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Aim: Estuarine vegetation routinely experiences natural tidal fluctuations and is highly vulnerable to extreme events such as heavy rainfall, leading to changes in plant population structure and adaptability. Genetic and epigenetic modifications are widely considered to be mechanisms of phenotypic variation, triggered in plants responding to extreme changing environments. However, understanding on correlations among genetic, epigenetic, and phenotypic variation of wild plant populations is still limited. Location: China. Methods: In this study, populations of the typical wetland clonal species Phragmites australis were selected from four estuaries along various latitudes in China. Genetic and epigenetic diversity and phenotypic variation of these populations were analysed. Results: Phenotypic variation of P. australis populations was the highest at Yellow River Estuary and the lowest at Min River Estuary. Across all estuaries, Genetic and epigenetic diversity was strongly linear‐correlated. Genetic diversity had significant correlations with variation in reproductive traits, whereas epigenetic diversity had significant correlations with variation in growth traits. Climatic factors of mean annual temperature and precipitation, as well as soil nitrogen and phosphorus, were negatively correlated with variation in genetic diversity, epigenetic diversity, and variation in reproductive traits of P. australis populations along latitudes. Variation in growth traits was negatively correlated with soil salinity, reflecting the limiting effect of salinity on plant growth. Main Conclusion: Our findings found that genetic and epigenetic variations may play different roles in phenotypic variation of P. australis populations along latitudes, the variation becomes greater when the climatic and edaphic conditions deteriorate. The findings shed new light on the adaptation and evolution of wetland plant populations along a large latitudinal scale, and may contribute to the revegetation of estuary wetlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tannery solid waste (TSW) contains 70–90% collagen by weight. The rapid extraction of collagen while preserving its original and unique triple-helical conformation has proved challenging. In this paper, an ionic liquid-synergistic dissolution and regeneration (IL-SDR) method was developed based on a TBAH/DMSO/H2O ternary (TDH) solvent for the rapid recovery of collagen from TSW under mild conditions. A solubility of 10.25% TSW and a collagen recovery yield of 51.2% were achieved in 30 minutes at room temperature. The original triplet helical conformation and the molecular weight of the collagen product were retained, confirmed via FT-IR, circular dichroism, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight analysis. SEM was used to verify that dense and uniform pores could be formed within collagen by adjusting the DMSO content, and cytotoxicity and moisture retention tests demonstrated that the collagen produced via the IL-SDR process is comparable to natural collagen used in cosmetic and skincare applications. Moreover, the TDH solvent demonstrated excellent reproducibility across five cycles, achieving consistent solubility varying from 9.71% to 11.04%. EPR and 1H NMR showed that the OH– in TBAH induced the generation of DMSO˙ free radicals in the TDH solvent, and these radicals were indispensable for the dissolution of TSW. The DMSO content was positively correlated with the concentration of free radicals. A synergistic dissolution mechanism was proposed: DMSO˙ free radicals preferentially cleaved the terminal peptide chains, causing the collagen molecules to be exposed to DMSO. Subsequently, DMSO disrupted the original hydrogen bond network within the collagen molecules. Then, TBAH and DMSO formed hydrogen bonds with the collagen molecules, stabilizing the dissolved collagen and preventing the reformation of the hydrogen bond network between collagen molecules. This work provides an avenue for low-temperature and rapid dissolution of TSW, and reveals an in-depth, atypical dissolution mechanism for collagen-based materials during the IL-SDR process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constructing coastal ecological security barriers is beneficial for preventing environmental degradation and enhancing resilience to natural disasters. This study examines the functionality of these barriers from an ecosystem service perspective, developing an Ecosystem Security Barrier Function (ESBF) index to analyze its spatiotemporal variations. From 2000 to 2020, habitat quality in the study area experienced a slight decline, while water supply capacity initially increased and then decreased. Water purification capacity hit its lowest point in 2015 before improving. The ESBF generally ranged from moderate to high levels, with higher values in the northwest and lower values in the southeast, showing strong spatial autocorrelations. Despite mild degradation in some areas, overall stability was maintained with frequent transitions between ESBF levels. Utilizing the Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR) model, we conducted a grid-scale analysis of the driving mechanisms behind ESBF. We found that precipitation, elevation, and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) positively correlated with ESBF, whereas population density, land use, and nighttime lights negatively correlated. The relationship between temperature and ESBF showed a "north-positive, south-negative" pattern. The study recommends enhancing coastal wetland restoration, strengthening protective forest construction, and effectively controlling pollutant sources entering the sea to safeguard and improve the ecological security barrier function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Janus films with asymmetric physical/chemical properties have attracted considerable attention due to their promising applications in personal thermal management, electronic skins, sensors, actuators, etc. However, traditional methods for fabricating Janus films conventionally need the assistance of an interface or auxiliary equipment, which are usually complex and time-consuming. Herein, flexible poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/graphene oxide (GO)/h-BN (recorded as PVA/GO/h-BN) Janus films with thermally, optically, and electrically anisotropic properties are fabricated by a simple density deposition self-assembly method, which just utilizes the density difference between GO and h-BN during water evaporation. Experimental results show that the two sides of the acquired Janus films have obvious asymmetric characteristics. In the original state of the PVA/GO/h-BN Janus films, the thermal conductivity of the GO side (10.06 W·m−1·K−1) is generally lower than that of the h-BN side (10.48 W·m−1·K−1). But after GO is reduced, the thermal conductivity of the rGO side reaches 12.17 W·m−1·K−1, surpassing that of the h-BN side. In addition, the relative reflectance of the h-BN side of Janus film is also significantly higher than that of the rGO side, and the surface resistance difference between the two sides is about 4 orders of magnitude. The prepared PVA/GO/h-BN Janus films show great application potential in human thermal management, light conversion switches, and electronic skins. This study provides a simple and versatile strategy for fabricating Janus films with multifunctional (such as thermal, optical, and electrical) anisotropies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the causal relationship between primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and multiple sclerosis (MS) using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to provide insights into their common mechanisms and implications for therapeutic strategies. We utilized data from Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) for primary SS (1,290 cases and 213,145 controls) and MS (4,888 cases and 10,395 controls), restricted to European ancestry. Instrumental variables (IVs) were selected based on genetic variants associated with primary SS. The primary MR method was Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW), supplemented by MR Egger, Weighted Median, Simple Mode, and Weighted Mode algorithms to assess the bidirectional causal relationships between MS and primary SS. Sensitivity analyses, including MR-PRESSO and leave-one-out analysis, were conducted to ensure the robustness of our findings. After excluding SNPs with pleiotropic effects, 42 and 5 SNPs were identified as robust IVs for primary SS and MS, respectively. Our analysis revealed a significant protective effect of MS on primary SS, with IVW showing an OR of 0.896 (95% CI: 0.841–0.954, P = 0.001). No significant heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy was detected, supporting the reliability of the results. Our findings suggest a potential protective effect of MS against primary SS, indicating a negative causal association between these two autoimmune diseases. This adds valuable genetic evidence to the understanding of the complex interplay between primary SS and MS, offering new avenues for research and therapeutic interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helicase POLQ‐like (HELQ) is a DNA helicase essential for the maintenance of genome stability. A recent study identified two HELQ missense mutations in some cases of infertile men. However, the functions of HELQ in the process of germline specification are not well known and whether its function is conserved between mouse and human remains unclear. Here, we revealed that Helq knockout (Helq−/−) could significantly reduce the efficiency of mouse primordial germ cell‐like cell (PGCLC) induction. In addition, Helq−/− embryonic bodies exhibited a severe apoptotic phenotype on day 6 of mouse PGCLC induction. p53 inhibitor treatment could partially rescue the generation of mouse PGCLCs from Helq mutant mouse embryonic stem cells. Finally, the genetic ablation of HELQ could also significantly impede the induction of human PGCLCs. Collectively, our study sheds light on the involvement of HELQ in the induction of both mouse and human PGCLCs, providing new insights into the mechanisms underlying germline differentiation and the genetic studies of human fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium (Cd), as the most prevalent heavy metal contaminant poses serious risks to plants, humans, and the environment. The ubiquity of this toxic metal is continuously increasing due to the rapid discharge of industrial and mining effluents and the excessive use of chemical fertilizers. Nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as a novel strategy to alleviate Cd toxicity. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) have become the most important NPs used to mitigate the toxicity of abiotic stresses and improve crop productivity. The plants quickly absorb Cd, which subsequently disrupts plant physiological and biochemical processes and increases the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which causes the oxidation of cellular structures and significant growth losses. Besides this, Cd toxicity also disrupts leaf osmotic pressure, nutrient uptake, membrane stability, chlorophyll synthesis, and enzyme activities, leading to a serious reduction in growth and biomass productivity. Though plants possess an excellent defense mechanism to counteract Cd toxicity, this is not enough to counter higher concentrations of Cd toxicity. Applying Zn-NPs has proven to have significant potential in mitigating the toxic effects of Cd. ZnO-NPs improve chlorophyll synthesis, photosynthetic efficiency, membrane stability, nutrient uptake, and gene expression, which can help to counter toxic effects of Cd stress. Additionally, ZnO-NPs also help to reduce Cd absorption and accumulation in plants, and the complex relationship between ZnO-NPs, osmolytes, hormones, and secondary metabolites plays an important role in Cd tolerance. Thus, this review concentrates on exploring the diverse mechanisms by which ZnO nanoparticles can alleviate Cd toxicity in plants. In the end, this review has identified various research gaps that need addressing to ensure the promising future of ZnO-NPs in mitigating Cd toxicity. The findings of this review contribute to gaining a deeper understanding of the role of ZnO-NPs in combating Cd toxicity to promote safer and sustainable crop production by remediating Cd-polluted soils. This also allows for the development of eco-friendly approaches to remediate Cd-polluted soils to improve soil fertility and environmental quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic remains a significant threat, emphasizing the critical importance of mask-wearing to reduce infection risks. However, existing methods for mask detection encounter challenges such as identifying small targets and achieving high accuracy. In this paper, we present an enhanced YOLOv7 model tailored for mask-wearing detection. we employing a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) to augment the original dataset, introducing the Convolutional Block Attention Module (CBAM) mechanism into the YOLOv7 model to enhance its small target detection capabilities, and replacing the model's activation function with Parametric Rectified Linear Unit (FReLU) to improve overall performance. Experimental validation on a dataset showcases an average precision of 97.8% and a real-time inference speed of 64 frames per second (fps), meeting the real-time mask-wearing detection requirements effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A belowground bud bank is a collection of asexual propagules produced by the underground storage organs of geophytes. Renewal through belowground bud banks is the main reproductive strategy of geophytes. The belowground bud bank density reflects the potential renewal capacity of geophyte communities. However, the effects of different perturbation regimes and habitats on the belowground bud bank density of geophytes are not comprehensively understood. Moreover, whether different types of belowground bud banks respond differently to perturbations is still unclear. For this meta-analysis, relevant papers on the effects of environmental perturbations on the belowground bud bank density of geophytes were systematically collected. The cumulative effect size of different perturbation regimes and habitats on belowground bud banks among different bud types was analyzed. Overall, the effect of environmental perturbations on belowground bud bank density was small, which may result from opposite or fluctuating responses of bud banks to different perturbations. Drought negatively affected bud bank density. Environmental perturbations decreased rhizome bud density but increased tiller bud density. In wetlands, perturbations decreased belowground bud bank density. However, no significant effect was found for other habitat types. In general, belowground bud banks of geophytes are highly resistant and resilient. Changes in belowground bud bank density depend on the type of perturbations, the habitats in which plants are distributed and the type of bud banks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rice–crayfish co-culture system, a representative of Agri-aqua food systems, has emerged worldwide as an effective strategy for enhancing agricultural land use efficiency and boosting sustainability, particularly in China and Southeast Asia. Despite its widespread adoption in China's Jianghan Plain, the exact spatiotemporal dynamics and factors influencing this practice in this region are yet to be clarified. Therefore, understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics and influencing factors of the rice–crayfish fields (RCFs) is crucial for promoting the rice–crayfish co-culture system, and optimizing land use policies. In this study, we identified the spatial distribution of RCF using Sentinel-2 images and land use spatiotemporal data to analyze its spatiotemporal dynamics during the period of 2016–2020. Additionally, we used the Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression model to explore the key factors influencing RCF's spatiotemporal changes. Our findings reveal that (1). the RCF area in Jianghan Plain expanded from 1216.04 km2 to 2429.76 km2 between 2016 and 2020, marking a 99.81% increase. (2). RCF in Jianghan Plain evolved toward a more contiguous and clustered spatial pattern, suggesting a clear industrial agglomeration in this area. (3). The expansion of the RCFs was majorly influenced by its landscape and local agricultural conditions. Significantly, the Aggregation and Landscape Shape Indexes positively impacted this expansion, whereas proximity to rural areas and towns had a negative impact. This study provides a solid foundation for promoting the rice–crayfish co-culture system and sustainably developing related industries. To ensure the sustainable development of rice–crayfish co-culture industries in Jianghan Plain, we recommend that local governments optimize the spatial layout of rural settlements, improve transportation infrastructure, and enhance regional agricultural water sources and irrigation system construction, all in line with the national strategy of rural revitalization and village planning. Additionally, promoting the concentration and contiguity of RCF through land consolidation can achieve efficient development of these industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify the core targets of Rheum palmatum L. and Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge., (Dahuang-Danshen, DH-DS) and the mechanism underlying its therapeutic efficacy in acute pancreatitis (AP) using a network pharmacology approach and validate the findings in animal experiments. Methods: Network pharmacology analysis was used to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of DH-DS in AP. The reliability of the results was verified by molecular docking simulation and molecular dynamics simulation. Finally, the results of network pharmacology enrichment analysis were verified by immunohistochemistry, Western blot analysis and real-time quantitative PCR, respectively. Results: Sixty-seven common targets of DH-DS in AP were identified and mitogen-activated protein kinase 3 (MAPK3), Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), protein c-Fos (FOS) were identified as core targets in the protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. Gene ontology analysis showed that cellular response to organic substance was the main functions of DH-DS in AP, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis showed that the main pathway included Th17 cell differentiation. Molecular docking simulation confirmed that DH-DS binds with strong affinity to MAPK3, STAT3 and FOS. Molecular dynamics simulation revealed that FOS-isotanshinone II and STAT3-dan-shexinkum d had good binding capacity. Animal experiments indicated that compared with the AP model group, DH-DS treatment effectively alleviated AP by inhibiting the expression of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α, and blocking the activation of Th17 cell differentiation (P<0.01). Conclusion: DH-DS could inhibit the expression of inflammatory factors and protect pancreatic tissues, which would be functioned by regulating Th17 cell differentiation-related mRNA and protein expressions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research on health resource allocation trends in ethnic minority and impoverished areas in China is limited since the 2009 Medical Reform. This study aimed to investigate the variations and inequalities in health resource distribution among ethnic minority, poverty-stricken, and non-minority regions in Sichuan Province, a multi-ethnic province in Southwest China, from 2009 to 2019. Methods: The numbers of beds, doctors and nurses were retrospectively sourced from the Sichuan Health Statistics Yearbook between 2009 and 2019. All the 181 counties in Sichuan Province were categorized into five groups: Yi, Zang, other ethnic minority, poverty-stricken, and non-minority county. The Theil index, adjusted for population size, was used to evaluate health resource allocation inequalities. Results: From 2009 to 2019, the number of beds (Bedp1000), doctors (Docp1000), and nurses (Nurp1000) per 1000 individuals in ethnic minority and poverty-stricken counties consistently remained lower than non-minority counties. The growth rates of Bedp1000 in Yi (140%) and other ethnic minority counties (127%) were higher than in non-minority counties (121%), while the growth rates of Docp1000 in Yi (20%) and Zang (11%) counties were lower than non-minority counties (61%). Docp1000 in 33% and 50% of Yi and Zang ethnic counties decreased, respectively. Nurp1000 in Yi (240%) and other ethnic minority (316%) counties increased faster than non-minority counties (198%). The Theil index for beds and nurses declined, while the index for doctors increased. Key factors driving increases in bed allocation include preferential policies and economic development levels, while health practitioner income, economic development levels and geographical environment significantly influence doctor and nurse allocation. Conclusions: Preferential policies have been successful in increasing the number of beds in health facilities, but not healthcare workers, in ethnic minority regions. The ethnic disparities in doctor allocation increased in Sichuan Province. To increase the number of doctors and nurses in ethnic minority and poverty-stricken regions, particularly in Yi counties, more preferential policies and resources should be introduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: There is a growing body of evidence indicating that pyroptosis, a programmed cell death mechanism, plays a crucial role in the exacerbation of inflammation and fibrosis in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Circular RNAs (circRNAs), functioning as vital regulators within NAFLD, have been shown to mediate the process of cell pyroptosis. This study aims to elucidate the roles and mechanisms of circRNAs in NAFLD. Methods: Utilizing a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced rat model for in vivo experimentation and hepatocytes treated with palmitic acid (PA) for in vitro models, we identified circular RNA SOD2 (circSOD2) as our circRNA of interest through analysis with the circMine database. The expression levels of associated genes and pyroptosis-related proteins were determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, alongside immunohistochemistry. Serum liver function markers, cellular inflammatory cytokines, malondialdehyde, lactate dehydrogenase levels, and mitochondrial membrane potential, were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, standard assay kits, or JC-1 staining. Flow cytometry was employed to detect pyroptotic cells, and lipid deposition in liver tissues was observed via Oil Red O staining. The interactions between miR-532-3p/circSOD2 and miR-532-3p/Thioredoxin Interacting Protein (TXNIP) were validated through dual-luciferase reporter assays and RNA immunoprecipitation experiments. Results: Our findings demonstrate that, in both in vivo and in vitro NAFLD models, there was an upregulation of circSOD2 and TXNIP, alongside a downregulation of miR-532-3p. Mechanistically, miR-532-3p directly bound to the 3'-UTR of TXNIP, thereby mediating inflammation and cell pyroptosis through targeting the TXNIP/NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome signaling pathway. circSOD2 directly interacted with miR-532-3p, relieving the suppression on the TXNIP/NLRP3 signaling pathway. Functionally, the knockdown of circSOD2 or TXNIP improved hepatocyte pyroptosis; the deletion of miR-532-3p reversed the effects of circSOD2 knockdown, and the deletion of TXNIP reversed the effects of circSOD2 overexpression. Furthermore, the knockdown of circSOD2 significantly mitigated the progression of NAFLD in vivo. Conclusion: circSOD2 competitively sponges miR-532-3p to activate the TXNIP/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway, promoting pyroptosis in NAFLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most common chronic complication of herpes zoster (HZ) and results in severe refractory neuropathic pain. This study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of premedication with duloxetine in the prevention of PHN. Methods The PROCESS trial is a multicenter, randomized, open-label, blinded-endpoint trial used a 1:1 duloxetine:control ratio. Adults 50 years or older with HZ who presented with vesicles within 72 hours were recruited. The primary outcome was the incidence of PHN at 12 weeks. PHN was defined as any pain intensity score other than 0 mm on the visual analog scale (VAS) at week 12 after the onset of the rash. The secondary outcomes were the number of participants with VAS >0 and VAS ≥3. The modified intention-to-treat (mITT) principle and per-protocol (PP) principle were used for the primary outcome analysis. Results A total of 375 participants were randomly assigned to the duloxetine group and 375 were assigned to the control group. There was no significant difference in the incidence of PHN in the duloxetine group compared with the control group in the mITT analysis (86 [22.9%] of 375 vs 108 [28.8%] of 375; P =.067). PP analysis produced similar results. However, there were significant differences between the 2 groups in the number of participants with VAS >0 and VAS ≥3 (P <.05 for all comparisons). Conclusions Although absolute prevention of PHN does not occur, this trial found that premedication with duloxetine can reduce pain associated with HZ, and therefore can have clinically relevant benefits. Clinical Trials Registration.   Clinicaltrials.gov , NCT04313335. Registered on 18 March 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The control of nanoparticle morphology can effectively change their properties. Adjusting the aggregation state of bovine serum albumin-coated gold nanoclusters (BSA-Au NCs) can regulate the enzyme-mimicking catalytic activity. Hyaluronic acid (HA) induces the aggregation of BSA-Au NCs, leading to the shielding of the catalytic active sites and a decrease in activity; this feature has been utilized to design a multicolor biosensor for hyaluronidase (HAase). The presence of HAase can hydrolyze the glycosidic bonds in HA, causing the aggregated BSA-Au NCs to disperse and express their catalytic activity, which in turn catalyzes the etching of Au nanobipyramids (Au-NBPs) in the presence of 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB), resulting in a morphological transition from bipyramidal to ellipsoidal and spherical shapes, while the solution displays a variety of colors. Visual recognition of these multicolor changes establishes a relationship between the enzyme activity and color. Based on the controlled aggregation and dispersion of BSA-Au NCs and the etching of Au-NBPs, a simple multicolor HAase biosensor was designed. The proposed biosensor shows a linear response to HAase concentrations in the range of 5–80 U/mL, with clear color changes under optimized conditions. The limit of detection (LOD) of the sensor was determined to be 1.98 U/mL (LOD = 3s/k). This method successfully applies the changing of enzyme-mimicking catalytic activity nanoparticles for colorimetric analysis detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Postoperative delirium is a common and debilitating complication that significantly affects patients and their families. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether there is an effective sedative that can prevent postoperative delirium while also examining the safety of using sedatives during the perioperative period. Methods: The net-meta analysis was used to compare the incidence of postoperative delirium among four sedatives: sevoflurane, propofol, dexmedetomidine, and midazolam. Interventions were ranked according to their surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA). Results: A total of 41 RCT studies involving 6679 patients were analyzed. Dexmedetomidine can effectively reduce the incidence of postoperative delirium than propofol (OR 0.47 95% CI 0.25–0.90), midazolam (OR 0.42 95% CI 0.17-1.00), normal saline (OR 0.42 95% CI 0.33–0.54) and sevoflurane (OR 0.39 95% CI 0.18–0.82). The saline group showed a significantly lower incidence of bradycardia compared to the group receiving dexmedetomidine (OR 0.55 95% CI 0.37–0.80). In cardiac surgery, midazolam (OR 3.34 95%CI 2.04–5.48) and normal saline (OR 2.27 95%CI 1.17–4.39) had a higher rate of postoperative delirium than dexmedetomidine, while in non-cardiac surgery, normal saline (OR 1.98 95%CI 1.44–2.71) was more susceptible to postoperative delirium than dexmedetomidine. Conclusion: Our analysis suggests that dexmedetomidine is an effective sedative in preventing postoperative delirium whether in cardiac surgery or non-cardiac surgery. The preventive effect of dexmedetomidine on postoperative delirium becomes more apparent with longer surgical and extubation times. However, it should be administered with caution as it was found to be associated with bradycardia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forced-choice questionnaires involve presenting items in blocks and asking respondents to provide a full or partial ranking of the items within each block. To prevent involuntary or voluntary response distortions, blocks are usually formed of items that possess similar levels of desirability. Assembling forced-choice blocks is not a trivial process, because in addition to desirability, both the direction and magnitude of relationships between items and the traits being measured (i.e., factor loadings) need to be carefully considered. Based on simulations and empirical studies using item pairs, we provide recommendations on how to construct item pairs matched by desirability. When all pairs contain items keyed in the same direction, score reliability is improved by maximizing within-block loading differences. Higher reliability is obtained when even a small number of pairs consist of unequally keyed items. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Our study investigated how different environmental factors influence the diversity and behaviour of wood-boring longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) in Yunnan, China's tropical rainforests and temperate forests. Yunnan is notable for its diverse plant species and varying landscapes. We conducted detailed surveys of beetle and plant populations across several forest plots, using various analytical methods, such as diversity comparisons and distance-decay relationships. We found a marked difference in beetle populations between the two forest types. The tropical rainforests were rich in beetle and tree species, with 212 Cerambycidae and 135 tree species identified. In contrast, the temperate forests had a much smaller population, with only 16 Cerambycidae and 18 tree species. This variation was mainly due to differences in environmental conditions and beetle movement limitations. The varied environment of temperate forests resulted in fewer beetle species and weaker interactions with plants, while the more consistent tropical rainforests supported a greater variety of beetles and stronger plant–beetle relationships. Our research highlights the significant impact of environmental factors, such as habitat variability and movement constraints, on the diversity and ecological interactions of Cerambycidae beetles. These findings are crucial for understanding and managing forest biodiversity, particularly in varying climatic zones. (1) Background: Understanding the relationship between community assembly and species coexistence is key to understanding ecosystem diversity. Despite the importance of wood-boring longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) in forests, factors affecting their population dynamics, species richness, and ecological interactions remain underexplored. (2) Methods: We surveyed cerambycid beetles and plants within five plots each across three transects in tropical rainforests and temperate forests of Yunnan, China, known for its rich biodiversity and varied elevation gradients. We explored a range of analytical tools, including α-diversity comparisons, distance-decay relationships, redundancy analysis, β-dissimilarity metrics, and various neutral community model analyses. (3) Results: The results revealed a stark contrast between the two forest types: the tropical rainforests hosted 212 Cerambycidae and 135 tree species, whereas the temperate forests had only 16 Cerambycidae and 18 tree species. This disparity was attributed to differences in environmental heterogeneity and dispersal limitations. In temperate forests, pronounced environmental variability leads to steeper distance-decay relationships and reduced α-diversity of Cerambycidae, implying stronger dispersal constraints and weaker plant–beetle associations. Conversely, the more homogenous tropical rainforests exhibited stochastic processes that enhanced Cerambycidae diversity and plant–beetle interactions. (4) Conclusions: Our findings underscore that environmental heterogeneity, dispersal limitations, and host-specificity are pivotal in shaping biodiversity patterns in Cerambycidae, with significant variations across climatic zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The constrained enzymatic activity and aggregation challenges encountered by small-sized nanozymes pose obstacles to their practical utility, necessitating a strategy to mitigate aggregation and boost enzymatic catalytic efficiency. In this work, a negatively charged Eu MOF was utilized as the encapsulation matrix, encapsulating the small-sized nanozymes FeNCDs into the Eu MOF to synthesize an FeNCDs@Eu MOF. The dispersibility of the encapsulated FeNCDs was increased, and owing to the negative charge of the FeNCDs@Eu MOF, electrostatic pre-concentration of the positively charged target molecule tetracycline (TC) was facilitated, thereby amplifying the enzymatic catalytic efficiency of the FeNCDs. The response of the FeNCDs to TC increased by nearly 6 times upon encapsulation. The TC detection limit (LOD) of the FeNCDs@Eu MOF-based sensor is as low as 11.63 nM. The incorporation of fluorescence detection expanded the linear range of the sensor, rendering it more suitable for practical sample detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Repeated use of opioid analgesics may cause a paradoxically exacerbated pain known as opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH), which hinders effective clinical intervention for severe pain. Currently, little is known about the neural circuits underlying OIH modulation. Previous studies suggest that laterocapsular division of the central nucleus of amygdala (CeLC) is critically involved in the regulation of OIH. Our purpose is to clarify the role of the projections from infralimbic medial prefrontal cortex (IL) to CeLC in OIH. We first produced an OIH model by repeated fentanyl subcutaneous injection in male rats. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that c-Fos-positive neurons were significantly increased in the right CeLC in OIH rats than the saline controls. Then, we used calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIα (CaMKIIα) labeling and the patch-clamp recordings with ex vivo optogenetics to detect the functional projections from glutamate pyramidal neurons in IL to the CeLC. The synaptic transmission from IL to CeLC, shown in the excitatory postsynaptic currents (eEPSCs), inhibitory postsynaptic currents (eIPSCs) and paired-pulse ratio (PPR), was observably enhanced after fentanyl administration. Moreover, optogenetic activation of this IL-CeLC pathway decreased c-Fos expression in CeLC and ameliorated mechanical and thermal pain in OIH. On the contrary, silencing this pathway by chemogenetics exacerbated OIH by activating the CeLC. Combined with the electrophysiology results, the enhanced synaptic transmission from IL to CeLC might be a cortical gain of IL to relieve OIH rather than a reason for OIH generation. Scaling up IL outputs to CeLC may be an effective neuromodulation strategy to treat OIH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the potential mechanism of action of quercetin in the treatment of diarrhea irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D). Methods: The potential targets of quercetin were obtained from the TCMSP, SwissTar-getPrediction, and BATMAN-TCM databases. The targets of IBS-D were obtained by searching the GeneCards database with "diarrhea irritable bowel syndrome" as the keyword, and the targets of quercetin and IBS-D were intersected. The PPI network was constructed by Cytoscape 3.7.1 software. The intersected targets were imported into the DAVID database for GO functional analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. The binding ability of quercetin to the core targets was observed using molecular docking. Based on this, we established an IBS-D rat model, administered quercetin for intervention, and experimentally validated the network pharmacology prediction results by HE staining and ELISA assay. Results: Network pharmacology analysis showed that TP53, TNF-α, AKT1, VEGF-A, IL-6 factors and MAPK, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway as the core targets and pathways of quercetin for the treatment of IBS-D. The results of animal experiments revealed that quercetin could inhibit the secretion of TP53, TNF-α, AKT1, VEGF-A, IL-1β and IL-6, reduce the inflammatory response and improve IBS-D. Conclusion: Quercetin could protect colon tissue by regulating the expression of TP53, TNF-α, AKT1, VEGF-A, IL-1β and IL-6, thereby treating IBS-D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schistosomes are flatworm parasites that undergo a complex life cycle involving two hosts. The regulation of the parasite's developmental processes relies on both coding RNAs and non-coding RNAs. However, the roles of non-coding RNAs, including long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in schistosomes remain largely unexplored. Here we conduct advanced RNA sequencing on male and female S. japonicum during their pairing and reproductive development, resulting in the identification of nearly 8,000 lncRNAs. This extensive dataset enables us to construct a comprehensive co-expression network of lncRNAs and mRNAs, shedding light on their interactions during the crucial reproductive stages within the mammalian host. Importantly, we have also revealed a specific lncRNA, LNC3385, which appears to play a critical role in the survival and reproduction of the parasite. These findings not only enhance our understanding of the dynamic nature of lncRNAs during the reproductive phase of schistosomes but also highlight LNC3385 as a potential therapeutic target for combating schistosomiasis. Author summary: Schistosomiasis, a disease that affects millions, has only one drug available treatment, making it essential for us to uncover other potential therapeutic avenues. In our quest to understand the disease better, we delved into the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) during the parasite's reproductive phase, a crucial period for the disease's spread. Using advanced RNA sequencing, we identified nearly 8,000 lncRNAs during the parasite's reproductive development. Most intriguingly, we identified one specific lncRNA, named LNC3385, that appears vital for the parasite's survival and reproduction. Our study, therefore, not only provides a deeper understanding of the molecular dynamics during the reproductive phase of the parasite but also highlights a potential new target, LNC3385, for therapeutic strategies against schistosomiasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The negative charge of nanoparticles affects their diffusion toward the negatively charged indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode, and this had been coupled with target-activated CRISPR/Cas12a to develop a homogeneous electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor for human papillomavirus 16 (HPV 16) DNA (chosen as model target) detection. Tris-(2,2′-bipyridyl) ruthenium-(II) chloride hexahydrate-doped SiO2 nanoparticles (Ru@SiO2 NPs) with a diameter of about 50 nm was selected as the ECL probe.They were formed by encased Ru-(bpy)32+ in SiO2 nanoparticles, and this can effectively prevent the leakage of Ru-(bpy)32+ molecules and improve the stability of the probe. A hairpin probe (HP) was carefully designed and modified on the Ru@SiO2 NPs surface and resulted in the generation of a large negative charge on the surface of the nanoparticles. The strong electrostatic repulsion prevented the nanoparticles from reaching the negatively charged ITO electrode, leading to the weakness of the ECL signal detected. In the presence of a target, Cas12a is activated and the single-stranded region of HP is cleaved and separated from the Ru@SiO2 surface, resulting in less negative charge of the particles and enhanced ECL signal of the system. The ECL signal was linearly correlated with the logarithm of the HPV 16 DNA concentration in the range of 10 fM–10 nM with a limit of 3.4 fM (S/N = 3) under optimal conditions. The biosensor shows exceptional performance in the detection of HPV16 DNA in real samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Compare the clinical efficacy of anterior and posterior Calot's triangle approach in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for chronic atrophic cholecystitis, to find out which approach is much safer and more reliable. Patients and Methods: From June 2020 to June 2022, 102 patients with chronic atrophic cholecystitis underwent LC in our hospital. They were divided into anterior Calot's triangle approach group and posterior Calot's triangle approach group. In addition, their clinical data, intraoperative conditions, surgical results, and postoperative recovery were analyzed. Results: LC was performed in 41 females and 28 males by the anterior Calot's triangle approach, and in 20 females and 13 males by the posterior Calot's triangle approach. There were no differences in age, gender, and body mass index between the two groups (P > .05). The probability of rupture of cystic artery between both groups was not significantly different (P = .549), and the intraoperative blood loss was more in the anterior group (P = .014). The operative time of the posterior approach appeared to be shorter (P = .013). Bile duct injury and conversion to open cholecystectomy revealed no significant difference (P > .05). The recovery time of gastrointestinal function, wound infection, white blood cell count, liver function, and postoperative hospital stay time were found to be not significantly different (P > .05). Conclusion: By the posterior Calot's triangle approach, LC is a convenient and feasible surgical procedure for chronic atrophic cholecystitis with less blood loss and can become easier without increasing the risk of surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The investigation of thermal deformation behavior plays a significant role in guaranteeing the overall performance of alloy materials. In this manuscript, a series of isothermal compression tests at different temperatures (300, 350, 400, and 450 °C) and strain rates (0.001, 0.01, 0.1, and 1 s−1) were conducted to study the thermal deformation behavior of 7075 aluminum alloy. Subsequently, processing maps at a strain from 0.4 to 1.39 were established according to the stress–strain data obtained from various deformation parameters. The microstructural evolution of the target alloy was observed with an optical microscope and transmission electron microscope. The results reveal the unstable regions are located at (360–450 °C, 0.04–1 s−1) and (300–315 °C, 0.01–0.22 s−1). Precipitation particles, pinned dislocations, and highly dislocated areas can be observed in the microstructure of the alloy in the unstable regions. This is a potential crack and defect formation point. The identified optimum processing parameters are located at (375–450 °C, 0.001–0.03 s−1), with a maximum dissipation efficiency of 0.6. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Percutaneous balloon compression (PBC) of Gasserian ganglion has been popularly used to treat trigeminal neuralgia (TN), one of the most painful syndromes in human experience. Vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBD) is a rare cause of TN and remains challenging to treat. To our knowledge, no study has reported the therapeutic outcome of PBC for VBD-related TN (VBD-TN). In this retrospective study, we collected and analyzed the medical records of all patients undergoing PBC procedure for VBD-TN under the guidance of CT plus three-dimensional reconstruction at the Pain Management Center of Beijing Tiantan Hospital from January 2017 to December 2022. All 23 patients (15 men and 8 women) had a substantial pain relief as modified Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) I–IIIb immediately after procedure. The follow-up duration ranged from 2 to 63 months, and at the last follow-up visit, only 3 patients (13%) relapsed (BNI IV–V). The cumulative recurrence-free survival was 95%, 87%, and 74% within 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. Patients’ reported satisfactory rate was 100% as Likert scale 4–5 throughout the whole follow-up period, with no severe complications occurring. Our data revealed promising efficacy and safety of PBC procedure for treatment of VBD-TN, thus suggesting a valuable option for pain control in these rare cases of TN. However, there has been no supporting evidence that PBC treatment is a preferred option to other treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water splitting, an efficient technology to produce purified hydrogen, normally requires high cell voltage (>1.5 V), which restricts the application of single atoms electrocatalyst in water oxidation due to the inferior stability, especially in acidic environment. Substitution of anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with hydrazine oxidation reaction (HzOR) effectually reduces the overall voltage. In this work, the utilization of iridium single atom (Ir‐SA/NC) as robust hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and HzOR electrocatalyst in 0.5 m H2SO4 electrolyte is reported. Mass activity of Ir‐SA/NC is as high as 37.02 A mgIr−1 at overpotential of 50 mV in HER catalysis, boosted by 127‐time than Pt/C. Besides, Ir‐SA/NC requires only 0.39 V versus RHE to attain 10 mA cm−2 in HzOR catalysis, dramatically lower than OER (1.5 V versus RHE); importantly, a superior stability is achieved in HzOR. Moreover, the mass activity at 0.5 V versus RHE is enhanced by 83‐fold than Pt/C. The in situ Raman spectroscopy investigation suggests the HzOR pathway follows *N2H4→*2NH2→*2NH→2N→*N2→N2 for Ir‐SA/NC. The hydrazine assisted water splitting demands only 0.39 V to drive, 1.25 V lower than acidic water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was designed to examine the unique associations of parental behavioral control and psychological control with Chinese adolescents' bullying victimization, as well as the moderating role of teacher support. Using a longitudinal design, two-wave data were obtained from 2,445 junior high school students (Mage = 12.98 years, SD = 0.60, 51.7% boys at baseline) from 47 to 7 classes in central China over 6 months. Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) was used to examine the predictive effects of within-class and between-class predictors on bullying victimization. The results showed that: (1) parental control significantly predicted bullying victimization, with psychological control playing a significant positive role and behavioral control playing a significant negative role; (2) teacher support significantly negatively predicted bullying victimization; and (3) teacher support significantly moderated the effect of parental psychological control on bullying victimization, with a relatively stronger effect in low teacher support classes than in high teacher support classes, which indicated high teacher support could alleviate the harmful effect of parental psychological control, and low teacher support would greatly exacerbate the harmful effect contrarily; however, teacher support did not moderate the association between parental behavioral control and bullying victimization, implying that parental behavioral control has a consistent impact on bullying victims regardless of the level of teacher support. The educational implications of these findings and directions for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel deep learning method based on the two-dimensional convolutional neural network (2D-CNN) was proposed to predict the horizontal and vertical convergences of high-speed railway tunnels considering the spatial variability of soil Young's modulus. The input and output of the neural network were the soil Young's modulus random field and tunnel convergence, respectively. The coefficient of determination (R2) and the relative error of the predicted results were determined to evaluate the prediction performance and extrapolating ability of the proposed CNN model. The prediction accuracy increased with increasing scale of fluctuation (SOF) from 10 to 60 m as the R2 increased. Two prediction data sets with 10,000 samples (per set) were generated to illustrate the model, where the R2 values were greater than 0.99. Also, the relative errors of the limit values of 90% and 99% exceeding the probability between the CNN-predicted and random finite difference method (RFDM)-calculated convergences were within 0.64%. The computational efficiency was significantly improved by 2,371 times with satisfactory accuracy. The trained CNN model showed excellent extrapolation ability in solving cases with an anisotropic random field and variation of COV. Results indicated that the proposed CNN model is a promising surrogate of RFDM with Monte Carlo simulations to analyze tunnel convergence considering soil Young's modulus in an isotropic random field. The spatial variability of soil parameters is commonly believed to have a significant influence in assessing tunnel reliability. Traditional probabilistic analysis of tunnel deformation was generally conducted by time-inefficient random finite-element/difference methods with Monte Carlo simulations. Recently, machine learning methods are vastly applied in geotechnical engineering with the rapid development of computational techniques, aiming to improve calculation efficiency. This study develops a two-dimensional convolutional neural network-based model to predict tunnel convergence with consideration of soil spatial variability. The input and output of the surrogate model are the soil Young's modulus random field and tunnel convergence, respectively. The coefficient of determination, mean square error, and relative error are used to evaluate the prediction performance. The surrogate model is trained by isotropic random field data sets and performs excellent extrapolation ability on the data sets of the anisotropic random field. It suggests that the proposed model can conduct a probabilistic analysis of tunnel convergence in spatially variable soil with high accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between Needle Track Bleeding (NTB) and the occurrence of postoperative immediate pneumothorax remains unclear. In our cross-sectional study, we conducted a retrospective collected of data from 674 consecutive patients who underwent CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic lung biopsies between 2019 and 2022. A logistic regression model was employed to explore the association between NTB and postoperative immediate pneumothorax, and restricted cubic spline curves was used to investigate the link and its explicit curve shape. A sensitivity analysis was performed by transforming the continuous NTB into categorical variable and calculated an E-value. A total of 453 participants (47.90% male) were included in our analysis. The postoperative immediate pneumothorax rate was 41.05% (186/453). We found a negative correlation between NTB and postoperative immediate pneumothorax (OR = 0.91, 95%CI 0.88–0.95) after adjusting for confounding factors. This relationship was nonlinear, with a key inflection point at NTB of 8 mm. No significant link was noted for NTB > 8 mm (OR = 0.98, 95%CI 0.95–1.02), while a protective association was observed for NTB ≤ 8 mm (OR = 0.74, 95%CI 0.66–0.81). NTB showed a nonlinear, protective correlation with postoperative immediate pneumothorax. However, when NTB exceeded 8 mm, the protective association was not observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The necessity for the development and enhancement of teacher commitment to satisfying students' learning needs in response to the COVID crisis is increasingly highlighted. It is not known, however, how to increase commitment in schoolteachers to boost online teaching in light of the fact that they, too, are struggling to cope with the rapid, unexpected change. A total of 601 teachers from primary and secondary schools across China participated in this study, with an average teaching experience of 15.9 years. Structural equation modelling was used to verify the significance of contextual, cognitive, affective and behavioural factors in boosting teachers' commitment to online teaching. The findings demonstrated that teacher agency played a complete mediating role in the predicting power of other factors to teacher commitment. Therefore, it was recommended that attention be paid to the practice and opportunities for teacher agentic actions, which necessitates real encounters with online teaching, allowing teachers to act meaningfully and initiate a new set of teaching strategies. Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topic The large‐scale transition to emergency online teaching serves as the catalyst for creating a blended or hybrid model of education provision in the long term.How hard teachers work to perform at their best and overcome obstacles to support students' learning needs in new environment relies on the intensity of teacher commitment to change.Online and blended learning requires teachers to not only be prepared for a diverse learning environment but also to build and rebuild their own identity as future teachers.What this paper adds This study adds to our knowledge of how traditional F2F classroom teachers reinvented their roles and responsibilities in response to the pandemic‐driven challenges based on real‐world experiences.As a result of the COVID‐19 lockdown school closures, schoolteachers' commitment to enhancing online teaching efforts has increased.The study highlights the complete mediating role of teacher agency in the predicting power of cognitive and affective factors to teacher commitment.Implications for practice and/or policy To learn more about how to be a good online teacher, future teachers need greater deliberate effort in diverse online teaching activities.Future teachers should be equipped with not only new technological and remote instructional strategies and skills, but also with confidence in, value for, and actual experiences with online teaching in a technology‐rich environment.For teachers to obtain hands‐on experience in integrating technology with distance teaching pedagogy at a time of rapid change, schools should have some days online and offer blended learning opportunities wherever possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium (Ti) has been widely used in biomedical implants due to its excellent mechanical properties and biocompatibility. However, the "stress shielding" effect greatly limits the application of titanium alloys in medical devices. Studies have shown that the incorporation of bioactive elements into the titanium alloy matrix is an effective way to impart specific biological functions to the material through the sustained release of biofunctional elements. Magnesium (Mg) and its alloys have good bioactivity and are potential candidates for biodegradable metal implants. Ti–Mg composites are of increasing interest for biomedical applications. However, the incompatibility between Ti and Mg, such as immiscibility and large melting point difference, has been a great obstacle in preparing Ti–Mg composites. In addition, the biocompatibility of Ti–Mg metal matrix composites in vivo still needs to be further investigated. Herein, the recent research progress of Ti–Mg composites for biomedical implants is reviewed, focusing on their preparation methods and properties. The preparation methods such as powder metallurgy technology and 3D printing are introduced in detail. In addition, the mechanical and corrosion resistance as well as biocompatibility of Ti–Mg composites are discussed. Based on this, the problems and development prospects of Ti–Mg metal matrix composites are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemiluminescence nanoprobes with a core–shell–shell structure have been designed and applied for hyaluronidase detection. The nanoprobes can precipitate efficiently through target-regulation wettability for collection, and enrich near to the hydrophobic electrode surface through hydrophobic interaction to enhance the performance of the biosensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observational studies have reported a correlation between Helicobacter pylori infection and colorectal cancer (CRC); however, the underlying cause has remained unclear. This research was aimed at determining whether there is a correlation between H. pylori infection and CRC by measuring the prevalence of H. pylori CagA antibodies and VacA antibodies. Using data from many genome-wide association studies (GWAS), we conducted a Mendelian randomization (MR) study with two sample GWAS. Then, we used bidirectional MR to evaluate the association between H. pylori infection and CRC for identifying causation. The most common method of analysis was the inverse variance-weighted technique. In addition, we performed supplementary analyses using the weighted median technique and MR-Egger regression. Horizontal pleiotropic outliers were identified and corrected using the MR Pleiotropy RESidual Sum and Outlier (MR-PRESSO) method. Genetically predicted anti-H. pylori IgG seropositivity was not causally associated with CRC [odds ratio (OR): 1.12; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.98–1.27, P = 0.08] and neither were H. pylori VacA antibody levels (OR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.90–1.02, P = 0.25) or H. pylori CagA antibody levels (OR = 1.00, 95% CI: 0.93–1.07, P = 0.92). Furthermore, reverse MR analysis did not reveal evidence for a causal effect of CRC on H. pylori infection. The weighted median, the MR-Egger method, and MR-PRESSO yielded identical results. Using genetic data, MR analysis showed there was no evidence for a causal association between seroprevalence of H. pylori infection and CRC. The relationship between H. pylori infection and CRC requires further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional (2D) layered MoS2 has good dispersion and adsorption properties, but being a narrow bandgap semiconductor limits its application in photoelectric sensing. In this study, a homogeneous photoelectrochemical sensor based on three-dimensional (3D) ZnO/Au/2D MoS2 is proposed for the ultrasensitive detection of tetracycline (TET). MoS2 is uniformly embedded on the 3D ZnO/Au surface by ordered self-assembly. The physical method of π–π interaction of MoS2 replaces the conventional use of chemically modifying aptamers on the electrode material surface. Under optimal conditions, this method has been successfully applied to the detection of TET in milk, honey, pig kidney and pork samples with reliable results. We believe that this study presents a method for the preparation of sensing carriers and target detection with great potential for application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landslide susceptibility assessment can effectively predict the spatial distribution of potential landslides, which is of great significance in fields such as geological disaster prevention, urban planning, etc. Taking Xining City as an example, based on GF-2 remote sensing image data and combined with field survey data, this study delineated the spatial distribution range of developed landslides. Key factors controlling landslides were then extracted to establish a landslide susceptibility assessment index system. Based on this, the frequency ratio (FR), random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), and artificial neural network (ANN) models were applied to spatially predict landslide susceptibility with slope units as the basis. The main results are as follows: (1) The overall spatial distribution of landslide susceptibility classes in Xining City is consistent, but the differences between different landslide susceptibility classes are significant. (2) The high-susceptibility area predicted by the FR-RF model is the largest, accounting for 15.48% of the total study area. The prediction results of the FR-ANN and FR-SVM models are more similar, with high-susceptibility areas accounting for 13.96% and 12.97%, respectively. (3) The accuracy verification results show that all three coupled models have good spatial prediction capabilities in the study area. The order of landslide susceptibility prediction capabilities from high to low is FR-RF model > FR-ANN model > FR-SVM model. This indicates that in the study area, the FR-RF model is more suitable for carrying out landslide susceptibility assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Lapatinib is an oral small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor indicated for advanced or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer. In order to reduce the treatment cost, a high-fat enteral nutrition emulsion TPF-T was selected as a dose-sparing agent for lapatinib-based therapies. This study aimed to investigate the effect of TPF-T on lapatinib pharmacokinetics. Methods. First, a simple and rapid liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC--MS/MS) method was developed to quantitatively evaluate lapatinib in rabbit plasma. The method was fully validated according to the China Pharmacopoeia 2020 guidance. Rabbits and rats were chosen as the animal models due to their low and high bile flows, respectively. The proposed LC--MS/MS method was applied to pharmacokinetic studies of lapatinib, with or without TPF-T, in rabbit and rat plasma. Results. The LC---MS/MS method revealed high sensitivity and excellent efficiency. In the rabbit model, co-administration with TPF-T resulted in a 32.2% increase in lapatinib exposure. In the rat model, TPF-T had minimal influence on the lapatinib exposure. In both models, TPF-T was observed to significantly elevate lapatinib concentration in the absorption phase. Conclusion. Co-administration with TPF-T had a moderate effect on increasing exposure to lapatinib. Dose sparing using a high-fat liquid diet is potentially feasible for lapatinib-based therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Daning River Basin is a typical representative of the 'mountain forest' in the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) area of the Yangtze River. In recent years, with the completion of the Three Gorges Project, the local vegetation has degraded, soil erosion has become severe, and there is an urgent need to assess the environmental quality. Data were fused using the MODIS Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) (250 m) and Landsat NDVI (30 m) through an Enhanced Spatial and Temporal Adaptive Reflectance Fusion Model (ESTARFM) to obtain ESTARFM NDVI (30 m). This data was then entered into the Carnegie Ames Stanford Approach (CASA) model, along with meteorological and land use data, to calculate vegetation net primary productivity (NPP) and trends in the Daning River Basin. The detection of drivers with a high impact on vegetation NPP was done using a Geodetector. The results show that: (1) In terms of spatial and temporal changes, the annual average NPP of the watershed during the 13 years from 2008 to 2020 generally showed an upward trend, with the average yearly vegetation NPP being 512.33gC·m−2·a−1, exhibiting a low southwest to surrounding increasing trend along the river. (2) The spatial and temporal variation of vegetation NPP is influenced by several factors synergistically, with elevation, temperature, and distance from settlements being the dominant factors. The interaction of these two factors can enhance the explanatory power of vegetation NPP. Through the estimation of vegetation NPP and the analysis of influencing factors in the Daning River Basin, this study can provide a reference for the ecological restoration and management of vegetation NPP in small watersheds under similar environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The surgical approach and prognosis for invasive adenocarcinoma (IAC) and minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA) of the lung differ. However, they both manifest as identical ground‐glass nodules (GGNs) in computed tomography images, and no effective method exists to discriminate them. Methods: We developed and validated a three‐dimensional (3D) deep transfer learning model to discriminate IAC from MIA based on CT images of GGNs. This model uses a 3D medical image pre‐training model (MedicalNet) and a fusion model to build a classification network. Transfer learning was utilized for end‐to‐end predictive modeling of the cohort data of the first center, and the cohort data of the other two centers were used as independent external validation data. This study included 999 lung GGN images of 921 patients pathologically diagnosed with IAC or MIA at three cohort centers. Results: The predictive performance of the model was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). The model had high diagnostic efficacy for the training and validation groups (accuracy: 89%, sensitivity: 95%, specificity: 84%, and AUC: 95% in the training group; accuracy: 88%, sensitivity: 84%, specificity: 93%, and AUC: 92% in the internal validation group; accuracy: 83%, sensitivity: 83%, specificity: 83%, and AUC: 89% in one external validation group; accuracy: 78%, sensitivity: 80%, specificity: 77%, and AUC: 82% in the other external validation group). Conclusions: Our 3D deep transfer learning model provides a noninvasive, low‐cost, rapid, and reproducible method for preoperative prediction of IAC and MIA in lung cancer patients with GGNs. It can help clinicians to choose the optimal surgical strategy and improve the prognosis of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environments experienced by parental plants may potentially influence the performance of their offspring. These effects may also vary depending on the current environment experienced by the offspring. However, whether these transgenerational effects, especially those induced by biotic factors such as competition, can persist for multiple generations has not been tested. Here, we examined intraspecific competition‐induced transgenerational effects across multiple generations using a floating clonal plant Spirodela polyrhiza, by growing three successive generations each under either low or high density. The second‐generation offspring performed better when the first‐generation plants were grown under low than under high density, independently of the density experienced by the second generation. The third‐generation offspring performed better under low than under high density, and the difference was more pronounced when the second‐generation plants were grown under low density. Moreover, the density of the first and second generation interacted to influence the morphology of the third‐generation offspring. These results indicate that competition‐induced transgenerational effects in S. polyrhiza can vary depending on the competition environment of its offspring and that these effects can persist across multiple generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The acute toxicity and subacute toxicity of an anthocyanins extract of Lycium ruthenicum (AEL) were evaluated. Acute oral toxicity test was performed in mice via intragastric administration of AEL 8 000 mg/kg once by a fixed dose method, and the toxicity responses of the mice were observed while their general states within 14 days were recorded. SD rats were selected for a 30-day feeding experiment, the changes of body weight and physical signs of rats were recorded during theadministration. At the end of the experiment, the biochemical indexes of urine, hematological indexes, and serum biochemical indexes were examined, the morphological changes in organs were observed, and the visceral body coefficient and visceral brain coefficient were calculated. The study revealed that in the acute toxicity test, no side effects was observed in mice, and their body weights increased normally with no obvious abnormalities detected in the anatomical organs. After continuous intragastric administration for 30 days, the rats in each experimental group showed no obvious toxic reaction, and their weights increased normally; Compared with the control group, the percentage of monocytes (M%) in the female high-dose group increased significantly (P<0.05) while their AST/ALT ratios decreased significantly (P<0.05); The serum Cl- and spleen coefficients of the male high-dose group were higher than those of the control group (P<0.05). The other urine biochemical indexes, hematological indexes, serum biochemical indexes, visceral coefficient and visceral brain coefficient of the rats in the experimental group did not show significant abnormalities. The results showed that the maximum tolerable dose for single intragastric administration of AEL to mice was not lower than 8 000 mg/kg, and no toxicity reaction was found in the rats after continuous intragastric administration for 30 days. AEL had no acute and subacute toxicities under the experimental conditions, exhibiting relatively high safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hot compression of rolled 7075 alloys with different heat treatments was performed. The temperature ranged from 200 to 400 °C, and the strain rate was 0.01 s−1. The stress level decreases with the increasing temperature during compression, and the strength of the alloy in the original condition is higher than that of solution-treated (ST) alloy at the same deformation condition. The alloys with different heat treatments exhibit different anisotropic behaviors at 200 °C; the anisotropy for the alloys in both conditions becomes weaker with increasing temperature. Then, the corresponding microstructure was studied. The alloy's microstructure in its original condition consists of fiber grains; however, many equiaxed grains are found after solution treatment due to the recrystallization. The grains with different shapes lead to different anisotropic mechanical properties. For the alloys in both conditions, the density of the dislocation decreases with increasing temperature during compression, and a certain number of subgrains were found when deformed at 400 °C due to the higher driving force and a higher rate of atomic migration. Meanwhile, it is observed that the precipitates of the alloy become coarser during higher-temperature deformation. Dynamic softening is dominant in high-temperature deformation, decreasing stress during hot deformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cervical cancer (CC) is the fourth most common cancer in women, and circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been shown to regulate CC development. However, the role of circ_0006646 in CC progression is still unclear. The levels of circ_0006646, miR-758-3p, and ribonucleotide reductase regulatory subunit M2 (RRM2) were evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR. Cell proliferation was tested by cell counting kit 8 and 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine assays. Flow cytometry was used to test cell apoptosis. Migration and invasion were estimated by transwell assay. Western blot assay was performed to examine protein expression. Dual-luciferase reporter assay, RIP assay, and RNA pull down assay were used to analyze the connection between miR-758-3p and circ_0006646 or RRM2. Tumor growth was detected by in vivo experiments. Exosomes were isolated form CC patients and healthy controls. Circ_0006646 expression was elevated in CC cells, and its knockdown suppressed CC cell growth, migration, and invasion. MiR-758-3p was sponged by circ_0006646, and RRM2 was targeted by miR-758-3p. In addition, the effects of circ_0006646 depletion on CC cell progression were overturned by miR-758-3p inhibitor, and either RRM2 overexpression reversed those effects of miR-758-3p overexpression on CC cell progression. Circ_0006646 was highly expressed in the exosomes of CC patients. Circ_0006646 expedited CC cell growth and metastasis by regulating miR-758-3p/RRM2 axis, and exosomal circ_0006646 might be a potential diagnostic indicator of CC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Emergence delirium is an early postoperative behavior change in pediatric patients, posing risks to patient safety and leading to prolonged hospital stays and increased medical costs. As a result, the research on emergence delirium has grown substantially. This study aims to identify the most influential literature, trends, and topics in emergence delirium research, as well as to quantify the fundamental data of academic publications on this topic.Methods: We searched for articles on emergence delirium in the Science Citation Index Expanded databases, covering the period from 2002 to 2022. Bibliographic information, including countries, institutions, journals, authorships, references, and keywords, was collected for further analysis.Results: A total of 739 articles on emergence delirium published between 2002 and 2022 were collected. China emerged as the most prolific publisher in this field, accounting for over 30% of all articles (226 publications), followed by the United States (n = 143) and South Korea (n = 92). The top three productive journals were Pediatric anesthesia (n=78, IF=2.129), Anesthesia and Analgesia (n=28, IF=6.627), and BMC Anesthesiology (n=28, IF=2.583). Yonsei University was the most active institution, with 22 publications related to emergence delirium. Among authors, Kin, Hee-Soo (n = 9) published the most articles in this field, followed by Yao, Yusheng (n = 7), Lee, Ji-Hyun (n = 7). The prominent topics in emergence delirium research during the past two decades were "children", "emergence delirium" and "propofol".Conclusion: Through bibliometric analysis, this study provides a comprehensive overview of the trends and developments in the field of emergence delirium over the past two decades. The results demonstrate a significant growth in emergence delirium research worldwide, with China leading in the number of publications. Despite the wealth of literature on strategies for preventing and managing emergence delirium in clinical settings, further basic research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of emergence delirium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]