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The current collector, one of the main components in the manufacture of composite electrodes, is mainly used to enhance the mechanical stability and improve the performance and cycle performance of the electrodes. During the electrochemical reaction, the lithium diffusion can induce compressive stress and affect the mechanical performance, lifespan, and performance of batteries. Therefore, this study analyzed the influence of copper foil on the mechanical response and degradation performance of electrodes. In addition, a mathematical model was developed to analyze the effect of copper foil on the stress–strain behavior of the electrodes. The results indicated that the stress and modulus of the graphite electrodes have a non-linear increase with the lithiation process. Based on those findings, utilizing a thinner and more compliant current collector could effectively mitigate the in-plane strain and the stress within electrodes. Thus, developing a thinner and softer copper foil could simultaneously enhance the mechanical properties and specific density of composite electrodes for the next-generation LiBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Activating the ubiquitin-proteasome system to dismantle disease- related proteins such as tau, β-amyloid, APP, and α-synuclein is an important focus in the research of neurodegenerative proteinopathy. By analyzing the serum RNA extracted from wild-type and Alzheimer's disease (AD) transgenic mice at different ages (4, 8, and 12 months), this study revealed a new protective role of FBXL16 in AD, primarily through facilitating the degradation of disease-related proteins via the ubiquitin proteasome system. Methods: Proteomic analysis were conducted using protein lysates from HEK293 cells overexpressing FBXL16 to identify potential interacting proteins that interact with FBXL16. Subsequent experiments demonstrated that FBXL16 promotes the proteasomal degradation of the APP protein, as evidenced by co-immunoprecipitation with MG132 and cycloheximide (CHX), immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunocytochemistry (ICC). Memory and cognitive improvements were observed in 3×Tg AD mice through the use of a lentivirus-mediated approach to generate a brain-specific AD mouse model overexpressing FBXL16 via stereotaxic injection. Furthermore, a brain-specific conditional knockout (cko) FBXL16 mouse model was generated and employed to further confirm the functional role of FBXL 16 in AD via various behavioral tests including Morris water maze and Y-maze. Results: The level of FBXL16 in the brains of transgenic APP/PSEN mice with AD decreased with age. Accelerated degradation of APP was observed when FBXL16 was overexpressed in the hippocampi of these AD mice via a lentivirus. This process led to notable improvements in cognitive impairments and reductions in neuroinflammation. Further studies using proteomics and bioinformatics techniques identified transcription factors and binding proteins associated with FBXL16, providing deeper insights into the potential role of FBXL16 in the regulation of AD. Finally, the in vivo effects of FBXL16 deficiency were further substantiated in cko mice, which overexpress Aβ but specifically lack FBXL16 in the brain region. Conclusions: These findings suggest that FBXL16 could be a new regulator of AD. These findings provide a foundation for further research into drug development and potential therapeutic strategies to combat other related neurodegenerative proteinopathies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphatidylinositol signaling system plays a crucial role in plant physiology and development, phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinases (PIPKs) are one of the essential enzymes responsible for catalyzing the synthesis of phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate (PIP2) within this signaling pathway. However, its mechanism of signal transduction remains poorly exploited in plants. OsMBL1, a jacalin-related mannose-binding lectin in rice, plays a crucial role in plant defense mechanisms, acting as a key component of the pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) pathway. Here, a rice phosphatidylinositol-phosphate kinase FAB (OsPIPK-FAB), a member of the rice PIPKs family, as an interacting protein of OsMBL1 through yeast-two-hybrid (Y2H) screening assay. And this interaction was confirmed by using co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and pull-down assay techniques. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the deletion of OsPIPK-FAB gene in plant enhanced resistance against rice blast while overexpression of OsPIPK-FAB increases sensitivity to the fungal infection. Additionally, through determination and measurement of the plant inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) contents and the plant phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase (PIP5K) activity, we revealed that OsMBL1 inhibits the PIP5K kinase activity of OsPIPK-FAB as well as the plant IP3 contents in rice. Conclusively, these findings indicated that OsPIPK-FAB serves as a novel and critical component that is negatively involved in PTI activation and was inhibited by OsMBL1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The jiandiping 尖底瓶 amphora is a distinctive pottery type of the Yangshao culture (5000 − 3000 BCE), predominantly found along the middle course of the Yellow River, with a significant concentration in the Wei River Valley. Despite its widespread presence, the function of this vessel has remained elusive in scholarly discourse. This article investigates the amphora's spatial relationship to salt deposits and examines its physical characteristics, evaluating these aspects within the context of the Yangshao population's lifestyle in the Wei River Valley. By incorporating evidence from Shang dynasty oracle bone inscriptions and various ethnoarchaeological studies, we propose a new interpretation of the jiandiping amphora as a tool for salt processing. This study prompts a reevaluation of Neolithic cultural and technological practices, highlighting the Yangshao society's potential involvement in salt exploitation in the Wei River Valley. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a summary of a consensus statement on the introduction of "Ultrasound microvasculomics" produced by The Chinese Artificial Intelligence Alliance for Thyroid and Breast Ultrasound. The evaluation of microvessels is a very important part for the assessment of diseases. Super-resolution ultrasound (SRUS) microvascular imaging surpasses traditional ultrasound imaging in the morphological and functional analysis of microcirculation. SRUS microvascular imaging relies on contrast microbubbles to gain sensitivity to microvessels and improves the spatial resolution of ultrasound blood flow imaging for a more detailed depiction of vascular structures and hemodynamics. This method has been applied in preclinical animal models and pilot clinical studies, involving areas including neurology, oncology, nephrology, and cardiology. However, the current quantitative parameters of SRUS images are not enough for precise evaluation of microvessels. Therefore, by employing omics methods, more quantification indicators can be obtained, enabling a more precise and personalized assessment of microvascular status. Ultrasound microvasculomics - a high-throughput extraction of image features from SRUS images - is one novel approach that holds great promise but needs further validation in both bench and clinical settings. Clinical relevance statement: Super-resolution Ultrasound (SRUS) blood flow imaging improves spatial resolution. Ultrasound microvasculomics is possible to acquire high-throughput information of features from SRUS images. It provides more precise and abundant micro-blood flow information in clinical medicine. Key Points: This consensus statement reviews the development and application of super-resolution ultrasound (SRUS). The shortcomings of the current quantification indicators of SRUS and strengths of the omics methodology are addressed. "Ultrasound microvasculomics" is introduced for a high-throughput extraction of image features from SRUS images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies have shown that migraines are associated with brain structural changes. However, the causal relationships between these changes and migraine, as well as its subtypes, migraine with aura (MA) and migraine without aura (MO), remain largely unclear. Methods: We utilized genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics from European cohorts for 2,347 cortical structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) phenotypes, derived from both T1-weighted and diffusion tensor imaging scans (n = 36,663), with migraine and its subtypes (n = 147,970–375,752). Cortical phenotypes included both macrostructural (e.g., cortical thickness, surface area) and microstructural (e.g., fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity) features. Genetic correlations were first assessed to identify significant associations, followed by bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses to determine causal relationships between these brain phenotypes and migraine, as well as its subtypes (MA and MO). Sensitivity analyses were applied to ensure the robustness of the results. Results: Genetic correlation analysis identified 510 significant associations between cortical structural phenotypes and migraine across 401 distinct traits. Forward MR analysis revealed nine significant causal effects of cortical structural changes on migraine risk. Specifically, increased cortical thickness and local gyrification index in specific cortical regions were associated with a decreased risk of overall migraine, MA, and MO, while intracellular volume fraction and orientation diffusion index in specific regions increased the risk of MA and MO. Reverse MR analysis demonstrated that MA causally increased mean diffusivity in the insular and frontal opercular cortex. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings, with no evidence of horizontal pleiotropy or heterogeneity. Conclusion: This study identifies causal relationships between cortical neuroimaging phenotypes and migraine, highlighting potential biomarkers for migraine diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hearing loss in children and adolescents is attracting increasing attention as a growing public health problem. This study aimed to analyze the burden of hearing loss in children and adolescents from 1990 to 2021 to provide a new basis for further epidemiological research, disease prevention, and public health policy development. Methods: The prevalence and years lived with disability (YLDs) of hearing loss in children and adolescents from 1990 to 2021 at the global, regional, and national levels were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 database. The estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) was used to assess trends in prevalence and YLDs. Pearson correlation analysis was used to assess the relationships between sociodemographic index (SDI) and prevalence and YLDs. Results: In 2021, approximately 97.83 million children and adolescents under the age of 20 years were affected by hearing loss globally, resulting in approximately 3.91 million YLDs. From 1990 to 2021, the prevalence rate increased from 3537 per 100,000 to 3711 per 100,000, with an EAPC of 0.15% (95% CI: 0.12–0.17). The burden of hearing loss was greater in low-middle-SDI region and low-SDI region. Mild hearing loss accounted for 62.1% of the total cases and was the predominant type of hearing loss. Otitis media was the leading preventable cause of hearing loss, with 46.9% of hearing loss attributed to otitis media. Moreover, in children under 5 years of age, 68.7% of hearing loss was attributed to otitis media. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that the prevalence rates and YLDs rates of hearing loss were negatively correlated with the SDI (R = -0.57, P < 0.001; R = -0.64, P < 0.001). Conclusions: The burden of hearing loss in children and adolescents has increased over the past three decades and remains high. The burden is greater in less economically developed countries or regions. Policymakers should pay attention to the increasing burden of hearing loss in children and adolescents and take targeted measures to control this burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to elucidate the longitudinal refractive and ocular biometric alterations in preschool children with high hyperopia who underwent early interventions. We conducted a retrospective analysis of preschool children diagnosed with high hyperopia at Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital between 2011 and 2023. Inclusion criteria required an initial examination with cycloplegic refraction, bilateral spherical equivalent power (SE) ≥ +5.00D with a difference <1.00D, a minimum two-year follow-up, and at least three ocular biometric measurements. The annual axial growth rate evaluated emmetropization in highly hyperopic children. We applied Restricted Cubic Spline (RCS) models to explore potential nonlinear relationships between age and spherical equivalent, axial length, corneal curvature, and axial length-to-corneal curvature ratio. Additionally, Mixed-effects models were employed to investigate factors associated with changes in refractive error and axial length. The study enrolled 60 eligible subjects, with a median initial diagnosis age of 3.5 years (IQR, 2.8-4.9 years) and a median last visit age of 9.3 years (IQR, 8.1-10.8 years). The average follow-up duration was 5.7 years. RCS analysis revealed notable nonlinear changes in spherical equivalent power, axial length, and axial length-to-corneal curvature ratio, although corneal curvature displayed no statistically significant nonlinear trend. Factors affecting SE changes included the presence of strabismus, the use of cycloplegia, baseline SE, and age. Conversely, changes in axial length solely correlated with baseline axial length and age. Highly hyperopic preschool children undergoing early intervention display a marked emmetropization tendency, though most still remain moderately to highly hyperopic, with the progression of refractive changes showing non-uniform patterns with respect to age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Compared with NaCl, NaHCO3 caused more serious oxidative damage and photosynthesis inhibition in safflower by down-regulating the expression of related genes. Salt-alkali stress is one of the important factors that limit plant growth. NaCl and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) are neutral and alkaline salts, respectively. This study investigated the physiological characteristics and molecular responses of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) leaves treated with 200 mmol L−1 of NaCl or NaHCO3. The plants treated with NaCl treatment were less effective at inhibiting the growth of safflower, but increased the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in leaves. Meanwhile, safflower alleviated stress damage by increasing proline (Pro), soluble protein (SP), and soluble sugar (SS). Both fresh weight and dry weight of safflower was severely decreased when it was subjected to NaHCO3 stress, and there was a significant increase in the permeability of cell membranes and the contents of osmotic regulatory substances. An enrichment analysis of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) using Gene Ontology and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes identified significant enrichment of photosynthesis and pathways related to oxidative stress. Furthermore, a weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) showed that the darkgreen module had the highest correlation with photosynthesis and oxidative stress traits. Large numbers of transcription factors, primarily from the MYB, GRAS, WRKY, and C2H2 families, were predicted from the genes within the darkgreen module. An analysis of physiological indicators and DEGs, it was found that under saline-alkali stress, genes related to chlorophyll synthesis enzymes were downregulated, while those related to degradation were upregulated, resulting in inhibited chlorophyll biosynthesis and decreased chlorophyll content. Additionally, NaCl and NaHCO3 stress downregulated the expression of genes related to the Calvin cycle, photosynthetic antenna proteins, and the activity of photosynthetic reaction centers to varying degrees, hindering the photosynthetic electron transfer process, suppressing photosynthesis, with NaHCO3 stress causing more pronounced adverse effects. In terms of oxidative stress, the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) did not change significantly under the NaCl treatment, but the contents of hydrogen peroxide and the rate of production of superoxide anions increased significantly under NaHCO3 stress. In addition, treatment with NaCl upregulated the levels of expression of the key genes for superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), the ascorbate-glutathione cycle, and the thioredoxin-peroxiredoxin pathway, and increased the activity of these enzymes, thus, reducing oxidative damage. Similarly, NaHCO3 stress increased the activities of SOD, CAT, and POD and the content of ascorbic acid and initiated the glutathione-S-transferase pathway to remove excess ROS but suppressed the regeneration of glutathione and the activity of peroxiredoxin. Overall, both neutral and alkaline salts inhibited the photosynthetic process of safflower, although alkaline salt caused a higher level of stress than neutral salt. Safflower alleviated the oxidative damage induced by stress by regulating its antioxidant system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice blast, caused by the fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae (M. oryzae), is a highly destructive disease that significantly impacts rice yield and quality. During the infection, M. oryzae secretes effector proteins to subvert the host immune response. However, the interaction between the effector protein AvrPik-D and its target proteins in rice, and the mechanism by which AvrPik-D exacerbates disease severity to facilitate infection, remains poorly understood. In this study, we found that the M. oryzae effector AvrPik-D interacts with the Rubisco (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase) small subunit OsRBCS4. The overexpression of the OsRBCS4 gene in transgenic rice not only enhances resistance to M. oryzae but also induces more reactive oxygen species following chitin treatment. OsRBCS4 localizes to chloroplasts and co-localizes with AvrPik-D within these organelles. AvrPik-D suppresses the transcriptional expression of OsRBCS4 and inhibits Rubisco activity in rice. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that the M. oryzae effector AvrPik-D targets the Rubisco small subunit OsRBCS4 and inhibits its carboxylase and oxygenase activity, thereby suppressing rice innate immunity to facilitate infection. This provides a novel mechanism for the M. oryzae effector to subvert the host immunity to promote infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural water rights trading has become an effective means to solve the shortage of agricultural water. However, in the context of uncertainty, the key elements of the water rights trading system and their interactions remain unclear. Therefore, this study constructs a multi-dimensional collaborative optimization model for agricultural water rights based on water price reform under a changing environment. The model quantitatively characterizes the synergistic effects of resource, economic, social, environmental, and ecological objectives on initial water rights allocation and trading. At the same time, the model uses a system dynamics model and intuitionistic fuzzy number to reflect the impact of a changing environment and uncertainty of the management system on water rights allocation and trading. The results show that through water rights trading, the overall coordinated development of farms has been improved, and the economic benefits and water resources utilization efficiency have been improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

News text is an important branch of natural language processing. Compared to ordinary texts, news text has significant economic and scientific value. The characteristics of news text include structural hierarchy, diverse label categories, and limited high-quality annotation samples. Many machine learning and deep learning methods exist to analyze various forms of news text. However, due to label imbalance, hierarchical semantics, and confusing labels, current methods have limitations. Therefore, this paper proposes a news text classification framework based on hierarchical semantics and prior correction (HSPC). Firstly, data augmentation is used to enhance the diversity of the training set and adversarial learning is employed to improve the resistance of the model with its robustness. Then, a hierarchical feature extraction approach is employed to extract semantic features from different levels of news texts. Consequentially, a feature fusion method is designed to allow the model to focus on relevant hierarchical semantics for label classification. Finally, highly confusing label predictions are corrected to optimize the label prediction of the model and improve confidence. Multiple experiments are performed on four widely used public datasets. The experimental results indicate that HSPC achieves higher classification accuracy compared to other models. On the FCT, AGNews, THUCNews, and Ohsumed datasets, HSPC improves the accuracy by 1.03%, 1.38%, 2.55%, and 1.15%, respectively, compared to state-of-the-art methods. This validates the rationality and effectiveness of the designed mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) arch bridges have a high center of gravity and a substantial mass, resulting in a discernible seismic response. Consequently, long-span CFST arch bridges must retain exceptional seismic performance and appropriate seismic control design. In this study, the dynamic response and seismic performance of a unique swallow-type CFST arch bridge when subjected to longitudinal earthquake forces were analyzed using numerical simulation methods. The displacement and axial force response results and their laws of the key bridge components were obtained. Taking into account seismic checking calculations, two damping measures were proposed for the CFST arch bridge, as the relative displacement of the girder end exceeded the allowable value specified. The appropriate design parameters for viscous dampers and lead shear dampers were examined. Additionally, the seismic performance of these dampers was verified through a shaking table test using a 1:16 scale model. The findings indicated that when subjected to Wenchuan Wolong wave action, the relative displacement between the steel box girder and the concrete girder of the bridge was significantly larger, leading to girder end pounding. The limit values were surpassed by 32.5% and 50%, when subjected to the uniform and traveling wave excitations, respectively, thus indicating that the expansion joint was the most vulnerable component. Following the selection of optimal parameters for the dampers, the dampers exhibited the capability to mitigate seismic and pounding impacts. Long-span CFST arch bridges with dampers were found to effectively reduce the seismic response of the skewback strain and vault, as well as the relative displacement of the girder ends. Furthermore, the average maximum damping rates achieved by the viscous damper and the lead shear damper reached 44.9% and 44.6%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice blast, caused by the fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae, is one of the most devastating diseases for rice crops, significantly affecting crop yield and quality. During the infection process, M. oryzae secretes effector proteins that help in hijacking the host's immune responses to establish infection. However, little is known about the interaction between the effector protein AvrPik-D and the host protein Pikh, and how AvrPik-D increases disease severity to promote infection. In this study, we show that the M. oryzae effector AvrPik-D interacts with the zinc finger-type transcription factor WG7 in the nucleus and promotes its transcriptional activity. Genetic removal (knockout) of the gene WG7 in transgenic rice enhances resistance to M. oryzae and also results in an increased burst of reactive oxygen species after treatments with chitin. In addition, the hormone level of SA and JA, is increased and decreased respectively in WG7 KO plants, indicating that WG7 may negatively mediate resistance through salicylic acid pathway. Conversely, WG7 overexpression lines reduce resistance to M. oryzae. However, WG7 is not required for the Pikh-mediated resistance against rice blast. In conclusion, our results revealed that the M. oryzae effector AvrPik-D targets and promotes transcriptional activity of WG7 to suppress rice innate immunity to facilitate infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese flowering cherry (Cerasus serrulata), an ornamental tree with established medicinal values, is observed to suffer from leaf blight within Xi'an's greenbelts. This disease threatens both the plant's growth and its ornamental appeal. In this study, 26 isolates were obtained from plants with typical leaf blight, and only 3 isolates (XA-10, XA-15, and XA-18) were found to be pathogenic, causing similar symptoms on the leaves of the host plant. Based on sequence alignment, the ITS and LSU sequences of the three selected isolates were consistent, respectively. Following morphological and molecular analyses, the three selected isolates were further identified as Mortierella alpina. The three selected isolates exhibited similar morphological characteristics, including wavy colonies with dense, milky-white aerial mycelia on PDA medium. Therefore, isolate XA-10 was used as a representative strain for subsequent experiments. The representative strain XA-10 was found to exhibit optimal growth at a temperature of 30 °C and a pH of 7.0. Host range infection tests further revealed that the representative strain XA-10 could also inflict comparable disease symptoms on both the leaves and fruits of three different Rosaceae species (Prunus persica, Pyrus bretschneideri, and Prunus salicina). This study reveals, for the first time, the causative agent of leaf blight disease affecting the Chinese flowering cherry. This provides a deeper understanding of the biology and etiology of M. alpina. This study lays a solid foundation for the sustainable control and management of leaf blight disease in the Chinese flowering cherry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vulnerability zoning of the urban ground subsidence in Tangshan City was investigated in this study, taking into account factors such as the geological lithology, rainfall, population density, road network density, seismic acceleration, and river network density. The main research of this paper is slow land subsidence affecting large territories. A single-factor analysis was conducted using ArcGIS, followed by a grid-weighted overlay analysis. Values were assigned to each factor to generate a vulnerability zoning map. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and information value evaluation model were then employed to assess the ground subsidence risk. An evaluation index system was established, comprising the evaluation objective layer, criterion layer, and indicator layer. An evaluation judgment matrix for the ground subsidence risk was constructed, with the calculation of the weight and information value of each risk evaluation indicator, and the total information value of the study area. Four risk levels were determined: high, moderate, relatively low, and low. The findings demonstrate the scientific validity, rationality, and practical applicability of the vulnerability zoning research and risk assessment method for addressing the ground subsidence in Tangshan City. This study contributes to the understanding and management of the ground subsidence risk, providing a robust framework for urban planning and disaster mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the seismic performance and isolation effect of a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor, a 1/20 scale model including a reactor, a spent-fuel plant, and a nuclear auxiliary plant was fabricated. In addition, 220 mm lead-rubber bearings were designed and produced for use in the shaking table test, which included both isolated and nonisolated conditions. Two historical earthquake records and three artificial earthquake motions were used to input the ground motion in the tests. The results demonstrated that the seismic performance of the plant was better and that the structure was in an elastic state, under a safe shutdown earthquake event. Isolation bearings were found to effectively reduce the dominate frequency of the structure. The acceleration amplification factor of the superstructure was found to be less than 1. The isolation test results showed that the peak of the floor response spectrum at the pressure vessel support was less than 0.1 g. In the nonisolation test, the peak of the floor response spectrum was greater than 1 g. In the isolation test, the relative displacement of the structure was less than 1.1 mm, which was relatively small. The structure maintained a good isolation performance and exhibited improved safety under extreme ground motion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wei safflower seed oil (WSO) prepared by the cold pressing method and organic solvent extraction method was characterized in this study. The yield of cold-pressed WSO (CP-WSO) was inferior to that of n-hexane-extracted WSO (HE-WSO). The physicochemical properties (refractive index, density, iodine value, insoluble impurities) and fatty acid compositions were similar, and both were rich in linoleic acid. However, CP-WSO had better color and less solvent residue. The type and content of vitamin E in CP-WSO was also superior to that in HE-WSO, which explained the high oxidative stability of CP-WSO in the Rancimat test. Our results provide a reference for the development of Wei safflower seed oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is a novel regulator that can promote plant growth, nitrogen uptake, and abiotic stress tolerance. Its underlying mechanisms, however, have not been fully investigated. In this study, the effects of ALA on morphology, photosynthesis, antioxidant systems, and secondary metabolites in two cultivars of 5-year-old Chinese yew (Taxus chinensis) seedlings, 'Taihang' and 'Fujian', were examined under shade stress (30% light for 30 days) using different doses of ALA (0, 30, and 60 mg/L). The findings from our study show that shade stress significantly reduced plant height, stem thickness, and crown width and increased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. However, the application of 30 mg/L ALA effectively mitigated these effects, which further induced the activity of antioxidant enzymes under shade stress, resulting in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) being increased by 10%, 16.4%, and 42.1%, and 19.8%, 20.1%, and 42% in 'Taihang' and 'Fujian', respectively. It also promoted their role in the absorption, conversion, and efficient use of light energy. Additionally, the use of 30 mg/L ALA caused a significant increase in the concentration of secondary metabolites, including polysaccharide (PC), carotenoid (CR), and flavonoids (FA), with increases of up to 46.1%, 13.4%, and 35.6% and 33.5%, 7.5%, and 57.5% in both yew cultivars, respectively, contributing to nutrient uptake. With ALA treatment, the yew seedlings showed higher chlorophyll (total chlorophyll, chlorophyll a and b) levels and photosynthesis rates than the seedlings that received the shade treatment alone. To conclude, the application of 30 mg/L ALA alleviated shade stress in yew seedlings by maintaining redox balance, protecting the photorespiratory system, and increasing organic metabolites, thus increasing the number of new branches and shoots and significantly promoting the growth of the seedlings. Spraying with ALA may be a sustainable strategy to improve the shade-resistant defense system of yew. As these findings increase our understanding of this shade stress response, they may have considerable implications for the domestication and cultivation of yew. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Residential electricity consumption forecasting plays a crucial role in the rational allocation of resources reducing energy waste and enhancing the grid-connected operation of power systems. Probabilistic forecasting can provide more comprehensive information for the decision-making and dispatching process by quantifying the uncertainty of electricity load. In this study, we propose a method based on stationary wavelet transform (SWT), quantile regression (QR), Bidirectional nested long short-term memory (BiNLSTM), and Depthwise separable convolution (DSC) combined with attention mechanism for electricity consumption probability prediction methods. First, the data sequence is decomposed using SWT to reduce the complexity of the sequence; then, the combined neural network model with attention is used to obtain the prediction values under different quantile conditions. Finally, the probability density curve of electricity consumption is obtained by combining kernel density estimation (KDE). The model was tested using historical demand-side data from five UK households to achieve energy consumption predictions 5 min in advance. It is demonstrated that the model can achieve both reliable probabilistic prediction and accurate deterministic prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The layout of deformation monitoring points on karst slopes is affected by the thickness of karst overburden soil, dissolution and fragmentation degree, karst development degrees, slope cracking degree, faults or weak interlayers, and other factors. In the study of deformation prediction and disaster warning during karst slope construction, the influencing factors and deformation trend should be comprehensively considered. Based on the error analysis principle and grey theory, grey upper and lower limit prediction models of slope deformation were proposed. These models were applied to the Damao slope, and the probability that the measured cumulative value at each monitoring point remains within the upper and lower grey limits ranged from 61.54 to 100%. The probability at D4, D5, and D11 was low, the probability at the other monitoring points was mostly concentrated between 70 and 90%, and the probability at some monitoring points even reached 100%. Therefore, grey upper and lower limit models are feasible for interval fitting prediction of karst slope deformation data. In addition, based on an empirical equation of the slope sliding limit deformation rate and the grey prediction model, the critical control warning value of slope deformation was obtained, which provides a basis for the quantification of the deformation index of risk evaluation. Through theoretical analysis and field data processing, it was proven that the established grey upper and lower limit prediction models of slope deformation and the critical control warning value of catastrophic deformation are scientific, reasonable, and effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the vigorous development of digital technology, the development of the digital economy has become an important component of the global economy. Against the background of negative growth of major global economies hit hard by the COVID-19 epidemic, the steadily rising digital economy has become a key force to boost the global economy and an important engine to promote global economic development. Northeast Asian countries should use the dividends released by the digital economy to promote the coordinated development of digital technology innovation within the region, respond to technological revolution and industrial transformation, and build new international competitive advantages. This article provides a detailed overview of the current development status of digital economy in various countries in Northeast Asia, analyzes the challenges faced by countries in the region in developing cross-border digital economic and trade cooperation from three aspects: political mutual trust, digital divide, and network security. It further proposes to build a cross-border digital service trade platform in Northeast Asia, establish a China North Russia Far East digital free trade zone, so as to promote the deepening of cooperation and common development in digital trade within the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cu and Zn are common and potentially harmful heavy metals to plants, animals and humans. Herein, we investigated the effects of Cu and Zn stress on the photosynthesis and tolerance mechanism of alfalfa plants to ROS using fluorescence and biochemical methods. The results showed that Cu stress significantly reduced the chlorophyll content of the leaves, while Zn stress only reduced the Chl a content. The Fv/Fm decreased significantly under Cu stress but was not affected by Zn treatment. However, the PIABS of the leaves were sensitive to Cu and Zn stress. Both Cu and Zn stress resulted in the weakening of the ability of PQ library to accept electrons, the damage of OEC and the inhibition of the electron transfer from QA- to QB. Moreover, Cu stress also dissociated the thylakoids of leaves, but Zn stress did not significantly damage it. In Cu and Zn stressed leaves, the reduction of RC/CSm significantly increased the ABS/RC and TRo/RC values. When the stress intensified, the value of DIo/RC increased indicated a plant self-protection mechanism that eliminates excess energy in the PSII reaction center and increases the energy for heat dissipation per unit reaction center. Cu stress significantly increased the O2- production rate, H2O2 content, and MDA accumulation in the leaves. However, Zn stress exhibited a minimal effect on the ROS production and oxidative damage in the alfalfa leaves but increased the O2- production rate at the concentration of 800 μmol·L−1. Cu stress increased the activities of SOD, POD, CAT, APX, and GPX in the leaves; however, leaves adapts to Zn stress by enhancing the activities of SOD and GPX. Thus under Cu stress, the degree of photoinhibition and oxidative damage in alfalfa leaves were significantly higher than under Zn stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combined action of freeze–thaw cycles and chloride-induced corrosion are generally recognized as one of the main causes of the degradation of the mechanical properties and seismic performance of reinforced concrete (RC) structures in the northern frozen coastal regions. To investigate the degradation mechanisms of the seismic performance of RC columns subjected to the combined action of freeze–thaw cycles and chloride-induced corrosion, the impact of freeze–thaw cycles on the chloride diffusion coefficient of concrete was studied through concrete deterioration tests and theoretical analysis. This paper proposed a time-dependent deterioration model for RC columns, which is suitable to consider the combined action of freeze–thaw cycles and chloride-induced deterioration. The proposed deterioration model could be applied to the investigations of time-dependent seismic performance and the seismic fragility of RC columns. Based on the established deterioration model, this paper proposed a time-dependent seismic fragility analysis framework for the aging RC columns, considering the combined action of freeze–thaw cycles and chloride-induced corrosion. In addition, a representative three-span RC continuous T-shaped girder bridge that is located in the high-latitude northern frozen coastal regions of China was taken as the case study, and the time-dependent seismic fragility analysis of RC columns was conducted considering the involved uncertainties in geometric parameters, the deterioration mechanisms of the materials, and ground motions. The time-dependent seismic fragility curves of RC columns were obtained at different service time points. The results indicated that the combined action of freeze–thaw cycles and chloride-induced deterioration had a significant influence on the time-dependent seismic responses of the deteriorating RC columns. Under the combined action of freeze–thaw cycles and chloride-induced corrosion, when the RC bridge was in service for 75 years, the stirrup strength decreased by 3.88% and the cross-sectional area decreased by 30.03%. The peak stress of the confined concrete decreased by 52.1% and its peak strain increased by 12.2 times, respectively. Moreover, the time-dependent seismic fragilities of the aging RC columns under different damage states exhibited a nonlinear increase as the service life increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical compositions and deposition characteristics of atmospheric precipitation affect the structure and function of forest ecosystems and reflect regional air quality. Although northeastern China constitutes a vital forested area, few relevant studies reveal the chemical composition and the nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S) deposition characteristics within precipitation. In this study, we monitor precipitation chemistry during 2018–2020 at a rural forested site in northeastern China (the Qingyuan site) and compare it with those from background sites (Mondy in Russia and Ochiishi in Japan) and highly anthropogenically influenced areas (Beijing). The precipitation pH range was 4.7–8.0 (volume-weighted average 6.2). The average concentration of total ions in precipitation was 459 μmol L−1, representing a moderate pollution level. Nitrate (NO3−, 73 μmol L−1) and ammonium (NH4+, 133 μmol L−1) were the major anions and cations in the precipitation. Total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) deposition was 12.3–15.9 kg N ha−1 year−1 (NH4+-N deposition accounted for 54–67%), lower than the average level in China (19.4 kg N ha−1 year−1). Annual precipitation sulphate (SO42−) deposition was 4.9–6.7 kg S ha−1 year−1. Seventy-two percent of the precipitation ions at our site originated from human activities. This work has revealed that N and S deposition is an important ion deposition component in atmospheric precipitation in the study of temperate forests in northeastern China. Nitrogen deposition, as a source of vital nutrients in the forest ecosystem, may promote forest growth and, thereby, forest carbon sequestration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate the construction of an aggregation-induced electrochemiluminescent (AIECL) sensor for glutathione (GSH) assay by integrating an aminal-linked covalent organic framework (A-COF) with manganese dioxide (MnO2) nanosheets. The AIECL of the A-COF is quenched by the MnO2 nanosheets via electrochemiluminescent resonance energy transfer (ERET) from the excited A-COF to MnO2. The presence of GSH can reduce the MnO2 nanosheets into Mn2+, restoring the AIECL emission of the A-COF. This AIECL sensor has the characteristics of fast response, high sensitivity, and good selectivity toward GSH, and it can accurately measure GSH in human serum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the study of deformation prediction and disaster warning during karst slope construction, the influencing factors and deformation law should be comprehensively considered. The layout of the deformation monitoring points of karst slope is affected by the thickness of karst overburden soil, dissolution and fragmentation degree, karst development degree, slope cracking degree, fault or weak interlayer and other factors. In this paper, the author aimed at the problem of construction deformation prediction and disaster warning of karst slope, proposed an improved model of cusp mutation by applying and optimizing the cusp mutation model, analysed the deformation trend and sudden change type of the slope, and obtained the critical control early warning value of slope deformation. Therefore, it is feasible to analyse the deformation and mutation characteristics of karstified slope by using a virtual reality-mutation model. In addition, based on the empirical formula of the slope sliding limit deformation rate and grey prediction model, the critical control warning value of slope deformation is obtained, which provides a basis to quantify the deformation index of risk evaluation. This method provides a new idea to predict karst slope construction deformation and catastrophic deformation warning and has a reference value for similar engineering examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pickering emulsion gels have potential application as solid fat substitutes and nutraceutical carriers in foods, but a safe and easily available food-derived particle emulsifier is the bottleneck that limits their practical application. In this study, the function of sorghum flour as a particle emulsifier to stabilize the oil-in-water (O/W) Pickering emulsion gels with medium chain triglycerides (MCT) in the oil phase was introduced. Sorghum flour had suitable size distribution (median diameter, 21.47 μm) and wettability (contact angle, 38°) and could reduce the interfacial tension between MCT and water. The oil phase volume fraction (φ) and the addition amount of sorghum flour (c) had significant effects on the formation of Pickering emulsion gels. When c ≥ 5%, Pickering emulsion gels with φ = 70% could be obtained. Microstructure analysis indicated that sorghum flour not only played an emulsifying role at the O/W interface but also prevented oil droplets from coalescing through its viscous effect in the aqueous phase. With increases in c, the droplet size of the emulsion gel decreased, its mechanical properties gradually strengthened, and its protective effect on β-carotene against UV irradiation also improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on data mining, an innovative big data analysis platform was utilized to discuss the treatment of cancer in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) by dasatinib, aiming to offer help to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. An integrated gene expression analysis system (IEAS) was firstly constructed to automatically classify data in the online human Mendelian genetic database using clustering algorithms. At the same time, the gene expression profile was analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) in the analysis system. In addition, the efficacy of dasatinib in the treatment of patients with advanced CML was then retrospectively analyzed. The results showed that the IEAS system could incorporate the gene expression analysis vectors it contained by JAVA-related technologies, and the generated clustering genes showed similar functions. The clustering algorithm could homogenize data and generate visual clustering heat maps. The analysis results of major elements were diverse under different experimental conditions. The characteristic value of the first major element was the largest. Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) datasets of CML patients were selected from cancer genomic map, including 120 samples and 20,614 mRNA in total. In micro-RNA (miRNA) datasets, there were 202 samples including 1,406 miRNAs. Data were screened by miRNA–mRNA regulation template, and 20 differentially expressed mRNAs were obtained. In conclusion, the proposed IEAS system could mine and analyze the gene expression data. Dasatinib showed good efficacy in the treatment of patients with advanced CML. Besides, it could improve visual queries, and data mining had a broad application prospect in clinical application. Dasatinib was considered to be a good option for patients with advanced CML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Red raspberry contains a variety of bioactive ingredients and has high edible and medicinal value. Red raspberry extractions (RREs) have strong antioxidant capacity and anticancer ability in vivo and in vitro. This study was to explore the specific mechanism of RREs inhibiting the proliferation of liver cancer HepG2 cells and provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of liver cancer by RREs. HepG2 cells were cultured in vitro, and MTT assay was adopted to detect the effect of RREs on HepG2 cell activity. Colony formation assay was applied to detect the growth and proliferation of cells, cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry, and dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) assay was adopted to detect the effect of RREs on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells. The effect of RREs on cell mitochondrial membrane potential was evaluated by mitochondrial membrane potential assay kit with JC-1 (JC-1 assay), and western blot was used to detect the expression of apoptosis-related proteins (B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated x (Bax), and Caspase-3), thus investigating the effect of RREs on the molecular mechanism of HepG2 cell apoptosis. The results showed that RREs could inhibit the proliferation activity of HepG2 cells and promote their apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. The level of ROS in HepG2 cells interfered by RREs increased markedly, while the cell mitochondrial membrane potential decreased sharply. As the concentration of HepG2 increased, the mitochondrial membrane potential reduced steeply. Western blot results showed that the expression of apoptosis-related protein Bcl-2 in the RREs treatment group dropped, but the expression of Bax and Caspase-3 rose. In summary, RREs could inhibit the proliferation of liver cancer HepG2 cells and promote their apoptosis. This inhibition might be executed by inducing HepG2 cells to produce ROS, a decrease in Bcl-2/Bax protein ratio, and an obvious reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Critical for the seismic safety of immersed tunnels is the magnitude of deformation and force developing in the segment joints. To investigate the seismic performance of segment joint in immersed tunnel, this paper presents a series of shaking table arrays tests that were performed on a microconcrete tunnel model embedded in the soil. The tests take account of the uniform and wave passage effect in different apparent wave velocity of longitudinal seismic excitation. The result showed that the wave passage effect had a great impact on axial force, bending moment and deformation of joints. The comparison showed that structural response under nonuniform earthquake excitation is larger than that under uniform excitation. The simplified model was established in ABAQUS for numerical analysis. The soil around the tunnel was simplified as spring-damper, the tunnel was simplified as beam element, and the joint was simulated by nonlinear spring. The numerical simulation results were in good agreement with the experimental data. In addition, the model was analyzed by changing input apparent wave velocity, joint stiffness and joint number. The results showed that the deformation of joints was smaller and the deformation of flexible joints was greater under high apparent wave velocity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of heart failure (HF) is closely correlated with the disturbance of mitochondrial energy metabolism, and trimetazidine (TMZ) has been regarded as an effective agent in treating HF. Intracellular potassium ion (K+) homeostasis, which is modulated by K+ channels and transporters, is crucial for maintaining normal myocardial function and can be disrupted by HF. This study is aimed at exploring the protective effect of TMZ on K+ homeostasis within myocardial tissue in mice with HF. We observed the pathological changes of myocardial tissue under microscopes and further measured the content of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the activity of Na+-K+ ATPase, and the expression of ATP1α1 at the mRNA and protein levels. Moreover, we also analyzed the changes in K+ flux across the myocardial tissue in mice. As a result, we found that there was a large amount of myocardial fiber lysis and fracture in HF myocardial tissue. Meanwhile, the potassium flux of mice with HF was reduced, and the expression of ATP1α1, the activity of Na+-K+ ATPase, and the supply and delivery of ATP were also decreased. In contrast, TMZ can effectively treat HF by restoring K+ homeostasis in the local microenvironment of myocardial tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human health is deteriorating due to the effluent containing heavy metal ions and organic dyes. Hence, photoreduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) and degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) using a novel photocatalyst is particularly important. In this work, h-BN/NiS2/NiS composites were prepared via a simple solvothermal method and a double Z-scheme heterojunction was constructed for efficiently removing RhB and Cr(VI). The 7 wt-% h-BN/NiS2/NiS composites were characterized via a larger specific surface area (15.12 m2·g−1), stronger light absorption capacity, excellent chemical stability, and high yield of electrons and holes. The experimental result indicated that the photoreduction efficiency of the 7 wt-% h-BN/NiS2/NiS photocatalyst achieved 98.5% for Cr(VI) after 120 min, which was about 3 times higher than that of NiS2/NiS (34%). However, the removal rate of RhB by the 7 wt-% h-BN/NiS2/NiS photocatalyst reached 80%. This is due to the double Z-scheme heterojunction formed between NiS2/NiS and h-BN, which improved the charge separation efficiency and transmission efficiency. Besides, the influence of diverse photogenerated electron and hole scavengers upon the photoreduction of Cr(VI) was studied, the results indicated that graphene-like h-BN promoted transportation of photoinduced charges on the surface of the h-BN/NiS2/NiS photocatalyst via the interfacial effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The functions of ubiquitin‐conjugating enzymes (E2) in plant immunity are not well understood. In this study, OsUBC26, a rice ubiquitin‐conjugating enzyme, was characterized in the defence against Magnaporthe oryzae. The expression of OsUBC26 was induced by M. oryzae inoculation and methyl jasmonate treatment. Both RNA interference lines and CRISPR/Cas9 null mutants of OsUBC26 reduced rice resistance to M. oryzae. WRKY45 was down‐regulated in OsUBC26 null mutants. In vitro E2 activity assay indicated that OsUBC26 is an active ubiquitin‐conjugating enzyme. Yeast two‐hybrid assays using OsUBC26 as bait identified the RING‐type E3 ligase UCIP2 as an interacting protein. Coimmunoprecipitation assays confirmed the interaction between OsUBC26 and UCIP2. The CRISPR/Cas9 mutants of UCIP2 also showed compromised resistance to M. oryzae. Yeast two‐hybrid screening using UCIP2 as bait revealed that APIP6 is a binding partner of UCIP2. Moreover, OsUBC26 working with APIP6 ubiquitinateds AvrPiz‐t, an avirulence effector of M. oryzae, and OsUBC26 null mutation impaired the proteasome degradation of AvrPiz‐t in rice cells. In summary, OsUBC26 plays important roles in rice disease resistance by regulating WRKY45 expression and working with E3 ligases such as APIP6 to counteract the effector protein AvrPiz‐t from M. oryzae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a new preparation method for aromatics through the catalytic pyrolysis of furfural from biomass. The use of HZSM‐5 zeolite as a catalyst with different pore sizes, pore geometries, and acidity levels was investigated for the conversion of furfural into aromatics. Results showed that product selectivity was dependent on the pore size and radius of the zeolites. Catalyst and reaction conditions were critical in maximizing the selectivity of aromatic hydrocarbons. The highest yield of 58.49 wt% was achieved at 10 ml min−1 N2 purge rate, 0.5 ml h−1 feeding rate, 500 °C pyrolysis temperature, and 23 catalyst Si/Al ratio. The highest carbon yield of benzene (12.74 %), toluene (11.13 %), xylene (8.54 %), and total (30.85 %) was obtained when the HZSM‐5 zeolite was treated with HCl (0.9 mol/L) solution. On the basis of current experimental results and previous reports, the mechanism of Lewis and Bronsted acid sites was inferred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Brain metastasis is extremely rare but predicts dismal prognosis in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Dynamic evaluation of stepwise metastatic lesions was barely conducted to identify the longitudinal genomic evolution of brain metastasis in PTC. Method: Chronologically resected specimen was analyzed by whole exome sequencing, including four metastatic lymph nodes (lyn 1–4) and brain metastasis lesion (BM). Phylogenetic tree was reconstructed to infer the metastatic pattern and the potential functional mutations. Results: Contrasting with lyn1, ipsilateral metastatic lesions (lyn2–4 and BM) with shared biallelic mutations of TSC2 indicated different genetic originations from multifocal tumors. Lyn 3/4, particularly lyn4 exhibited high genetic similarity with BM. Besides the similar mutational compositions and signatures, shared functional mutations (CDK4 R24C , TP53R342*) were observed in lyn3/4 and BM. Frequencies of these mutations gradually increase along with the metastasis progression. Consistently, TP53 knockout and CDK4 R24C introduction in PTC cells significantly decreased radioiodine uptake and increased metastatic ability. Conclusion: Genomic mutations in CDK4 and TP53 during the tumor evolution may contribute to the lymph node and brain metastasis of PTC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The equation of states (EOS) that correlates the pressure, volume and temperature (PVT) of detonation products is indispensable in the numerical modeling of blasting performances of energetic materials. Based on extensive molecular dynamics simulations on the mixtures of CO2, H2O, N2, CO and H2, which are the main components of detonation products of cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine (HMX), the relation of pressure with density, temperature and composition is derived in the range of 1.4–2.2 g/cm3 for density, 3000–4400 K for temperature and 8–40 GPa for pressure. The proposed EOS exhibits good general applicability under the studied conditions and reasonable agreement with the experimentally established Becker–Kistiakowsky–Wilson (BKW) equation. Although several approximations are applied in the computations and some deviations remains, it suggests an effective and feasible approach to establish the EOS for detonation products of energetic materials by means of molecular modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between atmospheric precipitation and water vapor sources is close, so it is of great significance to carry out the identification of interaction region influenced by different summer monsoons of China. Based on the wind direction data of the Global Data Assimilation System, provided by the National Centers for Environmental Prediction, this study introduces the backward trajectory model of the Hybrid-Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory to track the source of rainy season precipitation in Southwest China. It not only quantifies the contribution rate of each geography direction in 16 sampling sites, but also simulates the water vapor transport path and tries to demarcate boundary between the moistures from the Bay of Bengal and the South China Sea. There are three main results. Firstly, the Bay of Bengal, the South China Sea, and the Northwestern Pacific Ocean are the water vapor sources. Secondly, the Bay of Bengal is the most in Yunnan while the South China Sea in Guangxi. Thirdly, the dividing region of different vapors in the rainy season is supposed to be in the eastern of Yunnan, which is nearby three sampling sites, Gejiu, Mengzi and Yanshan. The barrier function of Ailaoshan Mountain should be the major cause. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the DNA origami technique, we constructed a DNA nanodevice functionalized with small interfering RNA (siRNA) within its inner cavity and the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin (DOX), intercalated in the DNA duplexes. The incorporation of disulfide bonds allows the triggered mechanical opening and release of siRNA in response to intracellular glutathione (GSH) in tumors to knockdown genes key to cancer progression. Combining RNA interference and chemotherapy, the nanodevice induced potent cytotoxicity and tumor growth inhibition, without observable systematic toxicity. Given its autonomous behavior, exceptional designability, potent antitumor activity and marked biocompatibility, this DNA nanodevice represents a promising strategy for precise drug design for cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the DNA origami technique, we constructed a DNA nanodevice functionalized with small interfering RNA (siRNA) within its inner cavity and the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin (DOX), intercalated in the DNA duplexes. The incorporation of disulfide bonds allows the triggered mechanical opening and release of siRNA in response to intracellular glutathione (GSH) in tumors to knockdown genes key to cancer progression. Combining RNA interference and chemotherapy, the nanodevice induced potent cytotoxicity and tumor growth inhibition, without observable systematic toxicity. Given its autonomous behavior, exceptional designability, potent antitumor activity and marked biocompatibility, this DNA nanodevice represents a promising strategy for precise drug design for cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of the study is to compare the femoral triangle (FT) and adductor canal (AC) blocks in terms of the analgesic efficacy and ambulatory outcomes in the context of multimodal analgesia following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods: Patients presenting for TKA were assigned to a preoperative ultrasound-guided single-injection FT or AC block. Combined spinal and epidural anesthesia with bupivacaine was administered for TKA. Perioperatively a multimodal analgesic regimen was applied up to 48 h after surgery. The primary outcome was the average pain score during movement in the first 24 h postoperatively. The secondary outcomes included pain scores at rest and during movement at postoperative predetermined time points, cumulative opioid consumption in oral morphine equivalents, functional mobility measured by the timed "Up and Go" (TUG) test and muscle strength in the lower extremity. Results: Ninety-eight patients completed the study. Patients in the FT group had lower median pain scores during movement in the first 24 h postoperatively than those in the AC group (1.3 [1.0–3.3] vs. 3.0 [1.7–4.3]; median difference: − 1.0, adjusted 95% CI from − 1.7 to − 0.3, P = 0.010). There were significant differences in the pain scores at rest and during movement at 12 and 24 h postoperatively between the two groups (P = 0.008 and 0.005, respectively). Cumulative oral morphine equivalent consumption in the first and second 24 h postoperatively, Functional mobility reflected by the TUG test and muscle strength in the lower extremity showed no significantly statistically differences between the two groups. Conclusions: The preoperative FT block provided improved analgesic outcomes without compromising functional mobility in the context of multimodal analgesia following TKA compared with the AC block. Trial registration: https://www.chictr.org.cn. Identifier: ChiCTR-INR-17012716. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vehicle emissions have been identified as an important urban source of ammonia (NH3). However, there are large uncertainties regarding the contribution of vehicle emissions to urban NH3 budgets, as well as the role of NH3 in spatiotemporal fine particulate matter (PM2.5) formation and nitrogen (N) deposition patterns. The N stable isotopic composition (δ15N) may be a useful observational constraint to track NH3 emission sources and chemical processing, but previously reported vehicle δ15N(NH3) emission signatures have reported a wide range of values, indicating the need for further refinement. Here we have characterized δ15N(NH3) spatiotemporal variabilities from vehicle plumes in stationary and on-road measurements in the USA and China using an active NH3 collection technique demonstrated to accurately characterize δ15N(NH3) on the order of hourly time resolution. Significant spatial and temporal δ15N(NH3) variabilities were observed and suggested to be driven by vehicle fleet composition and influences from NH3 dry deposition on tunnel surfaces. Overall, a consistent δ15N(NH3) signature of 6.6±2.1 ‰ (x‾±1σ ; n=80) was found in fresh vehicle plumes with fleet compositions typical of urban regions. Our recommended vehicle δ15N(NH3) signature is significantly different from previous reports. This difference is due to a large and consistent δ15N(NH3) bias of approximately -15.5 ‰ between commonly employed passive NH3 collection techniques and the laboratory-tested active NH3 collection technique. This work constrains the δ15N(NH3) urban traffic plume signature, which has important implications for tracking vehicle NH3 in urban-affected areas and highlights the importance of utilizing verified collection methods for accurately characterizing δ15N(NH3) values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To study the epidemiology of myopia in school-aged children in Tianjin and the relationship between visual acuity-based screening and refraction-based screening. Method: This school-based prospective cohort study was performed on children from 42 elementary schools and 17 middle schools in Tianjin, China. Totally 14,551 children, ages ranging from 5 to 16 years, were included in this study. Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) was determined by logarithmic tumbling E chart. Non-cycloplegic photorefraction was examined by the Spot (v2.1.4) photoscreener. The relationship between the UCVA and refractive error was investigated for different age groups. Results: The overall prevalence of myopia at this school based screen is 78.2%, ranged from 10% at age of 5 to 95% at age of 16. The most dramatic increase in prevalence is from age of 6 (14.8%) to age of 7 (38.5%). The overall prevalence of high myopia is 2.5%. UCVA is found corresponding to spherical equivalent refraction (SER) in a manner of normal distribution and is significantly affected by age. When using UCVA to estimate the prevalence of myopia, the overall sensitivity and specificity are 0.824 and 0.820, respectively. Age-dependent optimal cutoff points and 95% confident intervals of such estimation are reported. Conclusions: Myopia is heavily affecting school-aged children in Tianjin, China. The refraction screening is preferable for myopia screening, whereas the UCVA screening results need to be interpreted in an age-dependent manner for myopia estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]