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Gamification, an outcome of technological advancement, serves as a promising environmental communication strategy to promote green behavior. However, little is known regarding the key affordances which attract users, or of the potential mechanism of gamification affordances on green consumption behaviors. Focusing on the gamification paradigm, this study sheds light upon this topic by constructing a serial mediation model to explore the impacts of gamification affordances on green consumption behaviors, as well as the serial mediating role of value perceptions (i.e. hedonic, utilitarian, social) and environmental concerns. This study employed a dual-stage design comprising the qualitative method via text-coding analysis using 18,069 comment postings, and the quantitative method via an online survey in China with 486 respondents to validate the model using the example of Ant Forest. Results indicate that gamification affordances positively affect users' value perceptions, which in turn promote environmental concerns. Moreover, value perceptions and environmental concerns are shown to serially mediate the link between gamification affordances and green consumption behaviors. These findings help advance knowledge in the domain of gamification and environmental communication, and provide practical suggestions as to how to better communicate with users on environmental issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two novel di-tert-butyl-type structures (1-2), and five known compounds (3-7) were isolated from the chemical investigations of a saline lake actinomycete, Streptomyces sp. XZB42. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by extensive NMR spectroscopic analysis, HRESIMS data, GIAO (gauge-including atomic orbitals) NMR and specific optical rotation (SOR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ideal family sizes remain at or above two in most low-fertility settings, but sub-replacement fertility ideals have been reported for urban China. The presence of restrictive family planning policies has led to a debate as to whether such ideals are genuine. This study exploits the ending of the one-child policy and the beginning of a universal two-child policy in October 2015 to investigate whether relaxing the restrictions led to an increase in ideal family size. We apply difference-in-differences and individual-level fixed-effect models to longitudinal data from a near-nationwide survey. For married individuals aged 20–39, relaxing the restrictions from one to two children increased the mean ideal family size by around 0.2 and the proportion who desired two or more children by around 19 percentage points. Findings suggest that although reported ideal family sizes have been reduced by policy restrictions, sub-replacement ideal family sizes in urban China appear to be genuine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new myxomycete species, Arcyria similaris, was reported herein. The specimens were found and collected in the field on dead bark from Jingangtai National Geopark in Henan Province of China. This species has distinct and unique morphological characteristics, including dark grayish olive sporothecae that fade to smoke gray with age, shallow saucer-shaped cups with marked reticulations and thick papillae on the inner surface, a netted capillitium with many bulges, uniformly marked with low, dense, and irregular reticulations, and spores (8.0–)9.3–10.1(–10.9) μm in diameter, marked with sparse small warts and grouped prominent warts. Apart from a comprehensive morphological study, partial sequences of the nuclear 18S rDNA and elongation factor-1 alpha (EF-1α) genes were also provided in this study. This new species was described and illustrated morphologically. The specimens are deposited in the Herbarium of Fungi of Nanjing Normal University (HFNNU). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional (2D) covalent organic framework (COF) membranes featuring well-aligned and programmable vertical nanochannels have emerged as a promising candidate for advanced nanofluidic devices and showcased vast potential in the fields of smart-gating, ion-separation, and energy-harvesting. However, the transverse interlayer nanochannels with a height of sub-nanometer-scale in 2D-COF membranes have scarcely been studied in comparison. Here, we report the ion transport characteristics in 2D interlayer nanochannels of protonated COF membranes. The distinct surface-charge-governed ionic conductance in domination of electrolyte concentration below 10−3 M as well as the exceptional anion/cation (Cl−/K+) selectivity is revealed due to the pronounced charge and nano-confinement effects. Additionally, evident ion current rectification is witnessed when incorporating asymmetric geometry into the system, which is attributed to the dynamic process of ion enrichment and dissipation within the protonated nanochannels. This work offers immense prospects for 2D-COF membranes in the fields of biomimetic nanofluidic devices and cutting-edge electronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of nanomaterials in agriculture has considerable advantages, but its impact on the dynamic change of soil nutrients is still unclear. In the two-year experiment, the effects of nanocarbon (NC) and nano calcium carbonate (NCC) on the dynamic changes of soil nutrients in the wheat field were studied by setting the ratio of different nanomaterials and fertilizers. All treatments with NC and NCC applications positively affected soil nutrient effectiveness at 0–35 d after wheat anthesis, and the effect of NC+NCC was more significant. At 35 days after anthesis, soil available phosphorus (P), available potassium (K), organic matter (OM), and alkaline hydrolysis nitrogen (N) were elevated by 77.9%, 21.9%, 11.7%, and 7.0%, respectively, in the first year and 44.3%, 10.2%, 9.0%, and 7.6%, respectively, in the second year of treatment with 100% CF (complex fertilizer) + 50% NC + 50% NCC compared with control. The treatment with reduced fertilizer application also demonstrated a greater advantage. At 35 d after anthesis, 70% CF + 35% NC + 35% NCC had 54.3%, 11.5%, 8.4%, and 5.8% higher soil available P, available K, OM, and alkaline hydrolysis N, respectively, compared with the control, and 41.05%, 6.4%, 7.8%, and 5.4% higher the following year, respectively. In acidic soils, positively charged NC and NCC have a lasting effect on maintaining soil nutrients by adsorbing acid ions. Therefore, NC and NCC with compound fertilizer have favorable effects in maintaining soil nutrient content and improving fertilizer utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to other settings, COVID-19 infection and death rates in Hong Kong were very low until 2022, due to top-down interventions (e.g. quarantines, 'mask mandates') and community activation. However, in addition to these epidemiological circumstances, Hong Kong has also undergone significant social and political change stemming from the social movement beginning in 2019 through the enacting, and aftermath, of the National Security Law. We draw on registered birth and marriage data from 2015 through 2021 to explore how fertility and nuptiality changed after the social movement followed by the first four waves of the COVID pandemic. We describe how fertility and marriage rates have changed in Hong Kong and to what extent the changes are associated with the social movement and the COVID pandemic. We further disaggregate the fertility and nuptiality trends by Hong Kong-born and non-Hong Kong-born population, with a specific focus on migrants from the Mainland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the efficiency of fertilizers was improved by coating the fertilizers with a hydrogel formed by the polymerization of itaconic acid (IA), maleic acid (MA), acrylic acid (AA), and potassium persulfate (KPS) to form a synergistic fertilizer and improve its slow-release performance. The effect of synergistic fertilizers on the changes in soil nutrients in wheat fields was studied through field and soil column experiments using ordinary and commercial synergistic fertilizers as controls and different application rates of 'synergistic fertilizers as treatments. The results revealed that the alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen (N) and total N contents were significantly higher in T1 than that in CK, and the treatments were ranked as T3 > T2 > T5 > T1 > CK > T4. The difference in the alkali-hydrolyzed N and total N contents between CK and T3 was significant. In terms of available phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) contents, the treatments were ranked as T1 > T4 > T2 > CK > T3 in all soil layers and T3 > T2 > T5 > T1 > CK > T4 in the soil column. The treatments were ranked as T4>CK>T3>T1>T2 in terms of soil organic matter (SOM) content. Compared with ordinary fertilizers, synergistic fertilizers could significantly increase the soil total N, alkali-hydrolyzed N, available P, and available K contents. Compared with ordinary slow-release fertilizers in the market, the effect of synergistic fertilizers is better in improving the use efficiency of fertilizers. By slowly releasing nutrients, synergistic fertilizers can continuously provide nutrients for the growth and development of wheat and improve the use efficiency of fertilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study focused on casual sex motivation to explore why some users tend to have more sexual partners and are more likely to take risks in sexual practices, thereby raising their chances of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Methods: We recruited Chinese heterosexual dating app users (N = 582) online to investigate the serial mediation model. Results: Casual sex motivation for dating app use was not directly related to the diagnoses of STIs. Number of sexual partners and frequency of risky sexual behavior serially mediated the relationship between casual sex motivation and STI diagnoses. Conclusions: Using dating apps for casual sex motivation is not necessarily associated with higher incidences of STIs, provided that users do not engage in risky sexual practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceramic-based absorbing composite is irreplaceable in high-temperature conditions. This work has fabricated a novel biomass–derived porous SiCnw/SiC composite for structure–function integrated electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption through selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printing and carbothermal reduction. SLS processed the biomass-derived wood precursor with unique porous microstructures. The structure–function properties were controlled by changing the SiO carbothermal reduction temperatures, which facilitated the growth of SiC nanowires for effective EMW absorption. The 3D printed porous SiCnw/SiC composite shows efficient EMW absorption abilities with a minimum reflection loss of −49.01 dB and an effective absorption bandwidth of 5.1 GHz. The bulk density and flexural strength of porous SiCnw/SiC composite are respectively 0.73 ± 0.001 g/cm3 and 6.21 ± 0.66 MPa. Despite a high open porosity of 75.58 ± 0.31%, the porous SiCnw/SiC composite demonstrates excellent thermal conductivities of 3.21∼4.99 W/(m·K) and superior fire-resistant ability. The 3D printed SiCnw/SiC composite integrates structure and functions, indicating wide applications in specific harsh environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development and repair of dentin are strictly regulated by hundreds of genes. Abnormal dentin development is directly caused by gene mutations and dysregulation. Understanding and mastering this signal network is of great significance to the study of tooth development, tissue regeneration, aging, and repair and the treatment of dental diseases. It is necessary to understand the formation and repair mechanism of dentin in order to better treat the dentin lesions caused by various abnormal properties, whether it is to explore the reasons for the formation of dentin defects or to develop clinical drugs to strengthen the method of repairing dentin. Molecular biology of genes related to dentin development and repair are the most important basis for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are posing great threats to global health within this century. Studies have suggested that estrogen and estrogen receptors (ERs) play important roles in many physiological processes in the kidney. For instance, they are crucial in maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis and modulating endothelin-1 (ET-1) system in the kidney. Estrogen takes part in the kidney repair and regeneration via its receptors. Estrogen also participates in the regulation of phosphorus homeostasis via its receptors in the proximal tubule. The ERα polymorphisms have been associated with the susceptibilities and outcomes of several renal diseases. As a consequence, the altered or dysregulated estrogen/ERs signaling pathways may contribute to a variety of kidney diseases, including various causes-induced AKI, diabetic kidney disease (DKD), lupus nephritis (LN), IgA nephropathy (IgAN), CKD complications, etc. Experimental and clinical studies have shown that targeting estrogen/ERs signaling pathways might have protective effects against certain renal disorders. However, many unsolved problems still exist in knowledge regarding the roles of estrogen and ERs in distinct kidney diseases. Further research is needed to shed light on this area and to enable the discovery of pathway-specific therapies for kidney diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulative studies showed that tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) was up-regulated in the blood and urine from patients diagnosed with lupus nephritis (LN) and that it might be used as a novel biomarker for active LN. This meta-analysis aimed to determine the diagnostic value of TWEAK in active LN. We searched the Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, Springer, Wanfang and CNKI databases for articles published up to 20 August 2020. The diagnostic capacity of TWEAK for active LN was assessed using pooled sensitivity and specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios (PLR and NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Quality assessment and publication bias were also evaluated. STATA 11.0 and Meta-Disc 1.4 were used to perform these analyses. Nine cross-sectional studies were included in this meta-analysis. The overall pooled sensitivity of TWEAK for the diagnosis of active LN was 0.69 (95% CI, 0.63–0.75), and specificity was 0.77 (95% CI, 0.71–0.82). The overall pooled PLR and NLR were 3.31 (95% CI, 2.05–5.35) and 0.38 (95% CI, 0.26–0.55), respectively, with a DOR of 10.89 (95% CI, 6.73–17.63) and AUC (SE) of 0.8276 (0.0289). Deeks' funnel plot revealed that the publication bias was insignificant in the study (p =.32). Our results suggest that TWEAK might be a potential biomarker for patients with active LN. Future cross-sectional and longitudinal studies are needed to confirm its diagnostic value, as well as to establish more definite cutoff for active LN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare endovascular and drug therapies for efficacy and safety in patients with a progressive stroke caused by intracranial large vascular occlusion exceeding the time window of 24 hours. A total of 58 patients with progressive stroke caused by large intracranial vascular occlusion exceeding the time window of 24 hours treated in the stroke center of our hospital for three years were retrospectively analyzed. According to the applied therapy, 58 patients were divided into the endovascular (n = 19) and drug (n = 39) therapy groups. Then, modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage rates, mortality rates and adverse events were assessed in both groups within 90 days. The 90-day good prognosis rate was significantly higher in the endovascular therapy group compared with the drug group (68.4% VS 38.5%, odds ratio [OR] = 0.29; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.09–0.92; P = 0.032). The 90-day NIHSS scores were lower in the endovascular therapy group compared with the drug group (3.3 ± 2.6 VS 5.2 ± 3.0, OR = −1.89; 95%CI, −3.50 to −0.27; P = 0.023). Meanwhile, the proportion of patients with a Barthel index of 90–100 was significantly higher in the endovascular therapy group compared with the drug group (53.0% VS 25.6%, OR = 0.31; 95%CI, 0.10–0.98; P = 0.042). Finally, both groups showed similar rates of adverse events. In patients with progressive stroke caused by large intracranial vascular occlusion exceeding 24 hours, endovascular therapy probably results in improved efficacy at 90 days compared with drug therapy, without increasing the rates of adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To establish and validate a risk stratification scoring system (we name it as PreOp-BFS, which represents Pre-Operative Brain Fragility Score) for postoperative cognitive impairment containing postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) and postoperative delirium (POD) in elderly patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. We searched for relevant literatures and reviews reported in PubMed and ScienceDirect databases from January 1994 to December 2017. We performed a preoperative risk factor for cognitive impairment in elderly patients (age ≥ 60 years) who underwent non-cardiac surgery, and finally constructed a risk scoring system to predict postoperative cognitive impairment. The test data included 49 patients with postoperative cognitive impairment and 31 patients without postoperative cognitive impairment. The postoperative risk scale score ranged from 0 to 8 points. The incidence of postoperative cognitive impairment was 16.2%, 62.9% and 96.2% in the low (0–2 scores), medium (3–4 scores) and high (5–8 scores) risk groups, respectively. In addition, the risk of postoperative cognitive impairment was significantly higher in high and medium risk groups than in low risk group. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of the risk scoring system was 0.862 [95% CI 0.784–0.941]. The preoperative risk stratification scoring system (PreOp-BFS) established in this study had a good prediction effect, which was helpful for rapid identification and screening of high-risk susceptible patients with early postoperative cognitive impairment, and for performing targeted perioperative prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pickering emulsion were used as soft template for the preparation of two different kinds of graphene-based aerogels (graphene aerogels, named AGAs and graphene/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) aerogels, named BGAs) in this work. The Pickering emulsions show good control effect on the pore sizes, density and porosity of the two kinds of graphene-based aerogels. The increase of the oil/water ratio in the emulsion can leads to increase of pore size and porosity and decrease of density of AGAs and BGAs. And the increase of agitation speed during the emulsion preparation leads to the decrease of the pore sizes of AGAs and BGAs, while shows slight influence on the porosity and density of the materials. Volume filling behavior was found when AGAs and BGAs adsorbing organics, so it is considered that high porosity and high open pore fraction in the aerogels will favor the adsorption capacity on organics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The controllability of ion channel size is critical for ion transport and sieving. Graphene oxide (GO) has a planar two-dimensional structure and a rich functional group as a binding site, and the liquid crystal material generally undergoes an orientation change under the action of an external force field. Therefore, this property can be incorporated into GO, and the distance between the layers of GO can be controlled by designing the liquid crystal cell which meets the requirements and adjusting the external force field, thereby controlling the transport of ions. In this paper, multilayer sandwich nanopapers were fabricated by liquid crystals and GO via hydrogen bonding, and the controlled ion transport behaviour was investigated. In the presence of external electric or magnetic field, ion channels in the interlayer distance of sandwich GO nanopapers can be adjusted due to the changes of mesogen orientation; therefore, ion conductivity can be adjusted when a lithium-ion solution pass through the nanopapers. Such nano-paper materials show promise in many fields such as ion transport, separation systems, ion battery and capacitor devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In this study, we sought to test the hypothesis that oxidative stress injury in ischemic brains and H2O2-treated mouse neuroblastoma Neuro-2a cells (N2a) was related to STAT3 activation. Materials and methods: Rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model and H2O2-treated mouse neuroblastoma Neuro-2a cells (N2a) were used to investigate the relationship between oxidative stress injury and STAT3 activation. Results: 8-Hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) content and STAT3 protein phosphorylation level were significantly increased after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion. H2O2 treatment inhibited the cell viability, induced the apoptosis, and further raised pSTAT3 protein level in N2a cells. Moreover, the addition of AG490, the protein inhibitor of JAK2, significantly alleviated cerebral ischemic damage in vivo and H2O2-induced injury in vitro, and JAK2 siRNA also alleviated H2O2-induced injury in N2a cell. Conclusions: JAK2/STAT3 pathway may play a crucial role in mediating reactive oxidative species (ROS)-induced cell injury in rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model and N2a cells. ROS scavenging and down-regulation of STAT3 activation might be a candidate design of therapeutic strategies against oxidative stress-related neurological diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute liver injury can be caused by chemicals and can lead to liver failure. We investigated the protective effect of helicid (HEL) on acute liver injury caused by CCl4 in mice. We found that ALT and AST levels as well as hepatic pathological damage in mice treated with CCl4 was increased significantly, while the effects were decreased by HEL treatment. HEL treatment increased the activity of T-SOD, GSH and CAT and reduced the level of MDA in CCl4 treated mice. HEL improved the histopathology of liver caused by CCl4. HEL also reduced TNF-α, IL-1β and IL- 6 activity caused by CCl4. We investigated the phosphorylation of p65 and IκB protein and found that HEL can alleviate liver damage via the NF-κB signaling pathway. Our findings indicate that HEL protects against acute liver injury induced by CCl4. The protective effect of HEL appears to be due to its antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties through the NF-κB signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The NOVA (neuro-oncological ventral antigen) protein family, composed of two paralogs, NOVA1 and NOVA2, consists of RNA-binding proteins involving in processes such as alternative splicing and transport of some target mRNAs. The function of NOVA has been well studied, and increasing evidence has shown that NOVA proteins may be important contributors to carcinogenesis. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the roles of NOVA proteins in carcinogenesis remain to be determined. Here, we have identified both NOVA1 and NOVA2 as novel β-catenin RNA-binding proteins. The NOVA1/NOVA2 heterodimer positively regulates β-catenin expression by enhancing β-catenin mRNA stability. Furthermore, we demonstrated that NOVA1 and NOVA2 promote epithelial-mesenchymal transition via β-catenin in breast cancer cells, as NOVA-induced upregulation of epithelial and mesenchymal marker expression was attenuated by restoring β-catenin expression. Our results advance the current understanding of β-catenin post-transcriptional regulation and shed light on the role of NOVA proteins in cancer, suggesting that NOVA proteins are potential therapeutic targets in breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrogen embrittlement plays a crucial role in high-temperature material. However, the hydrogen embrittlement mechanism of Nb5Si3 is entirely unclear. To solve the key problem, we use the first-principles calculations to study the H-doped mechanism and influence of hydrogen on the elastic properties, brittle-or-ductile behaviour and Debye temperature of α-Nb5Si3. According to the structural feature, we consider four H-doped sites. We find that hydrogen prefers to occupy the H-ST(4) site because of the strong localised hybridisation between hydrogen and α-Nb5Si3. Importantly, H-doping weakens the volume deformation resistance, shear deformation resistance and elastic stiffness of α-Nb5Si3. In particular, hydrogen results in hydrogen embrittlement of α-Nb5Si3 due to the formation of Si-H bond and Nb-H bond. In addition, the calculated Debye temperature of H-ST(1) site and H-ST(3) site is larger than that of α-Nb5Si3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linoleic acid oxylipins may adversely affect the quality of food products. To investigate the presence of linoleic acid oxylipins in Chinese Baijiu (distilled spirits), nine representative samples were analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadruple-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-TOF-MS) in the negative electrospray ionization (ESI) mode. For the first time, 12 oxylipins were identified in Baijiu via UPLC-TOF-MS and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). Moreover, a rapid and accurate internal standard (IS) quantification method was developed to determine these oxylipins in Baijiu by UPLC coupled with triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry. The method demonstrated acceptable precision, accuracy, and recovery, and was successfully applied to analyze the nine Baijiu samples. The afforded results indicated that in the soy sauce and strong aroma-type Baijiu samples, linoleic acid oxylipin was present in concentrations ranging from 1.27 to 104.90 μg/L; these values were significantly higher than those observed in the light aroma samples (P < 0.01). This study proposes a quantitation method to monitor and control the linoleic acid oxylipin contents in Baijiu and provides new insights into the lipid metabolites of this distilled spirit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrothermal reaction of Ln(NO3)3·6H2O with H2tyia (H2tyia = 5-(triazol-1-yl) isophthalic acid) afforded the lanthanide organic frameworks (Ln-MOFs), [Eu2(tyia)3(H2O)3]n (1) and {[Ln2(tyia)3·(H2O)3]· 3H2O}n (Ln = Tb 2, Dy 3, Sm 4, Gd 5, and Nd 6). Compounds were characterized by routine methods: PXRD, elemental analysis, solid-state luminescence properties analysis, TGA, FT-IR, and single-crystal X-ray crystallography. In this work, the luminescent properties of 2, 4, 5, and 6 and the responsiveness of various chemical components contained in urine were investigated. These MOFs detect 1-naphthol (1-N), urinary thiodiglycolic acid (TDGA), uric acid (UA), and hippuric acid (HA), which are the final metabolites of carbaryl, vinyl chloride monomers, purine, and toluene, respectively. These new Ln-MOFs offer the potential for biomarkers or metabolic sensors and show excellent selective and sensitive luminescence detection of 1-N, TDGA, UA, and HA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a digital warehouse management system (DWMS) in the tobacco industry based on radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. The DWMS helps warehouse managers to achieve better inventory control, as well as to improve the operation efficiency. In this system, a set of basic events and storage/retrieval rules are defined as event-condition-action (ECA) rules to improve the feasibility and flexibility of DWMS. By using RFID technology, the DWMS enables a plane warehouse to achieve visualised inventory management, automatic storage/retrieval assignment and high accuracy of inventory control as an automatic warehouse. A case in the tobacco industry is studied to illustrate the feasibility and rationality of the proposed system. Based on the ECA rules, a storage/retrieval methodology is proposed to improve the storage/retrieval operations. The results of this case study illustrate that RFID-DWMS can help a plane warehouse to improve operation efficiency, enhance the utilisation of warehouse capacity, increase inventory accuracy and reduce manpower and loading time significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new method was developed for the facile one-pot multicomponent construction of heterocycle-fused spiro compounds containing chromanone and pyrrolidinyl spirooxindoles, two potential pharmacophores, in one molecule through a decarboxylative 1,3-dipolar [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of carboxylic acid group-activated chromones 1 with isatin-derivated azomethine ylides based on molecular hybridization strategy. A wide variety of products with three contiguous stereocenters including a spiro quaternary stereocenter were smoothly prepared with high efficiency (up to 87% yield and 20:1 diastereomeric ratio). This method could offer libraries of architecturally diverse and multiple pharmacore collections, potentially useful in medicinal chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is considered as a reversible RNA modification occurring more frequently on the GAC than AAC context in vivo, which regulates post-transcriptional gene expression in mammalian cells. m6A 'writers' METTL3 and METTL14 demonstrate a strong preference for binding AC-containing motifs in living cells. However, this evidence is currently lacking for m6A erasers, leaving the dynamics of the internal m6A modification under debate recently. We analysed three recently published FTO CLIP-seq data sets and two generated in this study, one of the two known m6A 'erasers'. FTO binding peaks from all cell lines contain RRACH motifs. Only those from K562, 3T3-L1and HeLa cells were enriched in AC-containing motifs, while those from HEK293 were not. The exogenously overexpressed FTO effectively binds to m6A motif-containing RNA sites. FTO overexpression specifically removed m6A modification from GGACU and RRACU motifs in a concentration-dependent manner. These findings underline the dynamics of FTO in target selection, which is predicted to contribute to both the m6A dynamics and the FTO plasticity in biological functions and diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many sensing and catalytic applications, the target molecule is required to be carried in an effective manner in a specific condition. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have high porosity, large surface area, and tunable functionality and are promising carriers for such purposes. Current approaches to detect Tb3+ and reduce 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) are based on multistep methods. We synthesized a series of coordination polymers (1-4) with excellent fluorescence and catalytic activity. Moreover, 1 and 2 exhibit significantly higher fluorescence than other compounds, indicating that 1 and 2 could be efficient multifunctional fluorescence probes for high-sensitivity sensing of nitrobenzene, and 1 can be used as a highly sensitive fluorescent sensor to detect Tb3+, with a detection limitation of 5 × 10−7 M. In addition, the as-prepared Ag@compound 1 shows remarkable catalytic performance to reduce 4-NP, with a reduction rate constant k as large as 2.07 × 10−2 s−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite current interest in the unfavourable impact of non-traditional lipid profiles on cardiovascular disease, information regarding its relations to reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in H-type hypertension population has not been systemically elucidated. Methods: Analyses were based upon a cross-sectional study of 3259 participants with H-type hypertension who underwent assessment of biochemical, anthropometric and blood pressure values. Reduced GFR was considered if meeting estimated GFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m2. Results: A stepwise multivariate regression analysis indicated that non-traditional lipid parameters remained as independent determinants of estimated GFR (all p < .001). In multivariable models, we observed a 50%, 51%, 31%, and 24% higher risk for decreased GFR with each SD increment in TC/HDL-C, TG/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C ratios and non-HDL-C levels, respectively. The highest quartile of TC/HDL-C, TG/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C ratios carried reduced GFR odds (confidence intervals) of 5.50 (2.50 to 12.09), 6.63 (2.58 to 17.05) and 2.22 (1.15 to 4.29), respectively. Conclusions: The relative independent contribution of non-traditional lipid profiles, as indexed by TC/HDL-C, TG/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C ratios and non-HDL-C, towards reduced GFR putting research evidence at the very heart of lipoprotein-mediated renal injury set a vital example for applying a clinical and public health recommendation for reducing the burden of chronic kidney disease. KEY MESSAGES: Non-traditional lipid profiles has been linked with the occurrence of cardiovascular disease, but none of the studies that address the effect of non-traditional lipid profiles on reduced GFR risk in H-type hypertension population has been specifically established. A greater emphasis of this study resided in the intrinsic value of TC/HDL-C, TG/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C ratios and non-HDL-C that integrate atherogenic and anti-atherogenic lipid molecules to predict the risk of reduced GFR among H-type hypertension population and provide insight into the pathophysiology of subsequent cardio-cerebrovascular outcomes. In a large Chinese H-type hypertension adults, the relative independent contribution of non-traditional lipid profiles, as indexed by TC/HDL-C, TG/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C ratios and non-HDL-C, towards reduced GFR putting research evidence at the very heart of lipoprotein-mediated renal injury set a vital example for applying a clinical and public health recommendation for reducing the burden of CKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.), which represents a global threat to agricultural production, can cause serious losses in both the yield and quality of many crops. Endophytic bacteria are known to have great potential against Meloidogyne incognita. The colonisation ability of endophytic Bacillus cereus BCM2 in tomato roots and its biological control efficacy of M. incognita were investigated. By the end of the growth period of tomato plants, the population of BCM2 in the rhizosphere soils and roots of the tomato were 5.86 and 3.38 log CFU g−1, respectively, indicating that BCM2 can colonise tomato roots for long periods of time. Pre-inoculation with BCM2 resulted in a significant reduction in the population of M. incognita and the gall index of tomato compared to the untreated control, and there was an increase in the tomato yield of 47.4%. Colony counts showed that the population of BCM2 in tomato roots was affected by soil type and pH, and the colonisation of BCM2 in tomato rhizosphere soils was influenced by soil water and organic matter contents. We observed that the biocontrol effects of BCM2 were best when soil pH was 7. Pre-inoculation with BCM2 can inhibit the formation of tomato galls more effectively when soil water content is 25%, and rich organic matter content was conducive to a reduction in the number of M. incognita second stage juveniles (J2s) in soil. These results demonstrated that B. cereus BCM2 has great potential for controlling M. incognita in tomato plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A terbium organic framework (Tb-MOF), {[Tb2(Pyznpy)6·4H2O]·2H2O}n (1) (Hpyznpy = 4-((3-(pyrazin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl) methyl) benzoic acid), has been synthesized under solvothermal conditions. X-ray crystal analysis indicates that 1 crystallizes in the triclinic form with P-1 space group, and six petal-like 1D chains are connected by hydrogen bonds and π···π interactions to form the 3D structure of 1. Tb-MOF 1 exhibits an intense green fluorescence under UV light. The fluorescent nature of 1 suggests that Tb-MOF 1 could be an efficient multifunctional fluorescence probe for sensitivity sensing of small organic molecules and metal ions, especially for nitrobenzene and Fe3+. The mechanism of the sensing properties was studied as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Hyperhomocysteinemia (Hhcy) is a known cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor. Observational studies had supported the role of lifestyle factors such as physical activity, diet and alcohol consumption in CVD prevention. Our study aimed to determine the relationship between Hhcy and lifestyle factors in general Chinese population.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 7135 adults (3320 men and 3815 women) aged 35 years or older were recruited from the rural Northeast China. Data on lifestyle factors, such as physical activities, sleep duration, current smoking and drinking status, dietary habits and familial factors were collected in interviews and laboratory examinations were performed by well-trained personnel.Results: Plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) level was higher in men than in women, and greater in the elderly than in other age groups. Subjects with Hhcy were more likely to be current smokers (men: OR 1.328, 95% CI 1.143-1.543, p<0.001; women: OR 1.465, 95% CI 1.214-1.767, p<0.001). Separately, men with Hhcy were more likely to have an education of primary school or below (OR 1.251, 95% CI 1.068-1.465, p=0.006) and less likely to eat more vegetables (OR 0.927, 95% CI 0.863-0.996, p=0.037) than the normal-tHcy participants. In women, participants with Hhcy were more likely to have longer sleeping time (>9h/d) (OR 1.677, 95% CI 1.292-2.177, p<0.001), low physical activity (OR 1.721, 95% CI 1.197-2.475, p=0.044) and increased diet score (OR 1.126, 95% CI 1.007-1.259, p=0.037) and less likely to be current drinkers (OR 0.488, 95% CI 0.297-0.802, p=0.005) than the normal-tHcy participants.Conclusion: Our study revealed that physical activity and current drinking status were not significantly associated with Hhcy in males, but inversely associated in females. In both genders, current smoking status and dietary habits were significantly associated with Hhcy. Our study supports existing recommendations for Chinese to maintain a physically active behaviors and healthy lifestyle habits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in Chinese type 2 diabetic patients and identify contributing risk factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in rural areas of China, and 1,198 type 2 diabetic patients with complete data were recruited. Elevated ALT and AST levels were defined as >40 U/L. Prevalence of abnormal liver enzymes was analyzed and multivariable analysis was used to identify independent risk factors. Results: 10.3% and 6.1% diabetic patients had elevated ALT and elevated AST, respectively. The prevalence of elevated liver enzymes was gender-related; it was 13.8% in men and 7.5% in women for elevated ALT, and 7.4% in men and 3.1% in women for elevated AST. High triglyceride was positively associated with both elevated ALT (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.08–3.01, p = 0.024) and elevated AST (OR 2.24, 95%CI 1.08–4.65, p = 0.031), while taking anti-diabetes medicine was inversely related to both elevated ALT (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.29–0.80, p = 0.005) and elevated AST (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.17–0.82, p = 0.014). The risk of elevated ALT in diabetic patients increased with the presence of obesity (OR 2.54, 95% CI 1.07–6.01, p = 0.034), and was lower in women (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.19–0.72, p = 0.003). Hypertension (OR 4.33, 95% CI 1.41–13.30, p = 0.011), current drinking status (OR 2.90, 95% CI 1.21–6.96, p = 0.017) and national minority (OR 3.26, 95%CI 1.31–8.12, p = 0.011) were risk factors for elevated AST. Conclusion: A relatively high prevalence of abnormal serum liver enzymes in diabetic patients was demonstrated in China, especially in males. More attention should be paid to preventing liver injuries in diabetic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article looks at chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), focusing on associations between the disease progression and expression of the glycoprotein CD160. It discusses the authors' study of 57 CLL patients, citing their finding that CD160 expression was correlated with CLL cell counts and certain other disease parameters and thus may be relevant as a marker in diagnosis and determination of prognosis.

In this paper, we focus on the problems of minimizing the sum of two nonsmooth functions which are possibly nonconvex. These problems arise in many applications of practical interests. We present a proximal alternating linearization algorithm which alternately generates two approximate proximal points of the original objective function. It is proved that the accumulation points of iterations converge to a stationary point of the problem. Numerical experiments validate the theoretical convergence analysis and verify the implementation of the proposed algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background/objectives: Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) has been suggested as a traditional chemical probe for assessing skin susceptibility and barrier function. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of DMSO test for the evaluation of unusual skin angioneurotic reaction and epidermal permeability. Methods: Thirty healthy volunteers were exposed to 98% DMSO on the flexor forearm skin for three exposure durations (5 min, 10 min and 15 min). Clinical visual score and biological physical parameters were obtained. The volunteers were divided into two groups according to the clinical visual scoring. The skin parameters were subsequently analyzed. Results: There was a significant correlation between clinical visual score and biological physical parameters. The skin color parameters ( a*, oxyhemoglobin, erythema and melanin index) and blood flow values were significant between two groups regardless of duration of DMSO exposure, and a significant difference between density values could also be detected if we regrouped the volunteers according to the sting-producing score. Our results also suggested there was no correlation between questionnaire score and clinical visual score or other parameters. Conclusions: Application of 98% DMSO for 10 min combined with a* (at 30 min) and blood flow (at 10 min) values could help us to identify persons with a hyper-angionerotic reaction to chemical stimulus. The penetrative activity of DMSO correlated with the thickness of the individual's skin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A crystal of [Na2(ABT) · 5H2O] (ABT = 3,3′-azobis(1,2,4-triazole)) (1) was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex1features a 1-D chain and each ABT2−is a µ1,2,6bridge with three triazole nitrogen atoms coordinating to three different sodium(I). Aqueous solution of1(6.0 × 10−5 mol L−1) shows photochromism. Fluorescence of solid1displays green photoluminescence under UV-light or laser irradiation and can be employed to label onion cell. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper outlines the field of higher education research in China from its historical roots through to its current development. It is a case study of how the field of higher education research emerged and was co-constructed by the state and the academic community of higher education researchers to become an established and recognised discipline in a national context. The rise and formation of higher education as a research field in China has been closely related with the substantive growth of the higher education system itself. Knowledge production in the field is currently characterised by being increasingly outward-looking and supported by the state. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A distribution case pack contains an assortment of varying quantities of different stock keeping units (SKUs) packed in a single box or pallet, with a goal of reducing handling requirements in the distribution chain. This article studies case pack procurement planning problems that address the trade-off between reduced order handling costs and higher inventory-related costs under dynamic, deterministic demand. The properties of optimal solutions for special cases of the problem involving one and two case packs are first established and these properties are used to solve the problem via dynamic programming. For the general model with multiple predefined case packs, which is shown to be strongly NP-hard, the exact approach is generalized to solve the problem in pseudopolynomial time for a fixed number of case packs. In addition, for large-size problems, the problem formulation is strengthed using valid inequalities and a family of heuristic solutions is designed. Computational tests show that these heuristic approaches perform very well compared to the commercial mixed-integer programming solver CPLEX. In addition to providing detailed methods for solving problems with deterministic demand, strategies for addressing problems with uncertain demands are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: Although the importance of material wealth to population growth is the core of Malthusian theory about population dynamics in pre-transitional societies, our understanding of the relationship between wealth and reproductive success in China is still limited. Until recently, there was little in the way of relevant data. In the absence of empirical evidence to the contrary, conceptions of the Chinese demographic regime were largely Malthusian, in that they did not account for the possible role of a fertility-based preventive check. In this study, we examine wealth differentials in reproduction in historical rural China by using newly available longitudinal individual level demographic and household level land holding data for 108,100 immigrants and their descendants living in 120 villages in Shuangcheng, Northeast China, between 1866 and 1907. Our study demonstrates a positive correlation between land holding status and marital fertility among the population under study. In addition, there is also a clear pattern of fertility differentials according to household context and other measures of socioeconomic status. Our findings suggest that these fertility differentials are not only results of certain social institutions and customs but also the consequences of couple''s behavior of fertility control in response to socioeconomic and other household conditions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Urban trees, as prominent and pertinent landscape elements of cities, are increasingly studied by both practitioners and academics. Trees in Chinese cities have hitherto received little detailed analysis from the viewpoint of urban forestry or landscape analysis. This study attempts a comprehensive evaluation of the tree population in Nanjing, focusing on the association between urban development and treescape attributes. Six districts, covering the main built-up area of 130 km[sup 2] , formed the study area. Nine land-use types with varied urban morphology and three urban zones with different development history were identified, within which subareas and trees were sampled for field study of tree dimensions, tree performance, and site characteristics. Statistical analyses on the 6,527 surveyed trees verify that tree performance is significantly associated with land use, site condition, and related human activities. Treescape is associated with housing ownership, town planning, and the history of urban expansion. The relationship between treescape and urban landscape units can furnish hints for improved urban forest planning and management and better coordination between planners and landscape professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of myxomycete biogeography has a long-standing history and has consistently drawn scholarly interest. Nevertheless, studies focusing specifically on the spatial and temporal distribution patterns of myxomycete diversity are relatively limited, with even fewer investigating the mechanisms driving the generation and maintenance of myxomycete diversity. Therefore, this study selected two geographically distant sampling sites within northern Chinese forests to investigate myxomycete species composition, community structure, environmental drivers, and assembly patterns under geographic barriers. We established plots in the Altai Mountains (ALE) and the Greater Khingan Mountains (GKM), gathered bark and litter, and conducted 80-day moist chamber cultures of myxomycetes. Additionally, myxomycete specimens were collected in the field simultaneously to supplement the data set. This study collected 541 myxomycete specimens belonging to 73 species from 28 genera, spanning 12 families and eight orders. The ALE and the GKM had 20 identical species, accounting for 27% of the total species. Myxomycetes from both regions exhibited abundant occurrence 18 days after cultivation, with the quantity on bark substrates notably higher than on litter. Arcyria pomiformis and Comatricha elegans were the most common species in moist chamber cultures. Mantel test outcomes revealed that environmental factors had no significant impact on myxomycete community similarity between the two areas, aligning with findings from the neutral community model analysis, indicating a predominant influence of stochastic processes on myxomycete community structure in moist chamber cultures. This study represents the first application of a quantitative framework to analyze myxomycete community assembly cultivated in moist chambers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]