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Existing research has shown that political crisis events can directly impact the tourism industry. However, the current methods suffer from potential changes of unobserved variables, which poses challenges for a reliable evaluation of the political crisis impacts. This paper proposes a panel counterfactual approach with Internet search index, which can quantitatively capture the change of crisis impacts across time and disentangle the effect of the event of interest from the rest. It also provides a tool to examine potential channels through which the crisis may affect tourist outflows. This research empirically applies the framework to analyze the THAAD event on tourist flows from the Chinese Mainland to South Korea. Findings highlight the strong and negative short-term impact of the political crisis on the tourists’ intentions to visit a place. This paper provides essential evidence to help decision-makers improve the management of the tourism crisis.

Gold–silver hybrid nanostructures have emerged as promising candidates for efficient near-infrared (NIR) photothermal conversion due to their unique optical and electronic properties. In this study, we report on the synthesis and characterization of gold–silver core–shell nanostructures with Au multipods as the core and Ag hollow cage as the shell, exhibiting strong absorption in the NIR region, which is attributed to the coupled localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect. Benefiting from its large surface area and porous structure, an optimized photothermal conversion efficiency of 68.5% is achieved, evaluated using a water suspension under an 808 nm laser at a power density of 1.0 W cm–2. The photothermal stability was also investigated, revealing good durability after multiple cycles of heating and cooling. Our study demonstrates the potential of gold–silver core–shell hybrid nanostructures involving both multipods and hollow cages for efficient NIR photothermal conversion applications. These findings pave the way for further optimization of these nanostructures for various biomedical and industrial applications.

BackgroundIndependent studies on exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) and saliva cotinine levels in regular heated tobacco product (HTP) users, and how they compare with conventional cigarette (CC) smokers, are lacking.MethodsA total of 3294 current users of CCs, HTPs or electronic cigarettes (ECs) from a household survey and a smoking hotspot survey were classified into seven groups: exclusive users of CCs, HTPs, ECs; dual users of CCs and HTPs, CCs and ECs, HTPs and ECs; and triple users. We measured exhaled CO level using the piCo Smokerlyzer (n=780) and saliva cotinine using NicAlert cotinine test strips (n=620). Among the seven groups, the differences in (1) CO and cotinine levels were examined using Kruskal-Wallis test, and (2) the average daily tobacco consumption in the past 30 days was examined using multivariable linear regression.ResultsBoth exclusive and dual users of CCs had a higher CO level than exclusive HTP or EC users (p<0.05). Exhaled CO levels were similar between HTP and EC users, as were saliva cotinine levels among the seven groups. Compared with exclusive CC users, those who also used HTPs or ECs smoked fewer CCs (CCs+HTPs: adjusted coefficient −2.79, 95% CI −3.90 to –1.69; CCs+ECs: −1.34, 95% CI −2.34 to –0.34), but consumed more tobacco sticks equivalent in total (2.79 (95% CI 1.61 to 3.96); 1.95 (95% CI 0.79 to 3.12)).ConclusionsHTP or EC use showed lower exhaled CO but similar saliva cotinine levels compared with CC use. Dual users of CCs and HTPs/ECs smoked fewer CCs than exclusive CC users, but consumed more tobacco in total.

PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are a class of small noncoding RNA molecules that specifically bind to piwi protein family members to exert regulatory functions in germ cells. Recent studies have found that piRNAs, as tissue-specific molecules, both play oncogenic and tumor suppressive roles in cancer progression, including cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, chemoresistance and stemness. Additionally, the atypical manifestation of piRNAs and PIWI proteins in various malignancies presents a promising strategy for the identification of novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets in the diagnosis and management of tumors. Nonetheless, the precise functions of piRNAs in cancer progression and their underlying mechanisms have yet to be fully comprehended. This review aims to examine current research on the biogenesis and functions of piRNA and its burgeoning importance in cancer progression, thereby offering novel perspectives on the potential utilization of piRNAs and piwi proteins in the management and treatment of advanced cancer.

In the space microgravity environment, bone loss poses a formidable health challenge for astronauts. Dietary intake of renewable food components offers a feasible approach to mitigate bone loss associated with primary osteoporosis, aligning with the demands of long-term space missions. Recent research has highlighted the potential of Spirulinain ameliorating osteoporosis, with thermal processing enhancing the protein bioavailability. This study investigates the effects of different heat-treated Spirulinaproteins (SPP) and their enzymatic hydrolysates on osteoporosis using a hindlimb suspension model (HLS) in mice to simulate microgravity conditions. The results demonstrate that heat-treated SPP and enzymatic hydrolysates significantly preserve skeletal morphology, suppress bone resorption, and enhance bone density, with the microwave-treated SPP hydrolysate (MWSPPH) showing the most pronounced improvement effects. Mechanistic insights reveal that MWSPPH enhances bone health by modulating the FoxO/Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Specifically, MWSPPH reduces the expression of FoxO and facilitates the accumulation of β-catenin, while also indirectly modulating osteoclast-related signaling by altering RANKL and RANK expression. It also beneficially increases beneficial gut microbiota and the production of short-chain fatty acids, thereby improving bone density, suggesting its potential as a dietary strategy for managing osteoporosis in space environments.

With the trends of smart kitchens, more intelligent and fast cooking methods are gradually replacing traditional cooking methods. Microwave combined with hot air, commonly used in the industry for food drying, is a new cooking technology with great potential for applications in home cooking such as baking, frying, reheating, and thawing. This review introduces the basic principles of microwave and hot air technology and the advantages in home cooking. The combination of microwave and hot air can compensate for the shortcomings of traditional microwave ovens in baking and frying. By using microwaves to enhance energy conversion efficiency and significantly reduce cooking time, this combination broadens the application range of household microwave ovens and holds great potential in the future of digital cooking.

Ovarian development is a complex process crucial for the successful reproduction of Exopalaemon carinicauda. As a commercially important aquaculture species in China, however, there is limited information of the mechanisms underlying ovarian development. Therefore, this study conducted transcriptomic and proteomic sequencing of the E. carinicaudaovaries in different stages (Ⅰ, Ⅱ, and Ⅴ), aiming to explore important regulators and pathways involved in ovarian development. A total of 712 DEGs and 474 DEPs were identified. Functional annotation revealed DEGs and DEPs were related to processes such as transport activities, DNA metabolism, nutrient metabolism, and cell junctions. There was continuously up-regulation of genes involved in ovarian development, such as fatty acyl-CoA reductase, long chain fatty acid-CoA ligase 4, MFS domain-containing protein 6, and estradiol 17β-dehydrogenase. Besides, there were 6 common DEPs among three comparison groups, including vitellogenin, α-L-fucosidase, thymosin-β, filamin-A, SLC18B1, and LYRM7. Integrated analysis showed that vitellogenin receptor, NPC intracellular cholesterol transporter 2, fatty acid synthase, and transglutaminase were significantly up-regulated in stage Ⅴ, suggesting these genes/proteins may play crucial roles in ovarian development. These research findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms that regulate crustacean ovarian development.

ABSTRACTObjective:The influence of vaspin on vascular health had been investigated, yielding conflicting results. This study is intended to investigate the relation between vaspin and stroke severity and stroke outcome in a cohort Chinese patient with acute ischemic stroke (AIS).Methods:This was a prospective single-center observational study in Xinxiang, China. From 1 July 2017 to 30 November 2019, all patients with first-ever AIS were consecutively included. Serum levels of vaspin, stroke severity at (assessed by NIHSS score) admission and functional outcome (assessed by modified Rankin Scale (mRS)) at discharge were recorded. Multivariate analyses were assessed using logistic regression models.Results:Finally, 340 patients with AIS were included. The median age of those patients was 65 (interquartile range [IQR], 56–74) years and 61.8% were men. At admission, 88 patients (25.9%) experienced severe stroke (NIHSS>10) and serum levels of vaspin (median [IQR]: 0.72[0.48–0.90]ng/ml) in those patients were significantly lower than in those mild(0.92[0.70–1.19]ng/ml) and moderate stroke (0.93[0.63–1.21]ng/ml). At discharge, 113 patients (33.2%) experienced poor functional outcome (mRS >2) and vaspin serum levels in those patients were lower as compared with patients who experienced good outcome (0.71[0.45–0.98] vs. 0.91[0.71–1.19]ng/ml). In multivariate analyses, lower level of vaspin (< median) was associated with a 2.5-fold (odds ratio [OR] 2.46; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.75–4.45) increased risk for severe stroke and a 2.1-fold (2.03; 1.42–3.58) increased risk for poor outcome.Conclusion:In conclusion, reduced serum levels of vaspin at admission are significantly related to stroke severity and prognosis, which illustrates a predictive role of reduced vaspin in ischemic stroke.

This paper studies the estimation of the partially linear panel data models, allowing for cross-sectional dependence through a common factors structure. This semiparametric additive partial linear framework, including both linear and nonlinear additive components, is more flexible compared to linear models, and is preferred to a fully nonparametric regression because of the ‘curse of dimensionality’. The consistency and asymptotic normality of the proposed estimators are established for the case where both cross-sectional dimension and temporal dimension go to infinity. The theoretical findings are further supported for small samples via a Monte Carlo study. The results suggest that the proposed method is robust to a wide variety of data generation processes.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a brief community-based intervention to promote physical activity (PA) and the mental well-being of adults in Hong Kong.Methods: A pilot cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted in 15 family service centers. The intervention group (N = 162, 8 centers) received two 2-h interventions uniquely combining “Sharing, Mind and Enjoyment (SME),” Zero-time Exercises (ZTEx), positive psychology, and simple family games. “Sharing” involved promoting PA among families and peers, “Mind” captured positive emotions during PA, and “Enjoyment” assessed engagement of PA. ZTEx are simple PAs to reduce sedentary behaviors and enhancing PA and fitness and require minimal time and no cost or equipment. The control group (N = 152, 7 centers) received interventions unrelated to SME. Primary outcomes were PA-related SME at a 3-month follow-up after completing the baseline questionnaire. Secondary outcomes included subjective happiness, well-being, and family-related outcomes. Participants reported self-perceived changes at 1- and 3-month. Nine focus group discussions with the participants and 4 individual in-depth interviews with community service providers were conducted.Results: The retention rate at1 month was 90.1% for the intervention group and 95.4% for the control group, while at 3 months, it was 83.3% and 92.8%, respectively. The intervention group showed significantly greater positive changes in PA-related outcomes than the control group at 3-month follow-up (Cohen’s d= 0.33-0.42, all P< .05). Most secondary outcomes were non-significantly different between the 2 groups. However, more than 90% of participants in the intervention group reported self-perceived positive changes at 1- and 3-month follow-ups. The qualitative data showed that ZTEx was popular with families due to its simplicity.Conclusions: Our trial showed the feasibility of implementing the brief interventions and the potential benefits for promoting physical activity in community adults.ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03332810 (date of registration: November 6, 2017).

AbstractCommunicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

Macroeconomic forecasting in China is essential for the government to take proper policy decisions on government expenditure and money supply, among other matters. The existing literature on forecasting Chinas macroeconomic variables is unclear on the crucial issue of how to choose an optimal window to estimate parameters with rolling out-of-sample forecasts. This study fills this gap in forecasting economic growth and inflation in China, by using the rolling weighted least squares (WLS) with the practically feasible cross-validation (CV) procedure of Hong et al. (2018) to choose an optimal estimation window. We undertake an empirical analysis of monthly data on up to 30 candidate indicators (mainly asset prices) for a span of 17 years (2000–2017). It is documented that the forecasting performance of rolling estimation is sensitive to the selection of rolling windows. The empirical analysis shows that the rolling WLS with the CV-based rolling window outperforms other rolling methods on univariate regressions in most cases. One possible explanation for this is that these macroeconomic variables often suffer from structural changes due to changes in institutional reforms, policies, crises, and other factors. Furthermore, we find that, in most cases, asset prices are key variables for forecasting macroeconomic variables, especially output growth rate.

•A dynamic occupant-based model predictive control is proposed for an air handling unit system.•The proposed strategy is investigated in an air handling unit in the terminal.•The proposed strategy can effectively solve the time lag of the system.•The 10% energy-savings is achieved while the thermal comfort is maintained.

Effective treatment of rheumatoid arthritis can be mediated by native chicken type II collagen (nCCII), recombinant peptide containing nCCII tolerogenic epitopes (CTEs), or a therapeutic DNA vaccine encoding the full-length CCOL2A1cDNA. As recombinant CCII (rCCII) might avoid potential pathogenic virus contamination during nCCII preparation or chromosomal integration and oncogene activation associated with DNA vaccines, here we evaluated the importance of propeptide and telopeptide domains on rCCII triple helix molecular assembly. We constructed pC- and pN-procollagen (without N- or C-propeptides, respectively) as well as CTEs located in the triple helical domain lacking both propeptides and telopeptides, and expressed these in yeast Pichia pastorishost strain GS115 (his4, Mut+) simultaneously with recombinant chicken prolyl-4-hydroxylase α and β subunits. Both pC- and pN-procollagen monomers accumulated inside P. pastoriscells, whereas CTE was assembled into homotrimers with stable conformation and secreted into the supernatants, suggesting that the large molecular weight pC-or pN-procollagens were retained within the endoplasmic reticulum whereas the smaller CTEs proceeded through the secretory pathway. Furthermore, resulting recombinant chicken type II collagen pCα1(II) can induced collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rat model, which seems to be as effective as the current standard nCCII. Notably, protease digestion assays showed that rCCII could assemble in the absence of C- and N-propeptides or telopeptides. These findings provide new insights into the minimal structural requirements for rCCII expression and folding.

•The structure of NdPrx3gene and the evolutionary relationship of Prx family were analyzed.•The relative expression of NdPrx3 gene in different tissues was measured.•The change of NdPrx3 mRNA under copper exposure was investigated.•The function of recombinant NdPrx3 protein including enzyme activity and DNA protective activity was analyzed.

Economic crustaceans play important roles in aquaculture and create great benefits for the world agricultural economy. Studies have found that there are many single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites in the crustacean genomes, which closely related to a variety of life activities like growth, development, reproduction, and so on. However, the in vivofunctional study of SNPs still lacks appropriate technique in crustaceans. The cytosine base editor (CBE) based on cytidine deaminase (CDA) can convert the C•G base pair to T•A base pair, which provides a new idea for the study of function of crustacean SNPs. In this study, the CDA gene from Exopalaemon carinicauda(EcCDA) was cloned and fused to the N-terminus of Cas9 nickase (nCas9(D10A)) skeleton to construct a cytidine base editor (pEcCDA-nCas9(D10A)) suitable for crustacean point editing. Neocaridina denticulata sinensisMIH (NdMIH) gene was selected as the target gene. The in vitrotranscribed EcCDA-nCas9(D10A) mRNA and NdMIH-gRNA were co-injected into the 1-cell stage embryos of N. denticulata sinensisfor gene editing. Detection results showed that the constructed pEcCDA-nCas9(D10A) successfully realized the conversion of C•G to T•A in NdMIHwith the editing efficiency of approximately 11.21%. Our works construct a well-established crustacean base editing platform.

Low temperature can affect the growth and development of plants through changes in DNA demethylation patterns. Another known effect of low temperature is the accumulation of anthocyanin pigments. However, it is not known whether the two phenomena are linked, specifically whether DNA demethylation participates in anthocyanin accumulation in response to low-temperature stress. The ROS1gene is involved in plant DNA demethylation and influences methylation levels in response to low-temperature stress. In this study, using RNA sequencing, we detected the transcription levels of MdROS1, as well as those of anthocyanin biosynthesis-related genes, correlate with the anthocyanin content in apple (Malus domestica), at low temperature. Genomic bisulfite sequencing showed that the methylation levels of the promoters of the anthocyanin-related genes MdCHS, MdCHI, MdF3′H, MdANS, MdUFGT, and MdMYB10decreased in apple leaves after low-temperature treatment. Similar expression and methylation results were found in apple fruit. Transiently silencing MdROS1in the leaves and fruit of apple cultivars inhibited the accumulation of anthocyanins and led to decreased expression of anthocyanin biosynthetic genes, and the opposite results were detected in MdROS1-overexpressing leaves and fruit. A promoter binding assay showed that the conserved RRD-DME domains of MdROS1 bind directly to the promoters of MdF3′Hand MdUFGT. Taken together, these results suggest that ROS1 affects the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway by decreasing the methylation level of anthocyanin-related gene promoters, thereby increasing their expression and increasing anthocyanin accumulation.

•A control method for supply water temperature of air source heat pump is proposed.•This control method makes supply water temperature decrease by 3.7 °C.•Coefficient of performance of experimental unit increases by 22.88%.•A decrease of 26.16% in building heating energy consumption is achieved.•The percentage of PMV between −0.5 and +0.5 increases from 48.61% to 87.86%.

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is closely associated with numerous diseases, but its high degree of polymorphism complicates the discovery of disease-associated variants. In principle, recombination and de novo mutations are two critical factors responsible for MHC polymorphisms. However, direct evidence for this hypothesis is lacking. Here, we report the generation of fine-scale MHC recombination and de novo mutation maps of ∼5 Mb by deep sequencing (> 100 ×) of the MHC genome for 17 MHC recombination and 30 non-recombination Han Chinese families (a total of 190 individuals). Recombination hotspots and Han-specific breakpoints are located in close proximity at haplotype block boundaries. The average MHC de novo mutation rate is higher than the genome-wide de novo mutation rate, particularly in MHC recombinant individuals. Notably, mutation and recombination generated polymorphisms are located within and outside linkage disequilibrium regions of the MHC, respectively, and evolution of the MHC locus was mainly controlled by positive selection. These findings provide insights on the evolutionary causes of the MHC diversity and may facilitate the identification of disease-associated genetic variants.

• Multiple features are exploited to satisfy copyright protection requirements of DIBR 3D video. • Suitable features are designed for both 2D frames and depth maps to well protect them. • RPSR features are designed to counter geometric attacks and enhance discriminative capacity. • An attention-based fusion is designed to offer an optimal copyright protecting solution. • A logistic-logistic chaotic system is used to encrypt these multiple features. Zero-watermarking is a key technique for achieving lossless and flexible copyright protection of depth image-based rendering (DIBR) videos. Existing approaches extract features of both 2D frames and depth maps via a single mechanism to protect them simultaneously. However, it is difficult for these schemes to fully satisfy the copyright protection requirements of the two components, including the remarkable discriminative capability of 3D videos and robustness against various attacks. Hence, in this paper, we propose a novel multiple-feature-based zero-watermarking scheme to protect the copyright of DIBR 3D videos. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first scheme that integrates multiple features to improve both the discriminative capability and robustness against various attacks. Specifically, dual-tree complex wavelet transform and discrete cosine transform features enhance the robustness against DIBR conversion and noise addition, respectively, while ring-partition statistical residual features ensure robustness against geometric attacks and provide sufficient discriminative capacity. In addition, we use a logistic-logistic chaotic system to encrypt these multiple features for enhanced security and design an attention-based fusion approach to offer an optimal copyright protection solution. Extensive experimental results demonstrate that our proposed scheme has stronger robustness and discriminative capacity compared to state-of-the-art zero-watermarking methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]