Search

Abstract Complete and transparent reporting of randomized controlled trial publications (RCTs) is essential for assessing their credibility. We aimed to develop text classification models for determining whether RCT publications report CONSORT checklist items. Using a corpus annotated with 37 fine-grained CONSORT items, we trained sentence classification models (PubMedBERT fine-tuning, BioGPT fine-tuning, and in-context learning with GPT-4) and compared their performance. We assessed the impact of data augmentation methods (Easy Data Augmentation (EDA), UMLS-EDA, text generation and rephrasing with GPT-4) on model performance. We also fine-tuned section-specific PubMedBERT models (e.g., Methods) to evaluate whether they could improve performance compared to the single full model. We performed 5-fold cross-validation and report precision, recall, F1 score, and area under curve (AUC). Fine-tuned PubMedBERT model that uses the sentence along with the surrounding sentences and section headers yielded the best overall performance (sentence level: 0.71 micro-F1, 0.67 macro-F1; article-level: 0.90 micro-F1, 0.84 macro-F1). Data augmentation had limited positive effect. BioGPT fine-tuning and GPT-4 in-context learning exhibited suboptimal results. Methods-specific model improved recognition of methodology items, other section-specific models did not have significant impact. Most CONSORT checklist items can be recognized reasonably well with the fine-tuned PubMedBERT model but there is room for improvement. Improved models can underpin the journal editorial workflows and CONSORT adherence checks.

Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composed of carbon fiber and polymer matrix has been used in extensive applications due to its light weight and superior strength. However, the distinct difference in physicochemical properties between two constituents poses a significant challenge for laser homogeneous processing of heterogeneous CFRP. Herein, an aluminum/polyimide laminate is introduced onto CFRP as an assisting layer during femtosecond laser processing, which prevents CFRP from direct energy deposition of low-energy edge of the Gaussian laser. Moreover, a synergetic mechanism of horizontal heat conduction of aluminum foil and vertical heat insulation of polyimide film is proposed and confirmed through temperature measurements and simulation calculations. The heat is dissipated through the aluminum foil and obstructed by the polyimide film, alleviating the detrimental heat transfer and accumulation on CFRP. Therefore, it significantly inhibits thermal damage and entrance size expansion. Compared with traditional femtosecond laser direct processing, the maximum reduction ratio of HAZ and taper are up to 98% and 83%, respectively. High-quality CFRP homogeneous processing with an ultra-low HAZ (0.7 μm), minimal taper (0.07°) and intact smooth sidewalls can be achieved. The method shows great potential to dramatically improve processing quality and broaden applications of heterogeneous composites.

BackgroundAcute lung injury (ALI) is a serious and common complication that occurs in children with congenital heart disease after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery, leading to higher mortality rates and poorer prognosis. Currently, there is no reliable predictive strategy for CPB-associated lung injury (CPB-ALI) in infants. Certain characteristics of the gut microbiota could potentially serve as biomarkers for predicting the development of CPB-ALI.MethodsWe conducted 16S rRNA sequencing to analyze the characteristics of the intestinal microbiota in healthy controls and infants with CHD admitted to the hospital. The CHD infants were divided into CPB-ALI and non-ALI (CPB-NALI) groups based on postoperative outcomes. Bacterial functional pathway prediction analysis was performed using PIRCUSt2, and the gut microbiota composition associated with immune status was determined with heatmap. Random forest regression models and ROC curves were utilized to predict the occurrence of CPB-ALI.ResultsOur study revealed significantly different microbiota compositions among three groups (CON, CPB-ALI, and CPB-NALI). The microbiota diversity was low in the CPB-ALI group with high pathogen abundance and significant decrease in Bacteroides, while the opposite was observed in the CPB-NALI group. The microbiota dysbiosis index was high in the CPB-ALI group, with its dominant microbiota significantly associated with multiple metabolic pathways. Additionally, CPB-ALI patients showed high levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-8 and HMGB1 in their serum, with high expression of IL-8 being associated with Enterobacteriaceae. Further correlation analysis showed that the differences in gut bacterial taxonomy were related to the occurrence of ALI, length of stay in the cardiac care unit, and ventilation time. It is noteworthy that Escherichia Shigella performed best in distinguishing CPB-ALI patients from non-ALI patients.ConclusionsOur study suggests that postoperative ALI patients have distinct gut microbiota upon admission compared to non-ALI patients after surgery. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota may potentially impact the progression of ALI through metabolic pathways, quorum sensing, and the levels of inflammatory factors expressed in the serum. Escherichia Shigella represents a potential predictive factor for the occurrence of ALI in CHD infants after surgery. Acute lung injury, congenital heart disease, cardiopulmonary bypass surgery, gut microbiota, biomarker

ABSTRACT The combination of aztreonam with ceftazidime/avibactam is considered a potential therapeutic approach for the treatment of infections caused by metallo-β-lactamase (MBL)-producing isolates. In this study, in vitro antibacterial activity of aztreonam with avibactam against 204 carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales was determined by broth disk elution (BDE) method of two detection volumes (5- and 2-mL broth), with broth microdilution (BMD) method as a reference. For the BDE-5mL test, the categorical agreement (CA) of ATM+CZA-lo tube (aztreonam/ceftazidime/avibactam: 6/6/4 mg/L) was 99.5%, with 0.5% major error (ME) and 0% very major error (VME); the CA of 2ATM+CZA-lo tube (12/6/4 mg/L) was 100%, with no ME and VME. For the BDE-2mL test, the CA of ATM+2CZA-hi tube (15/10/4 mg/L) was 98.5%, with 0% ME and 37.5% VME; the CA of 2ATM+2CZA-hi tube (30/10/4 mg/L) was 97.1%, with 0% ME and 75% VME. The BDE-5 mL test is an economical and practical method for clinical microbiology laboratories to determine the antibacterial susceptibility of aztreonam with avibactam against Enterobacterales, especially the 2ATM+CZA-lo tube with a final concentration of 12/6/4 mg/L of aztreonam/ceftazidime/avibactam.IMPORTANCEInfections caused by metallo-β-lactamase (MBL)-producing Enterobacterales are increasingly reported worldwide, and it is a significant challenge for clinical infection treatment. MBLs are adept at hydrolyzing almost all traditional β-lactam antibiotics except aztreonam, and the enzyme activity cannot be inhibited by traditional or novel β-lactamase inhibitors. The good thing is that the combination of aztreonam with ceftazidime/avibactam has been proven to be one of the potential therapeutic approaches for treating infections related with MBL-producing isolates. Broth microdilution (BMD) method is recommended as a reference method for its accuracy, but it is too complex to perform in most routine laboratories. Finding a more convenient, practical, and accurate susceptibility testing method for aztreonam/avibactam in clinical microbiology laboratories is very necessary. Here, we evaluated the performance of broth disk elution (BDE) method for aztreonam in combination with ceftazidime/avibactam against Enterobacterales isolates, with BMD as a reference.

Abstract Ultra‐thin 2D materials have great potential as electrodes for micro‐supercapacitors (MSCs) because of their facile ion transport channels. Here, a high‐precision controllable photonic‐synthesis strategy that provided 1 inch wafer‐scale ultra‐thin film arrays of alloyed WxMo2xSy with sulfur vacancies and expanded interlayer (13.2 Å, twice of 2H MoS2) is reported. This strategy regulates the nucleation and growth of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) on the picosecond or even femtosecond scale, which induces Mo–W alloying, interlayer expansion, and sulfur loss. Therefore, the diffusion barrier of WxMo2xSy is reduced, with charge transfer and ion diffusion enhancing. The as‐prepared symmetric MSCs with the size of 100 × 100 µm2 achieve ultrahigh specific capacitance (242.57 mF cm−2 and 242567.83 F cm−3), and energy density (21.56 Wh cm−3 with power density of 485.13 W cm3). The established synthesis strategy fits numerous materials, which provides a universal method for the flexible synthesis of electrodes in microenergy devices.

Isotope technology is an ideal tool for tracing the sources of certain pollutants or providing insights into environmental processes. In recent years, the advent of multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) has enabled the precise measurement of various metal stable isotopes. Due to the presence of ''fingerprint'' properties in various environmental samples, metal stable isotopes have been applied to distinguish the source of contaminants effectively and further understand the corresponding environmental processes. The environmental fate of metal elements is strongly controlled by adsorption, an essential process for the distribution of elements between the dissolved and particulate phases. The adsorption of metal elements on mineral and organic surfaces significantly affects their biogeochemical cycles in the environment. Therefore, it is crucial to elucidate the fractionation characteristics of stable metal isotopes during the adsorption process. In this review, three typical transitional metal elements were selected, considering Mo as the representative of anionic species and Fe and Zn as the representative of cationic species. For Mo, the heavier Mo isotope is preferentially adsorbed in the solution phase, pH has a more significant influence on isotope fractionation, and temperature and ionic strength are relatively insensitive. Differences in coordination environments between dissolved and adsorbed Mo during adsorption, i.e., attachment mode (inner- or outer-sphere) or molecular symmetry (e.g., coordination number and magnitude of distortion), are likely responsible for isotopic fractionation. For Fe, The study of equilibrium/kinetic Fe isotopic fractionation in aqueous Fe(II)-mineral is not simple. The interaction between aqueous Fe(II) and Fe (hydroxyl) oxides is complex and dynamic. The isotope effect is due to coupled electron and atom exchange between adsorbed Fe(II), aqueous Fe(II), and reactive Fe(III) on the surface of Fe (hydroxyl) oxide. For Zn, the heavier Fe isotope preferentially adsorbs on the solid phase, and pH and ionic strength are essential influencing factors. The difference in coordination environment may be the cause of isotope fractionation.

This research presents and confirms an intermediary model, deeply anchored in self-determination theory, to dissect the influence of Chinese high school students’ core psychological needs and intrinsic drive on the nexus between educators’ autonomous backing and students’ proficiency in feedback literacy, highlighting the mediating roles of these elements. A survey of 704 Chinese senior high school students, including 319 males and 385 females, employed the Feedback Literacy Scale, Basic Psychological Needs Scale, Intrinsic Motivation Scale, and Perceived Teacher Autonomy Support Scale. The study’s discoveries illuminate that educators’ autonomous support not only directly amplifies students’ feedback literacy but also has an indirect impact through the intermediation of basic psychological needs and intrinsic motivation, along with their interconnected dynamics. This inquiry not only deepens our grasp of the mechanisms interlinking teacher support with feedback literacy but also critically evaluates the findings to proffer targeted recommendations, thereby enhancing our comprehension of the underlying processes and guiding educational practices and student development.

Abstract Medulloblastoma (MB) stands as one of the prevalent malignant brain tumors among pediatric patients. Despite its prevalence, the intricate interplay between the regulatory program driving malignancy in MB cells and their interactions with the microenvironment remains insufficiently understood. Leveraging the capabilities of single‐cell Assay for Transposase‐Accessible Chromatin sequencing (scATAC‐seq), the chromatin accessibility landscape is unveiled across 59,015 distinct MB cells. This expansive dataset encompasses cells belonging to discrete molecular subgroups, namely SHH, WNT, Group3, and Group4. Within these chromatin accessibility profiles, specific regulatory elements tied to individual subgroups are uncovered, shedding light on the distinct activities of transcription factors (TFs) that likely orchestrate the tumorigenesis process. Moreover, it is found that certain neurotransmitter receptors (NTRs) are subgroup‐specific and can predict MB subgroup classification when combined with their associated transcription factors. Notably, targeting essential NTRs within tumors influences both the in vitro sphere‐forming capability and the in vivo tumorigenic capacity of MB cells. These findings collectively provide fresh insights into comprehending the regulatory networks and cellular dynamics within MBs. Furthermore, the significance of the TF‐NTR regulatory circuits is underscored as prospective biomarkers and viable therapeutic targets.

Abstract Agriculture contributes to a decline in local species diversity and to above- and below-ground biotic homogenization. Here, we conduct a continental survey using 1185 soil samples and compare microbial communities from natural ecosystems (forest, grassland, and wetland) with converted agricultural land. We combine our continental survey results with a global meta-analysis of available sequencing data that cover more than 2400 samples across six continents. Our combined results demonstrate that land conversion to agricultural land results in taxonomic and functional homogenization of soil bacteria, mainly driven by the increase in the geographic ranges of taxa in croplands. We find that 20% of phylotypes are decreased and 23% are increased by land conversion, with croplands enriched in Chloroflexi, Gemmatimonadota, Planctomycetota, Myxcoccota and Latescibacterota. Although there is no significant difference in functional composition between natural ecosystems and agricultural land, functional genes involved in nitrogen fixation, phosphorus mineralization and transportation are depleted in cropland. Our results provide a global insight into the consequences of land-use change on soil microbial taxonomic and functional diversity.

Optically spatial displacement and material modification hold great potential for the appealing applications in nanofabrication and reconfiguration of functional optical devices. Here, we propose and demonstrate a scheme to achieve simultaneous deformation and phase change in vanadium dioxide (VO2)/Si3N4/Au hybrid nanostructures by laser stimuli. Low triggering threshold and significant deformation characteristics of VO2, based on controllable phase transition, are demonstrated in microscale cantilevers. The plasmonic properties of the nanostructure array are further utilized to achieve a polarization-selective dynamic response. The persistence of deformation and dynamical optical modulation are further demonstrated. Such high-precision fabrication methods and non-contact reconfiguration methods are useful for future applications in dynamic optical manipulation.

This study aims to explore the impact of metabolites from three vaginal bacteria on the expression of Syndecan 1 (SDC-1). Human cervical epithelial cells (HcerEpic) were separately incubated with the cell-free supernatants of Lactobacillus crispatus (LCS group), Gardnerella vaginalis (GVS group), and Atopobium vaginalis (AVS group). LCS showed a proliferative effect on HcerEpic, with the most significant effect observed at a concentration of 30 % (P 0.05). LCS promotes HcerEpic proliferation, without significant impact on SDC-1 expression and shedding. This provides molecular evidence for LCS as a protective factor against human papillomavirus infection in the cervix. Metabolites of GV and AV inhibit HcerEpic proliferation, induce cytokine secretion, suppress SDC-1 transcription and expression, and promote SDC-1 shedding.

BackgroundIn 2017, China launched a comprehensive reform of public hospitals and eliminated drug markups, aiming to solve the problem of expensive medical treatment and allow poor and low-income people to enjoy basic health opportunities. This study attempts to evaluate the policy impact of public hospital reform on the health inequality of Chinese residents and analyze its micro-level mechanism from the perspective of household consumption structure. Studying the inherent causal connection between public hospital reform and health inequality is of paramount significance for strengthening China’s healthcare policies, system design, raising the average health level of Chinese residents, and achieving the goal of ensuring a healthy life for individuals of all age groups.MethodsBased on the five waves of data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) conducted in 2012–2020, We incorporates macro-level statistical indicators such as the time of public hospital reforms, health insurance surplus, and aging, generating 121,447 unbalanced panel data covering 27 provinces in China for five periods. This data was used to explore the impact of public hospital reform on health inequality. Logical and empirical tests were conducted to determine whether the reform, by altering family medical care and healthy leisure consumption expenditures, affects the micro-pathways of health inequality improvement. We constructed a two-way fixed model based on the re-centralized influence function (RIF_CI_OLS) and a chained mediation effects model to verify the hypotheses mentioned above.ResultsPublic hospital reform can effectively improve the health inequality situation among Chinese residents. The reform significantly reduces household medical expenses, increases healthy leisure consumption, promotes the upgrading of family health consumption structure, and lowers the health inequality index. In terms of indirect effects, the contribution of the increase in healthy leisure consumption is relatively greater.ConclusionPublic hospital reform significantly alleviates health inequality in China, with household health consumption serving as an effective intermediary pathway in the aforementioned impact. In the dual context of global digitization and exacerbated population aging, enhancing higher education levels and vigorously developing the health industry may be two key factors contributing to this effect.

Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) is a common cardiovascular risk factor characterized by elevated triglyceride (TG) levels. Researchers have assessed the genetic factors that influence HTG in studies focused predominantly on individuals of European ancestry. However, relatively little is known about the contribution of genetic variation of HTG in people of African ancestry (AA), potentially constraining research and treatment opportunities. Our objective was to characterize genetic profiles among individuals of AA with mild-to-moderate HTG and severe HTG versus those with normal TGs by leveraging whole-genome sequencing data and longitudinal electronic health records available in the All of Us program. We compared the enrichment of functional variants within five canonical TG metabolism genes, an AA-specific polygenic risk score for TGs, and frequencies of 145 known potentially causal TG variants between HTG patients and normal TG among a cohort of AA patients (N = 15,373). Those with mild-to-moderate HTG (N = 342) and severe HTG (N ≤ 20) were more likely to carry APOA5 p.S19W (odds ratio = 1.94, 95% confidence interval = [1.48–2.54], P = 1.63 × 10−6 and OR = 3.65, 95% confidence interval: [1.22–10.93], P = 0.02, respectively) than those with normal TG. They were also more likely to have an elevated (top 10%) polygenic risk score, elevated carriage of potentially causal variant alleles, and carry any genetic risk factor. Alternative definitions of HTG yielded comparable results. In conclusion, individuals of AA with HTG were enriched for genetic risk factors compared to individuals with normal TGs.

Objective Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common cancer worldwide. Although there are several treatments for cancer, the therapeutic effect on CRC remains unsatisfactory, and it is imperative to identify new therapeutic targets.Design Prefoldin (PFDN) is mainly used in the cytoskeleton assembly during the folding of actin and tubulin monomers. However, whether PFDN subunits are involved in regulating the development of CRC remains to be elucidated. In this study, molecular biology, cell culture, transcriptome sequencing and other experimental techniques, combined with bioinformatics, were used to verify the regulatory effects of PFDN6 on CRC.Results PFDN6 expression is elevated in patients with CRC and is closely associated with the development of CRC. Knockdown of PFDN6 reduced the tumour cell number, promoted apoptosis, and inhibited the migration and invasion of CRC cells in HCT-116 and RKO cell lines. Mechanistically, differentially expressed genes and related signalling pathways in RKO cells after PFDN6 knockdown were analysed by transcriptome sequencing.Conclusion PFDN6 was found to regulate the generation and development of CRC by targeting ZNF575. These results open new avenues for therapeutic interventions for patients with CRC.

Objective This study aims to explore the mediating roles of technological interactivity and technological anxiety in the relationship between perceived usefulness and the willingness to use a smart health device to provide insight into the decision-making process of older adults in relation to the adoption of smart devices. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Jiangsu, China involving 552 older adults. The study utilized structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze the relationship between the independent variable ‘perceived usefulness’ and the dependent variable ‘willingness to use.’ It also examined the multiple mediating effects of technological interactivity and technological anxiety between the independent and dependent variables. Results The results indicate that the direct effect of perceived usefulness on willingness to use was insignificant. However, technological interactivity completely mediated the relationship between perceived usefulness and willingness to use. Additionally, technological interactivity and technological anxiety were found to have a serial mediating effect on the impact of perceived usefulness on willingness to use smart healthcare devices. Conclusions These findings suggest that increasing older adults’ intention to use smart healthcare devices requires not only raising awareness of their usefulness, but also addressing technological anxiety and enhancing the interactivity of these devices to improve the overall user experience.

BackgroundCytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) converts isoniazid (INH) to toxic metabolites and is critical in INH-induced liver injury. The aim is to investigate the effect of folic acid (FA) on CYP2E1 and INH-induced liver injury.MethodsMale Balb/c mice were used. The mice in the control group only received an AIN-93M diet. The AIN-93M diet was supplemented with 0.66 g INH/kg diet for the mice in the INH and FA groups. The mice in the FA group were treated with additional 0.01 g FA/kg diet. The one-carbon cycle metabolites, the expressions of CYP2E1 and the DNA and RNA methylation levels were detected to reveal the potential mechanism.ResultsFA treatment significantly reduced the alanine aminotransferase level and alleviated the liver necrosis. The mRNA and protein expressions of CYP2E1 were significantly lower in the FA group than those in the INH group. The N6-methyladenosine RNA methylation level of Cyp2e1 significantly increased in the FA group compared with the INH group, while the DNA methylation levels of Cyp2e1 were similar between groups. Additionally, the liver S-adenosyl methionine (SAM)/S-adenosyl homocysteine (SAH) was elevated in the FA group and tended to be positively correlated with the RNA methylation level of Cyp2e1.ConclusionFA alleviated INH-induced liver injury which was potentially attributed to its inhibitory effect on CYP2E1 expressions through enhancing liver SAM/SAH and RNA methylation.

Abstract Background Extrachromosomal circular DNAs (eccDNAs) exist in human blood and somatic cells, and are essential for oncogene plasticity and drug resistance. However, the presence and impact of eccDNAs in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains inadequately understood. Methods We purified and sequenced the serum eccDNAs obtained from newly diagnosed T2DM patients and normal control (NC) subjects using Circle-sequencing. We validated the level of a novel circulating eccDNA named sorbin and SH3‐domain‐ containing‐1circle97206791–97208025 (SORBS1circle) in 106 newly diagnosed T2DM patients. The relationship between eccDNA SORBS1circle and clinical data was analyzed. Furthermore, we explored the source and expression level of eccDNA SORBS1circle in the high glucose and palmitate (HG/PA)-induced hepatocyte (HepG2 cell) insulin resistance model. Results A total of 22,543 and 19,195 eccDNAs were found in serum samples obtained from newly diagnosed T2DM patients and NC subjects, respectively. The T2DM patients had a greater distribution of eccDNA on chromosomes 1, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and X. Additionally, 598 serum eccDNAs were found to be upregulated, while 856 eccDNAs were downregulated in T2DM patients compared with NC subjects. KEGG analysis demonstrated that the genes carried by eccDNAs were mainly associated with insulin resistance. Moreover, it was validated that the eccDNA SORBS1circle was significantly increased in serum of newly diagnosed T2DM patients (106 T2DM patients vs. 40 NC subjects). The serum eccDNA SORBS1circle content was positively correlated with the levels of glycosylated hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in T2DM patients. Intracellular eccDNA SORBS1circle expression was significantly enhanced in the high glucose and palmitate (HG/PA)-induced hepatocyte (HepG2 cell) insulin resistance model. Moreover, the upregulation of eccDNA SORBS1circle in the HG/PA-treated HepG2 cells was dependent on generation of apoptotic DNA fragmentation. Conclusions These results provide a preliminary understanding of the circulating eccDNA patterns at the early stage of T2DM and suggest that eccDNA SORBS1circle may be involved in the development of insulin resistance.

Background: Specialist-level palliative care in the final days does not allow time to alleviate symptoms and suffering. This analysis examined the change in the time from initial specialty-level palliative care to death among Veterans with heart failure. Methods: This retrospective cohort study examined Veterans with a diagnosis of heart failure (HF) who died between 2011 and 2021. We examined the decedents from each year as a separate cohort. The primary outcome was time from specialty-level palliative care (SPC) encounter to death in the year death occurred. Results: Of the cohort (n?=?232,079), 56.5% did not receive SPC. Specialist-level palliative care >90 days before death more than doubled from 10.1% (2011) to 26.2% (2021), and Specialist-level palliative care in the last day of life was cut from 2.5% to 0.9%. Conclusion: For Veterans with HF, specialist-level palliative care moved earlier in the disease course and has a substantial growth opportunity.

Abstract Based on geographical distribution, cultivated Chinese Angelica dahurica has been divided into Angelica dahurica cv. ‘Hangbaizhi’ (HBZ) and Angelica dahurica cv. ‘Qibaizhi’ (QBZ). Long-term geographical isolation has led to significant quality differences between them. The secretory structure in medicinal plants, as a place for accumulating effective constituents and information transmission to the environment, links the environment with the quality of medicinal materials. However, the secretory tract differences between HBZ and QBZ has not been revealed. This study aimed to explore the relationship between the secretory tract and the quality of two kinds of A. dahurica. Root samples were collected at seven development phases. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Desorption Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry Imaging (DESI-MSI) were used for the content determination and spatial location of coumarins. Paraffin section was used to observe and localize the root secretory tract. Origin, CaseViewer, and HDI software were used for data analysis and image processing. The results showed that compared to QBZ, HBZ, with better quality, has a larger area of root secretory tracts. Hence, the root secretory tract can be included in the quality evaluation indicators of A. dahurica. Additionally, DESI-MSI technology was used for the first time to elucidate the temporal and spatial distribution of coumarin components in A. dahurica root tissues. This study provides a theoretical basis for the quality evaluation and breeding of improved varieties of A. dahurica and references the DESI-MSI technology used to analyze the metabolic differences of various compounds, including coumarin and volatile oil, in different tissue parts of A. dahurica.

At present, an increasing number of countries and regions, including China, are adopting electricity and carbon markets to optimize the resource allocation of the electricity power industry. To mitigate the impacts of these complex market conditions, more and more power generation enterprises adopt hybrid production mode, generating electricity from thermal and new energy units simultaneously. This research introduces the decision process of hybrid power generation enterprises under the abovementioned trading conditions, and provide the optimal production decisions of enterprises with different market positions. Besides, the consequences of collusion behaviors among power generation enterprises and governmental policy changes are also measured based on the description to the equilibrium state of electricity and carbon markets. Numerical experiment results confirm the correctness of the production decision model and reveal the following facts: (1) Carbon market effectively reduces carbon emissions and raises the new energy power generation share, but it cuts the electricity supply and drives up the electricity clearing price. (2) The combined effects of electricity and carbon markets are able to mitigate the impacts of policy changes on market equilibrium. Power generation enterprises first internally cushion these impacts by adjusting the generation structure, and then absorb the residual impacts by adjusting the total power generation. (3) The collusion behaviors among power generation enterprises can destroy the electricity and carbon markets largely. They increase the CO2 emissions by 187.94%, cutting the electricity supply by 25.30%, and drive up the electricity clearing price by 1.37%.

A significant challenge is to develop effective and controllable processes for fabricating hydrophobic metal surfaces with high mechanical properties. The combination of femtosecond laser direct writing (LDW) and gold nanoparticle magnetron sputtering (Au-MS) has successfully produced multiscale structures on Ti–6Al–4V (TC4) alloy, which possess excellent superhydrophobic and hardening properties. By adjusting the laser polarization to control micro/nanostructures, the dual-scale structure is transformed into a triple-scale structure, leading to a significant increase in the contact angle under proper scanning intervals. The Au-MS further fabricates a superhydrophobic surface, with a maximum contact angle of 153° and a minimum sliding angle of 4°. Surface hardness can be raised to 408 HV from 367 HV. This work reveals that the wetting mechanism for the dual-scale structures of TC4 alloy fabricated by laser direct writing is in the Cassie-Baxter state. While the triple-scale structures of Au-MS after linear polarization LDW (LPLDW) and the triple-scale structures of circular polarization LDW (CPLDW) with or without Au-MS are in Wenzel state, resulting in a different relationship between contact angle and surface structure. The flexible and high-efficiency fabrication of these multiscale structures has made TC4 alloy more competitive in self-cleaning and anti-freezing applications.

Abstract Microscale charge and energy transfer is an ultrafast process that can determine the photoelectrochemical performance of devices. However, nonlinear and nonequilibrium properties hinder our understanding of ultrafast processes; thus, the direct imaging strategy has become an effective means to uncover ultrafast charge and energy transfer processes. Due to diffraction limits of optical imaging, the obtained optical image has insufficient spatial resolution. Therefore, electron beam imaging combined with a pulse laser showing high spatial–temporal resolution has become a popular area of research, and numerous breakthroughs have been achieved in recent years. In this review, we cover three typical ultrafast electron beam imaging techniques, namely, time‐resolved photoemission electron microscopy, scanning ultrafast electron microscopy, and ultrafast transmission electron microscopy, in addition to the principles and characteristics of these three techniques. Some outstanding results related to photon–electron interactions, charge carrier transport and relaxation, electron–lattice coupling, and lattice oscillation are also reviewed. In summary, ultrafast electron beam imaging with high spatial–temporal resolution and multidimensional imaging abilities can promote the fundamental understanding of physics, chemistry, and optics, as well as guide the development of advanced semiconductors and electronics.

Femtosecond lasers have garnered widespread attention owing to their subdiffraction processing capabilities. However, their intricate natures, involving intrapulse feedbacks between transient material excitation and laser propagation, often present significant challenges for near-field ablation predictions and simulations. To address these challenges, the current study introduces an improved finite-difference time-domain method (FDTD)–plasma model (plasma)–two-temperature model (TTM) framework for simulating the ablation processes of various nanospheres on diverse substrates, particularly in scenarios wherein dynamic and heterogeneous excitations significantly influence optical-field distributions. Initially, FDTD simulations of a single Au nanosphere on a Si substrate reveal that, with transitions in the excitation states of the substrate, the field-intensity distribution transforms from a profile with a single central peak to a bimodal structure, consistent with experimental reports. Subsequently, simulations of a polystyrene nanosphere array on a SiO2 substrate reveal that different excitation states of the nanospheres yield two distinct modes, namely near-field enhancement and masking. These modes cannot be adequately modeled in the FDTD simulations. Our combined model also considers the intrapulse feedback between the electromagnetic-field distribution resulting from near-field effects and material excitations. Furthermore, the model can quantitatively analyze subsequent electron–phonon coupling and material removal processes resulting from thermal-phase transitions. Consequently, our model facilitates predictions of the femtosecond-laser ablation of single nanospheres or nanosphere arrays with varying sizes and materials placed on substrates subjected to near-field effects.

The investigation of taxonomic diversity within island plant communities stands as a central focus in the field of island biogeography. Phylogenetic diversity is crucial for unraveling the evolutionary history, ecological functions, and species combinations within island plant communities. Island effects (area and isolation effect) may shape species distribution patterns, habitat heterogeneity affects habitat diversity, and anthropogenic disturbances can lead to species extinction and habitat destruction, thus impacting both species diversity and phylogenetic diversity. To investigate how taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity in island natural plant communities respond to island effects, habitat heterogeneity, and anthropogenic disturbances, we took the main island of Haitan (a land-bridge island) and nine surrounding islands (oceanic islands) of varying sizes as the subjects of our study on the Pingtan islands. We aim to elucidate the influence of island effects, habitat heterogeneity, and anthropogenic disturbances on taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity. The results showed that, (1) Both the taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity of plants on the Pingtan islands followed the island area effect, indicating that as the island area increases, both taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity also increase. (2) Island effects and habitat heterogeneity were found to enhance taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity, whereas anthropogenic disturbances were associated with a decrease in both taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity. Furthermore, the synergistic influence of island effects, habitat heterogeneity, and anthropogenic disturbances collectively exerted a negative impact on both taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity. (3) The contribution of explanatory variables of anthropogenic disturbances for taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity was higher than that of island effects and habitat heterogeneity. Additionally, the contribution of the explanatory variables under the combined influence of island effects, habitat heterogeneity, and anthropogenic disturbances is higher than that of the individual variables for island effects and habitat heterogeneity. These findings suggest that anthropogenic disturbances emerged as the dominant factors influencing both taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity. These findings demonstrate the intricate interplay between island effects, habitat heterogeneity, and anthropogenic disturbances, highlighting their combined influence on both taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity on island.

Sesquiterpenoids served as an important source for natural product drug discovery. Although genome mining approaches have revealed numerous novel sesquiterpenoids and biosynthetic enzymes, the comprehensive landscape of fungal sesquiterpene synthases (STSs) remains elusive. In this study, 123 previously reported fungal STSs were subjected to phylogenetic analysis, resulting in the identification of a fungi-specific STS family known as trichodiene synthase-like sesquiterpene synthases (TDTSs). Subsequently, the application of hidden Markov models allowed the discovery of 517 TDTSs from our in-house fungi genome library of over 400 sequenced genomes, and these TDTSs were defined into 79 families based on a sequence similarity network. Based on the novelty of protein sequences and the completeness of their biosynthetic gene clusters, 23 TDTS genes were selected for heterologous expression in Aspergillus oryzae. In total, 10 TDTSs were active and collectively produced 12 mono- and sesquiterpenes, resulting in the identification of the first chamipinene synthase, as well as the first fungi-derived cedrene, sabinene, and camphene synthases. Additionally, with the guidance of functionally characterized TDTSs, we found that TDTSs in Family 1 could produce bridged-cyclic sesquiterpenes, while those in Family 2 could synthesize spiro- and bridged-cyclic sesquiterpenes. Our research presents a new avenue for the genome mining of fungal sesquiterpenoids.

Objective: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a disease associated with impaired quality of life and heredity. This study aimed to investigate the association of allergic rhinitis in preschool children with exposure to indoor environment-related factors early in life. Methods: In August 2019, the authors implemented a study among 2020 preschool children in Urumqi City using a case-control design. The study included parental reports for the occurrence of AR in children, parental history of respiratory disease, and indoor environmental correlates of maternal exposure from 1 year prior to pregnancy until the child's age of 0-1 year. Results: Mode of birth (cesarean section) (OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.02∼1.67), father with AR (OR = 2.67, 95% CI = 2.08∼3.44), mother with AR (OR = 3.70, 95% CI = 2.88∼4.74), mother with asthma (OR = 3.11, 95% CI = 1.18∼8.20), and mother with newly purchased furniture in the parents' residence during pregnancy (OR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.03∼2.14) were risk factors for AR in children. Conclusions: The focus of allergic rhinitis should be on children with a family history of AR and asthma and cesarean delivery. Primary prevention efforts for AR in preschool children are avoiding exposure of children to indoor environmental hazardous factors early in life.

Abstract Downsizing electrode architectures have significant potential for microscale energy storage devices. Asymmetric micro-supercapacitors play an essential role in various applications due to their high voltage window and energy density. However, efficient production and sophisticated miniaturization of asymmetric micro-supercapacitors remains challenging. Here, we develop a maskless ultrafast fabrication of multitype micron-sized (10 × 10 μm2) micro-supercapacitors via temporally and spatially shaped femtosecond laser. MXene/1T-MoS2 can be integrated with laser-induced MXene-derived TiO2 and 1T-MoS2-derived MoO3 to generate over 6,000 symmetric micro-supercapacitors or 3,000 asymmetric micro-supercapacitors with high-resolution (200 nm) per minute. The asymmetric micro-supercapacitors can be integrated with other micro devices, thanks to the ultrahigh specific capacitance (220 mF cm−2 and 1101 F cm−3), voltage windows in series (52 V), energy density (0.495 Wh cm−3) and power density (28 kW cm−3). Our approach enables the industrial manufacturing of multitype micro-supercapacitors and improves the feasibility and flexibility of micro-supercapacitors in practical applications.

Abstract Photonic crystals are utilized in many noteworthy applications like optical communications, light flow control, and quantum optics. Photonic crystal with nanoscale structure is important for the manipulation of light propagation in visible and near-infrared range. Herein, we propose a novel multi beam lithography method to fabricate photonic crystal with nanoscale structure without cracking. Using multi-beam ultrafast laser processing and etching, parallel channels with subwavelength gap are obtained in yttrium aluminum garnet crystal. Combining optical simulation based on Debye diffraction, we experimentally show the gap width of parallel channels can be controlled at nanoscale by changing phase holograms. With the superimposed phase hologram designing, functional structures of complicated channel arrays distribution can be created in crystal. Optical gratings of different periods are fabricated, which can diffract incident light in particular ways. This approach can efficiently manufacture nanostructures with controllable gap, and offer an alternative to the fabrication of complex photonic crystal for integrated photonics applications.

Abstract Background Pneumonia is a common disease worldwide in preschool children. Despite its large population size, China has had no comprehensive study of the national prevalence, risk factors, and management of pneumonia among preschool children. We therefore investigated the prevalence of pneumonia among preschool children in Chinese seven representative cities, and explore the possible risk factors of pneumonia on children, with a view to calling the world's attention to childhood pneumonia to reduce the prevalence of childhood pneumonia. Methods Two group samples of 63,663 and 52,812 preschool children were recruited from 2011 and 2019 surveys, respectively. Which were derived from the cross-sectional China, Children, Homes, Health (CCHH) study using a multi-stage stratified sampling method. This survey was conducted in kindergartens in seven representative cities. Exclusion criteria were younger than 2 years old or older than 8 years old, non-permanent population, basic information such as gender, date of birth and breast feeding is incomplete. Pneumonia was determined on the basis of parents reported history of clearly diagnosed by the physician. All participants were assessed with a standard questionnaire. Risk factors for pneumonia, and association between pneumonia and other respiratory diseases were examined by multivariable-adjusted analyses done in all participants for whom data on the variables of interest were available. Disease management was evaluated by the parents’ reported history of physician diagnosis, longitudinal comparison of risk factors in 2011 and 2019. Results In 2011 and 2019, 31,277 (16,152 boys and 15,125 girls) and 32,016 (16,621 boys and 15,395 girls) preschool children aged at 2–8 of permanent population completed the questionnaire, respectively, and were thus included in the final analysis. The findings showed that the age-adjusted prevalence of pneumonia in children was 32.7% in 2011 and 26.4% in 2019. In 2011, girls (odds ratio [OR] 0.91, 95%CI [confidence interval]0.87–0.96; p = 0.0002), rural (0.85, 0.73–0.99; p = 0.0387), duration of breastfeeding ≥ 6 months(0.83, 0.79–0.88; p

In this work, four energetic nitrates, i.e., 4,7-diamino-1H-[1,2,3]triazolo[4,5-d]pyridazin-5-ium nitrate (1), 2,6-diamino-1‑hydroxy-9H-purine-1,7-diium nitrate (2), 6-amino-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-b][1,2,4,5]tetrazin-2-ium nitrate (3) and 3,6-diamino-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-b][1,2,4,5]tetrazin-2-ium nitrate (4), were prepared and comprehensively characterized. The X-ray diffraction results indicated that compounds 1–4 had different layered structures with the densities in the range of 1.616–1.805 g/cm3. The highest density value of 1.805 g/cm3 was represented in compound 2, which was higher than that of most other nitrates. Moreover, compounds 1–4 had good thermal stabilities, the decomposition temperatures were in the ranged of 165–181 °C, which made them have great potential to further develop. The calculated detonation velocities and detonation pressures of these compounds were in the range of 7678–8925 m/s, and 21.96–32.39 GPa, respectively. The greatest detonation velocity and detonation pressure were observed in compound 3. The specific impulses of these compounds were in the range of 199.8–244.9 m/s. Notably, compound 1 had near infrared laser (λ = 1064 nm) ignition capacity, which was the first example of CHNO based energetic compound with near infrared laser ignition performance.

Nucleic acid detection plays a key role in diverse diagnosis and disease control. Currently available nucleic acid detection techniques are challenged by trade-offs among speed, simplicity, precision and cost. Here, we described a novel method, designated SENSOR (Sulfur DNA mediated nucleic acid sensing platform), for rapid nucleic acid detection. SENSOR was developed from phosphorothioate (PT)-DNA and sulfur binding domain (SBD) which specifically binds double-stranded PT-modified DNA. SENSOR utilizes PT-DNA oligo and SBD as targeting module, which is linked with split luciferase reporter to generate luminescence signal within 10 min. We tested detection on synthesized nucleic acid and COVID-19 pseudovirus, achieving attomolar sensitivity combined with an amplification procedure. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) could also be discriminated. Indicating SENSOR a new promising nucleic acid detection technique.

Abstract Angelica dahurica (Angelica dahurica Fisch. ex Hoffm.) is widely used as a traditional Chinese medicine and the secondary metabolites have significant pharmacological activities. Drying has been shown to be a key factor affecting the coumarin content of Angelica dahurica. However, the underlying mechanism of metabolism is unclear. This study sought to determine the key differential metabolites and metabolic pathways related to this phenomenon. Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) based targeted metabolomics analysis was performed on Angelica dahurica that were freeze-drying (− 80 °C/9 h) and oven-drying (60 °C/10 h). Furthermore, the common metabolic pathways of paired comparison groups were performed based on KEEG enrichment analysis. The results showed that 193 metabolites were identified as key differential metabolites, most of which were upregulated under oven drying. It also displayed that many significant contents of PAL pathways were changed. This study revealed the large-scale recombination events of metabolites in Angelica dahurica. First, we identified additional active secondary metabolites apart from coumarins, and volatile oil were significantly accumulated in Angelica dahurica. We further explored the specific metabolite changes and mechanism of the phenomenon of coumarin upregulation caused by temperature rise. These results provide a theoretical reference for future research on the composition and processing method of Angelica dahurica.

Abstract Single-cell RNA sequencing methods focusing on the 5′-end of transcripts can reveal promoter and enhancer activity and efficiently profile immune receptor repertoire. However, ultra-high-throughput 5′-end single-cell RNA sequencing methods have not been described. We introduce FIPRESCI, 5′-end single-cell combinatorial indexing RNA-Seq, enabling massive sample multiplexing and increasing the throughput of the droplet microfluidics system by over tenfold. We demonstrate FIPRESCI enables the generation of approximately 100,000 single-cell transcriptomes from E10.5 whole mouse embryos in a single-channel experiment, and simultaneous identification of subpopulation differences and T cell receptor signatures of peripheral blood T cells from 12 cancer patients.

Abstract Sepsis accounts for one in three hospital deaths. Higher concentrations of high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) are associated with apparent protection from sepsis, suggesting a potential therapeutic role for HDL‐C or drugs, such as cholesteryl ester transport protein (CETP) inhibitors that increase HDL‐C. However, these beneficial clinical associations might be due to confounding; genetic approaches can address this possibility. We identified 73,406 White adults admitted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center with infection; 11,612 had HDL‐C levels, and 12,377 had genotype information from which we constructed polygenic risk scores (PRS) for HDL‐C and the effect of CETP on HDL‐C. We tested the associations between predictors (measured HDL‐C, HDL‐C PRS, CETP PRS, and rs1800777) and outcomes: sepsis, septic shock, respiratory failure, and in‐hospital death. In unadjusted analyses, lower measured HDL‐C concentrations were significantly associated with increased risk of sepsis (p = 2.4 × 10−23), septic shock (p = 4.1 × 10−12), respiratory failure (p = 2.8 × 10−8), and in‐hospital death (p = 1.0 × 10−8). After adjustment (age, sex, electronic health record length, comorbidity score, LDL‐C, triglycerides, and body mass index), these associations were markedly attenuated: sepsis (p = 2.6 × 10−3), septic shock (p = 8.1 × 10−3), respiratory failure (p = 0.11), and in‐hospital death (p = 4.5 × 10−3). HDL‐C PRS, CETP PRS, and rs1800777 significantly predicted HDL‐C (p

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused severe health problems worldwide and unprecedented decimation of the global economy. Moreover, after more than 2 years, many populations are still under pressure of infection. Thus, a broader perspective in developing antiviral strategies is still of great importance. Inspired by the observed multiple benefits of heparin in the treatment of thrombosis, the potential of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) for the treatment of COVID-19 have been explored. Clinical applications found that LMWH decreased the level of inflammatory cytokines in COVID-19 patients, accordingly reducing lethality. Furthermore, several in vitro studies have demonstrated the important roles of heparan sulfate in SARS-CoV-2 infection and the inhibitory effects of heparin and heparin mimetics in viral infection. These clinical observations and designed studies argue for the potential to develop heparin mimetics as anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug candidates. In this review, we summarize the properties of heparin as an anticoagulant and the pharmaceutical possibilities for the treatment of virus infection, focusing on the perspectives of developing heparin mimetics via chemical synthesis, chemoenzymatic synthesis, and bioengineered production by microbial cell factories. The ultimate goal is to pave the eminent need for exploring novel compounds to treat coronavirus infection-caused diseases.

This study created ceramic preforms with a 3D network structure (TAD3D) by using treated aluminum dross (TAD) and kaolin slurry, with 30 ppi polyurethane foam as a template via the sacrificial template method. TAD3D/5A05Al composites were then produced via pressureless infiltration of 5A05Al aluminum alloy into TAD3D. The corrosion behavior and resistance of TAD3D/5A05Al in salt spray were assessed via neutral salt spray corrosion (NSS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), potentiodynamic polarization (PDP), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) tests. The results showed that after 24 to 360 h of NSS corrosion, the corrosion of the 5A05 matrix was primarily pitting, with pits expanding and deepening over time, and showing a tendency to interconnect. The main corrosion products were MgAl2O4, Al(OH)3, and Al2O3. As corrosion progressed, these products increased and filled cracks, pits, and grooves at the composite interface on the material’s surface. Corrosion products transferred to the grooves at the composite interface and grew on the ceramic surface. Corrosion products on the ceramic framework and the Al matrix can form a continuous passivation film covering the composite surface. PDP and EIS results indicated that the composite’s corrosion resistance decreased by 240 h but increased after that time. After 240 h, the surface passivation film can weaken corrosion effects and enhance the composite’s resistance, although it remained weaker than that of the uncorroded samples. Additionally, grooves at the composite interface deepened over time, with loosely structured corrosion products inside, potentially leading to severe localized corrosion.

Rapeseed blanket seedling transplanters have developed rapidly due to their high efficiency and adaptability to the soil in many areas of China. However, during the transplanter’s longitudinal seedling conveying process, seedling blanket compression leads to inaccurate conveying and thus declined seedling picking performance. In this paper, a mechanical compression test was carried out on rapeseed seedling blankets. The longitudinal compression force of the rapeseed seedling blanket on a transplanter was calculated through mechanical analysis. A compression model of the rapeseed seedling blanket was established to determine how the blanket’s mechanical characteristics and the device’s structural parameters affect blanket compression. In addition, with the index of longitudinal compression Y1, the coefficient of variation in the longitudinal seedling conveying distance Y2, and the qualified-block-cutting rate Y3, the interactive influence between the seedling tray tilt angle A, the seedling blanket moisture content B, and the seedling blanket thickness C were analyzed using response surface analysis. Aiming to reduce blanket compression and enhance the accuracy of longitudinal seedling conveying and block-cutting quality, the optimized results show that the predicted optimal parameters were a 50.14° seedling tray tilt angle, a 71.86% seedling blanket moisture content, and a 22.13 mm seedling blanket thickness. Using these optimized parameters, the transplanter achieved a blanket longitudinal compression of 18.17 mm, a coefficient of variation in the longitudinal seedling conveying distance of 1.142, and a qualified-block-cutting rate of 90%. Subsequently, a validation test was performed, revealing a high degree of conformity between the optimization model and the experimental data. Thus, the predicted optimal parameters can provide significantly reduced compression and a high seedling conveying performance. The results of this study provide theoretical and empirical support for the optimized design and operation of mechanized rapeseed blanket seedling transplanting.

Soil fungal communities play a critical role in the promotion of nutrient cycling and the stabilization of ecosystem functions in subtropical forests. Yet, clarifying the relationships between soil fungal diversity and microclimate variability along an elevational gradient, as well as understanding the driving mechanisms of their variations in subtropical forests, remains insufficiently understood. In this study, we recorded the composition and soil fungal diversity along an elevational gradient in Daiyun Mountain of China, aiming to elucidate the primary factors influencing the structure of the dominant soil fungal along an elevational gradient in subtropical forests. The results showed that (1) the dominant phylum of soil fungi at different elevations were Basidiomycota, Ascomycota (relative abundance > 10%) and Zygomycota (relative abundance > 1%). The Simpson index of soil fungi showed a clear upward trend along the elevational gradient, while no significant difference was observed in the other indices, and both overall reached their maximum value at the elevation of 1200 m. (2) The mean annual soil temperature and moisture, soil pH and available phosphorus were the main factors driving the dominant soil fungal along the elevational gradient. (3) Co–occurrence network analyses revealed a distinct modular structure of dominant soil fungal communities at different elevations, with Ascomycetes identified as the key taxa in fungi network relationships. Our research holds ecological significance in understanding the pivotal role of soil environmental factors in shaping the complex composition and interactions within soil fungal communities.

This study utilizes desalted and denitrated treated aluminum dross (TAD) as a raw material, along with kaolin and 10 ppi (pores per inch) polyurethane foam as a template. The slurry is converted into an aluminum dross green body with a three-dimensional network structure using the impregnation method. A three-dimensional network aluminum dross ceramic framework (TAD3D) is created at a sintering temperature of 1350 °C. The liquid 5A05 aluminum alloy at a temperature of 950 °C infiltrates into the voids of TAD3D through pressureless infiltration, resulting in TAD3D/5A05Al composite material with an interpenetrating phase composite (IPC) structure. The corrosion behavior of TAD3D/5A05 composite material in sodium chloride solution was examined using the salt spray test (NSS) method. The study shows that the pores of the TAD3D framework, produced by sintering aluminum dross as raw material, are approximately 10 ppi. The bonding between TAD3D and 5A05Al interfaces is dense, with strong interfacial adhesion. The NSS corrosion time ranged from 24 h to 360 h, during which the composite material underwent pitting corrosion, crevice corrosion and self-healing processes. Results from Potentiodynamic Polarization (PDP) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) indicate that, as corrosion progresses, the Ecorr of TAD3D/5A05Al decreases from −0.718 V to −0.786 V, and Icorr decreases from 0.398 μA·cm−2 to 0.141 μA·cm−2. A dense oxide film forms on the surface of the composite material, increasing the anodic Tafel slope and decreasing the cathodic Tafel slope, thus slowing down the rates of cathodic and anodic reactions. Factors such as lower interface corrosion resistance or a relatively weak passivation film at the interface do not significantly diminish the corrosion resistance of TAD3D and 5A05Al. The corrosion resistance of the composite material initially decreases and then increases.

Negative air ions (NAIs) are crucial for assessing the impact of forests on wellbeing and enhancing the physical and mental health of individuals. They serve as pivotal indicators for assessing air quality. Comprehensive research into the distribution patterns of NAI concentrations, especially the correlation between NAI concentrations and meteorological elements in tourist environments, necessitates the accumulation of additional long-term monitoring data. In this paper, long-term on-site monitoring of NAI concentrations, air temperature, relative humidity, and other factors was conducted in real time over 24 h, from April 2020 to May 2022, to explore the temporal dynamic patterns of NAIs and their influencing factors. The results showed that (1) the daily dynamics of NAI concentrations followed a U-shaped curve. The peak concentrations usually occurred in the early morning (4:30–8:00) and evening (19:10–22:00), and the lowest concentrations usually occurred at noon (12:50–14:45). (2) At the monthly scale, NAI concentrations were relatively high in February, August, and September and low in January, June, and December. At the seasonal scale, NAI concentrations were significantly higher in winter than in other seasons, with higher concentrations occurring in the summer and autumn. (3) Relative humidity, air temperature, and air quality index (AQI) were the primary factors that influenced NAI concentrations. Relative humidity showed a significant positive correlation with NAI concentrations, while air temperature and AQI both exhibited a significant negative correlation with NAI concentrations. Higher air quality corresponds to higher NAI concentrations. Our research provides new insights into NAI temporal dynamics patterns and their driving factors, and it will aid in scheduling outdoor recreation and forest health activities.

This study focuses on the cultural heritage of Xiamen and uses the spatial analysis method of ArcGIS to analyze the spatiotemporal evolution and distribution characteristics of cultural heritage. Through analysis, we aim to optimize the structure of cultural heritage protection areas and tourism routes in urban planning by analyzing the spatial structure characteristics of Xiamen’s cultural heritage types in various historical periods. The results show that in terms of the time dimension, the existing cultural heritage in Xiamen was mainly built between 1840 and 1949, and the center of cultural heritage shows an overall trend of a “north-south direction”. In terms of spatial dimension, the existing cultural height in Xiamen shows a clustering distribution pattern, with clusters located in the Gulangyu and Xiagang areas of Siming District. According to the period, there is a clear spatial correlation pattern, showing a spatial clustering trend of “strong first and then weak”.

The escalation of global nitrogen deposition levels has heightened the inhibitory impact of phosphorus limitation on plant growth in subtropical forests. Plant roots area particularly sensitive tissue to nitrogen and phosphorus elements. Changes in the morphological characteristics of plant roots signify alterations in adaptive strategies. However, our understanding of resource-use strategies of roots in this environment remains limited. In this study, we conducted a 10-month experiment at the Castanopsis kawakamii Nature Reserve to evaluate the response of traits of seedling roots (such as specific root length, average diameter, nitrogen content, and phosphorus content) to nitrogen and phosphorus addition. The aim was to reveal the adaptation strategies of roots in different nitrogen and phosphorus addition concentrations. The results showed that: (1) The single phosphorus and nitrogen–phosphorus interaction addition increased the specific root length, surface area, and root phosphorus content. In addition, single nitrogen addition promotes an increase in the average root diameter. (2) Non-nitrogen phosphorus addition and single nitrogen addition tended to adopt a conservative resource-use strategy to maintain growth under low phosphorus conditions. (3) Under the single phosphorus addition and interactive addition of phosphorus and nitrogen, the roots adopted an acquisitive resource-use strategy to obtain more available phosphorus resources. Accordingly, the adaptation strategy of seedling roots can be regulated by adding appropriate concentrations of nitrogen or phosphorus, thereby promoting the natural regeneration of subtropical forests.

To address the lack of available information on the soil physical conditions suitable for rapeseed blanket-shaped seedling transplanting, as well as the lack of protocols for the optimisation of soil tillage components in the utilisation of an integrated rapeseed blanket seedling combined transplanter, the physical parameters of different soil conditions and their impact on the growth of rapeseed after transplanting were investigated in this study. The aim was to determine the suitable soil physical parameters for rapeseed blanket-shaped seedling transplanting. First, the changes in soil firmness, soil bulk density, and soil moisture content during the installation of the rapeseed blanket seedling combined transplanter were tested and analysed, providing preliminary data for subsequent research. Using the variables of soil firmness and soil moisture content in the micro-environment around the roots and stems (30–50 mm) after rapeseed seedling transplantation and indicators such as the survival rate, root diameter, seedling height, and dry weight, an experiment on the growth of rapeseed blanket-shaped seedlings was conducted based on the furrow cutting transplanting principle. The results indicated that during the initial stage of rapeseed transplanting, the soil moisture content significantly influenced the vitality of the rapeseed plants. Under a high soil moisture content, the typically lengthy seedling period was shortened, and the effect on vitality was good, with minimal influence from the soil firmness. After seedling establishment, the rapeseed growth was significantly affected by the soil firmness. When the soil moisture content was less than 20%, increasing the soil firmness to 500 kPa was beneficial for moisture retention and rapeseed seedling growth. At a soil moisture content ranging from 20 to 25%, a soil firmness of 400 kPa was most suitable for both rapeseed vitality and late-stage growth. When the soil moisture content exceeded 25%, reducing the soil firmness to 300 kPa was beneficial for rapeseed growth, as an excessively high moisture content may lead to soil compaction, affecting seedling development. This study provides a theoretical basis for optimizing the design of soil tillage components in the application of an integrated rapeseed blanket seedling combined transplanter and for the high-yield management of rapeseed after transplanting.

Background: Two risk variants in the apolipoprotein L1 gene (APOL1) have been associated with increased susceptibility to sepsis in Black patients. However, it remains unclear whether APOL1 high-risk genotypes are associated with occurrence of either sepsis or sepsis-related phenotypes in patients hospitalized with infections, independent of their association with pre-existing severe renal disease. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 2242 Black patients hospitalized with infections. We assessed whether carriage of APOL1 high-risk genotypes was associated with the risk of sepsis and sepsis-related phenotypes in patients hospitalized with infections. The primary outcome was sepsis; secondary outcomes were short-term mortality, and organ failure related to sepsis. Results: Of 2242 Black patients hospitalized with infections, 565 developed sepsis. Patients with high-risk APOL1 genotypes had a significantly increased risk of sepsis (odds ratio [OR]=1.29 [95% CI, 1.00–1.67; p=0.047]); however, this association was not significant after adjustment for pre-existing severe renal disease (OR = 1.14 [95% CI, 0.88–1.48; p=0.33]), nor after exclusion of those patients with pre-existing severe renal disease (OR = 0.99 [95% CI, 0.70–1.39; p=0.95]). APOL1 high-risk genotypes were significantly associated with the renal dysfunction component of the Sepsis-3 criteria (OR = 1.64 [95% CI, 1.21–2.22; p=0.001]), but not with other sepsis-related organ dysfunction or short-term mortality. The association between high-risk APOL1 genotypes and sepsis-related renal dysfunction was markedly attenuated by adjusting for pre-existing severe renal disease (OR = 1.36 [95% CI, 1.00–1.86; p=0.05]) and was nullified after exclusion of patients with pre-existing severe renal disease (OR = 1.16 [95% CI, 0.74–1.81; p=0.52]). Conclusions: APOL1 high-risk genotypes were associated with an increased risk of sepsis; however, this increased risk was attributable predominantly to pre-existing severe renal disease. Funding: This study was supported by R01GM120523 (QF), R01HL163854 (QF), R35GM131770 (CMS), HL133786 (WQW), and Vanderbilt Faculty Research Scholar Fund (QF). The dataset(s) used for the analyses described were obtained from Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s BioVU which is supported by institutional funding, the 1S10RR025141-01 instrumentation award, and by the CTSA grant UL1TR0004from NCATS/NIH. Additional funding provided by the NIH through grants P50GM115305 and U19HL065962. The authors wish to acknowledge the expert technical support of the VANTAGE and VANGARD core facilities, supported in part by the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (P30 CA068485) and Vanderbilt Vision Center (P30 EY08126). The funders had no role in design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

To understand how diversity change with environmental gradients is a fundamental aim for clarifying biodiversity pattern and underlying mechanisms. Here, we studied the characteristics of beta diversity and its partitioning components for woody plant communities along an elevation gradient in subtropical forests of China, and thus explored the effects of environment and space on beta diversity. By using the Classification Method, we divided the species of Daiyun Mountain into four groups, namely generalists, high-elevation specialists, low-elevation specialists and rare species. We then calculated beta diversity, and partitioned it into species turnover and species nestedness. dbRDA was conducted to analyze the impact of spatial and environmental distance on the beta diversity and its partitioning components. Beta diversity comprised of two components: species turnover and species nestedness. Species turnover was the larger contributor to total beta diversity, and it tended to increase as elevation changed. This pattern can be attributed to environmental heterogeneity, resulting in the differentiation of specialized species and an increase in species turnover and beta diversity. Environmental factors, specifically the air temperature and slope, played a significant role in explaining the variation of turnover and beta diversity. However, spatial variables did not have a significant influence on these patterns. The maintenance of biodiversity in Daiyun Mountain was mainly governed by environmental filtering. Future conservation efforts should focus on strengthening the protection of specialized species in high elevation areas.

The chemical diversity of terpenoids is typically established by terpene synthase-catalyzed cyclization and diversified by post-tailoring modifications. Fungal bifunctional terpene synthase (BFTS) associated P450 enzymes have shown significant catalytic potentials through the development of various new terpenoids with different biological activities. This study discovered the BFTS and its related gene cluster from the plant endophytic fungus Didymosphaeria variabile 17020. Heterologous expression of the BFTS in Saccharomyces cerevisiae resulted in the characterization of a major product diterpene variediene (1), along with two new minor products neovariediene and neoflexibilene. Further heterologous expression of the BFTS and one cytochrome P450 enzyme VndE (CYP6138B1) in Aspergillus oryzae NSAR1 led to the identification of seven norditerpenoids (19 carbons) with a structurally unique 5/5 bicyclic ring system. Interestingly, in vivo experiments suggested that the cyclized terpene variediene (1) was modified by VndE along with the endogenous enzymes from the host cell A. oryzae through serial chemical conversions, followed by multi-site hydroxylation via A. oryzae endogenous enzymes. Our work revealed that the two-enzymes biosynthetic system and host cell machinery could produce structurally unique terpenoids.

Temporally shaped femtosecond laser machining is a flexible and effective method to improve the efficiency and quality of cooling film holes. This study investigated the ablation of nickel-based superalloy by double-pulse femtosecond laser with different pulse-separations and fluences. Compared with single-pulse ablation, approximate 1.5 times enhancement of ablation area was obtained in double-pulse ablation with about 2 ps pulse-separation. By varying the pulse-separations, the ablation area can be tuned, and at the same time, the ablation depth can be kept for little fluctuation. An improved two-temperature model and time-resolved transient reflectivity technique were used for analyzing the ablation mechanisms. We found that more energy deposition can happen from electron system to lattice system for double-pulse ablation, which makes ablation area increase. However, mechanical relaxation started at around 2 ps, which could be suppressed by the pressure wave induced by the second sub-pulse, and finally achieved the maximum ablation area at about 2 ps pulse-separation. Besides, laser-induced subwavelength periodic surface structures were observed under irradiation of multiple pulses. The findings may aid in understanding the ablation mechanism between nickel-based superalloy and femtosecond laser, as well as in optimizing the processing of cooling film holes.

The survival rate of Castanopsis kawakamii from seed to seedling is relatively low, leading to difficulties in the regeneration of its natural forests. Forest gaps play a vital role in plant regeneration and biodiversity maintenance in forest ecosystems. Unfortunately, our understanding of the effects of gap size and within-gap position on the seed germination and radicle growth of C. kawakamii is still limited. In particular, our knowledge on the relationship between gap size and environmental factors and their influence on seed germination and radicle growth is incomplete. In the present study, we studied the influences of forest gaps and within-gap position on seed regeneration on the germination and radicle growth of an endangered species C. kawakamii in a subtropical natural forest in China. We selected three large gaps (LG, gap size above 200 m2), three medium gaps (MG, gap size 50–100 m2), three small gaps (SG, gap size 30–50 m2), and non-gap (NG), and planted the seeds of C. kawakamii in five positions within each gap. The results showed that (1) the influence of forest gaps on seed germination rate was, from highest to lowest, medium gaps (51%), non-gap (47%), small gaps (40%) and large gaps (17%), and the seed germination rate was the highest in all positions in medium gaps, with the exception of the east position. (2) Radicle length in forest gaps was, from highest to lowest, medium gaps, small gaps, large gaps and non-gap, and it was the highest in the east, south, west and north positions of medium gaps. (3) Canopy openness (gap size) and air temperature were the main factors influencing seed germination and radicle growth of C. kawakamii. We concluded that medium-sized gaps were the most suitable for seed germination and radicle growth of C. kawakamii, and they promote the regeneration of this endangered species in the investigated natural forest.

Abstract Introduction Infectious diseases are common causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Susceptibility to infection is highly heritable; however, little has been done to identify the genetic determinants underlying common infectious diseases. One GWAS was performed using 23andMe information about self-reported infections; we set out to confirm previous loci and identify new ones using medically diagnosed infections. Methods We used the electronic health record (EHR)-based biobank at Vanderbilt and diagnosis codes to identify cases of 12 infectious diseases in white patients: urinary tract infection, pneumonia, chronic sinus infections, otitis media, candidiasis, streptococcal pharyngitis, herpes zoster, herpes labialis, hepatitis B, infectious mononucleosis, tuberculosis (TB) or a positive TB test, and hepatitis C. We selected controls from patients with no diagnosis code for the candidate disease and matched by year of birth, sex, and calendar year at first and last EHR visits. We conducted GWAS using SAIGE and transcriptome-wide analysis (TWAS) using S-PrediXcan. We also conducted phenome-wide association study to understand associations between identified genetic variants and clinical phenotypes. Results We replicated three 23andMe loci (p ≤ 0.05): herpes zoster and rs7047299-A (p = 2.6 × 10–3) and rs2808290-C (p = 9.6 × 10–3;); otitis media and rs114947103-C (p = 0.04). We also identified 2 novel regions (p ≤ 5 × 10–8): rs113235453-G for otitis media (p = 3.04 × 10–8), and rs10422015-T for candidiasis (p = 3.11 × 10–8). In TWAS, four gene-disease associations were significant: SLC30A9 for otitis media (p = 8.06 × 10–7); LRP3 and WDR88 for candidiasis (p = 3.91 × 10–7 and p = 1.95 × 10–6); and AAMDC for hepatitis B (p = 1.51 × 10–6). Conclusion We conducted GWAS and TWAS for 12 infectious diseases and identified novel genetic contributors to the susceptibility of infectious diseases.