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Introduction: The interplay between influential factors and the incidence of subthreshold depression (SD) in young adults remains poorly understood. Objectives: This study sought to understand the dietary habits, gut microbiota composition, etc. among individuals with SD in young adults and to investigate their association with SD occurrence. Methods: Employing a cross-sectional approach, 178 individuals with SD, aged 18–32 years, were matched with 114 healthy counterparts. SD status was evaluated using the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), Zung Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Beck Depression Inventory 2nd version (BDI-II), the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scales of Depression (HAMD-17), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Metagenomic sequencing was utilized to identify fecal microbial profiles. Dietary patterns were discerned via factor analysis of a 25-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Logistic regression analysis and mediation analysis were performed to explore the potential links between gut microbiota, dietary patterns, and incident SD. Results: Data on dietary habits were available for 292 participants (mean [SD] age, 22.1 [2.9] years; 216 [73.9 %] female). Logistic regression analysis revealed that dietary patterns Ⅰ (odds ratio [OR], 0.34; 95 % CI, 0.15–0.75) and IV (OR, 0.39; 95 % CI, 0.17–0.86 and OR, 0.39; 95 % CI, 0.18–0.84) were associated with reduced risk of SD. Distinct microbial profiles were observed in young adults with SD, marked by increased microbial diversity and taxonomic alterations. Moreover, mediation analysis suggested Veillonella atypica as a potential mediator linking SDS or BDI-II scores with a healthy dietary pattern rich in bean products, coarse grains, nuts, fruits, mushrooms, and potatoes (β = 0.25, 95 % CI: 0.02–0.78 and β = 0.18, 95 % CI: 0.01–0.54). Conclusions: Our findings highlight the complex interplay between dietary patterns, gut microbiota, and the risk of developing SD in young adults, underscoring the potential for dietary interventions and microbiome modulation in mental health promotion.

Abstract Background Prenatal ultrasound is the preferred modality for diagnosing fetal congenital heart disease. Given issues of physician proficiency and hospital distribution, we propose a dynamic sequential cross-sectional scanning (SCS) to explore the feasibility of cardiac screening by sonographers with less than 5 years of experience in ultrasound. Materials and methods Twenty residents were randomly divided into two groups, receiving training in the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) fetal echocardiography and the SCS method. According to the needs of training, the professional staff developed the theoretical knowledge question bank, the CHD ultrasonic video disease bank, and the assessment scale. Trainees completed the pre-training examination, theory and skill operation training, and post-training assessment. For the two groups, the theoretical knowledge, skill operation and disease diagnosis were analyzed statistically before and after training. Results After training, the trainees in both groups had significantly improved knowledge and diagnostic abilities, their diagnostic thinking about CHD was clear, and they could identify major or even all structural abnormalities and make a definite diagnosis. In terms of skill operation, both groups could complete all required scanning within the specified time. The scanning time of the SCS group was significantly lower than that of the AIUM group, and the effect of the receptor site in the AIUM group was significantly higher than that in the SCS group. Conclusion SCS can be used as a new rapid fetal cardiac scanning method and try to popularize among echocardiographer.

Abstract The soybean cyst nematode (SCN, Heterodera glycines) is the most yield-limiting pathogen in soybeans worldwide. Using chemical pesticides to control this disease is harmful to human and environment. It is urgent to develop environment-friendly nematicides. The aim of this study was to discover novel biocontrol agents on H. glycines control and soybean growth under greenhouse and field conditions Eight Bacillus strains were isolated from soil rhizosphere soils and the stability and efficiency of H. glycines was assessed in greenhouse and field experiments in 2021 and 2022. In particular, the Ba2-6 strain had the highest potential, because it was a biocontrol agent against H. glycines shown to cause 93.85% juvenile mortality. Furthermore, strains Ba 1–7, Ba2-4, and Ba2-6 effectively reduced the number of females and improved the soybean seed number per plant. Based on their morphological, physiological, biochemical and molecular (16 S rRNA) characteristics, the three strains were identified as B. aryabhattai (Ba1-7), B. megatherium (Ba2-4), and B. halotolerans (Ba2-6). The ability of Ba2-6 to induce systemic resistance to H. glycines in soybeans was investigated by the split-root system and real-time quantitative PCR experiments. The results indicated that the Ba2-6 strain induced systemic resistance to suppress the penetration of H. glycines, and enhanced gene expression of PR1, PR3a, PR5, and NPR1-2, involved in the salicylic acid and jasmonic acid pathways. The study suggests that the strains of B. aryabhattai Ba1-7, B. megatherium Ba2-4, and B. halotolerans Ba2-6 can be considered as effective biocontrol agents to control H. glycines. Further, B. halotolerans Ba2-6 not only promotes soybean growth but also enhances resistance to H. glycines by regulating defense-related gene expression and inducing systemic resistance in soybean.

Abstract Lithium salt-doped spiro-OMeTAD is widely used as a hole-transport layer (HTL) for high-efficiency n-i-p perovskite solar cells (PSCs), but unfortunately facing awkward instability for commercialization arising from the intrinsic Li+ migration and hygroscopicity. We herein demonstrate a superoxide radicals (•O2 −) derived HTL of metal-free spiro-OMeTAD with remarkable capability of avoiding the conventional tedious oxidation treatment in air for highly stable PSCs. Present work explores the employing of variant-valence Eu(TFSI)2 salts that could generate •O2 − for facile and adequate pre-oxidation of spiro-OMeTAD, resulting in the HTL with dramatically increased conductivity and work function. Comparing to devices adopting HTL with LiTFSI doping, the •O2 −-derived spiro-OMeTAD increases the PSCs efficiency up to 25.45% and 20.76% for 0.05 cm2 active area and 6 × 6 cm2 module, respectively. State-of-art PSCs employing such metal-free HTLs are also demonstrated to show much-improved environmental stability even under harsh conditions, e.g., maintaining over 90% of their initial efficiency after 1000 h of operation at the maximum power point and after 80 light-thermal cycles under simulated low earth orbit conditions, respectively, indicating the potentials of developing metal-free spiro-OMeTAD for low-cost and shortened processing of perovskite photovoltaics.

Abstract Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which is the most prevalent endocrine disorder among women in their reproductive years, is linked to a higher occurrence and severity of atherosclerosis (AS). Nevertheless, the precise manner in which PCOS impacts the cardiovascular well-being of women remains ambiguous. The Gene Expression Omnibus database provided four PCOS datasets and two AS datasets for this study. Through the examination of genes originating from differentially expressed (DEGs) and critical modules utilizing functional enrichment analyses, weighted gene co-expression network (WGCNA), and machine learning algorithm, the research attempted to discover potential diagnostic genes. Additionally, the study investigated immune infiltration and conducted gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) to examine the potential mechanism of the simultaneous occurrence of PCOS and AS. Two verification datasets and cell experiments were performed to assess biomarkers' reliability. The PCOS group identified 53 genes and AS group identified 175 genes by intersecting DEGs and key modules of WGCNA. Then, 18 genes from two groups were analyzed by machine learning algorithm. Death Associated Protein Kinase 1 (DAPK1) was recognized as an essential gene. Immune infiltration and single-gene GSEA results suggest that DAPK1 is associated with T cell-mediated immune responses. The mRNA expression of DAPK1 was upregulated in ox-LDL stimulated RAW264.7 cells and in granulosa cells. Our research discovered the close association between AS and PCOS, and identified DAPK1 as a crucial diagnostic biomarker for AS in PCOS.

Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) infection causes severe acute respiratory infection and severe neurological complications, such as acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), in children. However, although EV-D68 has pandemic potential, no effective drugs or vaccines are currently clinically available. Furthermore, EV-D68 infection-induced inflammatory response and cell death are not fully understood. In this study, we demonstrated that several inflammatory cytokines were upregulated in a multiplicity of infection (MOI) dependent manner in EV-D68-infected human rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells. Quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) confirmed that tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), C-C motif chemokine ligand-5 (CCL-5), and CXC motif chemokine ligand-5 (CXCL-5) mRNA levels were highly upregulated after EV-D68 infection. IL-1β processing and maturation mediated by caspase-8 was inhibited by the caspase-8 inhibitor Z-IETD-FMK. EV-D68 infection activates caspase-8 to mediate IL-1β maturation and secretion. Additionally, EV-D68 activated cell death-related proteins such as caspase-3, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1), phosphorylation of Mixed Lineage Kinase domain-like protein (pMLKL), and gasdermin E (GSDME). Thus, EV-D68 infection activates caspase-8, which triggers the necroptosis and apoptosis pathways. Overall, our data suggest that caspase-8 activation is associated with the inflammatory response and cell death in EV-D68-infected RD cells. This mechanism represents a novel target for the treatment of EV-D68 infection by inhibiting caspase-8 activation.

Abstract **Ischemic stroke remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Despite the advances in thrombolytic therapy, notably recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA), patient outcomes are highly variable. This study aims to introduce a novel predictive model, the Acute Stroke Thrombolysis Non-Responder Prediction Model (ASTN-RPM), to identify patients unlikely to benefit from rtPA within the critical early recovery window. We conducted a retrospective cohort study at Baoding No.1 Central Hospital including 709 adult patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke and treated with intravenous alteplase within the therapeutic time window. The ASTN-RPM was developed using Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression technique, incorporating a wide range of biomarkers and clinical parameters. Model performance was evaluated using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration plots, and Decision Curve Analysis (DCA). ASTN-RPM effectively identified patients at high risk of poor response to thrombolysis, with an AUC of 0.909 in the training set and 0.872 in the validation set, indicating high sensitivity and specificity. Key predictors included posterior circulation stroke, high admission NIHSS scores, extended door to needle time, and certain laboratory parameters like homocysteine levels. The ASTN-RPM stands as a potential tool for refining clinical decision-making in ischemic stroke management. By anticipating thrombolytic non-response, clinicians can personalize treatment strategies, possibly improving patient outcomes and reducing the burden of ineffective interventions. Future studies are needed for external validation and to explore the incorporation of emerging biomarkers and imaging data.

Suicide, a global health concern, can be influenced by living arrangements. Hence, the objective of this systematic review was to assess the extent of the association between living alone and suicidal behaviors. We conducted a comprehensive search across eight databases for prospective studies. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals were pooled using Stata software. Nine large-scale prospective studies with 3,663,205 participants proved eligible. The results of the meta-analysis showed that the pooled prevalence of living alone was 32%. Living alone was associated with suicide attempts and suicide death even after adjusting for all potential confounding factors (AHR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.13–1.77; AHR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.06–1.48). Compared to people who live with others, living alone increases the risk of suicide behaviors. Given the anticipated global rise in suicide rates and the growing prevalence of living alone, it is recommended to explore this issue on a broader scale.Systematic review registration: PROSPERO, identifier: CRD42023464684, https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023464684.

Highlights Developing a universal strategy of the p–n homojunction engineering that could significantly boost electron mobility of electron transport layer (ETL) by two orders of magnitude. Proposing a new mechanism based on p–n homojunction to explain inhibited carrier loss at buried interface. Setting a new performance benchmark as high as 25.50% for planar perovskite solar cells employing TiO2 as ETLs.

Abstract Background Ovarian damage and follicle loss are major side effects of chemotherapy in young female patients with cancer. However, effective strategies to prevent these injuries are still lacking. The purpose of this study was to verify low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) can reduce ovarian injury caused by chemotherapy and to explore its underlying mechanisms in mice model. Methods The mice were randomly divided into the Control group, Cisplatin group, and Cisplatin + LIPUS group. The Cisplatin group and Cisplatin + LIPUS group were intraperitoneally injected with cisplatin every other day for a total of 10 injections, and the Control group was injected with saline. On the second day of each injection, the Cisplatin + LIPUS group received irradiation, whereas the other two groups received sham irradiation. We used a variety of biotechnologies to detect the differences in follicle count, granulosa cell apoptosis, fibrosis, transcriptome level, oxidative damage, and inflammation in differently treated mice. Result LIPUS was able to reduce primordial follicle pool depletion induced by cisplatin and inhibit the apoptosis of granulosa cells. Transcriptomic results confirmed that LIPUS can reduce ovarian tissue injury. We demonstrated that LIPUS can relieve ovarian fibrosis by inhibiting TGF-β1/Smads pathway. Meanwhile, it can reduce the oxidative damage and reduced the mRNA levels of proinflammatory cytokines caused by chemotherapy. Conclusion LIPUS can reduce the toxic effects of chemotherapy drugs on ovaries, inhibit ovarian fibrosis, reduce the inflammatory response, and redcue the oxidative damage, reduce follicle depletion and to maintain the number of follicle pools.

Abstract Ammonia is a crucial component in the production of fertilizers and various nitrogen-based compounds. Now, the lithium-mediated nitrogen reduction reaction (Li-NRR) has emerged as a promising approach for ammonia synthesis at ambient conditions. The proton shuttle plays a critical role in the proton transfer process during Li-NRR. However, the structure-activity relationship and design principles for effective proton shuttles have not yet been established in practical Li-NRR systems. Here, we propose a general procedure for verifying a true proton shuttle and established design principles for effective proton shuttles. We systematically evaluate several classes of proton shuttles in a continuous-flow reactor with hydrogen oxidation at the anode. Among the tested proton shuttles, phenol exhibits the highest Faradaic efficiency of 72 ± 3% towards ammonia, surpassing that of ethanol, which has been commonly used so far. Experimental investigations including operando isotope-labelled mass spectrometry proved the proton-shuttling capability of phenol. Further mass transport modeling sheds light on the mechanism.

Abstract Intragrain impurities can impart detrimental effects on the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells, but they are indiscernible to conventional characterizations and thus remain unexplored. Using in situ scanning transmission electron microscopy, we reveal that intragrain impurity nano-clusters inherited from either the solution synthesis or post-synthesis storage can revert to perovskites upon irradiation stimuli, leading to the counterintuitive amendment of crystalline grains. In conjunction with computational modelling, we atomically resolve crystallographic transformation modes for the annihilation of intragrain impurity nano-clusters and probe their impacts on optoelectronic properties. Such critical fundamental findings are translated for the device advancement. Adopting a scanning laser stimulus proven to heal intragrain impurity nano-clusters, we simultaneously boost the efficiency and stability of formamidinium-cesium perovskite solar cells, by virtual of improved optoelectronic properties and relaxed intra-crystal strain, respectively. This device engineering, inspired and guided by atomic-scale in situ microscopic imaging, presents a new prototype for solar cell advancement.

Abstract Mites are among the most abundant invertebrates in subsurface ecosystems, and their community assemblages and distributions are often significantly influenced by the diversity of habitat resources. The cave ecosystem encompasses drastic changes in nonbiological factors, such as changes in lighting conditions from bright to extraordinarily dark and habitat gradients of surface plant resources from abundant to scarce or even disappearing, providing an ideal unique environment for evaluating the assembly mechanism of soil animal communities. Nevertheless, there still needs to be a sufficient understanding of the biodiversity patterns and drivers of mite communities across environmental gradients in karst caves. We conducted a comprehensive survey on the composition and diversity of soil mites in three photometric zones (dark, twilight, and light) of a typical karst cave and its adjoining extractive environments (forest scrub and farmland). Our research aimed to investigate the ecological relationships of mite communities between above‐ and below‐ground habitats and the effects of abiotic factors on mite communities. We collected 49 families, 86 genera, and 1284 mites. In the external cave environment, we captured 1052 mites from 72 genera and 45 families; in the internal cave environment, we captured 232 mites from 46 genera and 29 families. The abundance, richness of genera, and diversity parameters of the mite community decreased from the cave entrance to the cave interior with decreasing light intensity. Oribatid mites dominated the mite community. Protoribates and Scheloribates were the dominant genera, along with Tectocepheus and 11 other genera, which primarily distinguished the mite communities among different habitats. Forty endemic taxa were found in the external cave environment, compared to 14 endemic taxa in the internal cave environment. The mite community showed a strong preference for the cave ecosystem habitat. Temperature, humidity, and soil nitrogen content significantly influenced the distribution pattern of mite communities (VIP > 0.8, p

Enhancing its performance and maximizing the utilization of solid waste are pressing matters that require attention to guarantee the sustainable development of ecological concrete. This study focuses on the development of a nutrient-rich aggregate ecological concrete that demonstrates favorable plant growth performance through the utilization of recycled engineering muck and agricultural waste straw biochar. First, a unsintered nutrient aggregate is formulated through the combination of engineering muck, agricultural waste straw biochar, compound fertilizer powder, and super absorbent polymer with magnesium phosphate cement (MPC) and a hydrophilic polyurethane solution (HPS). Subsequently, by employing the prepared unsintered nutrient aggregates to partially substitute natural aggregates, a novel ecological concrete containing nutrient aggregates is generated. The study examines the impact of the composition of nutrient aggregates and porosity on the mechanical properties, water retention capacity, fertilization performance, and ecological attributes of concrete. The findings indicated that a combination of 17.06% MPC and 5.38% HPS proved to be the most effective curing method for nutrient aggregates at a liquid-solid ratio of 0.34. The water retention, fertility, and ecological performance of ecological concrete with nutrient aggregates improve with higher nutrient aggregate content, albeit at the expense of reduced mechanical performance. Under equivalent nutrient aggregate content, low porosity ecological concrete demonstrates higher fertility performance compared to high porosity ecological concrete, whereas the water retention performance shows the opposite trend. Furthermore, the patterns observed in phosphorus leaching concentration and conductivity suggest that the ecological concrete with nutrient aggregates exhibits a self-release characteristic of nutrients. The study can offer technical assistance for the efficient utilization of solid waste, thus advancing the sustainable growth of the ecological concrete industry.

Pseudomonas plecoglossicida is a major pathogen that causes visceral white nodules disease (VWND), a highly devastating disease, in cultured large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea), leading to severe economic losses. Peptide chain release factor methyltransferase hemK in bacteria plays a role in pathogenicity, but its exact function in P. plecoglossicida remains unclear. In this study, a P. plecoglossicida mutant strain (ΔhemK) was constructed by deleting hemK, and the roles of hemK in regulating P. plecoglossicida virulence were thereafter investigated. Compared to the wildtype strain, cell motility and biofilm formation of ΔhemK were weaken, and extracellular protein profile was altered. In vitro study showed that the hemK deletion significantly decreased the survival rate of P. plecoglossicida in large yellow croaker macrophage cell line (LYC-FM) by impairing oxidative stress tolerance. Furthermore, large yellow croakers infected with ΔhemK showed a significant reduction in mortality rate, bacterial load, and noticeable nodules within the spleen, when compared to the wild-type strain. These findings indicated that hemK plays an essential role in the pathogenicity of P. plecoglossicida, thus providing a valuable insight into the pathogenic mechanisms of P. plecoglossicida and offering a potential target for its attenuated-vaccine development.

An improved meshfree method that considers cracking, contact behaviour and fluid–solid interaction (FSI) was developed and employed to shed light on the progressive failure of the water-resistant stratum and inrush process in a karst tunnel construction. Hydraulic fracturing tests considering different scenarios and inrush events of the field-scale Jigongling karst tunnel in three scenarios verify the feasibility of the improved meshfree method. The results indicate that the brittle fracture characteristics of the rock mass are captured accurately without grid re-meshing by improving the kernel function of the meshfree method. The complex contact behaviour of rock along the fracture surface during inrush is correctly captured through the introduction of Newton’s law-based block contact algorithms. FSI processing during inrush is accurately modelled by an improved two-phase adaptive adjacent method considering the discontinuous particles without coupling other solvers and additional artificial boundaries, which improves computational efficiency. Furthermore, the improved meshfree method simultaneously captures the fast inrush and rock failure in the Jigongling karst tunnel under varying thicknesses and strengths of water-resistant rocks and sizes of karst caves. As the thickness and strength of water-resistant rock increase, the possibility of an inrush disaster in the tunnel decreases, and a drop in the water level and an increase in the maximum flow velocity have significant delayed effects during the local inrush stage.

Objectives: Controlling the lifestyle associated with dementia risk can delay the process of cognitive decline. Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are early states in the development of dementia and are also the window period for early intervention in dementia. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between multi-domain lifestyle and objective cognitive impairment in elderly people with SCD and MCI in Chinese communities and to provide reference for effective implementation of precise health management measures to reduce the risk of dementia. Methods: A total of 265 middle-aged and elderly volunteers recruited from the community were divided into SCD group (107 cases), MCI group (80 cases), and healthy control (HC) group (78 cases). All participants received clinical interview, examination, and cognitive assessments. Results: The total Dementia Risk Reduction Lifestyle Scale (DRRLS) scores in the HC, SCD, and MCI groups [110.00 (11.25) vs. 101.00 (10.00) vs. 79.50 (20.75)] exhibited statistically significant differences among them. The total score of the DRRLS showed a significant negative correlation with the Trail-Making Test (TMT), and significant positive correlations with both the Verbal Fluency Test (VFT) and Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT) scores (p < 0.05). After adjusting for confounding factors, such as age and years of education, multiple linear regression analysis revealed several points. In the SCD group, brain-strengthening exercise and interpersonal relationship scores were negatively correlated with TMT scores (β = −11.257, −15.077; all p < 0.05), while health responsibility, smoking control behavior, and interpersonal relationship scores were positively correlated with AVLT scores (β = 0.485, 0.344, and 0.406; all p < 0.05). In the MCI Group, brain-strengthening exercise, brain-healthy diet, and interpersonal relationship were negatively correlated with TMT (β = −22.011, −16.206, −11.696; all p < 0.01), whereas health responsibility, mental activity, smoking control behavior, interpersonal relationship, and stress management were positively correlated with AVLT (β = 0.450, 0.435, 0.308, 0.256, 0.607; all p < 0.05). Conclusions: In Chinese communities, the unhealthy lifestyle of elderly individuals with SCD and MCI is significantly associated with cognitive function impairment. The greater their unhealthy lifestyle habits, the more pronounced the scope and severity of cognitive function impairment becomes. Furthermore, different dimensions of lifestyle have varying impacts on cognitive domains.

Abstract Background Previous studies have demonstrated an association between diabetes mellitus (DM) and latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). This study was conducted to update the current understanding of the association between DM and LTBI. By conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis using adjusted odds ratios (aOR) or risk ratios (aRR), we aimed to further explore the association between DM and LTBI and provide essential reference for future research. Methods We conducted comprehensive searches in Embase, Cochrane Library, and PubMed without imposing any start date or language restrictions, up to July 19, 2022. Our study selection encompassed observational research that compared from LTBI positive rates in both DM and non-DM groups and reported aRR or aOR results. The quality of the included studies was assessed utilizing the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Pooled effect estimates were calculated using random-effects models, along with their associated 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results We included 22 studies involving 68,256 subjects. Three cohort studies were eligible, with a pooled aRR of 1.26 (95% CI: 0.71–2.23). Nineteen cross-sectional studies were eligible, with a pooled aOR of 1.21 (95% CI: 1.14–1.29). The crude RR (cRR) pooled estimate for three cohort studies was 1.62 (95% CI: 1.03–2.57). Among the cross-sectional studies we included, sixteen studies provided crude ORs, and the crude OR (cOR) pooled estimate was 1.64 (95% CI: 1.36–1.97). In the diagnosis of diabetes, the pooled aOR of the HbA1c group was higher than that of self-reported group (pooled aOR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.24–1.96 vs. 1.17, 95% CI: 1.06–1.28). Conclusion Our systematic review and meta-analysis suggest a positive association between DM and LTBI. Individuals with DM may have a higher risk of LTBI compared to those without DM. These findings provide important insights for future research and public health interventions in managing LTBI in diabetic populations.

Understanding how the complexities of biodiversity are maintained on islands has long been one of the central issues studied in conservation biology. With the global onset of anthropogenically driven biodiversity changes, the influence of anthropogenic activities challenges the applicability of the widely accepted Equilibrium Theory of Island Biogeography (ETIB). This study aimed to test how island area, isolation (MD: distance to the mainland, and ND: distance to the nearest island), and human activities (habitat heterogeneity, and proportion of road area relative to island area to refer to the human impact on island) separately and jointly affect the species diversity of vascular plants. The number of plant species with different growth forms (woody plants, herbs, and lianas) was calculated on 35 islands in Sanyang Wetland, which is a human-dominated wetland near the highly populated city of Wenzhou, China. We also evaluated the relative importance of these variables on the number of species using a random forest analysis. The number of species increased with increasing island area and habitat heterogeneity and decreased with increasing isolation for different growth forms. A significant, positive relationship was observed between the number of species and the proportion of road area for herbs, but not for woody plants and lianas. Habitat heterogeneity was the most important predictor for all plants, the proportion of road area was the most important predictor for herbs, and MD was the most important predictor for woody plants and lianas. These results indicate that ETIB remains relevant in the context of human disturbance, but the relative importance of ecological processes on species diversity differs significantly among plant growth forms. Therefore, we should consider plant functional groups when testing multifactorial effects on species diversity on human-dominated islands.

Abstract The laccase gene family encodes multiple isozymes that are crucial for the degradation of substrates and the regulation of developmental processes in fungi. Pleurotus eryngii is an important edible and medicinal fungus belonging to the Basidiomycota phylum and can grow on a variety of natural substrates. In the present study, genome-wide profiling of P. eryngii identified 10 genes encoding its laccase isoenzymes. Conservative sequence analysis demonstrated that all PeLacs possess classical laccase structural domains. Phylogenetic analysis yielded four major subgroups, the members of which are similar with respect to conserved gene organization, protein domain architecture, and consensus motifs. The 10 PeLacs formed three groups together with 12 PoLacs in Pleurotus ostreatus, indicating that they share a high level of evolutionary homology. Cis-responsive element analysis implied that PeLacs genes play a role in growth and development and lignocellulose degradation. Targeted overexpression of PeLac5 reduced the time to primordia formation and their development to fruiting bodies. Gene expression patterns in the presence of different lignocellulosic substrates indicate that three PeLacs genes (2, 4, and 9) are key to lignocellulose degradation. This work presents the first inventory of laccase genes in P. eryngii and preliminarily explores their functions, which may help to uncover the manner by which these proteins utilize substrates.

Abstract Pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) trigger plant innate immunity that acts as the first line of inducible defense against pathogen infection. A receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase BOTRYTIS-INDUCED KINASE 1 (BIK1) functions as a signaling hub immediately downstream of multiple pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). It is known that PLANT U-BOX PROTEIN 25 (PUB25) and PUB26 ubiquitinate BIK1 and mediate BIK1 degradation. However, how BIK1 homeostasis is maintained is not fully understood. Here, we show that two closely related ubiquitin ligases, RING DOMAIN LIGASE 1 (RGLG1) and RGLG2, preferentially associate with the hypo-phosphorylated BIK1 and promote the association of BIK1 with the co-receptor for several PRRs, BRI1-ASSOCIATED RECEPTOR KINASE1 (BAK1). PUB25 interacts with RGLG2 and mediates its degradation. In turn, RGLG2 represses the ubiquitin ligase activity of PUB25. RGLG1/2 suppress PUB25-mediated BIK1 degradation, promote BIK1 protein accumulation, and positively regulate immune signaling in a ubiquitin ligase activity-dependent manner. Our work reveals how BIK1 homeostasis is maintained by the interplay of different ubiquitin ligases.

Abstract Background There have been reports of increased glutamate pyruvate transaminase 2 (GPT2) expression in certain cancers including breast cancer. Although the role of GPT2 as a metabolic enzyme is well understood in breast cancer progression, little is known about the other roles of GPT2, especially exosomal GPT2. Methods BT549 and BT474 Cells were cultured and their exosomes were isolated by using ultracentrifugation. Cells migrated through the membrane were stained with crystal violet, and then were observed by microscope. Total RNA was extracted from culture cells and transcribed into cDNA, quantitative real‐time RT‐PCR was used to detect mRNA expression of ICAM1, VCAM1, and MMP9 using SYBR Green qPCR Mix with a 7500 Fast Real‐time PCR system. Western blot was used to detect the gene expression of p‐lkBa and TSG101 and GPT2 in breast cancer cells. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the protein expression of GPT2 and BTRC in cancer cells, animal models loaded with metastasis breast cancer cells were established via tail vein injections. Interaction between GPT2 and BTRC in breast cancer cells was investigated via Co‐immunoprecipitation. Results GPT2 was up‐regulated in TNBC. Exosomes were isolated effectively from TNBC cells, and confirmed that GPT2 was overexpressed inexosomes. QRT‐PCR showed that mRNA expression levels of ICAM1, VCAM1, and MMP9 in TNBC were high. Exosomal GPT2 derived from TNBC enhanced migration and invasion of breast cancer via in vitro cell experiment and in vivo animal model experiment. Exosomal GPT2 binds with BTRC to degrade p‐lkBa, and improved metastasis of breast cancer cells. Conclusion We demonstrated that GPT2 was upregulated in TNBC as well as in exosomes derived from triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. GPT2 expression was associated with the malignancy of breast cancer and promoted metastasis of breast cancer cells. Moreover, exosomal GPT2 derived from TNBC cells was verified to increase the capacity of breast cancer cells to metastasize through activating beta‐transducin repeat containing E3 ubiquitin protein ligase (BTRC). This suggested that exosomal GPT2 may be useful for breast cancer patients as a potential biomarker and treatment target.

Abstract Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is a complex reproductive disorder. The incompletely understood pathophysiology of RPL makes early detection and exact treatment difficult. The purpose of this work was to discover optimally characterized genes (OFGs) of RPL and to investigate immune cell infiltration in RPL. It will aid in better understanding the etiology of RPL and in the early detection of RPL. The RPL-related datasets were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), namely GSE165004 and GSE26787. We performed functional enrichment analysis on the screened differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Three machine learning techniques are used to generate the OFGs. A CIBERSORT analysis was conducted to examine the immune infiltration in RPL patients compared with normal controls and to investigate the correlation between OFGs and immune cells. Between the RPL and control groups, 42 DEGs were discovered. These DEGs were found to be involved in cell signal transduction, cytokine receptor interactions, and immunological response, according to the functional enrichment analysis. By integrating OFGs from the LASSO, SVM-REF, and RF algorithms (AUC > 0.880), we screened for three down-regulated genes: ZNF90, TPT1P8, FGF2, and an up-regulated FAM166B. Immune infiltration study revealed that RPL samples had more monocytes (P

Abstract Background Cognitive training shows promising effects for improving cognitive domains in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), including the crucial predictive factor of executive function (EF) for dementia prognosis. Few studies have paid sufficient emphasis on the training-induced effects of cognitive training programs, particularly with regards to targeting EF. A process-based multi-task adaptive cognitive training (P-bM-tACT) program targeting EF is required to examine direct, transfer, and sustainability effects in older adults with MCI. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the direct effects of a P-bM-tACT program on EF, the transfer effects on untrained cognitive domains, and further explore the sustainability of training gains for older adults with MCI in the community. Methods In a single-blind, randomized controlled trial, 92 participants with MCI were randomly assigned to either the intervention group, participating in a P-bM-tACT program (3 training sessions/week, 60 min/session for 10 weeks) or the wait-list control group, accepting a health education program on MCI (1 education session/ twice a week, 40–60 min/session for 10 weeks). The direct and transfer effects of the P-bM-tACT program were assessed at baseline, immediately after 10 weeks of training, and the 3-month follow-up. Repeated measures analysis of variance and a simple effect test were used to compare the direct and transfer effects over the 3-time points between the two groups. Results The P-bM-tACT program yielded a greater benefit of direct and transfer effects in the intervention group participants than in the wait-list control group. Combined with the results of simple effect tests, the direct and transfer effects of participants in the intervention group significantly increased immediately after 10 weeks of training compared to the baseline (F = 14.702 ~ 62.905, p

Abstract The basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor (TF) is widespread among eukaryotes and serves different roles in fungal processes including nutrient utilization, growth, stress responses and development. The oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) is an important and widely cultivated edible mushroom worldwide; nevertheless, reports are lacking on the identification or function of bZIP gene family members in P. ostreatus. Herein, 11 bZIPs on 6 P. ostreatus chromosomes were systematically identified, which were classified into 3 types according to their protein sequences. Phylogenetic analysis of PobZIPs with other fungal bZIPs indicated that PobZIPs may have differentiated late. Cis‐regulatory element analysis revealed that at least one type of stress‐response‐related element was present on each bZIP promoter. RNA‐seq and RT‐qPCR analyses revealed that bZIP expression patterns were altered under heat stress and different developmental stages. We combined results from GST‐Pull‐down, EMSA and yeast two‐hybrid assays to screen a key heat stress‐responsive candidate gene PobZIP3. PobZIP3 overexpression in P. ostreatus enhanced tolerance to high temperature and cultivation assays revealed that PobZIP3 positively regulates the development of P. ostreatus. RNA‐seq analysis showed that PobZIP3 plays a role in glucose metabolism pathways, antioxidant enzyme activity and sexual reproduction. These results may support future functional studies of oyster mushroom bZIP TFs.

IntroductionThe higher plant transcription factor C2H2 zinc finger protein (C2H2-ZFP) is essential for plant growth, development, and stress response. There are limited studies on C2H2-ZFP genes in sweetpotato, despite a substantial number of C2H2-ZFP genes having been systematically found in plants.MethodsIn this work, 178 C2H2-ZFP genes were found in sweetpotato, distributed randomly on 15 chromosomes, and given new names according to where they were located. These members of the zinc finger gene family are separated into six branches, as shown by the phylogenetic tree. 24 tandem repeats of IbZFP genes and 46 fragment repeats were identified, and a homology study revealed that IbZFP genes linked more regions with wild relative species of sweetpotato as well as rhizome plants like potato and cassava. And we analyzed the expression patterns of IbZFP genes during the early development of sweetpotato storage roots (SRs) and salt stress using transcriptome data, and identified 44 IbZFP genes that exhibited differences in expression levels during the early expansion of sweetpotato SRs in different varieties, and 92 IbZFP genes that exhibited differences in expression levels under salt stress in salt tolerant and salt sensitive sweetpotato varieties. Additionally, we cloned six IbZFP genes in sweetpotato and analyzed their expression patterns in different tissues, their expression patterns under abiotic stress and hormone treatment, and subcellular localization.Results and discussionThe results showed that the IbZFP genes had tissue specificity in sweetpotato and were induced to varying degrees by drought and salt stress. ABA and GA3 treatments also affected the expression of the IbZFP genes. We selected IbZFP105, which showed significant differences in expression levels under salt stress and ABA treatment, to be heterologously expressed in Arabidopsis thaliana. We found that IbZFP105 OE lines exhibited higher tolerance to salt stress and ABA stress. This indicates that IbZFP105 can enhance the salt tolerance of plants. These results systematically identified the evolution and expression patterns of members of the C2H2-ZFP gene family in sweetpotato, providing a theoretical basis for studying the role of IbZFP genes in the development of sweetpotato SRs and in resistance to stress.

Abstract With the power conversion efficiency of binary polymer solar cells dramatically improved, the thermal stability of the small-molecule acceptors raised the main concerns on the device operating stability. Here, to address this issue, thiophene-dicarboxylate spacer tethered small-molecule acceptors are designed, and their molecular geometries are further regulated via the thiophene-core isomerism engineering, affording dimeric TDY-α with a 2, 5-substitution and TDY-β with 3, 4-substitution on the core. It shows that TDY-α processes a higher glass transition temperature, better crystallinity relative to its individual small-molecule acceptor segment and isomeric counterpart of TDY-β, and a more stable morphology with the polymer donor. As a result, the TDY-α based device delivers a higher device efficiency of 18.1%, and most important, achieves an extrapolated lifetime of about 35000 hours that retaining 80% of their initial efficiency. Our result suggests that with proper geometry design, the tethered small-molecule acceptors can achieve both high device efficiency and operating stability.

Abstract Background Decidual macrophages participate in immune regulation at the maternal–fetal interface. Abnormal M1/M2 polarization of decidual macrophages might predispose immune maladaptation in recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). However, the mechanism of decidual macrophage polarization is unclear. We explored the role of Estradiol (E2)-sensitive serum-glucocorticoid regulated kinase (SGK) 1 in promoting macrophage polarization and suppressing inflammation at the maternal–fetal interface. Methods We assessed serum levels of E2 and progesterone during first trimester of pregnancy in women with or without threatened miscarriages (ended in live birth, n = 448; or early miscarriages, n = 68). For detection of SGK1 in decidual macrophages, we performed immunofluorescence labeling and western blot analysis applying decidual samples from RPL (n = 93) and early normal pregnancy (n = 66). Human monocytic THP-1 cells were differentiated into macrophages and treated with Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 ligand lipopolysaccharide (LPS), E2, inhibitors or siRNA for in vitro analysis. Flow cytometry analysis were conducted to detect macrophages polarization. We also applied ovariectomized (OVX) mice with hormones exploring the mechanisms underlying the regulation of SGK1 activation by E2 in the decidual macrophages in vivo. Results SGK1 expression down regulation in the decidual macrophages of RPL was consistent with the lower concentration and slower increment of serum E2 from 4 to 12 weeks of gestation seen in these compromised pregnancies. LPS reduced SGK1 activities, but induced the pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype of THP-1 monocyte-derived macrophages and T helper (Th) 1 cytokines that favored pregnancy loss. E2 pretreatment promoted SGK1 activation in the decidual macrophages of OVX mice in vivo. E2 pretreatment amplified SGK1 activation in TLR4-stimulated THP-1 macrophages in vitro through the estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) and PI3K pathway. E2-sensitive activation of SGK1 increased M2 macrophages and Th2 immune responses, which were beneficial to successful pregnancy, by inducing ARG1 and IRF4 transcription, which are implicated in normal pregnancy. The experiments on OVX mice have shown that pharmacological inhibition of E2 promoted nuclear translocation of NF-κB in the decidual macrophages. Further more, pharmacological inhibition or knockdown of SGK1 in TLR4-stimulated THP-1 macrophages activated NF-κB by promoting its nuclear translocation, leading to increased secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines involved in pregnancy loss. Conclusion Our findings highlighted the immunomodulatory roles of E2-activated SGK1 in Th2 immune responses by priming anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages at the maternal–fetal interface, resulting in a balanced immune microenvironment during pregnancy. Our results suggest new perspectives on future preventative strategies for RPL.

Abstract Background In terms of embryonic origin, vascular ring is a congenital anomaly in which the aortic arch and its branches completely or incompletely encircle and compress the trachea or esophagus. Early and accurate diagnosis of a vascular ring is the key to treatment. Prenatal diagnosis mainly relies on fetal echocardiography, but the rate of missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis is still very high, and the prognosis has not been evaluated. The aim of this study was to investigate the accuracy of prenatal diagnosis and to evaluate the prognosis semi-quantitatively according to the shape of the ring and the distance between the vessel and the trachea. Methods From 2019 to 2021, 37,875 fetuses underwent prenatal ultrasound examination in our center. All fetal cardiac examinations were performed using the fetal echocardiography method proposed by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) combined with dynamic sequential cross-sectional observation (SCS). For SCS, the standard abdominal section was taken as the initial section, and the probe was moved cephalically along the long axis of the body until the superior mediastinum had disappeared. If a vascular ring was found, the shape of the ring and the distance of the branch to the airway were observed. The distance relationship with the airway was divided into three grades: I-III; the closer the distance, the lower the grade. The vascular rings were monitored every 4 weeks before birth. All were monitored before surgery or 1 year after birth. Results A total of 418 cases of vascular rings were detected. There was no missed diagnoses or misdiagnoses by SCS. The vessels formed different shaped rings according to their origin and route. Grade I, “入” and “O” rings have a poor prognosis and are associated with the highest risk of respiratory symptoms. Conclusions SCS can accurately diagnose vascular rings before delivery, evaluate the shape and size of the rings to conduct prenatal monitoring of children until birth, which plays a guiding role in airway compression after birth.

Abstract Background At present, the conventional methods for determining photosynthetic products of microalgae are usually based on a large number of cell mass to reach the measurement baseline, and the result can only reveal the average state at the population level, which is not feasible for large-scale and rapid screening of specific phenotypes from a large number of potential microalgae mutants. In recent years, single-cell Raman spectra (SCRS) has been proved to be able to rapidly and simultaneously quantify the biochemical components of microalgae. However, this method has not been reported to analyze the biochemical components of Cyclotella cryptica (C. cryptica). Thus, SCRS was first attempt to determine these four biochemical components in this diatom. Results The method based on SCRS was established to simultaneously quantify the contents of polysaccharide, total lipids, protein and Chl-a in C. cryptica, with thirteen Raman bands were found to be the main marker bands for the diatom components. Moreover, Partial Least Square Regression (PLSR) models based on full spectrum can reliably predict these four cellular components, with Pearson correlation coefficient for these components reached 0.949, 0.904, 0.801 and 0.917, respectively. Finally, based on SCRS data of one isogenic sample, the pairwise correlation and dynamic transformation process of these components can be analyzed by Intra-ramanome Correlation Analysis (IRCA), and the results showed silicon starvation could promote the carbon in C. cryptica cells to flow from protein and pigment metabolism to polysaccharide and lipid metabolism. Conclusions First, method for the simultaneous quantification of the polysaccharide, total lipid, protein and pigment in single C. cryptica cell are established. Second, the instant interconversion of intracellular components was constructed through IRCA, which is based on data set of one isogenic population and more precision and timeliness. Finally, total results indicated that silicon deficiency could promote the carbon in C. cryptica cells to flow from protein and pigment metabolism to polysaccharide and lipid metabolism.

CeO2-ZrO2-La2O3 supported Pt-Pd bimetallic three-way catalysts (0.6Pt-0.4Pd/CZL) were synthesized through the conventional impregnation method and then subjected to severe thermal aging. Reactivating treatments under different temperatures were then applied to the aged catalysts above. Three-way catalytic performance evaluations and dynamic operation window tests along with detailed physio-chemical characterizations were carried out to explore possible structure–activity evolutions during the reactivating process. Results show that the reactivating process conducted at proper temperatures (500~550 °C) could effectively restore the TWC catalytic performance and widen the operation window width. The suitable reactivating temperature ranges are mainly determined by the decomposing temperature of PMOx species, the thermal stability of PM-O-Ce species, and the encapsulation temperature of precious metals by CZL support. Reactivating under appropriate temperature helps to restore the interaction between Pt and CZL support to a certain extent and to re-expose part of the encapsulated precious metals. Therefore, the dynamic oxygen storage/release capacity, redox ability, as well as thermal stability of PtOx species, can be improved, thus benefiting the TWC catalytic performances. However, the excessively high reactivating temperature would cause further embedment of Pd by CZL support, thus leading to a further decrease in both dynamic oxygen storage/release capacity and the TWC catalytic performance after reactivating treatment.

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition, especially in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants, and its pathogenesis remains unclear. Effective biomarkers need to be found to diagnose and treat the disease at an early stage. The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database was screened and analyzed for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in VLBW infants with sepsis. DEGs were then analyzed for functional enrichment. A weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WCGNA) was performed to identify the key modules and genes. The optimal feature genes (OFGs) were created using three machine learning algorithms. The single-sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA) scored the degree of immune cell enrichment between septic and control patients, and the correlation between OFGs and immune cells was evaluated. A total of 101 DEGs were identified between the sepsis and control samples. DEGs were mainly associated with immune responses and inflammatory signaling pathways in the enrichment analysis. In the WGCNA analysis, the MEturquoise module was significantly correlated with sepsis in VLBW infants (cor = 0.57, P < 0.001). By intersecting OFGs derived from three machine learning algorithms, two biomarkers were identified: glycogenin 1 (GYG1) and resistin (RETN). The area under the curves of GYG1 and RETN was greater than 0.97 in the testing set. The ssGSEA indicated immune cells infiltration in septic VLBW infants, and GYG1 and RETN revealed close correlations with immune cells. New biomarkers offer promising insights into the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis in VLBW infants.

Objective Thyroid cancer is the third most prevalent cancer among females. Genetic testing based on next-generation sequencing may provide an auxiliary diagnosis to reduce cytologically diagnostic uncertainty. However, commercial multigene tests are not widely available and are not well-tested in the Chinese population. Methods In this study, we designed a multigene testing panel and evaluated its performance in 529 cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules (Bethesda III, IV and V). The molecular data of the DNA mutations and RNA fusions of fine needle aspiration samples were reviewed in conjunction with a clinical diagnosis, pathological reports, and definitive surgery for retrospective analysis. Then, the molecular risk stratification was investigated for its accuracy in malignant risk prediction. Results The overall combined consistency revealed substantial agreement (Kappa = 0.726) with the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive values of 97.80%, 82.14%, 98.99%, and 67.65%, respectively. The most common aberration was BRAFV600E (82.59%), followed by NRAS mutants (4.07%), RET fusions (3.70%), and KRAS mutants (3.15%). Two cases (0.44%) were categorized into a high-risk group, 426 cases (94.67%) were categorized into a BRAF-like group with totally histopathologic papillary patterned tumors, and 22 cases (4.89%) were categorized into a RAS-like group with 14 papillary and eight follicular patterned tumors when the cohort concurrent aberrations were excluded. Potentially aggressive features may be related to concurrent molecular alterations of BRAFV600E with TERTQ302R, and AKT1L52R, NRASG12C, NRASQ61R, and CCDC6-RET fusions. Conclusions This study provided a multigene panel for identifying benign nodules from cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules to avoid unnecessary surgery. We provide further evidence for using molecular risk stratification as a promising predictor of disease outcomes. The results of this study may be limited by the extremely high prevalence of cancer in the cohort for clinical reference.

Abstract Excessive protein synthesis upon enhanced cell proliferation frequently results in an increase of unfolded or misfolded proteins. During hematopoietic regeneration, to replenish the hematopoietic system, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are activated and undergo a rapid proliferation. But how the activated HSCs respond to the proliferation pressure is still ambiguous; The proper control of the functional reservoir in the activated HSCs remains poorly understood. Here, we show a significant upregulation of EVA1A protein associated with the increase of ER stress during hematopoietic regeneration. Deletion of Eva1a significantly enhances the regeneration capacity of HSCs by inhibiting the ER stress-induced apoptosis. Mechanistically, the expression of EVA1A protein was upregulated by CHOP, and thereby promoted the ER-mitochondria interlinking via MCL1, which resulted in mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. These findings reveal a pathway for ER stress responses of HSCs by the EVA1A mediated apoptosis, which play an important role in HSCs regeneration.

In recent years, greenhouse development has been innovative in agriculture based on information systems guidance with accelerated growth. The IoT provides an intelligent system and remote access technologies such as green infrastructure. The usability of information systems for effective training and producing intelligent systems and predictive models in organizational real-time based on machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI). Therefore, a Remote Sensing Assisted Control System (RSCS) has been proposed for improving greenhouse agriculture requirements. This proposed method utilizes artificial intelligence and machine learning technology for the green development potential industry's ability to manage economic resources and increase innovative agriculture product development patterns. Thus, the key preconditions for increasing healthy food choices and promoting local and global organic farmers' potential development are straightforward suggestions for developing an effective marketing strategy. The experimental results RSCS the highest precision ratio of 95.1%, the performance ratio of 96.35%, a data transmission rate of 92.3%, agriculture production ratio of 94.2%, irrigation control ratio of 94.7%, the lowest moisture content ratio of 18.7%, and CO2 emission ratio of 21.5%, compared to other methods.

This paper gives a detailed description of a radiological accident of 192Ir source occurring on May 7, 2014 in Nanjing, China (the 5⋅7 accident), encompassing a combination of accident overview, emergency response, investigation process and results, dose estimation, medical treatment, experience and lessons learnt. The investigation showed that the accident was mainly caused by insufficient attention to the radiation safety, non-compliance with licensing conditions and employment of untrained temporary radiographer without equipped with alarm dosimeters. Additionally, no area radiation survey meter was used to verify whether the source would have retracted to radiography camera after every exposure. It therefore is the important means to strengthen the management of radioactive source safety and put the strict management measures in place, implement the requirements for personnel qualification management, strengthen regulatory inspection and actively poster safety culture, which are necessary to avoid accidents. This paper aims to provide experience and reference for the emergency response and countermeasure of radiological accidents involving industrial radioactive sources.

Abstract Foamy macrophages containing prominent cytoplasmic lipid droplets (LDs) are found in a variety of infectious diseases. However, their role in Streptococcus uberis-induced mastitis is unknown. Herein, we report that S. uberis infection enhances the fatty acid synthesis pathway in macrophages, resulting in a sharp increase in LD levels, accompanied by a significantly enhanced inflammatory response. This process is mediated by the involvement of fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4), a subtype of the fatty acid-binding protein family that plays critical roles in metabolism and inflammation. In addition, FABP4 siRNA inhibitor cell models showed that the deposition of LDs decreased, and the mRNA expression of Tnf, Il1b and Il6 was significantly downregulated after gene silencing. As a result, the bacterial load in macrophages increased. Taken together, these data demonstrate that macrophage LD formation is a host-driven component of the immune response to S. uberis. FABP4 contributes to promoting inflammation via LDs, which should be considered a new target for drug development to treat infections.

In this study, a sequence of Ce2[Zr1‐x(Co1/2W1/2)x]3(MoO4)9 (CZ1‐x(CW)xM) (x = 0.02–0.10) ceramics with excellent microwave dielectric properties were obtained by the traditional solid-phase method. The crystal structure, dielectric properties, and chemical bond characters of the ceramics were characterized and analyzed. X-ray diffraction and Rietveld refinement analysis show that CZ1‐x(CW)xM could form a single-phase of the triangular crystal system in the entire doping range. The microstructure of the ceramic samples was obtained by scanning electron microscopy. The sintering temperature was reduced and the gain of the sample was refined as the increase of doping ion content. Furthermore, the intrinsic factors affecting the properties of CZ1‐x(CW)xM were analyzed by employing P-V-L theory and through in-depth infrared analysis. When x was 0.04 and the sintering temperature was 750 °C, the best dielectric properties of the samples were achieved, including εr = 9.95, Q·f = 80,803 GHz (at 9.99 GHz), and τf = − 9.10 ppm/°C.

Water security is under threat worldwide from climate change. A warming climate would accelerate evaporation and cryosphere melting, leading to reduced water availability and unpredictable water supply. However, the water crisis in the Northern Slope of Tianshan Mountains (NSTM) faces dual challenges because water demands for fast-growing urban areas have put heavy pressure on water resources. The mountain-oasis-desert system features glacier-fed rivers that sustain intensive water use in the oasis and end in the desert as fragile terminal lakes. The complex balance between water conservation and economic development is subtle. This paper investigates changes in hydroclimatic variables and water security-related issues on the NSTM. The spatiotemporal variations in glaciers, climatic variables, rivers, lakes and reservoirs, groundwater, surface water, human water use, and streamflow were analyzed for the past four decades. The results show that temperature in the NSTM exhibited an apparent upward trend with a more significant warming rate in the higher altitude regions. Glacier mass loss and shrinkage was strong. The average annual streamflow increased from 1980-1989 to 2006–2011 at most hydrological stations. The monthly dynamics of surface water area showed notable variability at both inter-annual and seasonal scales, revealing the impacts of both natural and anthropogenic drivers on surface water availability in the region. The terrestrial water storage anomaly showed a decreasing trend, which might be related to groundwater pumping for irrigation. Human water use for agriculture and industry grew with the increase in cultivated land area and gross domestic product (GDP). The increased agricultural water use was strongly associated with the expansion of oases. It is unclear whether water availability would remain high under future climatic and hydrological uncertainties, posing challenges to water management. In the context of rapid urban growth and climate change, balancing water for humans and nature is vital in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in NSTM. This study provides a baseline understanding of the interplay among water, climate change, and socio-economic development in NSTM. It would also shed light on wise water management under environmental changes for other rapidly developing mountain-oasis-desert systems worldwide.

Sanghuangporus vaninii is a profitable traditional and medicinal edible fungus with uncommon therapeutic properties and medicinal value. The accumulation of active ingredients in this fungus that is used in traditional Chinese medicine is affected by its years of growth, and their pharmacological activities are also affected. However, the effects of age on the medicinal value of fruiting bodies of S. vaninii cultivated on cut log substrate remain unclear. In this study, an untargeted liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based metabolomics approach was performed to characterize the profiles of metabolites from 1-, 2- and 3-year-old fruiting bodies of S. vaninii. A total of, 156 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were screened based on the criterion of a variable importance projection greater than 1.0 and p < 0.01, including 75% up regulated and 25% down regulated. The results of enrichment of metabolic pathways showed that the metabolites involved the biosynthesis of plant secondary metabolites, biosynthesis of amino acids, central carbon metabolism in cancer, steroid hormone biosynthesis, linoleic acid metabolism, prolactin signaling pathway, and arginine biosynthesis, and so on. The biosynthesis of plant secondary metabolites pathway was significantly activated. Five metabolites were significantly elevated within the growth of fruiting bodies, including 15-keto-prostaglandin F2a, (4S, 5R)-4,5,6-trihydroxy-2-iminohexanoate, adenylsuccinic acid, piplartine, and chenodeoxycholic acid. 15-keto-prostaglandin F2a is related to the pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism and was significantly increased up to 1,320- and 535-fold in the 2- and 3-year-old fruiting bodies, respectively, compared with those in the 1-year-old group. The presence of these bioactive natural products in S. vaninii is consistent with the traditional use of Sanghuang, which prompted an exploration of its use as a source of natural prostaglandin in the form of foods and nutraceuticals. These findings may provide insight into the functional components of S. vaninii to develop therapeutic strategies.

Background: No Place Like Home is a clinical interprofessional education (IPE) activity whereby pharmacy and medical students conduct home visits under the guidance and supervision of a clinical preceptor to homebound patients. Purpose: We examined pharmacy and medical student perceptions of mastery of interprofessional competencies during an in-person clinical home visit pre-COVID-19 pandemic versus a virtual IPE learning activity consisting of didactic and case discussions in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We administered the same modified Interprofessional Collaborative Competency Attainment Survey (ICCAS) instrument, which uses a five-point Likert scale, to both the in-person and the virtual IPE students following their learning activity. Results: We received a total of 459 completed survey responses with an overall response rate of 84%. For both groups of students, the in-person format was preferred, however, to our surprise, the results indicated that students in the virtual group reported greater perceived gain in interprofessional skills than students in the in-person group. In addition, pharmacy students perceived greater gain from the interprofessional activity and offered more thoughtful reflections about their experience. Conclusions: Even though both groups of students preferred the in-person visit, the IPE objectives were equally (for medical students) or better (for pharmacy students) absorbed in the virtual environment than the in-person clinical home visit.

Abstract In patients with mild osteoarthritis (OA), two to four monthly injections are required for 6 months due to the degradation of hyaluronic acid (HA) by peroxidative cleavage and hyaluronidase. However, frequent injections may lead to local infection and also cause inconvenience to patients during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Herein, we developed a novel HA granular hydrogel (n‐HA) with improved degradation resistance. The chemical structure, injectable capability, morphology, rheological properties, biodegradability, and cytocompatibility of the n‐HA were investigated. In addition, the effects of the n‐HA on the senescence‐associated inflammatory responses were studied via flow cytometry, cytochemical staining, Real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR), and western blot analysis. Importantly, the treatment outcome of the n‐HA with one single injection relative to the commercial HA product with four consecutive injections within one treatment course in an OA mouse model underwent anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) was systematically evaluated. Our developed n‐HA exhibited a perfect unification of high crosslink density, good injectability, excellent resistance to enzymatic hydrolysis, satisfactory biocompatibility, and anti‐inflammatory responses through a series of in vitro studies. Compared to the commercial HA product with four consecutive injections, a single injection of n‐HA contributed to equivalent treatment outcomes in an OA mouse model in terms of histological analysis, radiographic, immunohistological, and molecular analysis results. Furthermore, the amelioration effect of the n‐HA on OA development was partially ascribed to the attenuation of chondrocyte senescence, thereby leading to inhibition of TLR‐2 expression and then blockade of NF‐κB activation. Collectively, the n‐HA may be a promising therapeutic alternative to current commercial HA products for OA treatment.

BackgroundOrganism can lead to excessive nutrient consumption in the infected state and increase nutritional risk, which is detrimental to the control of the infection and can further aggravate the disease.ObjectivesTo investigate the impact of nutritional risk and the NRS2002 score on disease progression and prognosis in patients with COVID-19.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study including 1,228 COVID-19 patients, who were divided into a with-nutritional risk group (patients with NRS2002 score ≥ 3) and a without-nutritional risk group (patients with NRS2002 score 0.5, early intervention of malnutrition is needed to reduce the occurrence of critical disease. Additionally, for patients with NRS2002 score > 5.5, continuous nutritional support therapy is needs to reduce mortality and improve prognosis.Clinical Trial registration: [https://www.chictr.org.cn/historyversionpub.aspx?regno=ChiCTR2000034563], identifier [Chinese Clinical Trial Register ChiCTR2000034563].

The roles of nuclear receptor subfamily 1 group d member 1 (NR1D1) and the circadian clock in liver fibrosis remain unclear. Here, we showed that liver clock genes, especially NR1D1, were dysregulated in mice with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis. In turn, disruption of the circadian clock exacerbated experimental liver fibrosis. NR1D1-deficient mice were more sensitive to CCl4-induced liver fibrosis, supporting a critical role of NR1D1 in liver fibrosis development. Validation at the tissue and cellular levels showed that NR1D1 was primarily degraded by N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation in a CCl4-induced liver fibrosis model, and this result was also validated in rhythm-disordered mouse models. In addition, the degradation of NR1D1 further inhibited the phosphorylation of dynein-related protein 1-serine site 616 (DRP1S616), resulting in weakened mitochondrial fission function and increased mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) release in hepatic stellate cell (HSC), which in turn activated the cGMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) pathway. Activation of the cGAS pathway induced a local inflammatory microenvironment that further stimulated liver fibrosis progression. Interestingly, in the NR1D1 overexpression model, we observed that DRP1S616 phosphorylation was restored, and cGAS pathway was also inhibited in HSCs, resulting in improved liver fibrosis. Taken together, our results suggest that targeting NR1D1 may be an effective approach to liver fibrosis prevention and management.

Based on the difference in the density and content of kerogen and inorganic minerals, oil shale can be separated into different density fractions. The structural features of kerogens in Beipiao oil shale (a kind of typical low-grade oil shale resources) with densities of 1.8–1.9, 1.9–2.0 and 2.0–2.1 g/cm3 were studied. Combined with our previous study on the structural features of Longkou and Huadian oil shales (two kinds of high-grade oil shale resources) with different densities, the relationship between the oil shale density and the structural features of corresponding kerogens was revealed from aromatic, aliphatic structures and heteroatom species. The results show that with increasing the density, the content of minerals increases, whereas that of kerogen decreases. With increasing the density, the aliphaticity, average methylene chain length and average number of attachments on each aromatic ring increase. Whereas, the aromaticity and average size of aromatic cluster are inversely proportional to the oil shale density. For Longkou, Huadian and Beipiao oil shales with different densities, the change rules of aromatic and aliphatic structures with the density are similar, indicating that these change rules are independent of the grade and origin of oil shale. The change rules of heteroatom species in Beipiao oil shale are different from that of Longkou and Huadian oil shales.

Low-temperature plasma (LTP) is an emerging biomedical technique that has been proposed as a potential approach for cancer therapy. Meanwhile, berberine (BER), an active ingredient extracted from various medical herbs, such as Coptischinesis, has been proven antitumor effects in a broad spectrum of cancer cells. In this study, we seek to develop a novel dual cancer therapeutic method by integrating pre-administration of BER and LTP exposure and evaluating its comprehensive antitumor effect on the human non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines (A549 and H1299) in vitro. Cell viability, cell cycle, cell apoptosis, and intracellular and extracellular ROS were investigated. The results showed that cotreatment of BER and LTP significantly decreased the cell viability, arrested the cell cycle in the S phase, promoted cell apoptosis, and increased intracellular and extracellular ROS. Additionally, RNA Sequencing (RNA-Seq) technology was used to explore potential mechanisms. The differentially expressed genes among different treatment groups of NSCLC cells were analyzed and were mainly enriched in the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway. Moreover, cotreatment of BER and LTP notably depressed the total protein expression level of PI3K and AKT with immunoblotting. In conclusion, BER and LTP have a synergistic inhibitory effect on NSCLC cells via the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, which could provide a promising strategy for supplementary therapy in the anti-NSCLC battle.

With the rapid development of mobile communication technology, work connectivity behaviors are becoming increasingly pervasive, which has gradually attracted extensive attention from scholars and practitioners. According to the work-home resource model, we propose a theoretical model that proactive/passive work connectivity behaviors induce family harmony through self-efficacy and ego depletion, and we explore the moderating role of family support in this relationship. Based on survey data collected from 364 questionnaires using a three-wave time-lagged design, the results show that: (1) Proactive work connection behaviors have a negative effect on family harmony; Passive work connection behaviors have a negative effect on family harmony. (2) Self-efficacy plays a suppressing role in the relationship between proactive work connection behaviors and family harmony. (3) Ego depletion plays a mediating role in the relationship between passive work connectivity behaviors and family harmony; (4) Family support not only positively moderates the relationship between proactive work connectivity behaviors and self-efficacy, but also moderates the suppressing effect of proactive work connectivity behaviors on family harmony through self-efficacy; (5) Family support not only negatively moderates the relationship between passive work connectivity behaviors and ego depletion, but also moderates the mediating effect of passive work connectivity behaviors on family harmony through ego depletion. The above results can broaden our understanding of the effect of work connectivity behaviors and provide some inspiration for how to optimize the management strategy of employees' work connectivity behaviors.

By integrating the resource accumulation perspective and the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model, this research explores the impact mechanism of responsible leadership on employees’ pro-environmental behaviors (EPB). We conducted a survey to collect data from 319 employees in Chinese companies in three waves. Our research found that responsible leadership had significantly positive effect on EPB; employees’ perceived organizational support toward the environment (POS-E) and green self-efficacy played a serial multiple mediating role; meanwhile, employees’ chronic regulatory focus moderated the relationship between responsible leadership and EPB, with promotion focus strengthening the relationship and prevention focus weakening the relationship. Our findings support the applicability of JD-R model in the field of EPB, enrich the theoretical research on responsible leadership and EPB, and also provide a practical basis for organizations to effectively stimulate EPB and promote sustainable development.

BackgroundThe Omicron variant is characterized by striking infectivity and antibody evasion. The analysis of Omicron variant BA.2 infection risk factors is limited among geriatric individuals and understanding these risk factors would promote improvement in the public health system and reduction in mortality. Therefore, our research investigated BA.2 infection risk factors for discriminating severe/critical from mild/moderate geriatric patients.MethodsBaseline characteristics of enrolled geriatric patients (aged over 60 years) with Omicron infections were analyzed. A logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate factors correlated with severe/critical patients. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed for predicting variables to discriminate mild/moderate patients from severe/critical patients.ResultsA total of 595 geriatric patients older than 60 years were enrolled in this study. Lymphocyte subset levels were significantly decreased, and white blood cells (WBCs) and D-dimer levels were significantly increased with disease progression from a mild/moderate state to a severe/critical state. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses identified a panel of WBCs, CD4+ T cell, and D-dimer values that were correlated with good diagnostic accuracy for discriminating mild/moderate patients from severe/critical patients with an area under the curve of 0.962.ConclusionSome key baseline laboratory indicators change with disease development. A panel was identified for discriminating mild/moderate patients from severe/critical patients, suggesting that the panel could serve as a potential biomarker to enable physicians to provide timely medical services in clinical practice.

BackgroundPreoperative carbohydrate loading is an important element of the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) paradigm in adult patients undergoing elective surgery. However, preoperative carbohydrate loading remains controversial in terms of improvement in postoperative outcomes and safety. We conducted a Bayesian network meta-analysis to evaluate the effects and safety of different doses of preoperative carbohydrates administrated in adult patients after elective surgery.MethodsMEDLINE (PubMed), Web of Science, EMBASE, EBSCO, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) were searched to identify eligible trials until 16 September 2022. Outcomes included postoperative insulin resistance, residual gastric volume (RGV) during the surgery, insulin sensitivity, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting serum insulin (Fin) level, the serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), postoperative scores of pain, patients’ satisfaction, thirst, hunger, anxiety, nausea and vomit, fatigue, and weakness within the first 24 h after surgery and the occurrences of postoperative infection. The effect sizes were estimated using posterior mean difference (continuous variables) or odds ratios (dichotomous variables) and 95 credible intervals (CrIs) with the change from baseline in a Bayesian network meta-analysis with random effect.ResultsFifty-eight articles (N = 4936 patients) fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. Both preoperative oral low-dose carbohydrate loading (MD: –3.25, 95% CrI: –5.27 to –1.24) and oral high-dose carbohydrate loading (MD: –2.57, 95% CrI: –4.33 to –0.78) were associated with postoperative insulin resistance compared to placebo/water. When trials at high risk of bias were excluded, association with insulin resistance was found for oral low-dose carbohydrate loading compared with placebo/water (MD: –1.29, 95%CrI: –2.26 to –0.27) and overnight fasting (MD: –1.17, 95%CrI: –1.88 to –0.43). So, there was large uncertainty for all estimates vs. control groups. In terms of safety, oral low-dose carbohydrate administration was associated with the occurrences of postoperative infection compared with fasting by 0.42 (95%Crl: 0.20–0.81). In the other outcomes, there was no significant difference between the carbohydrate and control groups.ConclusionAlthough preoperative carbohydrate loading was associated with postoperative insulin resistance and the occurrences of postoperative infection, there is no evidence that preoperative carbohydrate administration alleviates patients’ discomfort.Systematic review registration[https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/], identifier [CRD42022312944].