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To study the effect of thinning intensity on the carbon sequestration by natural mixed coniferous and broadleaf forests in Xiaoxing'an Mountains, China, we established six 100 m × 100 m experimental plots in Dongfanghong Forest that varied in thinning intensity: plot A (10%), B (15%), C (20%), D (25%), E (30%), F (35%), and the control sample area (0%). A principal component analysis was performed using 50 different variables, including species diversity, soil fertility, litter characteristics, canopy structure parameters, and seedling regeneration parameters. The effects of thinning intensity on carbon sequestration were strongest in plot E (0.75), followed by D (0.63), F (0.50), C (0.48), B (0.22), A (0.11), and the control (0.06). The composite score of plot E was the highest, indicating that the carbon sequestration effect was strongest at a thinning intensity of 30%. These findings provide useful insights that could aid the management of natural mixed coniferous and broadleaf forests in Xiaoxing'an Mountains, China. This information has implications for future studies of these forests, and the methods used could aid future ecological assessments of the natural forests in Xiaoxing'an Mountains, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broadly neutralizing antibodies are proposed as therapeutic and prophylactic agents against HIV‐1, but their potency and breadth are less than optimal. This study describes the immunization of a llama with the prefusion‐stabilized HIV‐1 envelope (Env) trimer, BG505 DS‐SOSIP, and the identification and improvement of potent neutralizing nanobodies recognizing the CD4‐binding site (CD4bs) of vulnerability. Two of the vaccine‐elicited CD4bs‐targeting nanobodies, G36 and R27, when engineered into a triple tandem format with llama IgG2a‐hinge region and human IgG1‐constant region (G36×3‐IgG2a and R27×3‐IgG2a), neutralized 96% of a multiclade 208‐strain panel at geometric mean IC80s of 0.314 and 0.033 µg mL−1, respectively. Cryo‐EM structures of these nanobodies in complex with Env trimer revealed the two nanobodies to neutralize HIV‐1 by mimicking the recognition of the CD4 receptor. To enhance their neutralizing potency and breadth, nanobodies are linked to the light chain of the V2‐apex‐targeting broadly neutralizing antibody, CAP256V2LS. The resultant human‐llama bispecific antibody CAP256L‐R27×3LS exhibited ultrapotent neutralization and breadth exceeding other published HIV‐1 broadly neutralizing antibodies, with pharmacokinetics determined in FcRn‐Fc mice similar to the parent CAP256V2LS. Vaccine‐elicited llama nanobodies, when combined with V2‐apex broadly neutralizing antibodies, may therefore be able to fulfill anti‐HIV‐1 therapeutic and prophylactic clinical goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Obesity, as indicated by elevated Body Mass Index (BMI), is a well-established global health concern associated with increased morbidity and mortality across diverse populations. However, the influence of BMI on individuals in Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing (AFF) occupations, characterized by unique challenges and environmental factors, has received limited research attention. Methods: Our study, a prospective cohort analysis, utilized National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 1999–2014, targeting adults above 18 in AFF occupations with comprehensive BMI data, omitting individuals with a history of cancer. Mortality outcomes were extracted from the NHANES mortality file, and BMI was segmented into eight categories. Essential covariates such as age, sex, race, and various health factors were incorporated. The statistical analysis encompassed Cox regression, generalized additive models, smooth curve fitting, and stratified analyses. Results: During 1,005 person-years with 201 all-cause and 57 CVD deaths, we observed L-shaped and U-shaped correlations of BMI with all-cause and CVD mortality, featuring a pivotal inflection at 26.69 and 27.40 kg/m2. Above this BMI threshold of 26.69 and 27.4 kg/m2, all-cause mortality association was not significant while CVD mortality was positive. Conclusions: This study highlights a unique BMI-mortality association in AFF occupations, diverging from standard patterns. The rigorous labor and environmental conditions in AFF jobs suggest that a certain range of higher BMI could reduce mortality risk. This highlights the necessity for tailored health guidelines in different occupations. Future research should concentrate on diverse health indicators and enhanced risk assessment for physically strenuous occupations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are widely distributed persistent organic pollutants and their monitoring in environmental media has received extensive attention. The soil matrix is complex, and efficient and simple extraction of PFAAs remains a challenge for analysts. In this work, a simple and rapid method has been developed for the determination of 21 PFAAs in soil by chelating resin-assisted extraction combined with high-performance liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). Treatment with chelating resins effectively released PFAAs bound to metal ions, thereby greatly improving the extraction efficiency of PFAAs in soil. The complete extraction procedure only required 30 min. Under the optimized conditions, the quantification limits of the 21 PFAAs were from 0.03 to 0.49 ng/mL. Single PFAAs were detected in soil samples with concentrations ranging from 0.10 to 2.60 ng/g and recoveries between 70 and 126%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships among aging self-stereotype, sense of coherence (SOC), and social isolation, as well as further explore the moderating role of cellphone use in older adults. The 817 Chinese older adults were assessed with regard to aging self-stereotypes, social isolation, SOC and cellphone use. Results from mediation analyses revealed that the negative effect of aging self-stereotype on social isolation was mediated by SOC. Moderated mediation analyses further indicated that the path from SOC to social isolation was stronger and the path from aging self-stereotype to social isolation was weaker for older adults with a higher level of cellphone use. These findings indicated that negative stereotypes were related to weaker SOC and are associated with more severe social isolation. Frequent use of cellphones can alleviate the negative effect of aging self-stereotype on social isolation and enhance the positive effect of SOC on social isolation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives This study aimed to investigate the association between negative aging stereotypes and goal pursuit in daily life among older adults. We also explored the roles of stereotype threat and stereotype challenge reactions in mediating this association. Additionally, this study investigated whether variations in these associations exist among older adults based on their self-integrity levels. Methods Participants were 100 older adults who completed daily measures assessing negative aging stereotype experiences, threat and challenge reactions, goal pursuit activities, and self-integrity over a week. Results More daily experiences of negative aging stereotypes were associated with greater avoidance of responsibilities in goal pursuit and less progress toward goals. Increased threat reactions and decreased challenge reactions were mediators of the association between stereotype experiences and avoidance of responsibilities, as well as that between stereotype experiences and progress toward goals, respectively. Moreover, the associations between threat reactions and avoidance of responsibilities as well as between stereotype experiences and challenge reactions were more pronounced in older adults with lower self-integrity levels. Discussion This study is pioneering in demonstrating the real-life interplay between aging stereotypes and goal pursuit among older adults. Its findings not only expand upon the literature concerning aging stereotypes, but also offer theoretical insights for the development of interventions aimed at goal pursuit. These insights have significant implications for fostering healthy aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the effect of ecological function restoration in degraded natural forests in Xiaoxinganling, Heilongjiang Province, China, we set up 90 plots of degraded natural forests of different types and ages in the Xinqing Group Branch of Yichun Forestry Industry Group in Xiaoxinganling, Heilongjiang Province, China. Moreover, 43 evaluation indexes, including litter characteristics, species diversity, soil physical properties, soil chemical properties, and canopy structural parameters, were selected to determine the effect of ecological function restoration in the degraded natural forests in the study area. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to comprehensively evaluate the ecological function of the degraded forests. The results of the study showed that, based on the forest type scores, mixed coniferous and broadleaf forests, mixed coniferous forests, and broadleaf forests had higher scores, while the scores of pure Betula platyphylla forests, pure Larix gmelinii forests, and the three low-quality forests were lower. This showed that the ecological restoration effect for mixed forests in the Xinqing Group Branch of Yichun Sengyong Group of Xinjiangqing Group, Xiaoxinganling, Heilongjiang Province, China, was better than that for pure forests and low-quality forests. Based on forest age, the scores of near-mature forests and mature forests were generally higher than those of young forests and over-mature forests, indicating that the ecological restoration effect for near-mature forests and mature forests in Xinqing Group Branch of Yichun Forestry Industry Group in Xiaoxinganling, Heilongjiang Province, China, was better than that for young forests and over-mature forests. These evaluation results can provide a theoretical basis for subsequent research on the ecological restoration effect in degraded natural forests in Xiaoxinganling, Heilongjiang Province, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The relationship of serum 25(OH)D levels and hyperlipidemia has not been explored in the Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing (AFF) occupation. We aimed to explore the impact of serum 25(OH)D levels on lipid profiles in AFF workers, traffic drivers, and miners. Methods: Data from 3937 adults aged 18–65 years old with completed information were obtained from the National Health and Examination Survey from 2001 to 2014. Multivariate linear regression models were used to examine the associations between serum 25(OH)D concentrations and triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and HDL-C/LDL-C ratio. Subgroup analyses for AFF workers considered age, sex, BMI, work activity, months worked, and alcohol consumption. Non-linear relationships were explored using curve fitting. Results: Serum 25(OH)D levels differed between groups (AFF: 60.0 ± 21.3 nmol/L, drivers: 56.6 ± 22.2 nmol/L, miners: 62.8 ± 22.3 nmol/L). Subgroup analysis of the AFF group showed that participants with serum 25(OH)D ≥50 nmol/L, females, and BMI <30 kg/m2 demonstrated improved HDL-C levels correlating with higher serum 25(OH)D. Serum 25(OH)D in AFF workers had a reversed U-shaped relationship with TG and TC, and a U-shaped relationship with HDL-C, with HDL-C, with inflection points at 49.5 nmol/L for TG and TC, and 32.6 nmol/L for HDL-C. Conclusions: Serum 25(OH)D levels are associated with lipid profiles, and the relationship varies among occupational groups. AFF workers, facing unique occupational challenges, may benefit from maintaining adequate serum 25(OH)D levels to mitigate adverse lipid profiles and reduce cardiovascular risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of this study were to explore the predictive relationship between sleep quality and sense of coherence (SOC) and to examine a possible moderating role of mastery in this relationship. A three‐wave longitudinal design was employed using a sample of 304 older adults aged 55–87 years old. Cross‐lagged panel analyses and moderating effect analyses showed that sleep quality can predict the levels of SOC 6 months later, whereas SOC cannot predict sleep quality 6 months later. In addition, mastery can moderate the effect of sleep quality on SOC. Specifically, the lagged effects of sleep quality on SOC in older adults who had low levels of mastery were stronger than in those who had high levels of mastery. Overall, these findings provide valuable insights for understanding the predictive relationship between sleep quality and SOC and emphasise the moderating role of mastery. Also, our results offer important implications for enhancing the SOC in older adults by improving sleep quality and mastery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-contrast gratings (HCGs) based spoof surface plasmon polaritons (SSPPs), as a new kind of SSPPs, have been proposed recently. Here, we study their particular mechanism and characteristics by comparing them with traditional metal-type SSPPs. The different fundamental dielectric resonator modes decided by the height–length ratio R of the dielectric element are found to be the key factor of the mechanism, leading to new characteristics and providing more working modes. In low R mode, HCG-based SSPPs can work under deep-subwavelength thickness and can be easily excited by free space wave and, thus, are considered to be applied to all-dielectric metamaterial absorbers (ADMMAs). Simulations and analysis confirm the microwave absorption effect of HCG-based SSPPs as a new mechanism of ADMMAs. Based on this, a carbon black based ADMMA is designed and the simulation and experimental results verify the important role of HCG-based SSPPs in broadband absorption. It is expected that this work can give rise to further and wider studies on the characteristics and applications of HCG-based SSPPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fusion peptide (FP) on the HIV-1 envelope (Env) trimer can be targeted by broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs). Here, we evaluated the ability of a human FP-directed bNAb, VRC34.01, along with two vaccine-elicited anti-FP rhesus macaque mAbs, DFPH-a.15 and DF1W-a.01, to protect against simian-HIV (SHIV)BG505 challenge. VRC34.01 neutralized SHIVBG505 with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.58 μg/ml, whereas DF1W-a.01 and DFPH-a.15 were 4- or 30-fold less potent, respectively. VRC34.01 was infused into four rhesus macaques at a dose of 10 mg/kg and four rhesus macaques at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg. The animals were intrarectally challenged 5 days later with SHIVBG505. In comparison with all 12 control animals that became infected, all four animals infused with VRC34.01 (10 mg/kg) and three out of four animals infused with VRC34.01 (2.5 mg/kg) remained uninfected. Because of the lower potency of DF1W-a.01 and DFPH-a.15 against SHIVBG505, we infused both Abs at a higher dose of 100 mg/kg into four rhesus macaques each, followed by SHIVBG505 challenge 5 days later. Three of four animals that received DF1W-a.01 were protected against infection, whereas all animals that received DFPH-a.15 were protected. Overall, the protective serum neutralization titers observed in these animals were similar to what has been observed for other bNAbs in similar SHIV infection models and in human clinical trials. In conclusion, FP-directed mAbs can thus provide dose-dependent in vivo protection against mucosal SHIV challenges, supporting the development of prophylactic vaccines targeting the HIV-1 Env FP. Editor's summary: The fusion peptide (FP) on the HIV-1 envelope protein is a conserved site that can be targeted by neutralizing antibodies. However, the extent of protection conferred by FP-directed antibodies in the context of mucosal infection is unclear. Here, Pegu et al. tested three different anti-FP antibodies, including one human antibody and two rhesus macaque antibodies, for their ability to neutralize HIV-1 in vitro and confer protection against simian-HIV (SHIV) challenge of rhesus macaques in vivo. All three antibodies conferred protection against mucosal challenge with SHIV at clinically meaningful titers, supporting further development of both anti-FP antibody therapies and vaccines designed to elicit anti-FP humoral responses. —Courtney Malo [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lassa virus (LASV) infection is expanding outside its traditionally endemic areas in West Africa, posing a pandemic biothreat. LASV-neutralizing antibodies, moreover, have proven difficult to elicit. To gain insight into LASV neutralization, here we develop a prefusion-stabilized LASV glycoprotein trimer (GPC), pan it against phage libraries comprising single-domain antibodies (nanobodies) from shark and camel, and identify one, D5, which neutralizes LASV. Cryo-EM analyses reveal D5 to recognize a cleavage-dependent site-of-vulnerability at the trimer apex. The recognized site appears specific to GPC intermediates, with protomers lacking full cleavage between GP1 and GP2 subunits. Guinea pig immunizations with the prefusion-stabilized cleavage-intermediate LASV GPC, first as trimer and then as a nanoparticle, induce neutralizing responses, targeting multiple epitopes including that of D5; we identify a neutralizing antibody (GP23) from the immunized guinea pigs. Collectively, our findings define a prefusion-stabilized GPC trimer, reveal an apex-situated site-of-vulnerability, and demonstrate elicitation of LASV-neutralizing responses by a cleavage-intermediate LASV trimer.Gorman et al. designed a Lassa virus prefusion-stabilized soluble glycoprotein complex trimer (GPC), with which they identified a Lassa virus-neutralizing nanobody that bound the GPC apex and elicited neutralizing antibody responses in guinea pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike is a primary target of neutralizing antibodies and a key component of licensed vaccines. Substantial mutations in RBD, however, enable current variants to escape immunogenicity generated by vaccination with the ancestral (WA1) strain. Here, we produce and assess self-assembling nanoparticles displaying RBDs from WA1 and BA.5 strains by using the SpyTag:SpyCatcher system for coupling. We observed both WA1- and BA.5-RBD nanoparticles to degrade substantially after a few days at 37 °C. Incorporation of nine RBD-stabilizing mutations, however, increased yield ~five-fold and stability such that more than 50% of either the WA1- or BA.5-RBD nanoparticle was retained after one week at 37 °C. Murine immunizations revealed that the stabilized RBD-nanoparticles induced ~100-fold higher autologous neutralization titers than the prefusion-stabilized (S2P) spike at a 2 μg dose. Even at a 25-fold lower dose where S2P-induced neutralization titers were below the detection limit, the stabilized BA.5-RBD nanoparticle induced homologous titers of 12,795 ID50 and heterologous titers against WA1 of 1767 ID50. Assessment against a panel of β-coronavirus variants revealed both the stabilized BA.5-RBD nanoparticle and the stabilized WA1-BA.5-(mosaic)-RBD nanoparticle to elicit much higher neutralization breadth than the stabilized WA1-RBD nanoparticle. The extraordinary titer and high neutralization breadth elicited by stabilized RBD nanoparticles from strain BA.5 make them strong candidates for next-generation COVID-19 vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As new information carriers, antiferromagnetic magnons have great potential in the fields of spintronics and quantum information. However, the strong exchange interaction between sublattice spins in conventional antiferromagnets results in their frequencies up to the terahertz (THz) range, hindering further exploration of related applications and physics. Recently, emerging van der Waals A‐type antiferromagnets with the weak exchange interaction may bring about a change. In this study, it demonstrates two distinct tunable ultrastrong magnon–magnon couplings in the gigahertz (GHz) band using this type of antiferromagnet, CrPS4, with a maximum normalized coupling strength (η) of 0.31. It establishes orthorhombic and monoclinic models for theoretical analyses, unambiguously showing that the ultrastrong coupling strength is caused by unique magnetocrystalline anisotropy rather than exchange enhancement. Furthermore, for the first time, it observes a continuous switching process of sublattice magnon chirality arising from the orthorhombic nature of anisotropy. These findings not only deepen the understanding of antiferromagnetic spin dynamics but also offer a powerful platform for building magnonic quantum systems and chirality‐based spintronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Fu-brick tea (FBT) was used for kombucha preparation. The succession of microbial community structures, changes in physicochemical properties, and the volatiles were investigated during the kombucha fermentation. The sequencing analysis showed that Komagataeibacter was the most predominant bacterium. Aspergillus and Zygosaccharomyces were the dominant fungi before fermentation whereas Zygosaccharomyces and Derkella were the dominant fungi after 3 days of fermentation. The physicochemical analysis revealed that acetic acid, glucuronic acid, and polyphenols increased by 10.22 g/L, 0.08 g/L, and 177.40 mg/L, respectively, by the end of fermentation. The GC-MS analysis showed that a total of 49 volatile compounds were detected during the fermentation. Moreover, there were great differences in volatile components among the kombucha samples with different fermentation times. Furthermore, the relevance among microbial community and volatile compounds was evaluated through correlation network analysis. The results suggested that Komagataeibacter, Aspergillus, Zygosaccharomyces, and Dekkera were closely related to the main volatile compounds of FBT kombucha. The results in this study may provide deep understanding for constructing the microbiota and improving the quality of FBT kombucha. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of the previous studies on body image dissatisfaction mainly focused on the populations of adolescents and middle-aged people, however little is known about the body image dissatisfaction of older adults and its correlates. This study examined the possible patterns of relationship between body image dissatisfaction, sense of control, social support (i.e., family support and friend support), and subjective well-being in older adults. A sample of 814 older adults completed measures of body image dissatisfaction, sense of control, social support, and subjective well-being. The results indicated that body image dissatisfaction is significantly associated with subjective well-being. In addition, sense of control mediated the relationship between body image dissatisfaction and subjective well-being. Moderated mediation analyses revealed that family support moderated the relationship between body image dissatisfaction and sense of control and that friend support moderated the relationship between body image dissatisfaction and subjective well-being. These results of the current study can deepen our understanding of the relationship between body image dissatisfaction and subjective well-being as well as their intermediate variables and may contribute to theories addressing well-being in older adults. The results may also have a practical value by guiding older adults to make rational use of social support and increase their sense of control to reduce the negative effect of body image dissatisfaction and improve their subjective well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The HIV-1 fusion peptide (FP) represents a promising vaccine target, but global FP sequence diversity among circulating strains has limited anti-FP antibodies to ~60% neutralization breadth. Here we evolve the FP-targeting antibody VRC34.01 in vitro to enhance FP-neutralization using site saturation mutagenesis and yeast display. Successive rounds of directed evolution by iterative selection of antibodies for binding to resistant HIV-1 strains establish a variant, VRC34.01_mm28, as a best-in-class antibody with 10-fold enhanced potency compared to the template antibody and ~80% breadth on a cross-clade 208-strain neutralization panel. Structural analyses demonstrate that the improved paratope expands the FP binding groove to accommodate diverse FP sequences of different lengths while also recognizing the HIV-1 Env backbone. These data reveal critical antibody features for enhanced neutralization breadth and potency against the FP site of vulnerability and accelerate clinical development of broad HIV-1 FP-targeting vaccines and therapeutics. Antibodies targeting the HIV-1 fusion peptide rarely achieve more than 60% neutralization breadth. Here, the authors develop an anti-FP antibody enhancing its potency to 80% and structurally resolve the expanded FP-binding site that allows the antibody to target diverse viral variants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of the previous studies on body image dissatisfaction mainly focused on the populations of adolescents and middle-aged people, however little is known about the body image dissatisfaction of older adults and its correlates. This study examined the possible patterns of relationship between body image dissatisfaction, sense of control, social support (i.e., family support and friend support), and subjective well-being in older adults. A sample of 814 older adults completed measures of body image dissatisfaction, sense of control, social support, and subjective well-being. The results indicated that body image dissatisfaction is significantly associated with subjective well-being. In addition, sense of control mediated the relationship between body image dissatisfaction and subjective well-being. Moderated mediation analyses revealed that family support moderated the relationship between body image dissatisfaction and sense of control and that friend support moderated the relationship between body image dissatisfaction and subjective well-being. These results of the current study can deepen our understanding of the relationship between body image dissatisfaction and subjective well-being as well as their intermediate variables and may contribute to theories addressing well-being in older adults. The results may also have a practical value by guiding older adults to make rational use of social support and increase their sense of control to reduce the negative effect of body image dissatisfaction and improve their subjective well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the current study was to examine the association between body image and hopelessness as well as the roles of aging self‐stereotypes and marital status in this association in older adults. There were 821 older adults who participated in the present study and completed questionaries about body image, aging self‐stereotypes, hopelessness, demographic information (age and sex), marital status, and health status. The results showed that body image was associated with hopelessness in older adults, and aging self‐stereotypes mediated the link between body image and hopelessness. Moderated analyses further indicated that the path from body image to aging self‐stereotypes was stronger for single older adults than for those who were married. The results emphasize that older adults' dissatisfaction with their body image can enhance negative aging self‐stereotypes, which then result in more severe hopelessness. Marital relationships can alleviate the negative effect of body image on aging self‐stereotypes in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pneumoviridae family of viruses includes human metapneumovirus (HMPV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The closely related Paramyxoviridae family includes parainfluenza viruses (PIVs). These three viral pathogens cause acute respiratory tract infections with substantial disease burden in the young, the elderly, and the immune-compromised. While promising subunit vaccines are being developed with prefusion-stabilized forms of the fusion glycoproteins (Fs) of RSV and PIVs, for which neutralizing titers elicited by the prefusion (pre-F) conformation of F are much higher than for the postfusion (post-F) conformation, with HMPV, pre-F and post-F immunogens described thus far elicit similar neutralizing responses, and it has been unclear which conformation, pre-F or post-F, would be the most effective HMPV F-vaccine immunogen. Here, we investigate the impact of further stabilizing HMPV F in the pre-F state. We replaced the furin-cleavage site with a flexible linker, creating a single chain F that yielded increased amounts of pre-F stabilized trimers, enabling the generation and assessment of F trimers stabilized by multiple disulfide bonds. Introduced prolines could increase both expression yields and antigenic recognition by the pre-F specific antibody, MPE8. The cryo-EM structure of a triple disulfide-stabilized pre-F trimer with the variable region of antibody MPE8 at 3.25-Å resolution confirmed the formation of designed disulfides and provided structural details on the MPE8 interface. Immunogenicity assessments in naïve mice showed the triple disulfide-stabilized pre-F trimer could elicit high titer neutralization, >10-fold higher than elicited by post-F. Immunogenicity assessments in pre-exposed rhesus macaques showed the triple disulfide-stabilized pre-F could recall high neutralizing titers after a single immunization, with little discrimination in the recall response between pre-F and post-F immunogens. However, the triple disulfide-stabilized pre-F adsorbed HMPV-directed responses from commercially available pooled human immunoglobulin more fully than post-F. Collectively, these results suggest single-chain triple disulfide-stabilized pre-F trimers to be promising HMPV-vaccine antigens. Author summary: Immune responses to the fusion (F) glycoprotein trimer of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) could form the basis of an effective vaccine. However, the F glycoprotein assumes two conformations or shapes, prefusion (pre-F) and postfusion (post-F), and the shape of the most effective HMPV-vaccine immunogen has been unclear. Here, we use structure-based design to create a single chain version of F, which we stabilized in the pre-F shape with three additional disulfide bonds and assessed structurally, antigenically, and immunogenically. Structurally, we confirmed by cryo-electron microscopy that the three designed disulfides formed. Antigenically, the single-chain triple disulfide-stabilized F trimer was well recognized by the pre-F specific antibody, MPE8. And immunogenically, the single-chain triple disulfide-stabilized F trimer elicited high titer neutralizing responses, both in naïve mice and in pre-exposed rhesus macaques. Overall, our results suggest a highly stabilized pre-F trimer, such as the single-chain triple disulfide-stabilized F trimer that we described here, may be a highly effective HMPV-vaccine immunogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selenium (Se) is a trace element that plays a crucial role in metabolism; a lack of selenium reduces the body's resistance and immunity, as well as causes other physiological problems. In this study, we aim to identify favorable conditions for improving organic selenium production. The functional microbe Monascus purpureus, which is widely used in food production, was employed to optimize selenium-enriched culture conditions, and its growth mode and selenium-enriched features were investigated. Spectrophotometry, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), and HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography) were used to determine the effects of various doses of sodium selenite on the selenium content, growth, and metabolism of M. purpureus, as well as the conversion rate of organic selenium. The best culture parameters for selenium-rich M. purpureus included 7.5 mg/100 mL of selenium content in the culture medium, a pH value of 6.8, a culture temperature of 30 °C, and a rotation speed of 180 rpm. Under ideal circumstances, the mycelia had a maximum selenium concentration of approximately 239.17 mg/kg, with organic selenium accounting for 93.45%, monacoline K production reaching 70.264 mg/L, and a secondary utilization rate of external selenium of 22.99%. This study revealed a novel biological route—selenium-rich M. purpureus fermentation—for converting inorganic selenium into organic selenium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FeSiAl flakes were fabricated by vibrating ball milling the FeSiAl ribbons. And the microwave absorption properties of FeSiAl flakes were improved by doping the multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with different mass concentrations. The results show that the FeSiAl/MWCNT composites exhibit significantly improved microwave absorption performance with advantages of strong and broadband absorption in the L-band and S-band. In particular, the reflection loss (RL) of the FeSiAl/MWCNT2 composite reaches −7.4 dB at 1.0 GHz, whereupon, through the electromagnetic simulation software CST Microwave Studio, FeSiAl/MWCNT2 all-dielectric metamaterial absorbers (ADMMAs) were macroscopically designed, achieving an ultra-wideband absorption (RL ≤ −10 dB) of 14.4 GHz (3.6~18.0 GHz). It is recognized that the standing wavelength resonance and diffraction effect are responsible for absorbing electromagnetic waves, and the broadband absorption is improved via dielectric dispersion; their synergistic effect makes the ADMMAs exhibit good microwave absorption performance. This work provides a useful method for designing microwave absorption materials with broadband absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New vaccine delivery technologies, such as mRNA, have played a critical role in the rapid and efficient control of SARS-CoV-2, helping to end the COVID-19 pandemic. Enveloped virus-like particles (eVLPs) are often more immunogenic than protein subunit immunogens and could be an effective vaccine platform. Here, we investigated whether the genetic delivery of eVLPs could achieve strong immune responses in mice as previously reported with the immunization of in vitro purified eVLPs. We utilized Newcastle disease virus-like particles (NDVLPs) to display SARS-CoV-2 prefusion-stabilized spikes from the WA-1 or Beta variant (S-2P or S-2Pᵦ, respectively) and evaluated neutralizing murine immune responses achieved by a single-gene-transcript DNA construct for the WA-1 or Beta variant (which we named S-2P-NDVLP-1T and S-2Pᵦ-NDVLP-1T, respectively), by multiple-gene-transcript DNA constructs for the Beta variant (S-2Pᵦ-NDVLP-3T), and by a protein subunit–DNA construct for the WA-1 or Beta variant (S-2P-TM or S-2Pᵦ-TM, respectively). The genetic delivery of S-2P-NDVLP-1T or S-2Pᵦ-NDVLP-1T yielded modest neutralizing responses after a single immunization and high neutralizing responses after a second immunization, comparable to previously reported results in mice immunized with in vitro purified S-2P-NDVLPs. Notably, genetic delivery of S-2Pᵦ-NDVLP-3T yielded significantly higher neutralizing responses in mice after a second immunization than S-2Pᵦ-NDVLP-1T or S-2Pᵦ-TM. Genetic delivery also elicited high spike-specific T-cell responses. Collectively, these results indicate that genetic delivery can provide an effective means to immunize eVLPs and that a multiple-gene transcript eVLP platform may be especially efficacious and inform the design of improved vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While several COVID-19 vaccines have been in use, more effective and durable vaccines are needed to combat the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we report highly immunogenic self-assembling SARS-CoV-2 spike-HBsAg nanoparticles displaying a six-proline-stabilized WA1 (wild type, WT) spike S6P on a HBsAg core. These S6P-HBsAgs bound diverse domain-specific SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies. In mice with and without a HBV pre-vaccination, DNA immunization with S6P-HBsAgs elicited significantly more potent and durable neutralizing antibody (nAb) responses against diverse SARS-CoV-2 strains than that of soluble S2P or S6P, or full-length S2P with its coding sequence matching mRNA-1273. The nAb responses elicited by S6P-HBsAgs persisted substantially longer than by soluble S2P or S6P and appeared to be enhanced by HBsAg pre-exposure. These data show that genetic delivery of SARS-CoV-2 S6P-HBsAg nanoparticles can elicit greater and more durable nAb responses than non-nanoparticle forms of stabilized spike. Our findings highlight the potential of S6P-HBsAgs as next generation genetic vaccine candidates against SARS-CoV-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thinning is a widely used forest management tool but systematic research has not been carried out to verify its effects on carbon storage and plant diversity at the ecosystem level. In this study, the effect of thinning was assessed across seven thinning intensities (0, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35%) in a low-quality secondary forest in NE China over a ten-year period. Thinning affected the carbon storage of trees, and shrub, herb, and soil layers (P < 0.05). It first increased and then decreased as thinning intensity increased, reaching its maximum at 30% thinning. Carbon storage of the soil accounted for more than 64% of the total carbon stored in the ecosystem. It was highest in the upper 20-cm soil layer. Thinning increased tree species diversity while decreasing shrub and herb diversities (P < 0.05). Redundancy analysis and a correlation heat map showed that carbon storage of tree and shrub layers was positively correlated with tree diversity but negatively with herb diversity, indicating that the increase in tree diversity increased the carbon storage of natural forest ecosystems. Although thinning decreased shrub and herb diversities, it increased the carbon storage of the overall ecosystem and tree species diversity of secondary forest. Maximum carbon storage and the highest tree diversity were observed at a thinning intensity of 30%. This study provides evidence for the ecological management of natural and secondary forests and improvement of ecosystem carbon sinks and biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic skyrmions, a new type of information carriers, are extensively investigated for their potential applications in next-generation data storage and computing. In this work, we propose a mechanical probe ring to implement the accurate manipulation of a single skyrmion by a voltage-controlled magnetic anisotropy effect, which is analogous to the manipulation of atoms using a scanning tunneling microscope. Combined with the observation process, we can use the probe to move skyrmions accurately in real time. We investigate the effects of various factors on the performance by micromagnetic simulations in order to give a guide for the design and application of this probe. We prove that this method can manipulate not only ferromagnetic skyrmions but also antiferromagnetic skyrmions, which is significant for the study of physical properties and electronic applications of those particle-like spin textures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the effects of noise disturbances and system resilience, the current methods for rolling bearing fault feature extraction and degradation trend estimation can hardly achieve more satisfactory results. To address the above issues, we propose a different method for fault feature extraction and degradation trend estimation. Firstly, we preset the Bayesian inference criterion to evaluate the complexity of the denoised vibration signal. When its complexity reaches a minimum, the noise disturbances are exactly removed. Secondly, we define the system resilience obtained by the Bayesian network as the intrinsic index of the system, which is used to correct the equipment degradation trend obtained by the multivariate status estimation technique. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by the completeness of the extracted fault features and the accuracy of the degradation trend estimation over the whole life cycle of the bearing degradation data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lemon peel is the major by-product of lemon juice processing and is currently underutilized. In this study, we explored the feasibility of using lemon peel as a raw material for making vinegar. Lemon peel was homogenized, treated with pectinase (30,000 U/g, 0.1%) at 50 °C for 4 h, and then filtered. The obtained lemon peel juice was first subjected to alcoholic fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. FX10, and then acetic fermentation by an acid tolerant Acetobacter malorum, OQY-1, which was isolated from the lemon peels. The juice yield of the lemon peel was 62.5%. The alcoholic fermentation yielded a lemon peel wine with an alcoholic content of 5.16%, and the acetic acid fermentation produced a vinegar with a total acid content of 5.04 g/100 mL. A total of 36 volatile compounds were identified from the lemon vinegar, with some compounds such as esters and some alcohols that increased significantly during alcoholic fermentation while alcohols, terpenoids, and some esters decreased significantly during the fermentations. E-nose and E-tongue analyses coupled with principal component and discriminant factor analyses (PCA and DFA) were able to discriminate the samples at different fermentation stages. Overall, this work demonstrates the potential to transform lemon peel into a valuable product, thus reducing the waste of lemon processing and adding value to the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of a malaria vaccine that blocks transmission of different parasite stages to humans and mosquitoes is considered critical for elimination efforts. A vaccine using Pfs25, a protein on the surface of zygotes and ookinetes, is under investigation as a transmission-blocking vaccine (TBV) that would interrupt parasite passage from mosquitoes to humans. The most extensively studied Pfs25 TBVs use Pichia pastoris-produced recombinant forms of Pfs25, chemically conjugated to a recombinant carrier protein, ExoProtein A (EPA). The recombinant form of Pfs25 first used in humans was identified as Pfs25H, which contained a total of 14 heterologous amino acid residues located at the amino- and carboxyl-termini including a His6 affinity tag. A second recombinant Pfs25, identified as Pfs25M, was produced to remove the heterologous amino acid residues and conjugated to EPA (Pfs25M-EPA). Here, monomeric Pfs25M was characterized biochemically and biophysically for identity, purity, and integrity including protein structure to assess its comparability with Pfs25H. Although the biological activities of Pfs25H and Pfs25M, whether generated by monomeric forms or conjugated nanoparticles, appeared similar, fine-mapping studies with two transmission-blocking monoclonal antibodies detected structural and immunological differences. In addition, evaluation of antisera generated against conjugated Pfs25H or Pfs25M nanoparticles in nonhuman primates identified polyclonal IgG that recognized these structural differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Negative emotions have been prevalent with older adults and negatively affect their physical and mental health. On the basis of self-affirmation theory, the present study explored a set of simple and effective time-saving early intervention programs for older adults whose negative emotions are in a normal and controllable range. We designed a three-week intervention program to boost self-integrity and relieve negative emotions in older adults. The self-affirmation intervention group (n = 88) and control group (n = 85) received three different experimental manipulations, respectively. Self-integrity, depression, anxiety, and loneliness were assessed before and after the intervention. Results showed that the self-affirmation intervention highly improved self-integrity and further relieved the negative emotions of older adults in the intervention group. Further mediation analyses indicated that self-integrity mediated the effect of self-affirmation intervention on negative emotions. These findings enrich the field of research on the relationship between self-integrity and negative emotions. They also have important practical implications for interventions aimed at mitigating negative emotions among older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenyl content is a crucial quality indicator for phenyl silicone oils, but the current 1H NMR method for determining it is still unreliable because of the possibility of interference from methylphenylcyclosiloxane or solvents such as toluene and xylene. Here, a novel method for the determination of the phenyl content in phenyl silicone oils for has been developed using gel permeation chromatography–ultraviolet detection (GPC-UV) analysis. Under optimized parameters, the standard curve has been established in the linear range of 5–1000 μg mL−1 with a squared correlation coefficient of more than 0.999, and a quantification limit of 0.972 μg mL−1 has been obtained. Potential interference-causing substances, such as methylphenylcyclosiloxane, toluene or xylene, and various silicone oils can be readily ruled out using the GPC-UV method. The phenyl content in 9 samples of phenyl silicone oil that were readily available was determined with a recovery in the range of 84.63–106.74%. The amount (0.613 mg g−1) of phenyl in sample H1 by GPC-UV was in good agreement with that (0.603 mg g−1) by the 1H NMR analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) architectures are popular for achieving high-responsivity Ga2O3 solar-blind photodetectors (SBPDs), however, the hot-electron-induced internal photoemission (IPE) effect restricts their detecting performance. Herein, we demonstrate the rational design of an Al/Al2O3/Ga2O3 metal–insulator-semiconductor (MIS) SBPD that has merits of enhanced responsivity, suppressed sub-gap response and ultralow dark current based on the simulation results obtained using Lumerical software. For the cylindrical patterned detectors with Al/Al2O3/Ga2O3 MIS structures, the optimized dimensions of Al electrodes with a conformed ultra-thin (2 nm) Al2O3 layer support the surface plasmon polariton resonances at 250 nm, thus improving the photoresponsivity to 74 mA W−1. Furthermore, the sandwiched Al2O3 layer lifts the barrier for hot electrons in electrodes, which significantly suppresses the IPE-induced sub-gap photoresponse by more than 105 in magnitude with respect to the Al/Ga2O3 MSM counterpart. Optical and electrical field distributions are overlapped in cylindrically patterned MIS detectors, simultaneously improving the excitation and collection efficiencies of excess carriers and resulting in the 103-boosted rejection ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Females are considered to be at a disadvantage in spatial perspective taking. In this study, we examined whether stereotype threat negatively affects females' spatial perspective-taking ability and executive functions. Then we explored which components of executive function play a mediating role in the effect of stereotype threat on females' spatial perspective-taking ability. We carried out two experiments. In Experiment 1, female participants in a stereotype threat condition or a control condition completed a spatial perspective-taking test. The results showed that females' spatial perspective-taking ability was reduced by stereotype threat. In Experiment 2, female participants were again assigned to a stereotype threat condition or a control condition; then they were asked to complete tasks measuring three executive functions (inhibition, shifting, and updating), following which they completed the spatial perspective-taking test. Experiment 2 found that stereotype threat decreased inhibition, updating, and spatial perspective-taking performance. The results also showed that only inhibition accounted for the effect of stereotype threat on spatial perspective taking. To sum up, the results from the current study shed new light on the relationship between stereotype threat and spatial perspective-taking ability and explained the relationship from a more detailed perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ribes L. belongs to the Grossulariaceae family and has important edible, medicinal, ornamental, and landscaping values. Taxonomic classification within this genus is difficult due to its large variety of species, wide distribution, large morphological variations, and presence of two complex taxonomic groups with bisexual or unisexual flowers. Our study aims to clarify the phylogenetic relationships of Ribes L. taxa in China, and further, to provide a reference for a revised global classification of it. The phylogenetic analysis of 52 Ribes L. samples from 30 species was constructed based on restriction site-associated DNA sequencing and single nucleotide polymorphisms. Afterward, two important taxonomic characters were selected for ancestral state reconstruction over the molecular phylogeny. The results showed that the 52 samples could be divided into six branches, i.e., six subgenera, which caused some controversy regarding the morphological classification of Ribes L. in China. The molecular phylogeny supported the separation of subg. Coreosma from subg. Ribesia and subg. Hemibotrya from subg. Berisia and validated the rationale for recognizing subg. Grossularia as an independent subgenus, the rationality of which was further verified by the reconstruction of ancestor traits. Gene flow among Ribes L. was identified and further confirmed our results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In magnetic random access memory (MRAM), free layers are used to store data bits as "0" or "1" in binary system. The main bottleneck limiting the practical applications of current MRAM technology is its storage states' transition probability. Although several generations of MRAM have been reported, the problem still puzzles us. Here, we utilize an external field to switch Co slotted nanoring, which is convenient to reveal the key factor in the control of magnetic moments' flip. Based on such analysis, we present a robust write operation through setting the slot edge parallel to the external field. In comparison with the probabilistic storage states' transition in previous MRAM, our new technology definitely increases the switching probability to 100%. The continuous and orderly data-input process results in an energy barrier to protect the storage state. In addition, the robust write operation can also significantly reduce the influence of the device's dimension on the switching probability, which is vital in decreasing the complexity and difficulty of the manufacture process. Besides, the novel data-input method could afford linearly tunable write parameters to satisfy the different application scenarios of storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological treatment processes are an effective method for removing the nitrogen-containing contaminants that exist in coking wastewater. However, little is known about microbial composition and keystone taxa involved in biological nitrogen removal processes. In order to improve the removal efficiency of nitrogen-containing contaminants in anaerobic-aerobic-hydrolytic-aerobic (A/O1/H/O2) system, the microbial composition and interactions of keystone taxa should be clarified. The present work clarifies the removal performance of nitrogen-containing contaminants in the A/O1/H/O2 system, identifies the microbial community involved in various bioreactors, and reveals the keystone taxa within the microbial communities. Combined the processes of ammoniation, denitrification, and nitrification, total nitrogen decreased from 248 to 31 mg L−1 and achieved a removal efficiency of 87.5% in the full-scale A/O1/H/O2 system. High-throughput MiSeq sequencing revealed that Proteobacteria was the most abundant phylum in the A/O1/H/O2 system with relative abundances of 24%–50%. Thiobacillus dominated in bioreactors A and O1 with relative abundances of 2.90% and 4.44%, respectively, while Nitrospira was identified as the most dominant genus in bioreactors H and O2, accounting for 13.33% and 18.38%, respectively. The microbial community composition and co-occurrence network analysis showed that the keystone taxa belonged to Thiobacillus, Nitrospira, Bdellovibrio, Planctomyces, Desulfotomaculum , and Sphingobium , which are related to nitrogen degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic and dielectric properties of Yttrium Iron Garnet are measured over a frequency ranging from 0.5 GHz to 10 GHz with a magnetic field applied parallel to the propagation direction of the microwave. At the same time, the magnetodielectric phenomena are detected quantitatively. The maximum amplitude of the magnetodielectric coefficient is acquired at the ferromagnetic resonance frequency, and the value is up to 1.2% with the magnetic field of 1500 Oe applied. The phenomena have been explained by the Faraday's electromagnetic induction of the precession of the magnetic moments in the electromagnetic field at the ferromagnetic resonance frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We examined the developmental trajectories of emotional exhaustion and sub-components of self-compassion (i.e., self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness), as well as the longitudinal relationships between emotional exhaustion and three components of self-compassion. Methods: A total of 427 Chinese adolescent students reported their emotional exhaustion and self-compassion at about 2-month intervals from the beginning to the end of the spring semester which is a complete learning cycle. A latent growth curve analytical approach was used in our study. Results: The results of univariate latent growth curve models suggested that the mean level of emotional exhaustion increased over time, while the mean levels of self-kindness and mindfulness decreased through time. Additionally, parallel process models indicated that the initial levels of emotional exhaustion predicted the initial levels of self-kindness and mindfulness. Changes in emotional exhaustion predicted changes in self-kindness and mindfulness. Finally, initial levels of emotional exhaustion predicted changes in self-kindness, which suggests that high emotional exhaustion may be an antecedent to decreasing self-kindness. An additional analysis showed that gender did not moderate the above relationship patterns, indicating that the effects of emotional exhaustion on the sub-components of self-compassion were consistent across gender. Conclusions: This study enriches the understanding of the longitudinal relationships between emotional exhaustion and sub-components of self-compassion in adolescent students. In addition, it provides promising information for future educational interventions, in that practitioners can promote self-compassion by alleviating emotional exhaustion in adolescent students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to examine the relationships between self-sacrifice and hope as well as the possible intervening roles of perceived family support and attitudes to aging in this relationship among Chinese older adults. A total of 475 older adults participated in the current study. They completed measures related to self-sacrifice, hope, perceived family support, and attitudes to aging. Attitudes to aging measured the extent to which older adults hold positive and negative attitudes toward aging in three domains of physical change, psychological growth, and psychosocial loss. The results showed that self-sacrifice was positively associated with older adults' hope. Mediation analyses revealed that perceived family support mediated the relationship between self-sacrifice and older adults' hope. Moderated mediation analyses revealed that attitudes to physical change moderated the relationship between self-sacrifice and older adults' hope, and attitudes to psychological growth moderated the relationship between perceived family support and older adults' hope. Specifically, the association between self-sacrifice and hope was stronger for older adults with less positive attitudes to physical change than for those with more positive attitudes to physical change. The association between perceived family support and hope was stronger for older adults with more positive attitudes to psychological growth than for those with less positive attitudes to psychological growth. The findings can contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between self-sacrifice and hope and can aid in designing effective interventions aimed at improving older adults' hope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterogeneous interfaces are of particular interest for developing highly efficient microwave absorbing materials. In this work, nanocarbon layer was in situ grown on the surface of Ni particles by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), which created heterogeneous interfaces between nanocarbon materials and Ni particles via physical interactions. The defects of nanocarbon layer could be controlled by changing the mixture of reaction gas, resulting in tunable permittivity. Significant enhancement of microwave absorbing performance was obtained for the nanocarbon-coated Ni composites due to the enhanced impedance matching and polarization relaxations. The percentage bandwidths with reflection loss ≤ − 10 dB for the nanocarbon-coated composites were considerably larger than that for the original composite at any specified thickness in the range of 1.50 ∼ 5.00 mm. Quantitative loss analysis revealed that the energy dissipations of nanocarbon-coated composites originated from synergistic magnetic and dielectric losses, where dielectric loss was even predominate in high-frequency region. It is expected that the current method would provide an effective way for the optimal design of microwave absorbing materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]