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Sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1) is a member of the SPHK family, enzymes essential for the phosphorylation of sphingosine to sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). Previous studies have revealed important roles of SPHK1 in inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, immune processes, and cancer. Although the predictive significance and possible roles of SPHK1 in gliomas have recently been examined, the precise molecular mechanisms remain unclear. We comprehensively examined SPHK1 and investigated its correlation with glioma survival time using different datasets. The correlation between SPHK1 and various cancer pathways was analyzed using the Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) analysis. The SPHK1 influence on glioma migration was examined using transwell and wound healing experiments. M2 macrophage infiltration experiments investigated SPHK1's role in the glioma immune microenvironment. We identified SPHK1 downstream pathways and further elucidated their regulatory relationship. Survival analysis illustrated that patients with high-SPHK1 expression, particularly glioblastoma and IDH-wildtype, tended to have a shorter survival time. The Cox regression model (COX) results demonstrated that SPHK1 was an independent prognostic factor affecting the survival of patients with glioma. Functional experiments illustrated that SPHK1 suppression led to a reduction in the migration capacity of glioma cells. Enrichment analysis and Western blotting revealed that SPHK1 functions as a JAK2/STAT3 pathway controller. The SPHK1 overexpression-induced migration was suppressed by the JAK2/STAT3 pathway suppressor (AG490). We found that SPHK1 promotes M2 macrophage infiltration. Further study indicated that SPHK1 could serve as a prognostic indicator of glioma and promote cell migration, providing new insights for glioma therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The active equalization of lithium-ion batteries involves transferring energy from high-voltage cells to low-voltage cells, ensuring consistent voltage levels across the battery pack and maintaining safety. This paper presents a voltage balancing circuit and control method. First, a single capacitor method is used to design the circuit topology for energy transfer. Next, real-time voltage detection and control are employed to balance energy between cells. Finally, simulation and experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method, achieving balanced voltages of 3.97 V from initial voltages of 4.10, 3.97, and 3.90 V. The proposed circuit is simple, reliable, and effectively prevents overcharge and overdischarge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arid regions are vital components of Earth's land surface. Clarifying the area/boundary of arid region is crucial for comprehending area changes and potential mechanisms. However, the accuracy and applicability of arid region boundary delineated by different indices remain unclear. In this study, the annual precipitation (AP), humidity index (H), and aridity index (K) were calculated for delineating arid region of China using 106 meteorological stations during 1990–2019. The results suggest that AP and H can accurately delineate arid region, because they are consistent with the distribution of typical soil and vegetation in arid region, whereas K is not. Moreover, AP is the best index for delineating arid region in regions with limited meteorological data, especially in studying long-term patterns and mechanisms of area changes. The accuracy of delineating arid region using H is enhanced in regions with abundant meteorological data. Over the past 30 years, influenced by the increase of atmospheric moisture influx and precipitation, the area in arid region of northwestern China decreased by 70 × 103–90 × 103 km2, resulting in the present area of approximately 1.55 × 106 km2. This study provides appropriate indices for delineating arid region, contributing to improving our knowledge of regional responses difference to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alogliptin is a highly selective inhibitor of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 and primarily excreted as unchanged drug in the urine, and differences in clinical outcomes in renal impairment patients increase the risk of serious adverse reactions. In this study, we developed a comprehensive physiologically-based quantitative systematic pharmacology model of the alogliptin-glucose control system to predict plasma exposure and use glucose as a clinical endpoint to prospectively understand its therapeutic outcomes with varying renal function. Our model incorporates a PBPK model for alogliptin, DPP-4 activity described by receptor occupancy theory, and the crosstalk and feedback loops for GLP-1-GIP-glucagon, insulin, and glucose. Based on the optimization of renal function-dependent parameters, the model was extrapolated to different stages renal impairment patients. Ultimately our model adequately describes the pharmacokinetics of alogliptin, the progression of DPP-4 inhibition over time and the dynamics of the glucose control system components. The extrapolation results endorse the dose adjustment regimen of 12.5 mg once daily for moderate patients and 6.25 mg once daily for severe and ESRD patients, while providing additional reflections and insights. In clinical practice, our model could provide additional information on the in vivo fate of DPP4 inhibitors and key regulators of the glucose control system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Extracting the extent of wheat lodging is essential for post-disaster emergency response, disaster assessment, and accurate agricultural insurance claims. However, traditional methods for identifying lodged crops often lack flexibility, exhibit low levels of automation, and suffer from inefficiency. Methods: This study proposes a rapid identification algorithm for wheat lodging, utilizing adaptive thresholding and a two-peak search of UAV imagery for reliable extraction of lodging regions. Initially, the red, green, and blue (RGB) visible band characteristics of UAV images after wheat lodging are analyzed. Subsequently, an Enhanced Wheat Lodging Index (EWLI) is proposed to quantitatively represent the lodging state. Second, a two-peak search dynamic thresholding algorithm, based on the square chunking of wheat lodging, is proposed to automatically determine thresholds for extracting winter wheat lodging regions. Results: Experimental results demonstrate that the Enhanced Wheat Lodging Index (EWLI) effectively represents wheat lodging, while the two-peak search dynamic thresholding algorithm achieves robust performance. The proposed method achieves an overall accuracy of 96%, an F1 score of 0.97, and a Kappa coefficient exceeding 0.95, surpassing the performance of the OTSU method (maximum inter-class variance) and the KSW method (maximum entropy) with global thresholding. Conclusion: The proposed method is applicable to diverse wheat lodging scenarios and demonstrates robust stability in identification accuracy. Key advantages include lightweight modeling, adaptive threshold determination, and the elimination of human intervention, making it an efficient, reliable, and highly practical approach for wheat lodging monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurodegenerative diseases are a group of disorders characterized by progressive degeneration or death of neurons. The complexity of clinical symptoms and irreversibility of disease progression significantly affects individual lives, leading to premature mortality. The prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases keeps increasing, yet the specific pathogenic mechanisms remain incompletely understood and effective treatment strategies are lacking. In recent years, convergent experimental evidence supports the "prion-like transmission" assumption that abnormal proteins induce misfolding of normal proteins, and these misfolded proteins propagate throughout the neural networks to cause neuronal death. To elucidate this dynamic process in vivo from a computational perspective, researchers have proposed three connectome-based biophysical models to simulate the spread of pathological proteins: the Network Diffusion Model, the Epidemic Spreading Model, and the agent-based Susceptible-Infectious-Removed model. These models have demonstrated promising predictive capabilities. This review focuses on the explanations of their fundamental principles and applications. Then, we compare the strengths and weaknesses of the models. Building upon this foundation, we introduce new directions for model optimization and propose a unified framework for the evaluation of connectome-based biophysical models. We expect that this review could lower the entry barrier for researchers in this field, accelerate model optimization, and thereby advance the clinical translation of connectome-based biophysical models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Compliance to highly restrictive diets is critical for children with Methylmalonic Acidemia (MMA), and their caregivers play a prominent role in children's dietary treatment from early childhood through to adulthood. Despite lots of efforts by the multidisciplinary medical team to ensure the smooth implementation of dietary treatment, restricting dietary protein remains particularly challenging for children with MMA. This study aimed to assess dietary treatment compliance in children with MMA and evaluate the impact of WeChat-based parent education on compliance. Methods: A sample of 151 caregiver-child dyads was obtained through online recruitment using convenience sampling from February to March 2023. At least one month following the enrollment of MMA caregivers in the WeChat public account "Methylmalonic Acidemia Diet Manager", structured questionnaires were distributed to them through the electronic platform "Questionnaire Star" in collaboration with the Chinese National Alliance of Rare Diseases. Subsequently, the collected data was analyzed using quantitative methods. Results: Children with MMA aged over 5 years were more likely to present a lower level of dietary treatment compliance compared to those under 1 year old. Besides, the levels of children's dietary treatment compliance were higher when their caregivers had higher levels of satisfaction and benefit from using the public account. Conclusion: Our findings highlighted the significance of age-related challenges in dietary treatment compliance among children with MMA and the promising impact of utilizing WeChat public accounts as a supportive education tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: The causes of low milk supply are multifactorial, including factors such as gene mutations, endocrine disorders, and infrequent milk removal. These factors affect the functional capacity of the mammary gland and, potentially, the concentrations of milk components. This study aimed to investigate the differences in milk composition between mothers with low and normal milk supply and develop predictive machine learning models for identifying low milk supply. Methods: Twenty-four-hour milk production measurements were conducted using the test-weigh method. An array of milk components was measured in 58 women with low milk supply (<600 mL/24 h) and 106 with normal milk supply (≥600 mL/24 h). Machine learning algorithms were employed to develop prediction models integrating milk composition and maternal and infant characteristics. Results: Among the six machine learning algorithms tested, deep learning and gradient boosting machines methods had the best performance metrics. The best-performing model, incorporating 14 milk components and maternal and infant characteristics, achieved an accuracy of 87.9%, an area under the precision-recall curve (AUPRC) of 0.893, and an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.917. Additionally, a simplified model, optimised for clinical applicability, maintained a reasonable accuracy of 78.8%, an AUPRC of 0.776, and an AUC of 0.794. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate the potential of machine learning models to predict low milk supply with high accuracy. Integrating milk composition and maternal and infant characteristics offers a practical approach to identify women at risk of low milk supply, facilitating timely interventions to support breastfeeding and ensure adequate infant nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to fully utilize the resources of agricultural waste in Gansu Province's semi-arid area. Local commercial organic fertilizer (ST1) was selected as the control, and four kinds of planting and breeding waste composts (PBCs) were designed with sheep manure (SM), cow manure (CM), tail vegetable (TV), mushroom residue (MR), and corn straw (CS) to study the effects of the different PBC formulations on the yield and quality of mini Chinese cabbage. In contrast to local commercial organic fertilizer, the STS (SM:TV:CS = 6:3:1) treatment increased the economic yield by 5.56%. Additionally, STS also significantly increased the VC content of mini Chinese cabbage, increased the organic acid by 14.66%, increased the free amino acid by 38.98%, and the nitrate concentration was significantly reduced by 41.05%. Meanwhile, the STS formula also increased the concentrations of polyphenols and essential amino acids of mini Chinese cabbage and also had excellent performance in volatile compounds. As a result, the STS formula can make full use of local planting and breeding waste resources and produce high yield and high quality of local mini Chinese cabbage. The study provided a theoretical foundation and technical guidance for screening suitable local compost formulas, as well as for the achievement of high-yield and high-quality mini Chinese cabbage production in the semi-arid areas of central Gansu province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional Chinese health food consumption market in China has experienced significant growth in recent years, with rising popularity among young people. However, how young people form their intentions to purchase traditional Chinese health food is still unclear. This study aims to redefine the concept of traditional Chinese health food and provide a theoretical foundation for understanding consumer behavior within this context. A specialized survey was conducted to test the proposed conceptual model. The results indicate that both health anxiety and traditional cultural identity have a significantly positive influence on young people's purchase intention for traditional Chinese health food. Perceived consumption risk negatively affects their purchase intention for such products. Perceived consumption risk plays a negative moderating role in the relationship between traditional cultural identity and young people's purchase intention for traditional Chinese health food. This study offers novel insights and strategic directions for traditional Chinese health food industry professionals, while also serving as an illustrative case for other countries seeking to comprehend the health food consumption landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The advancement of nanotechnology underscores the imperative need for establishing in silico predictive models to assess safety, particularly in the context of chronic respiratory afflictions such as lung fibrosis, a pathogenic transformation that is irreversible. While the compilation of predictive descriptors is pivotal for in silico model development, key features specifically tailored for predicting lung fibrosis remain elusive. This study aimed to uncover the essential predictive descriptors governing nanoparticle-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive analysis of the trajectory of metal oxide nanoparticles (MeONPs) within pulmonary systems. Two biological media (simulated lung fluid and phagolysosomal simulated fluid) and two cell lines (macrophages and epithelial cells) were meticulously chosen to scrutinize MeONP behaviors. Their interactions with MeONPs, also referred to as nano-bio interactions, can lead to alterations in the properties of the MeONPs as well as specific cellular responses. Physicochemical properties of MeONPs were assessed in biological media. The impact of MeONPs on cell membranes, lysosomes, mitochondria, and cytoplasmic components was evaluated using fluorescent probes, colorimetric enzyme substrates, and ELISA. The fibrogenic potential of MeONPs in mouse lungs was assessed by examining collagen deposition and growth factor release. Random forest classification was employed for analyzing in chemico, in vitro and in vivo data to identify predictive descriptors. Results: The nano-bio interactions induced diverse changes in the 4 characteristics of MeONPs and had variable effects on the 14 cellular functions, which were quantitatively evaluated in chemico and in vitro. Among these 18 quantitative features, seven features were found to play key roles in predicting the pro-fibrogenic potential of MeONPs. Notably, IL-1β was identified as the most important feature, contributing 27.8% to the model's prediction. Mitochondrial activity (specifically NADH levels) in macrophages followed closely with a contribution of 17.6%. The remaining five key features include TGF-β1 release and NADH levels in epithelial cells, dissolution in lysosomal simulated fluids, zeta potential, and the hydrodynamic size of MeONPs. Conclusions: The pro-fibrogenic potential of MeONPs can be predicted by combination of key features at nano-bio interfaces, simulating their behavior and interactions within the lung environment. Among the 18 quantitative features, a combination of seven in chemico and in vitro descriptors could be leveraged to predict lung fibrosis in animals. Our findings offer crucial insights for developing in silico predictive models for nano-induced pulmonary fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supercapacitors (SCs) are highly promising for next-generation energy-storage applications due to their predominant properties. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), an innovative class of energy storage electrodes, offer a wide range of structural variations and high porosities. However, their broad application is limited by their low capacitance and cycle stability. This study uses a facile solvothermal method to synthesize a series of NiCo-MOF (NCAX-MOF/NF, X = 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20) on nickel foam (NF) with varying amounts of Ag+ cations. This study systematically explores the influence of Ag+ incorporation on the morphology and electrochemical performance of NiCo-MOF. Analysis of the MOF morphology reveals that the introduction of Ag+ transforms the bulk NiCo-MOF into a spherical structure. NCA15-MOF/NF, with its uniform size and spherical morphology, exhibits the best electrochemical performance, achieving a specific capacitance of 1317 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 and retaining 89% of its capacitance after 15 000 cycles. Furthermore, upon assembly into a flexible symmetric supercapacitor, it delivers an energy density of 72.55 W h kg−1 at a power density of 408.61 W kg−1. This study suggests that incorporating Ag+ can tailor the MOF morphologies and improve their electrochemical characteristics, thus providing a novel approach for fabricating NiCo-MOF electrodes with enhanced SC performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Biomass allocation reflects functional tradeoffs among plant organs and thus represents life history strategies. However, little is known about the patterns and drivers of biomass allocation between reproductive and vegetative organs along large environmental gradients. Here, we examined how environmental gradients affect biomass and the allocation between reproductive and vegetative organs. We also tested whether the allocation patterns conform optimal or allometric partitioning theory. Methods: We collected 22 Artemisia species along a large environmental gradient in China and measured reproductive (infructescences including seeds) and vegetative (leaves, stems and roots) mass for each plant. We then used standardized major axes regressions to quantify the relationships between reproductive and vegetative organs and linear mixed-effect models to examine the effect of environmental gradients (climate and soil) on biomass allocation patterns. Results: We found significant negative correlations between total biomass of Artemisia and the first principal component of climate, an axis that was negatively correlated with temperature and precipitation. Overall, there were significant isometric relationships between reproductive and vegetative mass. In addition, the ratio of reproductive to vegetative mass increased with the second principal component of climate (representing climate variability), but decreased with the second principal component of soil (representing bulk density and available water capacity). These patterns were consistent at the individual and interspecific levels, but were mixed at the intraspecific level. Conclusions: Our findings of the plastic responses of biomass allocation to environmental gradients support the optimal partitioning theory (OPT). The isometric relationships between reproductive and vegetative organs indicate that plant growth and reproduction are intricately linked. Furthermore, the plasticity of biomass ratios of reproductive to vegetative organs to climate variability and soil physical properties suggests that the flexible allocation between growth and reproduction is crucial for successful adaptation to diverse habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrocatalytic oxidation of more stable 2,5-furanedimethanol (FDM) for 2,5-furanediformic acid (FDCA) generation with concurrent hydrogen production is attractive but still nascent compared to 5-Hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (HMF). The need for effective and stable bifunctional electrocatalysts that are efficient for the FDM cell is thus quite significant. Wood serves as an ideal matrix for boosting the performance of catalysts, since its hierarchical porous structures facilitate mass transport and provide abundant active sites. Unfortunately, it has never been demonstrated for electrochemically organic synthesis. Herein, the effectiveness of Fe-CoP in catalyzing FDM oxidation was demonstrated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations and experiments, and a renewable carbonized porous wood decorated with Fe-doped CoP nanoleaves (Fe-CoP/CW) was constructed for electrocatalytic FDCA and hydrogen generation. The obtained Fe-CoP/CW as an anode in FDM solution afforded a current density of 100 mA cm−2 with a yield of 90% FDCA at a potential no more than 1.50 V vs RHE, which was 90 mV and 350 mV lower than Fe-CoP/carbon cloth (CC) and IrO2. In addition, Fe-CoP/CW showed excellent long-term stability for 108-h FDM oxidation in strong alkaline solution. Remarkably, in stark contrast to Fe-CoP/CC and Pt, the hydrogen evolution performance of Fe-CoP/CW was not impacted by FDM at the cathode, and it required exceptionally low overpotentials of 0.19 V to achieve 100 mA cm−2. As a result, in terms of the overall cell, the hydrogen production rate was 0.756 mmol cm−2 h−1, which was 3.57 times higher than those of commonly used commercial Pt | IrO2 cell, presenting a Faraday efficiency of near 100%. This work will pave the way towards the implementation of highly suited bifunctional electrodes and the possibility of affordable, effective, and environmentally-friendly wood-derived electrocatalysts for electrochemically organic synthesis.Highlights: DFT calculations and experiments demonstrated that Fe doping enhanced the ability of CoP to electrooxidize FDM. Bifunctional carbonized wood-based catalysts (Fe-CoP/CW) were designed for co-generation of FDCA and H2. Fe-CoP/CW | FDM | Fe-CoP/CW showed twice faster H2 evolution than IrO2 | H2O | Pt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Chronic cough (CC) symptoms can persist as refractory or unexplained CC (RCC). We sought to characterize the clinical and economic burden of RCC. Methods: In this retrospective US cohort study using data from Optum's de-identified CDM Database (01/2015–03/2022), CC was identified as ≥1 CC diagnosis or ≥3 cough events (with ≥8 weeks and ≤120 days between the first and third events and ≥3 weeks between any two events). The index date was set as the earliest date of meeting the CC definition. The baseline period was defined as the 364 days prior to and including the index date. Adults with CC at baseline who met CC requirements (≥1 CC diagnosis, or ≥2 cough events occurring ≥8 weeks but ≤120 days apart) in both follow-up year 2 and follow-up year 3 were defined as having "3-year chronic cough" (3YCC), a proxy measure of RCC, and compared to adults with CC at baseline who did not meet CC requirements in follow-up years 2 and 3 (non-3YCC). A propensity score weighting approach was used to adjust for baseline differences between the 3YCC and non-3YCC groups to compare clinical characteristics and healthcare resource use and costs in the two groups during the follow-up period. Results: At baseline, the 3YCC group (N = 3,338) had significantly more comorbidities and higher all-cause healthcare resource use and costs than the non-3YCC group (N = 43,122) in unweighted analyses. After weighting, the groups (N = 3,338 with 3YCC and N = 3,145 without) were compared during a 3-year follow-up period. The 3YCC group had significantly more comorbidities, higher levels of all-cause healthcare resource use, and higher all-cause healthcare costs during the follow-up period compared to the non-3YCC group, after adjusting for baseline differences. For example, the mean total healthcare costs (in 2022 US dollars) were significantly higher among the 3YCC group than the non-3YCC group in each follow-up year, at $49,454 versus $42,144 in follow-up year 1, $49,339 versus $36,939 in follow-up year 2, and $51,737 versus $36,503 in follow-up year 3 (p <.001 for each comparison). Conclusions: After adjusting for baseline differences, persistent symptoms of CC were associated with significantly higher comorbidity, healthcare resource use, and healthcare costs compared to CC that resolved. Effective treatments for RCC would thus be expected to result in improved health as well as substantial healthcare cost offsets. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Chronic cough (CC), defined as daily cough for ≥8 weeks, is a common condition that negatively affects physical and mental health, work, and participation in other daily activities. CC that continues following treatment of a diagnosed underlying condition is termed refractory chronic cough, while ongoing symptoms of CC in cases where no underlying condition can be identified are classified as unexplained chronic cough. Due to difficulties in differentiating between these conditions, they are often grouped together based on their shared characteristic of CC that persists for an extended period of time. In this study, we adopted a previously published approach and studied the clinical and economic burden of refractory and unexplained chronic cough using a nationwide US administrative claims database and found that, after adjusting for baseline differences, persistent symptoms of CC were associated with significantly higher comorbidity, healthcare resource use, and healthcare costs compared to CC that resolved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The navigation obstacle avoidance method based on deep reinforcement learning has stronger adaptability and better performance compared to traditional algorithms in complex unknown dynamic environments, and has been widely developed and applied. However, when using multimodal information input, deep reinforcement learning strategy networks extract features that differ significantly between simulated and real world environments, resulting in poor algorithm output strategies and difficulty in transferring models obtained from simulation training to actual environments. To address the aforementioned issues, this article utilizes image segmentation to narrow the gap in environmental features, integrates multimodal information, and designs a deep reinforcement learning multimodal local obstacle avoidance algorithm, MMSEG-PPO, based on proximal strategy optimization algorithms. The algorithm is then ported to practical environments for deployment and testing. The experiment shows that the algorithm proposed in this article reduces the gap between the simulation environment and the actual environment, and has better performance and generalization when transplanted to the real world environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the life cycle of the influenza virus, viral RNPs (vRNPs) are transported to the nucleus for replication. Given that a large number of progeny viral RNA occupies the nucleus, whether there is any host protein located in the nucleus that recognizes the viral RNA and inhibits the viral replication remains largely unknown. In this study, to explore the role of hnRNPH1 in influenza virus infection, we knocked down and over-expressed the hnRNPH1 proteins in 293T cells, then infected the cells with the influenza virus. The results showed that the host hnRNPH1 inhibits the replication of H1N1 and H9N2 influenza viruses by restraining the polymerase activity of viruses. hnRNPH1 contains two RNA recognition motifs (RRM1) and RRM2. Further studies indicated that hnRNPH1 specifically binds to the viral RNA of the PB1, PA, and NP genes. Mutation of the key residues tryptophan and tyrosine in RRM1 and RRM2 abolished the binding affinity to viral RNA and the suppression of polymerase activity of the influenza virus. All the results suggested that hnRNPH1 suppresses polymerase activity and replication of the influenza virus by binding viral RNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the problem of global output-feedback tracking control for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems. The system studied in this paper has unknown time-varying control coefficients and unknown reference signal. Notably, the nonlinearities of the system are bounded by the lower triangular linear unmeasured states multiplying the unknown constant, the polynomial-of-output and the polynomial-of-input growth rates, which indicates the presence of serious uncertainties. Motivated by the closely related works, by combining the ideas of universal control and deadzone with backstepping technique, this paper presents a new adaptive tracking control scheme based on two dynamic high-gains in the new forms. The proposed control scheme ensures that the tracking error converges to a specified arbitrarily small interval range after a finite time while the state of the resulting closed-loop system is globally bounded. Finally, the effectiveness of the control scheme is verified by an illustrative example. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Psoriasis is a chronic, relapsing, inflammatory skin disease that is caused by the immune system. Amygdalin possesses immune-modulating and anti-inflammatory effects. To explore the possible effects of amygdalin on psoriasis and its pathogenesis of action, we examined the effects of amygdalin on imiquimod-induced psoriasis, tape-stripping-induced skin barrier disruption, and investigated the potential mechanism of action in vitro. The fact that amygdalin could reduce the thickness of the epidermis and inflammatory cell infiltration in two animal models inhibited the production of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-a, and the expression of filaggrin, involucrin, and keratin10 was increased. Also, in IL-17 A and TNF-α induced HaCaT, amygdalin inhibits the expression of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-a, promoting the expression of skin barrier recovery-related proteins flaggrin, involucrin, and keratin10. Combined in vivo and in vitro experiments suggest that amygdalin modulates inflammation and the skin barrier in psoriasis. The same study also conducted a preliminary mechanistic exploration and found that amygdalin inhibited the phosphorylation of the p38MAPK signaling pathway. In conclusion, Amygdalin can alleviate psoriasis lesions and improve skin barrier impairment, and the research provides an experimental basis for its future development as a drug candidate for psoriasis therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) virus, tentatively named "Valeriana jatamansi cryptic virus 1" (VJCV1, GenBank accession nos. PP482519 and PP482520), was isolated from diseased Valeriana jatamansi Jones plants exhibiting vein-banding in Yunnan. Its complete genome sequence was determined using metatranscriptomic and Sanger sequencing. The genome of VJCV1 consists of two dsRNA of different size, namely dsRNA1 (2,026 bp) and dsRNA2 (1,754 bp), which are predicted to encode an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp, 616 aa) with molecular weight of 72.6 kDa and coat protein (CP, 491 aa) with molecular weight of 55.8 kDa, respectively. The non-coding region of dsRNA in VJCV1 is predicted to have a stem-loop structure and a poly(A) tail that are unique to the members of the genus Alphapartitivirus. Multiple sequence alignments showed that the RdRp and CP of VJCV1 shared the highest amino acid sequence identity (86.2% and 56.1%, respectively) with red clover cryptic virus 1 (RCCV1). These values are below the threshold for creating new species within the genus Alphapartitivirus. Phylogenetic analysis based on RdRp and CP sequences showed that VJCV1 clustered independently from members of the genus Alphapartitivirus, with RCCV1 being the closest relative. It is therefore suggested that VJCV1 should be considered a member of a new species of the genus Alphapartitivirus in the family Partitiviridae. This is the first report of a member of the genus Alphapartitivirus infecting a plant of the genus Valeriana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Compression of the nerve root by a lumbar disc herniation can cause radiating pain in the lower limbs, and the nerve root decompression treatment may leave some patients with motor dysfunction and reduced sensory function. Studies have shown that nerve growth factor (NGF) can promote nerve growth and repair, but high doses, long duration, and immune response have become bottlenecks of its clinical application. Methods: To overcome this obstacle, we developed Prussian blue (PBs) nanoparticles with the bio-delivery function and antioxidant effects of nanoenzymes. NGF was conjugated to the surface of PBs nanoparticles (PBs-NGF), which can be directly delivered to nerve cells. Results: The results showed that free PBs showed great advantages in scavenging oxygen free radicals and antioxidants, while PBs-NGF showed good biocompatibility. At the cellular level, cell proliferation assay and fluorescence microscopy analysis confirmed that PBs-NGF significantly promoted the proliferation, differentiation, and neurite outgrowth of neuron-like PC12 cells compared with free NGF. In a nerve root compression (NRC) rat model, behavioral observations (paw withdrawal threshold, PWT, and paw withdrawal latency, PWL) confirmed that PBs-NGF eased the pain caused by nerve root compression. H&E staining showed that PBs-NGF could significantly reduce the inflammatory infiltration of nerve roots, and ELISA results showed that the concentrations of inflammatory markers (IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α) were also significantly reduced. Conclusion: In summary, the developed functional nanoplatform provides a basis for the clinical application of NGF in lumbar nerve root injury with disc herniation compression and a new treatment strategy for patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate prediction of runoff is of great significance for rational planning and management of regional water resources. However, runoff presents non-stationary characteristics that make it impossible for a single model to fully capture its intrinsic characteristics. Enhancing its precision poses a significant challenge within the area of water resources management research. Addressing this need, an ensemble deep learning model was hereby developed to forecast monthly runoff. Initially, time-varying filtered based empirical mode decomposition (TVFEMD) is utilized to decompose the original non-stationarity runoff data into intrinsic mode functions (IMFs), a series of relatively smooth components, to improve data stability. Subsequently, the complexity of each sub-component is evaluated using the permutation entropy (PE), and similar low-frequency components are clustered based on the entropy value to reduce the computational cost. Then, the temporal convolutional network (TCN) model is built for runoff prediction for each high-frequency IMFs and the reconstructed low-frequency IMF respectively. Finally, the prediction results of each sub-model are accumulated to obtain the final prediction results. In this study, the proposed model is employed to predict the monthly runoff datasets of the Fenhe River, and different comparative models are established. The results show that the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient (NSE) value of this model is 0.99, and all the indicators are better than other models. Considering the robustness and effectiveness of the TVFEMD-PE-TCN model, the insights gained from this paper are highly relevant to the challenge of forecasting non-stationary runoff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reservoir-operation optimisation is a crucial aspect of water-resource development and sustainable water process management. This study addresses bi-objective optimisation problems by proposing a novel crossover evolution operator, known as the hybrid simulated binary and improved arithmetic crossover (SBAX) operator, based on the simulated binary cross (SBX) and arithmetic crossover operators, and applies it to the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithms-II (NSGA-II) algorithm to improve the algorithm. In particular, the arithmetic crossover operator can obtain an optimal solution more precisely within the solution space, whereas the SBX operator can explore a broader range of potential high-quality solutions. Considering the advantages of both operators, this study introduces an improved arithmetic operator to reduce the risk of local convergence inherent in conventional arithmetic operators. Subsequently, two strategies for the SBAX operator are discussed: SBX operator + new arithmetic operator and new arithmetic operator + SBX operator. The convergence of the bi-objective Pareto solution set is evaluated based on the generation and inverted generational distances. This method is used for the collaborative optimisation of the water supply and ecological operation of the Fenhe Reservoir, where its effectiveness is demonstrated. A comparative analysis of the bi-objective optimisation schemes obtained using different crossover operators indicates the following: (1) the NSGA-II algorithm based on the SBAX operator achieves a convergence efficiency that is 14.25–41.95% higher than that of the conventional NSGA-II algorithm; (2) the reservoir operation indices of the scheduling scheme derived from the NSGA-II algorithm based on the SBAX operator significantly outperform those obtained using the conventional NSGA-II algorithm. The optimal strategy reduces the annual average water abandonment by 11.2–14.52 million m3. This study provides a novel approach for bi-objective optimisation and sustainable reservoir management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a common birth defect. Our previous studies suggest that indoor air pollution, especially total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), may increase fetal CHD risk, whereas vitamin and folic acid (FA) supplements in early pregnancy might offer protection against CHD. However, limited research has explored whether FA or multivitamin supplementation can mitigate the effects of TVOCs exposure on CHD. Methods: We conducted a case-control study to investigate the association between maternal nutrient supplementation, household indoor air pollutant exposure during pregnancy, and CHD in offspring. Pregnant women with 22–30 gestational weeks were recruited from two hospitals in East China between January 2016 and March 2022. A comprehensive approach was used, incorporating questionnaires to collect nutrient supplement information, blood sample analysis to detect serum folate, vitamin B12, and homocysteine (HCY) concentrations, and field investigations to assess indoor benzene, toluene, xylene, formaldehyde, and TVOCs exposures. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify CHD risk factors, and stratified analysis was used to evaluate the combined effects of nutrient supplementation and TVOCs on CHD. Results: The study included 53 cases and 77 controls. Logistic regression analysis identified high maternal serum HCY (> 6.125 µmol/L) and high household TVOCs exposure (> 0.0165 mg/m³) as risk factors for CHD in offspring, with adjusted odds ratios of 2.98 (95% CI: 1.31–6.36) and 9.23 (95% CI: 3.78–22.53), respectively. Regular multivitamin supplementation mitigated the risk of high TVOCs exposure on fetal CHD, while the adverse effect of high serum HCY-related CHD risk was attenuated in the group with regular FA supplementation. Conclusion: Exposure to high indoor TVOCs concentrations increases the risk of fetal CHD. Regular multivitamin supplementation may reduce the adverse effects of high TVOCs exposure on fetal CHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Disulfidptosis, identified as an innovative form of cellular death subsequent to cuproptosis, is currently under investigation for its mechanisms in oncological contexts. In-depth analyses exploring the relationship between disulfidptosis-related genes (DRGs) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are currently limited. Methods: Transcriptomic data and clinical information were retrieved from the TCGA and GEO databases (GSE76427 and GSE54236), concentrating on the expression levels of 24 DRGs. Subsequently, multifactor and LASSO regression analyses were utilized to construct the 5-DRG prognostic signature. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was employed to assess Cyclin A2 (CCNA2) protein expression levels. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot analyses were conducted to detect transcriptomic and protein expression of CCNA2-targeting short interfering RNA (siRNA). The Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, EdU staining, and scratch experiments were employed to observe the proliferation and migration of hepatoma cell lines subsequent to CCNA2 inhibition. Results: Three HCC patterns were identified, among which pattern B exhibited the the most unfavorable survival outcomes. Five DRGs (STC2, PBK, CCNA2, SERPINE1, and SLC6A1) were involved to establish the 5-DRG prognostic signature. High-risk groups (HRGs) exhibited prolonged survival durations in comparison to low-risk groups (LRGs). Both bioinformatics analyses and experimental methodologies corroborated the association of CCNA2 with poor prognosis in HCC patients. Functional studies elucidated that interference with CCNA2 significantly inhibited proliferation and migration, while simultaneously promoting apoptosis in hepatoma cells and resulting in the downregulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related protein markers. Conclusions: The 5-DRG prognostic signature is proficient in predicting clinical outcomes, informing therapeutic strategies, and elucidating the characteristics of the immune microenvironment in HCC patients. Furthermore, this study elucidates the potential of CCNA2 as an innovative biomarker for HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute pulmonary embolism (APE) is a critical disease with a high mortality rate, some of the surviving patients may develop chronic thromboembolic pulmonary disease (CTEPD), which affects the patient's prognosis. However, the research on the early diagnosis of CTEPD is limited. This study aimed to establish a prediction model for earlier identification of CTEPD. Methods: This prospective study included 464 consecutive patients with APE confirmed between January 2020 and September 2023, at 7 centers from China. After follow-up for at least 3 months, the patients were divided into the CTEPD and non-CTEPD groups based on symptoms and computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) or pulmonary ventilation perfusion (V/Q) scans showing residual thrombosis. The independent risk factors for CTEPD were identified via univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Next, a nomogram of predictive model was established, and validation was completed via decision curve analysis (DCA) and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Result: In total, 130 (28%) patients presented with CTEPD, 17% (22/130) of CTEPD patients developed chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Based on the multivariate analysis, a time interval from symptoms onset to diagnosis (time-to-diagnosis) ≥ 15 days (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.392–14.972, p < 0.001), recurrent pulmonary embolism (RPE) (95%CI: 1.560–17.300, p = 0.007), right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) (95%CI: 1.042–6.437, p = 0.040), central embolus (95%CI: 1.776–7.383, p < 0.001) and residual pulmonary vascular obstruction (RPVO) > 10% (95%CI: 4.884–21.449, p < 0.001) were identified as the independent predictors of CTEPD. Then, A prediction model with a C-index of 0.895 (95% CI 0.863–0.927) was established for high-risk patients. The nomogram had an excellent predictive performance for earlier identification of CTEPD, with an area under the curve of 0.908 (95%CI: 0.875–0.941) in the training cohort and 0.875 (95%CI: 0.803–0.947) in the validation cohort. Conclusion: The current study established and validated a reliable nomogram for predicting CTEPD, which would assist clinicians identify the high-risk patients for CTEPD earlier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have gained considerable attention due to their design possibilities as the molecular organic building blocks that can stack in an atomically precise spatial arrangement. Since the inception of COFs in 2005, there has been a continuous expansion in the product range of COFs and their derivatives. This expansion has led to the evolution of three-dimensional structures and various synthetic routes, propelling the field towards large-scale preparation of COFs and their derivatives. This review will offer a holistic analysis and comparison of the spatial structure and synthesis techniques of COFs and their derivatives. The conventional methods of COF synthesis (i.e., ultrasonic chemical, microwave, and solvothermal) are discussed alongside the synthesis strategies of new COFs and their derivatives. Furthermore, the applications of COFs and their derived materials are demonstrated in air, water, and soil pollution management such as gas capture, catalytic conversion, adsorption, and pollutant removal. Finally, this review highlights the current challenges and prospects for large-scale preparation and application of new COFs and the derived materials. In line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the needs of digital-enabled technologies (AI and machine learning), this review will encompass the future technical trends for COFs in environmental pollution control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unmanned systems encounter challenging weather conditions during obstacle removal tasks. Researching stable, real-time, and accurate environmental perception methods under such conditions is crucial. Cameras and LiDAR sensors provide different and complementary data. However, the integration of disparate data presents challenges such as feature mismatches and the fusion of sparse and dense information, which can degrade algorithmic performance. Adverse weather conditions, like rain and snow, introduce noise that further reduces perception accuracy. To address these issues, we propose a novel weather-adaptive bird's-eye view multi-level co-attention fusion 3D object detection algorithm (BEV-MCAF). This algorithm employs an improved feature extraction network to obtain more effective features. A multimodal feature fusion module has been constructed with BEV image feature generation and a co-attention mechanism for better fusion effects. A multi-scale multimodal joint domain adversarial network (M2-DANet) is proposed to enhance adaptability to adverse weather conditions. The efficacy of BEV-MCAF has been validated on both the nuScenes and Ithaca365 datasets, confirming its robustness and good generalization capability in a variety of bad weather conditions. The findings indicate that our proposed algorithm performs better than the benchmark, showing improved adaptability to harsh weather conditions and enhancing the robustness of UVs, ensuring reliable perception under challenging conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selenylation modification is an effective way to improve the nutritional and health effects of tea polysaccharide, but the effects of different selenylation methods on the structure and efficacy of polysaccharides remain unclear. In this study, a series of chemically selenized tea polysaccharides (CSe-TPS, selenium content of 129.98 ~ 1454.99 µg/g) were prepared by Na2SeO3-HNO3 method, which were promoted by heating (HCSe-TPS), ultrasound (UCSe-TPS), and pulse electric field (PCSe-TPS) treatments, respectively. These different CSe-TPSs were systematically compared with ordinary tea polysaccharides (Ord-TPS) and natural selenium-enriched tea polysaccharides (NSe-TPS) in aspect of molecular structure and biological functions. The results of molecular structure and apparent morphology showed that the particle size (p < 0.05) and the thermal stability of Ord-TPS were reduced after selenylation modification, while the absolute potential of polysaccharide was increased (p < 0.05), coupled with altered monosaccharide composition and changed apparent morphology. However, the main functional groups and the secondary structure of Ord-TPS did not change. The antioxidant activities of tea polysaccharides after selenylation were improved as well as their inhibitory effects on carbohydrate digestive enzymes (p < 0.05). The total antioxidant capacity of PCSe-TPS (selenium content of 240.66 ± 1.43µmol/g) was enhanced by 85.41% compared with Ord-TPS (selenium content of 129.80 ± 3.42 µmol/g), while its IC50 values on inhibition of α-amylase (2.91 ± 0.18 mg/mL) and α-glucosidase (0.18 ± 0.01 mg/mL) were significantly lower than other tea polysaccharides (p < 0.05), which suggested best antioxidant and hypoglycemic activity. Moreover, tea polysaccharides with higher selenium content and smaller particle size showed better antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities. This research will provide new strategies for the application of tea polysaccharides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The serial compound fluidized bed gasification process of HMSW (high moisture solid waste) is studied, and the semi-empirical kinetic model is established by combining hydrodynamics and reaction kinetics. The model include combustion sub-model and gasification sub-model, which are divided into dense phase and dilute phase for simulation. The dense phase is simulated by the three-phase bubble bed theory, and the dilute phase is simulated by Wen-Chen entrainment elutriation model combined with the ring-core model. The pyrolysis model is based on the empirical relationship. The effects of gasification temperature, S/HMSW (steam/high moisture solid waste) ratio, HMSW/C (high moisture solid waste/coal) ratio, and moisture on the gasification process are studied. The results show that the gasification temperature of 1000 °C, S/HMSW of 1.13, HMSW/C of 3, and moisture of 26% are the optimal gasification parameters. The study can guide the design, operation, and optimization of the serial compound gasification process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A second order backward differentiation formula (BDF2) alternating direction implicit (ADI) finite difference method (FDM) is proposed for the three-dimensional (3D) nonlocal evolution equation with multi-memory kernels in this paper. The second order convolution quadrature is applied to approximate the Riemann-Liouville (R-L) fractional integral term. The fully discrete scheme is obtained by using the standard central FDM in space. We strictly prove the stability and convergence of the BDF2 ADI difference scheme, whose convergence order can be O(k1+min{α,β,γ }+h²). At last, two numerical experiments are given. The ADI algorithms reduce the computational cost of 3D problems. We also compare our scheme with the scheme in Zhou et al. (Int J Comput Math 100(8):1719-36, 2023). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have emerged as highly promising options for large-scale energy storage systems due to their cost-effectiveness, substantial energy capacity, and improved safety features. However, the Zn anode faces challenges such as self-corrosion and dendrite formation, which limit its practical use in AZIB applications. In this work, a simple blade-coating method was used to successfully coat poly (vinylidene fluoride–hexafluoro propylene) (PVDF-HFP) on the Zn anode. The coated Zn anode (P-Zn) displayed a stable cycling performance (700 h) at 1 mA cm−2 current density in the symmetric cell. In addition, the full cell using MnO2 as the cathode and P-Zn as the anode retained almost full capacity even after 1400 cycles at 2C, far outperforming the full cell using the unmodified Zn anode with only 50% capacity retention after 600 cycles. In situ optical observations of Zn deposition demonstrate that the special organic coating significantly enhances the uniform deposition of Zn2+, thus effectively mitigating corrosion and hydrogen evolution. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations show that the PVDF-HFP coating effectively narrows the adsorption energy gap between the P-Zn (002) and (101) planes, leading to the homogeneous deposition of Zn2+ with fewer Zn dendrites. A simple and feasible strategy for designing ultra-stable AZIBs by coating an organic protective layer on the Zn surface is provided by this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seismic performance of a long-span triple-tower suspension bridge is a critical consideration in engineering communities. To promote a better seismic design, this paper presents a parametric study on the structural seismic control using hysteretic steel dampers. The finite element model is firstly established, and an introduction to the mechanical properties of the E-shaped hysteretic steel damper is made. Then, a seismic analysis is conducted under uniform earthquake excitations. Considering the effect of wave passage, the performance of hysteretic steel dampers in seismic control is further analyzed. The results indicate that the travelling wave effect greatly affects seismic responses. Increasing the damper elastic stiffness can effectively reduce the relative displacement between the main girder and either the left or the central tower. This treatment is effective for the right tower only when the wave velocity is among 400–1600 m/s, while it makes little contribution in other ranges. At an arbitrary wave velocity, increasing the damper elastic stiffness would cause minor changes to the shear forces of side towers, while its influence on the central tower is significant. A reasonable damper design for the long-span triple-tower suspension bridge depends on an essential prior evaluation of the wave velocity based on soil conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bohai Sea is one of the most polluted sea areas in China. In this study, we used 2184 integrated concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) in the Bohai Sea of China during spring (March, April, and May), summer (June, July, and August), and autumn (October and November) from 2015 to 2022 to explore the trends and sources of nutrients variations. From 2015 to 2022, DIN showed a downward trend until 2020 and then an upward trend, whereas DIP exhibited a stable trend with a slight decrease. The concentrations of DIN and DIP had similar seasonal pattern which was the highest in autumn (0.292 ± 0.247 mg/L for DIN and 0.013 ± 0.016 mg/L for DIP) but lower in spring (0.267 ± 0.238 mg/L for DIN and 0.006 ± 0.010 mg/L for DIP) and summer (0.263 ± 0.324 mg/L for DIN and 0.008 ± 0.010 mg/L for DIP). Sources of DIN and DIP apportioned by the positive matrix factorization (PMF) model were riverine input, sediment resuspension, sewage discharge, atmospheric deposition, and underground input. During 2015–2022, the largest contributor to DIN was sewage discharge (28.7%) and the largest contributor to DIP was sediment resuspension (44.6%). Seasonally, DIN in spring and autumn was dominated by sewage discharge (45.4% and 27.8%, respectively). Whereas in summer, it was dominated by riverine input (32.4%) and atmospheric deposition (29.7%). DIP was dominated by sediment resuspension during all three seasons (35.8%–52.5%). In addition, the increase in DIN concentrations in 2021 and 2022 were mainly due to the incremental input of river discharge and atmospheric deposition caused by increased precipitation during summer and autumn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are plenty of cute products in the marketplace even in difficult times. Yet, cute products do not always capture people's attention. Does insecure economic perception affect people's choice of cute products? To address this unexamined research gap, we propose that economic insecurity negatively influences cute product choice preference via the serial mediation effects of other‐focused concern and the need to connect with others. Desire for emotional support is proposed to moderate the focal relationship. We demonstrate these effects using four studies. Studies 1a and 1b tested the causal relationship between primed economic insecurity and choice preference towards cute products as well as ruling out several possible mechanisms (i.e., sense of control, affect, parental caring motives, risk aversion, the desire for cuteness, and the need for protection). Study 2 demonstrated that other‐focused concern and the need to connect with others serially mediated the above effect. Study 3 explored the moderating effect of desire for emotional support. Companies that manufacture cute products can benefit from our findings on how to communicate with consumers in times of economic downturn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Numerous researches have demonstrated that sleep quality deteriorates during menopause, but the prevalence rates vary between studies. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to determine the pooled prevalence of poor sleep quality during menopause and to explore potential moderators of discrepancies in prevalence between studies. Methods: Web of Science, PubMed, PsycINFO and Embase databases were comprehensively searched from database creation to June 19, 2024. Studies were included if they focused on menopausal women and provided an estimate of the prevalence of poor sleep quality, which could be derived from the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Results: Totally, 37 studies with 29,284 menopausal women were included in the analysis. A meta-analysis based on a random-effects model revealed that the prevalence of poor sleep quality during menopause was 50.8% (95% CI: 45.4–56.3%). The PSQI score was 6.24 (95% CI: 5.73—6.75). Subgroup analyses indicated that cut-off values of PSQI, menopausal status, age range, depressive symptoms and geographic region moderated the prevalence of poor sleep quality. Meta-regression analyses indicated that quality score was negatively correlated with the pooled prevalence. Conclusions: Poor sleep quality is a prevalent phenomenon among women during menopause. In light of the numerous adverse effects of poor sleep quality on menopausal women, it is of paramount importance to assess sleep quality on a regular basis and to implement effective interventions for menopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current research advances understanding of how consumers respond to embarrassing service encounters. Across a combination of field and online studies, the authors provide evidence that (1) consumers prefer self-service to human services when purchasing embarrassing products or services; (2) when self-service is not available, consumers respond more positively to a mechanistic service provider than to a personable service provider; and (3) if consumers must engage in embarrassing social interactions, they dehumanize service providers, perceiving them as more mechanistic and less capable of emotional reactions than when engaging in nonembarrassing service interactions. The authors also examine consumers' familiarity with the service provider as a boundary condition for the effect. Collectively, the results provide converging evidence for the proposed framework and have substantive implications for service management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root‐borne microbial necromass carbon (MNC) is an under‐investigated contributor to soil organic carbon (SOC) in grasslands. Here we conduct a benchmark assessment of root‐borne MNC based on amino sugars in the fresh roots of 27 dominant species and mixed roots (including dead ones) of mixed species in Inner Mongolian grasslands. We find that mixed roots contain 9.1−62.4 mg g−1 MNC, which may contribute ∼10% of MNC in surface soils (0−10 cm) if all enters the soil without degradation. Root (and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi; AMF) turnover rather than AMF biomass controls root‐borne MNC accumulation. Based on a microcosm decomposition experiment of mixed roots in model soils under optimal conditions (∼22°C; 60% of maximum water holding capacity), we further estimate that 43%−75% of root‐borne MNC remains after 2‐year decomposition, implying that root‐borne MNC is relatively stable. Hence, root‐borne MNC may be an overlooked potential source of soil MNC and SOC in grasslands. Plain Language Summary: The roots of most (>80%) grassland plants are colonized by endogenous microbes, in particular arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). However, the direct contribution of root‐borne microbial necromass carbon (MNC) to grassland soil organic carbon (SOC) remains unknown. Here we conduct a benchmark quantification of root‐borne MNC based on amino sugars in the fresh roots of 27 dominant species and mixed roots (including dead ones) of mixed species in Inner Mongolian grasslands. We find that root‐borne MNC may contribute ∼10% of MNC in grassland surface soils if all transferred and preserved in soils. Root (and AMF) turnover rather than AMF biomass controls the accumulation of root‐borne MNC, such that both root‐borne MNC and its contribution to SOC are highest in the driest desert steppe with the lowest root mass owing to the rapid root turnover under dry condition. Furthermore, based on a microcosm decomposition experiment under optimal temperature and moisture conditions, we estimate that 43%−75% of root‐borne MNC remains after 2‐year decomposition, implying that root‐borne MNC is relatively stable. These findings highlight that root‐borne MNC may be an overlooked source of soil MNC and SOC in grasslands, which warrants better recognition in the heated study of microbial necromass. Key Points: Mixed roots contain 9−62 mg g−1 microbial necromass carbon (MNC) in grassland topsoil43%−75% of root‐borne MNC remained after 2‐year decomposition under optimal temperature and moisture conditionsRoot‐borne MNC supplies up to 3% of grassland soil organic carbon with root turnover unaccounted for, and rapid root turnover may enhance its contribution [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Added sugars intake is common among individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD), yet the link between added sugars intake and PD is not well understood. Our study aims to investigate the association between added sugars intake and PD. Methods: This study utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from1990 to 2020. Added sugars intake was estimated based on a 24-hour dietary recall from participants. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed to explore the relationship between added sugars intake and the prevalence of PD. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) was used to explore the nonlinear association between added sugars intake and PD. To further observe whether the conclusions were consistent across different subgroups, we conducted subgroup analyses to investigate the association of added sugars intake with PD in different populations. Results: The study included 12,489 participants, of which 100 had PD. When weighted, the data represented 136,959,144 participants. The study revealed a positive association between added sugars intake and the prevalence of PD. In multivariable regression models adjusted for all confounding factors, compared with the lowest quartile of added sugars intake, the third quartile (OR = 2.99; 95% CI: 1.43–6.26) and those consuming more than 25% of their calories from added sugars (OR = 3.34; 95% CI: 1.03–10.86) had the highest risk of PD. The RCS curve showed an L-shaped nonlinear association between added sugars intake and PD. Two-segment linear regression by sex revealed that PD prevalence in women was linearly related to sugar intake (nonlinear P = 0.465), while men exhibited an L-shaped nonlinear relationship (nonlinear P = 0.03). Additionally, subgroup analysis showed that alcohol consumption and diabetes significantly influenced the association between added sugars intake and the prevalence of PD. Conclusion: These results highlight a positive association between added sugars intake and the prevalence of PD, particularly among women, heavy drinkers, and individuals with diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]