one Canadian university participated in an online survey. Methods. The survey consisting of four assessments—the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form, Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, the Carver Brief-Cope Inventory, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support—was distributed during the winter and spring terms of 2020. Results. Of the 338 participants from 53 countries, 76% demonstrated optimal mental health without mental disorders; 86% used approach coping strategies. Those who are women, married, and Ph.D. students showed better mental health and lower psychological distress. Coping skills and social support significantly predict participants' psychological distress and subjective well-being. Conclusions. This study findings address the gaps in meeting the mental health needs of international students and raise awareness of this population's unique mental health status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: Macrocyclic compounds are of great interest for their ability to capture guest molecules into their cavities. In particular, host‐guest interaction plays a crucial role in the formation of supramolecular compounds. Herein, two host‐guest supramolecular compounds, [Al8(OH)8(L)16]·2HL (HL@AlOC‐166, HL = 4‐Iodobenzoic acid) and [Al8(OH)8(L)8(L1)8]·2DMF (DMF@AlOC‐166, HL1 = isoamyl alcohol), are acquired by introducing different types of guest components based on the internal pore cavities of the aluminum molecular ring [Al8(OH)8(L)16] (AlOC‐166). The inclusion of these guests is attributed to the presence of abundant hydrophilic OH serving as the hydrogen bond donors inward the ring cavity. Host‐guest compounds usually exhibit superior nonlinear optical (NLO) response due to the existence of guest molecules that could change symmetry, dipole moments, charge distributions, etc. Unexpectedly, the AlOC‐166 achieved the best NLO results, although it had no guest molecules inside its molecular ring, which breaks the traditional concept. The reason for this trend can be explained by the difference in intermolecular force rather than intramolecular interaction, mainly related to the amount and strength of π···π and C—I···π interactions in different compounds. This work investigates the effect of host‐guest interaction on NLO, representing a new perspective for designing optical limiting materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anderson localization and non-Hermitian skin effect are two paradigmatic wave localization phenomena, resulting from wave interference and the intrinsic non-Hermitian point gap, respectively. In this study, we unveil a novel localization phenomenon associated with long-range asymmetric coupling, termed scale-tailored localization, where the number of induced localized modes and their localization lengths scale exclusively with the coupling range. We show that the long-range coupling fundamentally reshapes the energy spectra and eigenstates by creating multiple connected paths on the lattice. Furthermore, we present experimental observations of scale-tailored localization in non-Hermitian electrical circuits utilizing adjustable voltage followers and switches. The circuit admittance spectra possess separate point-shaped and loop-shaped components in the complex energy plane, corresponding respectively to skin modes and scale-tailored localized states. Our findings not only expand and deepen the understanding of peculiar effects induced by non-Hermiticity but also offer a feasible experimental platform for exploring and controlling wave localizations. The authors use topoelectrical circuit to demonstrate "scale-tailored localization". Unlike Anderson localization, the number and length of localized modes is caused by long-range asymmetric coupling. This effect provides a powerful knob to control wave localization and a practical platform for exploring intriguing non-Hermitian effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seeding activities of disease-associated α-synuclein aggregates (αSynD), a hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD), are detectable by seed amplification assay (αSyn-SAA) and being developed as a diagnostic biomarker for PD. Sensitive and accurate αSyn-SAA for blood or saliva would greatly facilitate PD diagnosis. This prospective diagnostic study conducted αSyn-SAA analyses on serum and saliva samples collected from patients clinically diagnosed with PD or healthy controls (HC). 124 subjects (82 PD, 42 HC) donated blood and had extensive clinical assessments, of whom 74 subjects (48 PD, 26 HC) also donated saliva at the same visits. An additional 57 subjects (35 PD, 22 HC) donated saliva and had more limited clinical assessments. The mean ages were 69.21, 66.55, 69.58, and 64.71 years for PD serum donors, HC serum donors, PD saliva donors, and HC saliva donors, respectively. αSynD seeding activities in either sample type alone or both sample types together were evaluated for PD diagnosis. Serum αSyn-SAA data from 124 subjects showed 80.49% sensitivity, 90.48% specificity, and 0.9006 accuracy (AUC of ROC); saliva αSyn-SAA data from 131 subjects attained 74.70% sensitivity, 97.92% specificity, and 0.8966 accuracy. Remarkably, the combined serum and saliva αSyn-SAA from 74 subjects with both sample types achieved better diagnostic performance: 95.83% sensitivity, 96.15% specificity, and 0.98 accuracy. In addition, serum αSynD seeding activities correlated inversely with Montreal Cognitive Assessment in males and positively with Hamilton Depression Rating Scale in females and in the < 70 age group, whereas saliva αSynD seeding activities correlated inversely with age at diagnosis in males and in the < 70 age group. Our data indicate that serum and saliva αSyn-SAA together can achieve high diagnostic accuracy for PD comparable to that of CSF αSyn-SAA, suggesting their potential utility for highly sensitive, accurate, and minimally invasive diagnosis of PD in routine clinical practice and clinical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although septal myectomy is the preferred treatment for medication-refractory hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM), the procedure remains subjective. A preoperative planning procedure is proposed using computational fluid dynamics simulations and shape optimization to assist in the objective assessment of the adequacy of the resection. 3 patients with HOCM were chosen for the application of the proposed procedure. The geometries of the preoperative left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) of patients in the systolic phase were reconstructed from medical images. Computaional fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were performed to assess hemodynamics within LVOT. Sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the resection extent on the septal wall, and the depth of the resection was optimized to relieve LVOT obstruction while minimizing damage to the septum. The optimized resection was then transferred from systole to diastole to provide surgeons with instructive guidance for septal myectomy. Comparison between preoperative and postoperative hemodynamics showed an evident improvement with respect to the pressure gradient throughout the LVOT. The resected myocardium in the diastolic phase is more extended and thinner than its state in the systolic phase. The proposed preoperative planning procedure may be a viable addition to the current preoperative assessment of patients with HOCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the effect of learning efficiency through various animations in conjunction with instructional teaching of traditional Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) crafts projects. The germane cognitive load (GCL) is defined as an investment in cognitive resources for schema development and automation. This study employs four instructional experiments to assess schema construction and automation learning activities facilitated by four common types of animations in a curriculum setting. Additionally, comment collection and sentiment word summarization were conducted during other courses in ICH that examined Xiaoyu bamboo animation. Amongst four animations, motion graphics (MG) animation significantly enhanced learners' GCL and learning validity, and they also received positive comments from non-experimental students. Meanwhile, the 3D animation greatly affected learners' satisfaction with learning. This research analysis is based on the survey responses from a group of university students (n = 207) who participated in an ICH animation course in the Yiyang region of Hunan province, China. The study's findings indicate that two groups of animations, specifically based on the dimensions of validity and satisfaction, MG and 3D groups, using principles of GCL, have positively influenced students' understanding of traditional ICH. These different animation research results offered valuable insights for developing GCL, supporting the positive practical advancement in ICH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Music performance anxiety (MPA) is a type of commonly experienced emotion during music performance, and pre-service music teachers may experience more intense MPA than musicians due to their lack of confidence and inadequate performance skills. To date, however, no research has investigated whether there is group heterogeneity for pre-service music teachers' MPA and whether it is associated with adaptive-maladaptive perfectionism, control (expectancy of success and self-efficacy) and value (enjoyment and interest) beliefs. To fill the research gap, this research intends to identify profiles based on adaptive-maladaptive perfectionism, expectancy of success, self-efficacy, enjoyment, and interest, and further investigate their relationship with MPA using latent profile analysis (LPA). 512 pre-service music teachers in a Chinese university were recruited to complete the questionnaire. Four groups were identified, namely the maladaptive group, average group, low-medium group, and adaptive group. Overall, students with higher adaptive perfectionism and control-value beliefs and lower maladaptive perfectionism had lower levels of MPA. In other words, students who expect and believe they can perform well, enjoy performing music, and set reasonably high goals had lower levels of MPA. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the heterogeneity of anxiety during music performance in relation to the different patterns comprising personality and beliefs; hence, it has practical implications for the training of pre-service music teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) is an early decline in ovarian function that leads to ovarian failure. Conventional treatments for POI are inadequate, and treatments based on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as an option. However, the lack of consideration of the estrogen niche in ovarian tissue significantly reduces the therapeutic efficacy, with an unclear mechanism in the MSCs in POI treatment. Furthermore, the disruption of circadian rhythm associated with POI has not been previously addressed. Methods: Conditioned medium (CM) and estradiol-conditioned medium (E2-CM) were generated from estrogen receptor positive MSCs (ER+pcMSCs). Chemotherapy-induced POI models were established using C57BL/6 mice (in vivo) and KGN cells (in vitro) treated with cyclophosphamide (CTX) or 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4-OOH-CP). Gene/protein expressions were detected using RT-qPCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry assays. Locomotor activity was monitored for behavioral circadian rhythmicity. Cytokine arrays and miRNA analysis were conducted to analyze potential factors within CM/E2-CM. Results: The secretome of ER+pcMSCs (CM and E2-CM) significantly reduced the CTX-induced defects in ovarian folliculogenesis and circadian rhythm. CM/E2-CM also reduced granulosa cell apoptosis and rescued angiogenesis in POI ovarian tissues. E2-CM had a more favorable effect than the CM. Notably, ER+pcMSC secretome restored CTX-induced circadian rhythm defects, including the gene expressions associated with the ovarian circadian clock (e.g., Rora, E4bp4, Rev-erbα, Per2 and Dbp) and locomotor activity. Additionally, the cytokine array analysis revealed a significant increase in cytokines and growth factors associated with immunomodulation and angiogenesis, including angiogenin. Neutralizing the angiogenin in CM/E2-CM significantly reduced its ability to promote HUVEC tube formation in vitro. Exosomal miRNA analysis revealed the miRNAs involved in targeting the genes associated with POI rescue (PTEN and PDCD4), apoptosis (caspase-3, BIM), estrogen synthesis (CYP19A1), ovarian clock regulation (E4BP4, REV-ERBα) and fibrosis (COL1A1). Conclusion: This study is the first to demonstrate that, in considering the estrogen niche in ovarian tissue, an estrogen-priming ER+pcMSC secretome achieved ovarian regeneration and restored the circadian rhythm in a CTX-induced POI mouse model. The potential factors involved include angiogenin and exosomal miRNAs in the ER+pcMSC secretome. These findings offer insights into potential stem cell therapies for chemotherapy-induced POI and circadian rhythm disruption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pre-cluster symptoms (PCSs) are symptoms preceding cluster bouts and might have implications for the treatment of cluster headache (CH). This study investigated the prevalence of PCSs, and their utility in predicting upcoming bouts as well as the associations with therapeutic efficacy. Methods: We prospectively collected data from patients with CH. Each patient received a structured interview and completed questionnaire surveys during CH bouts. In sub-study 1, we cross-sectionally analyzed the prevalence, symptomatology, and predictability of upcoming bouts. Overall, 34 PCSs, divided into seven categories, were queried, including head and neck pain, cranial autonomic symptoms, restlessness, fatigue or mood changes, sleep alterations, constitutional symptoms, and generalized pain. In sub-study 2, we recorded the weekly frequency of CH attacks after the initiation of verapamil concurrently with a 14-day transitional therapy based on the patients' headache diary. A responder to verapamil was defined as a patient who have a reduction from baseline of at least 50% in the weekly frequency of CH attacks 4 weeks after the initiation of verapamil. Results: A total of 168 CH patients (women/men: 39/129) completed the study. In sub-study 1, we found 149 (88.7%) experienced PCSs, with a median of 24 (IQR 18 to 72) hours before the bouts. Up to 57.7% of patients with PCS reported that they could predict upcoming bouts. Among the seven categories of PCSs, head and neck pain was the most common (81.0%) and was associated with a higher predictability of upcoming bouts (odds ratio [OR] = 4.0; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.7–9.6). In sub-study 2, we found two categories of PCSs were associated with the response to verapamil: sleep alteration (OR = 2.5 [95% CI = 1.3–4.8], p = 0.004) and ≥ 1 cranial autonomic symptoms (OR = 2.7 [95% CI = 1.4–5.1], p = 0.003). Conclusion: PCSs were very common in CH and could be used to predict upcoming bouts. Different symptom categories of PCSs may have different clinical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixed ionic–electronic conductors are widely used as electroactive materials in energy applications. The contact of a mixed conductor with another phase plays a crucial role in charge storage and transport in energy devices. However, the interfacial chemistry at the heterojunctions comprising mixed conductors and its interplay with the bulk chemistry remains imperative yet inadequately understood. This study addresses the fundamentals of space charge effects by exploring the equilibrium situations for contacts consisting of mixed conductors. From the perspective of defect chemistry, and by unifying the bulk and interfacial conditions with the electrochemical potential, our treatment allows for predicting the built-in potential at heterojunctions, profiling the space charge distributions, and evaluating the resulting interfacial charge storage and transport. The treatment can be related to experimental characterization, including coulometric titration, conductivity, and capacitance measurements at electrochemical interfaces in all-solid-state batteries. Besides, our treatment also highlights the significance of size and doping effects in nanocrystalline electrodes. This work provides a comprehensive framework for understanding and engineering the heterojunctions in electrochemical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Significant progress has been made in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric syncope since the publication of the "2018 Chinese Pediatric Cardiology Society (CPCS) guideline for diagnosis and treatment of syncope in children and adolescents" ("2018 Edition Guidelines"). Therefore, we have revised and updated it to assist pediatricians in effectively managing children with syncope. Data sources: According to the "2018 Edition Guidelines", the expert groups collected clinical evidence, evaluated preliminary recommendations, and then organized open-ended discussions to form the recommendations. This guideline was developed by reviewing the literature and studies in databases including PubMed, Cochrane, EMBASE, China Biomedical Database, and Chinese Journal Full-text Database up to April 2024. Search terms included "syncope", "children", "adolescents", "diagnosis", and "treatment." Results: The guidelines were based on the latest global research progress and were evidence-based. The classification of syncope etiology, diagnostic procedures, postural tests, such as the active standing test, head-up tilt test, and active sitting test, clinical diagnosis, and individualized treatment for neurally mediated syncope in pediatric population were included. Conclusions: The guidelines were updated based on the latest literature. The concepts of sitting tachycardia syndrome and sitting hypertension were introduced and the comorbidities of neurally mediated syncope were emphasized. Some biomarkers used for individualized treatment were underlined. Specific suggestions were put forward for non-pharmacological therapies as well as the follow-up process. The new guidelines will provide comprehensive guidance and reference for the diagnosis and treatment of neurally mediated syncope in children and adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Migraine-related perfusion changes are documented but inconsistent across studies due to limited sample size and insufficient phenotyping. The phasic and spatial dynamics across migraine subtypes remains poorly characterized. This study aimed to determine spatiotemporal dynamics of gray matter (GM) perfusion in migraine. Methods: We prospectively recruited episodic (EM) and chronic migraine (CM) patients, diagnosed with the International Headache Society criteria and healthy controls (HCs) between 2021 and 2023 from the headache center in a tertiary medical center, and adjacent communities. Magnetic resonance (3-tesla) arterial spin labeling (ASL) was conducted for whole brain cerebral blood flow (CBF) in all participants. The voxel-wise and whole brain gray matter (GM) CBF were compared between subgroups. Spatial pattern analysis of CBF and its correlations with headache frequency were investigated regarding different migraine phases and subtypes. Sex- and age-adjusted voxel-wise and whole brain GM comparisons were performed between HCs and different EM and CM phases. Spatial pattern analysis was conducted by CBF clusters with phasic differences and spin permutation test. Correlations between headache frequency and CBF were investigated regarding different EM and CM phases. Results: Totally 344 subjects (172 EM, 120 CM, and 52 HCs) were enrolled. Higher CBF in different anatomical locations was identified in ictal EM and CM. The combined panels of the specific locations with altered CBF in ictal EM on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated areas under curve of 0.780 (vs. HCs) and 0.811 (vs. preictal EM). The spatial distribution of ictal-interictal CBF alteration of EM and CM were not correlated with each other (p = 0.665; r = − 0.018). Positive correlations between headache frequency and CBF were noted in ictal EM and CM regarding whole GM and specific anatomical locations. Conclusions: Patients with migraine exhibited unique spatiotemporal CBF dynamics across different phases and distinct between subtypes. The findings provide neurobiological insights into how selected anatomical structures engage in a migraine attack and adapt to plastic change of repeated attacks along with chronicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid and effective simultaneous removal of algal and extracellular organic matter (EOM) is essential for algal blooms water emergency treatment. In this study, a composite material was prepared by physical and chemical interaction between La-montmorillonite (La-MMT) and Mg/Al-layered double hydroxide (LDHs), and its removal effect of algal and extracellular organic matters (EOM) was investigated. The results showed that the removal rate of chlorophyll a (chl-a) was 96.8% within 2 h when the LDHs/La-MMT2:1 dosage was 1.0 g/L. Three-dimensional fluorescence characteristic spectra and parallel factor analysis showed that the removal of EOM by composite material mainly reflected in the removal of humus-like substances. The reaction heat of composite material for the algal solution was −32.7 J/g. Zeta potential changed from −25.7 mV to −16.9 mV, the main treatment mechanisms of composite material were surface adsorption, complexation precipitation, charge neutralisation, and ion exchange. These findings herein proposed that composite material was a potential and proper treating agent for removing algal cells and EOM from algal blooms water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additive partial linear models with symmetric autoregressive errors of order p are proposed in this paper for modeling time series data. Specifically, we apply this model class to explain the weekly hospitalization for respiratory diseases in Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil, by incorporating climate and pollution as covariates, trend and seasonality. The main feature of this model class is its capability of considering a set of explanatory variables with linear and nonlinear structures, which allows, for example, to model jointly trend and seasonality of a time series with additive functions for the nonlinear explanatory variables and a predictor to accommodate discrete and linear explanatory variables. Additionally, the conditional symmetric errors allow the possibility of fitting data with high correlation order, as well as error distributions with heavier or lighter tails than the normal ones. We present the model class and a novel iterative process is derived by combining a P-GAM type algorithm with a quasi-Newton procedure for the parameter estimation. The inferential results, diagnostic procedures, including conditional quantile residual analysis and local influence analysis for sensitivity, are discussed. Simulation studies are performed to assess finite sample properties of parametric and nonparametric estimators. Finally, the data set analysis and concluding remarks are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a changing environment, the increasing inconsistency of runoff series complicates the development of runoff forecasting models. Mutation tests have frequently been employed to assess runoff inconsistency, yet their integration with runoff forecasting is rare. In this study, we proposed a combination of machine learning models based on mutation tests to predict monthly runoff at the Pingshi Station, located in the Lechang Gorge Reservoir of the Pearl River in Guangdong Province, China. Specifically, the mutation points of the monthly runoff were assessed using the Mann-Kendall test and the Moving T-test (MTT). The development of member models, including Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) and Support Vector Machines (SVM), utilized both the original runoff series and the sub runoff series identified after the first mutation point. Tele-connected factors and historical monthly runoffs served as candidate input variables. These variables were selected through linear and nonlinear filter methods and further refined by a greedy search based on 10-fold cross-validation. The improvement in overall forecasting performance by combining the ANN, SVM, and the Simple Average Method (SAM) was analyzed. The results showed that, for the validation dataset, the root mean square errors of the combined models with MTT decreased by about 14–19% compared to the member models with MTT, and 10–12% compared to the combined models without mutation tests. The corresponding Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency coefficients increased by approximately 35–45% and 12–14%, respectively. This study highlights the effectiveness of integrating mutation tests, machine learning, and combining models to enhance the forecasting performance of inconsistent monthly runoff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep generative models allow the synthesis of realistic human faces from freehand sketches or semantic maps. However, although they are flexible, sketches and semantic maps provide too much freedom for manipulation, and thus, are not easy for novice users to control. In this study, we present DeepFaceReshaping, a novel landmark-based deep generative framework for interactive face reshaping. To edit the shape of a face realistically by manipulating a small number of face landmarks, we employ neural shape deformation to reshape individual face components. Furthermore, we propose a novel Transformer-based partial refinement network to synthesize the reshaped face components conditioned on the edited landmarks, and fuse the components to generate the entire face using a local-to-global approach. In this manner, we limit possible reshaping effects within a feasible component-based face space. Thus, our interface is intuitive even for novice users, as confirmed by a user study. Our experiments demonstrate that our method outperforms traditional warping-based approaches and recent deep generative techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the effect of 8-weeks of a 60-minute PARO intervention to reduce depressive symptoms and loneliness in older adults with dementia and investigated changes in their emotional or behavioral expressions and level of engagement with the PARO robot. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with a repeated measures design. The outcome measures were evaluated at four time-points: before the intervention, week 4, immediately after the intervention, and one month after the PARO intervention. Results: Fifty-two participants were recruited. The age of the participants ranged from 65 to 96 years, with a mean age of 81.81 years (SD = 8.54) in the PARO group and 79.08 years (SD = 7.71) in the control group. Using a mixed between-within subjects' analysis of variance, the results showed that there were significant interaction effects between the groups and time-periods for depression (p <.000), loneliness (p <.000), and engagement (p <.000). Conclusions: The PARO intervention alleviated depression and loneliness for older adults. Furthermore, the process of engagement with PARO may play an important role in the PARO effects. Clinical Implications: A tailored PARO intervention of at least 4 weeks could engender positive psychological benefits for older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess a quality improvement project using alternating pressure air mattresses' impact on reducing full‐thickness pressure injuries by enhancing setting accuracy and device utilization. We retrospectively evaluated adult acute care unit patients with inclusion criteria (Braden scores ≤12 or existing full‐thickness pressure injuries) between May 2020 and August 2023. A wound team attempted to enhance the accuracy, utilization and effectiveness of alternating pressure air mattress implementation. The implementation outcomes were setting accuracy and accurate utilization rates. The clinical outcome was the full‐thickness pressure injury proportion. Utilization and allocation gaps were also calculated. The setting accuracy and accurate utilization rates increased (0.59 to 0.88 and 0.15 to 0.37, respectively). The full‐thickness pressure injury proportion decreased (0.17 to 0.06), with a strong negative correlation coefficient (−0.789) (p < 0.001) with accurate utilization rates. The full‐thickness pressure injury proportion declined faster during the project's complete phase than the partial phase (−0.0046 vs. −0.0016; p < 0.05). The utilization gap narrowed (99 to 60); however, the allocation gap increased (1 to 13), suggesting increased alternating pressure air mattress usage among ineligible patients. Targeting high‐risk patients for alternating pressure air mattress utilization and ensuring correct settings, both performed by a dedicated team, substantially reduces the full‐thickness pressure injury incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces a novel photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensor for the highly selective detection of sulfur dioxide (SO2) using an organic photoactive molecule probe (OPM). OPM is synthesized through a one‐step coupling reaction, featuring a typical photosensitizer D‐π‐A structure. By covalently bonding OPM with a TiO2 substrate, a PEC sensor is constructed, exhibiting a significant photocurrent response under visible light excitation. The specific addition reaction between SO2 and OPM disrupts its conjugated structure, reducing the photocurrent response and achieving highly selective detection of SO2. The sensor demonstrates excellent performance in real water samples, emphasizing its practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the leading cancers threatening women's lives and health, breast cancer is challenging to treat and often irreversible in advanced cases, highlighting the critical importance of early detection and intervention. In recent years, fluorescent probe technology, a revolutionary in vivo imaging tool, has gained attention in medical research for its ability to improve tumor visualization significantly. This review focuses on recent advances in intelligent, responsive fluorescent probes, particularly in the field of breast cancer, which are divided into five categories, near-infrared responsive, fluorescein-labeled, pH-responsive, redox-dependent, and enzyme-triggered fluorescent probes, each of which has a different value for application based on its unique biological response mechanism. In addition, this review also covers the strategy of combining fluorescent probes with various anti-tumor drugs, aiming to reveal the possibility of synergistic effects between the two in breast cancer treatment and provide a solid theoretical platform for the clinical translation of fluorescent probe technology, which is expected to promote the expansion of cancer treatment technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitexin (VTX), a C-glycosylated flavone found in various medicinal herbs, is known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. This study investigated the protective effects of VTX against orofacial dyskinesia (OD) in rats, induced by haloperidol (HPD), along with the neuroprotective mechanisms underlying these effects. OD was induced by administering HPD (1 mg/kg i.p.) to rats for 21 days, which led to an increase in the frequency of vacuous chewing movements (VCMs) and tongue protrusion (TP). VTX (10 and 30 mg/kg) was given intraperitoneally 60 min after each HPD injection during the same period. On the 21st day, following assessments of OD, the rats were sacrificed, and nitrosative and oxidative stress, antioxidant capacity, mitochondrial function, neuroinflammation, and apoptosis markers in the striatum were measured. HPD effectively induced OD, while VTX significantly reduced HPD-induced OD, decreased oxidative stress, enhanced antioxidant capacity, prevented mitochondrial dysfunction, and reduced neuroinflammatory and apoptotic markers in the striatum, and the protective effects of VTX on both behavioral and biochemical aspects of HPD-induced OD were significantly reduced when trigonelline (TGN), an inhibitor of the nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-mediated pathway, was administered. These findings suggest that VTX provides neuroprotection against HPD-induced OD, potentially through the Nrf2 pathway, indicating its potential as a therapeutic candidate for the prevention or treatment of tardive dyskinesia (TD) in clinical settings. However, further detailed research is required to confirm these preclinical findings and fully elucidate VTX's therapeutic potential in human studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: High turnover rates and burnout are prevalent issues among registered nurses in public hospitals in Hong Kong. Pay level satisfaction is one of the crucial factors influencing organisational and professional turnover intention. Understanding whether pay level satisfaction can mitigate the negative impact of burnout on turnover intention can provide insights into the role of financial rewards in employee retention. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the relationship between job demands and turnover intention among registered nurses in Hong Kong public hospitals. Additionally, it seeks to examine the mediating role of burnout and explore the potential moderating effect of pay level satisfaction on the relationship between burnout and turnover intention. Methods: The study was a cross‐sectional online survey of public hospital staff in Hong Kong. A total of 502 registered nurses who had worked at their employing facility for at least 6 months participated in this cross‐sectional survey. Study variables included work overload, job stress, work–family conflict, family–work conflict, conflict with other nurses, burnout, pay level satisfaction and turnover intention. The collected data were analysed using bivariate Pearson correlation analysis and mediated moderation analysis with the PROCESS macro in SPSS 28.0. Results: Burnout mediated the relationship between job demands, including work overload, job stress, work–family conflict, family–work conflict and conflicts with nurses, and organisational and professional turnover intention. Pay level satisfaction did not exert a moderating influence on the relationship between job demands and turnover intention through burnout mediating this relationship. Conclusions: The importance of addressing job stress and burnout to mitigate turnover intention and promote nurse retention is underscored. Contrary to expectations, pay level satisfaction did not buffer the negative impact of job demands on turnover intentions via burnout. This suggests that compensation alone may not be sufficient to offset the detrimental effects of high job demands and burnout on nurses' intention to leave their jobs or the profession. Further research is warranted to explore potential moderators that may influence the relationship between job demands and turnover intention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Evaluation of the impact of a hepatitis B virus (HBV) prevention program that incorporates maternal antiviral prophylaxis on mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) is limited using real-world data. Methods We analyzed data on maternal HBV screening, neonatal immunization, and post-vaccination serologic testing (PVST) for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) among at-risk infants born to HBV carrier mothers from the National Immunization Information System during 2008–2022. Through linkage with the National Health Insurance Database, information on maternal antiviral therapy was obtained. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to explore MTCT risk in relation to infant–mother characteristics and prevention strategies. Results In total, 2 460 218 deliveries with maternal HBV status were screened. Between 2008 and 2022, the annual HBsAg and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seropositivity rates among native pregnant women decreased from 12.2% to 2.6% and from 2.7% to 0.4%, respectively (P for both trends <.0001). Among the 22 859 at-risk infants who underwent PVST, the MTCT rates differed between infants born to HBsAg-positive/HBeAg-negative and HBeAg-positive mothers (0.75% and 6.33%, respectively; P <.001). MTCT risk increased with maternal HBeAg positivity (odds ratio [OR], 9.29; 95% confidence interval [CI], 6.79–12.73) and decreased with maternal antiviral prophylaxis (OR, 0.28; 95% CI,.16–.49). For infants with maternal HBeAg positivity, MTCT risk was associated with mothers born in the immunization era (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.17–1.67). Conclusions MTCT was related to maternal HBeAg positivity and effectively prevented by maternal prophylaxis in the immunized population. At-risk infants born to maternal vaccinated cohorts might possibly pose further risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of frailty is increasing, and it is associated with increased risk of diseases and adverse outcomes. Although substantial research has focused on post-stroke frailty, understanding of pre-stroke frailty remains limited. Our aim was to synthesize literature on pre-stroke frailty and stroke risk to explore their relationship and impact on prognosis. A systematic search of multiple databases was conducted to identify cohort studies published until October 28, 2023. Meta-analysis was conducted using a random effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed with the I² statistic, and publication bias was evaluated using Begg's test. Finally, we included 11 studies (n = 1,660,328 participants). The pooled hazard ratios (HRs) for stroke risk associated with pre-stroke frailty compared to non-frail individuals was 1.72 (95% confidence interval, CI: 1.46–2.02, p = 0.002, I2 = 69.2%, Begg's test: p = 0.536). The pooled HRs for mortality and the pooled relative risk (RRs) modified Rankin Scale (mRs) associated with pre-stroke frailty were 1.68 (95% CI: 1.10–2.56, p = 0.136, I2 = 49.9%, Begg's test: p = 0.296) and 3.11 (95% CI: 1.77–5.46, p = 0.192, I2 = 39.4%, Begg's test: p = 1.000), respectively. In conclusion, pre-stroke frailty is strongly associated with stroke risk and impacts its prognosis, irrespective of the measurement method. Future research should focus on prospective studies to assess the effects of early intervention for frailty. This has significant implications for primary healthcare services and frailty management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Our previous genome‑wide association studies (GWAS) have suggested rs912304 in 14q12 as a suggestive risk variant for type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, the association between this risk region and T1D subgroups and related clinical risk features, the underlying causal functional variant(s), putative candidate gene(s), and related mechanisms are yet to be elucidated. Methods: We assessed the association between variant rs912304 and T1D, as well as islet autoimmunity and islet function, stratified by the diagnosed age of 12. We used epigenome bioinformatics analyses, dual luciferase reporter assays, and expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analyses to prioritize the most likely functional variant and potential causal gene. We also performed functional experiments to evaluate the role of the causal gene on islet function and its related mechanisms. Results: We identified rs912304 as a risk variant for T1D subgroups with diagnosed age ≥ 12 but not < 12. This variant is associated with residual islet function but not islet-specific autoantibody positivity in T1D individuals. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that rs912304 is a functional variant exhibiting spatial overlaps with enhancer active histone marks (H3K27ac and H3K4me1) and open chromatin status (ATAC-seq) in the human pancreas and islet tissues. Luciferase reporter gene assays and eQTL analyses demonstrated that the biallelic sites of rs912304 had differential allele-specific enhancer activity in beta cell lines and regulated STXBP6 expression, which was defined as the most putative causal gene based on Open Targets Genetics, GTEx v8 and Tiger database. Moreover, Stxbp6 was upregulated by T1D-related proinflammatory cytokines but not high glucose/fat. Notably, Stxbp6 over-expressed INS-1E cells exhibited decreasing insulin secretion and increasing cell apoptosis through Glut1 and Gadd45β, respectively. Conclusions: This study expanded the genomic landscape regarding late-onset T1D risk and supported islet function mechanistically connected to T1D pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Central South University is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We utilize molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the microstructures of ions and polyelectrolytes in aqueous solutions under external electric fields. By focusing on the multi-body interactions between ionic components and H2O molecules, as well as their responses to the external electric fields, we clarify several nontrivial molecular features of the ionic and polyelectrolyte solutions, such as the solvations of cations and anions, clustering of the ions, and dispersions/aggregations of polyelectrolyte chains, as well as the corresponding responses of H2O molecules in these contexts. Our simulations illustrate the variations in structures of ionic solutions caused by reversing the charge sign of the ions, and elucidate the disparity in structures between anionic and cationic polyelectrolyte solutions in the presence of the external electric fields. This work clarifies the mechanism for the alternations in complex multi-body interactions in aqueous solutions caused by the application electric field, which can contribute to the fundamental understanding of the physical and chemical natures of ion-containing and charged polymeric systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice is the staple food of more than half of the world's population, especially in Asia, where rice provides more than 50% of the caloric supply for at least 520 million people, most of them are either extremely impoverished or poor. Information on rice production is thus essential for agricultural management and the formulation of food security policies. The objective of this research is to develop an approach combining remote sensing and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques with a crop growth model for enhancing yield estimation and crop management in Taiwan. The data processing involves three main steps: (1) data pre-processing to generate model inputs, (2) crop yield modeling through assimilating satellite-derived leaf area index (LAI) into a crop growth model using the AI particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm, and (3) model validation. The assimilation process was performed using a cost function based on the difference between remotely-sensed and simulated LAI values. The optimization process began with an initial parameterization and appropriately adjusted input parameters in the model. The fitness value derived from a cost function was determined using the PSO. The results of yield estimates obtained from the crop growth model based on optimized inputs were evaluated using the government's yield statistics, revealing close agreement between these two datasets. The root mean square percentage error (RMSPE) and the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) for the first crop were 19.8% and 17.1%, and the values for the second crop were 8.4% and 6.3%, respectively. The relative percentage error (RPE) values of 18.5% and − 5.1%, respectively, showed a slight overestimate and underestimate for the first and second crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Pediatric hydrocephalus is the most common cause of surgically treatable neurological disease in children. Controversies exist whether endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt placement is the most appropriate treatment for pediatric hydrocephalus. This study aimed to compare the risk of re-operation and death between the two procedures. Methods: We performed a retrospective population-based cohort study and included patients younger than 20-years-old who underwent CSF shunt or ETV for hydrocephalus from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Results: A total of 3,555 pediatric patients from 2004 to 2017 were selected, including 2,340 (65.8%) patients that received CSF shunt placement and 1215 (34.2%) patients that underwent ETV. The incidence of all-cause death was 3.31 per 100 person-year for CSF shunt group and 2.52 per 100 person-year for ETV group, with an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 0.79 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.66–0.94, p = 0.009). The cumulative incidence competing risk for reoperation was 31.2% for the CSF shunt group and 26.4% for the ETV group, with an adjusted subdistribution HR of 0.82 (95% CI = 0.70–0.96, p = 0.015). Subgroup analysis showed that ETV was beneficial for hydrocephalus coexisting with brain or spinal tumor, central nervous system infection, and intracranial hemorrhage. Conclusion: Our data indicates ETV is a better operative procedure for pediatric hydrocephalus when advanced surgical techniques and instruments are available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autophagy is a highly conserved method of recycling cytoplasm components in eukaryotes. It plays an important role in plant growth and development, as well as in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Although autophagy‐related genes (ATGs) have been identified in several crop species, their particular role in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) remains unclear. Several transcription factors and signaling genes in the transgenic lines of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, such as AtTSPO, AtBES1, AtPIP2;7, AtCOST1 as well as AtATI1/2, ATG8f, GFP‐ATG8F‐HA, AtDSK2, AtNBR1, AtHKT1 play crucial functions under drought and salt stresses, respectively. In this study, a total of 29 putative StATGs from 15 different ATG subfamilies in the potato genome were identified. Their physicochemical properties, evolutionary connections, chromosomal distribution, gene duplication, protein–protein interaction network, conserved motifs, gene structure, interspecific collinearity relationship, and cis‐regulatory elements were analyzed. The results of qRT‐PCR detection of StATG expression showed that 29 StATGs were differentially expressed in potato's leaves, flowers, petiole, stem, stolon, tuber, and root. StATGs were dynamically modulated by salt and drought stresses and up‐regulated under salt and drought conditions. Our results showed that the StATG8a localized in the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Potato cultivar "Atlantic" overexpressing or downregulating StATG8a were constructed. Based on physiological, biochemical, and photosynthesis parameters, potato lines overexpressing StATG8a exhibited 9 times higher drought and salt tolerance compared to non‐transgenic plants. In contrast, the potato plants with knockdown expression showed a downtrend in drought and salt tolerance compared to non‐transgenic potato lines. These results could provide new insights into the function of StATG8a in salt and drought response and its possible mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater was used to track the evolution and emergence of variant lineages and gauge infection levels in the community, informing appropriate public health responses without relying solely on clinical testing. As more sublineages were discovered, it increased the difficulty in identifying distinct variants in a mixed population sample, particularly those without a known lineage. Here, we compare the sequencing technology from Illumina and from Oxford Nanopore Technologies, in order to determine their efficacy at detecting variants of differing abundance, using 248 wastewater samples from various Quebec and Ontario cities. Our study used two analytical approaches to identify the main variants in the samples: the presence of signature and marker mutations and the co-occurrence of signature mutations within the same amplicon. We observed that each sequencing method detected certain variants at different frequencies as each method preferentially detects mutations of distinct variants. Illumina sequencing detected more mutations with a predominant lineage that is in low abundance across the population or unknown for that time period, while Nanopore sequencing had a higher detection rate of mutations that are predominantly found in the high abundance B.1.1.7 (Alpha) lineage as well as a higher sequencing rate of co-occurring mutations in the same amplicon. We present a workflow that integrates short-read and long-read sequencing to improve the detection of SARS-CoV-2 variant lineages in mixed population samples, such as wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid socio-economic development has led to many water environmental issues in small watersheds such as non-compliance with water quality standards, complex pollution sources, and difficulties in water environment management. To achieve a quantitative evaluation of water quality, identify pollution sources, and implement refined management in small watersheds, this study collected monthly seven water quality indexes of four monitoring points from 2010 to 2023, and ten water quality indexes of 23 sampling points in the Shiting River and Mianyuan River which are tributaries of the Tuojiang River Basin. Then, water quality evaluation and pollution source analysis were conducted from both temporal and spatial perspectives using the Water Quality Index (WQI) method, the Absolute Principal Component Scores/Multiple Linear Regression (APCS-MLR) method, and the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) receptor modeling technique. The results indicated that except for total nitrogen (TN), the concentrations of other water quality indexes exhibited a decreasing trend, and all were divided into two obvious stages before and after 2016. Furthermore, the proportion of water quality grade of Good and above increased from 73.96 to 84.94% from 2010–2015 to 2016–2023, and the water quality grade of Good and above from upstream to downstream dropped from 100 to 23.33%. From the temporal scale, four and five pollution sources were identified in the first and second stages, respectively. The distinct TN pollutant is mainly affected by agricultural non-point sources (NPS), whose impact is enhanced from 17.76 to 78.31%. Total phosphorus (TP) was affected by the phosphorus chemical industry, whose contribution gradually weakened from 50.8 to 24.9%. From a spatial perspective, four and five pollution sources were identified in the upstream and downstream, respectively. Therefore, even though there are some limitations due to the data availability of water monitory and hydrology data, the proposed research framework of this study can be applied to the water environmental management of other similar watersheds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-quality development of water resources supports high-quality socio-economic development. High-quality development connects high-quality life, and clarifying the key management contents of small watersheds plays an important role in building ecologically clean small watersheds and promoting regional production and life. Previous research on pollution loads has focused on examining the impact of various external drivers on pollution loads but still lacks research on the impact of changes in pollution sources themselves on pollution loads. In this study, sensitivity analysis was used to determine the impact of changes from different sources on the total pollution loads, which can recognize the critical pollution sources. We first employed the pollutant discharge coefficient method to quantify non-point source pollution loads in the small watershed in the upstream Tuojiang River basin from 2010 to 2021. Then, combination sensitivity analysis with Getis-Ord Gi* was used to identify the critical sources and their crucial areas at the global, districts (counties), and towns (streets) scales, respectively. The results indicate: (1) The pollution loads of COD, NH3-N, TN, and TP all show a decreasing trend, reducing by 18.3%, 16.2%, 18.6%, and 28.1% from 2010 to 2021, respectively; (2) Livestock and poultry breeding pollution source is the most critical source for majority areas across watershed; (3) High-risk areas are mainly concentrated in Jingyang district and its subordinate towns (streets). There is a trend of low-pollution risk areas transitioning to high-pollution risk areas, with high-risk areas predominantly concentrated in the southeast and exhibiting a noticeable phenomenon of pollution load spilling around. This study can promote other similar small watersheds, holding significant importance for non-point source pollution control in small watersheds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An alternative route is offered for the electrodeposition of polymelamine (pMel) by electropolymerization in deep eutectic solvents, which has been proposed previously (Electrocatalysis 12:238–250, 2021) but difficultly synthesizing pMel in (Electrocatalysis 14:131–137, 2023). The introduction of a modest amount of water as an additive into deep eutectic solvents enables the electropolymerzation of melamine to pMel on carbon electrodes. The electrochemical behavior and catalytic activity of active chlorine species in different proportions of water-containing deep eutectic solvents was studied carefully by cyclic voltammetry. Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance and atomic force microscopy studies confirmed the mass changes and nanostructure formation that occurred during pMel deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated sex differences perceived relocation stress and glycemic control among older adults with type 2 diabetes in long‐term care facilities. A cross‐sectional correlation design was used to recruit 120 residents during their first year after moving into the facilities in southern Taiwan. The results showed that almost two‐thirds of the participants (64.2%) were women. The mean age was 79.62 (SD = 1.71). Older women with diabetes were reported to have significantly lower levels of education and poor glycemic control but higher levels of perceived relocation stress than men; however, functional independence was significantly higher in men. Although perceived relocation stress significantly predicted HbA1c levels in both women and men, length of stay was also significant in predicting HbA1c levels in women. These findings indicate the need for effective physical and psychological measures to improve glycemic control during the first year of stay in long‐term care facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Altitude sickness is often prone to occur during tourism or work in high-altitude areas. In China, traditional Tibetan medicines have a long history of preventing or treating altitude sickness, especially altitude hypoxia, which may lead to myocardial cell apoptosis and myocardial hypoxia-reoxygenation injury. Purpose: This study investigated the effect of a Tibetan-origin edible Chinese herbal prescription (named C18) on protecting H9C2 cardiomyocytes from cobalt chloride-induced hypoxia injury and its potential mechanism. Materials and Methods: In this study, a hypoxic injury model of H9C2 cardiomyocytes induced by cobalt chloride was established first. Then the cell viability, relevant antioxidant indicators malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and protein expression (hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-AKT)) were measured after pretreatment with or without C18. At last, the specific PI3K/AKT inhibitor LY294002 was applied to verify the antihypoxia signaling pathway. Results: C18 could significantly promote normal H9C2 cardiomyocyte proliferation and inhibit apoptosis of hypoxic H9C2 cardiomyocytes, reduce the release of lactate dehydrogenase and MDA, and increase the levels of SOD and GSH-Px antioxidant enzymes. In addition, C18 could significantly downregulate the expression of HIF-1α protein and upregulate the expression of intracellular p-AKT. Moreover, these effects of C18 can be blocked by the specific PI3K/AKT inhibitor LY294002. Conclusion: C18 protects H9C2 cardiomyocytes from cobalt chloride-induced hypoxia injury through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Honey bees are the principal commercial pollinators. Along with other arthropods, they are increasingly under threat from anthropogenic factors such as the incursion of invasive honey bee subspecies, pathogens and parasites. Better tools are needed to identify bee subspecies. Genomic data for economic and ecologically important organisms is increasing, but in its basic form its practical application to address ecological problems is limited. Results: We introduce HBeeID a means to identify honey bees. The tool utilizes a knowledge-based network and diagnostic SNPs identified by discriminant analysis of principle components and hierarchical agglomerative clustering. Tests of HBeeID showed that it identifies African, Americas-Africanized, Asian, and European honey bees with a high degree of certainty even when samples lack the full 272 SNPs of HBeeID. Its prediction capacity decreases with highly admixed samples. Conclusion: HBeeID is a high-resolution genomic, SNP based tool, that can be used to identify honey bees and screen species that are invasive. Its flexible design allows for future improvements via sample data additions from other localities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]